Good Morning, RVA: Celebrate, it’s Friday!

Today couldn’t get here soon enough.

June 26, 2015; 7:06 AM • by Ross Catrow

Photo by: sandy’s dad

Good morning, RVA! It’s 70 °F, and I think yesterday’s gnarly storms (lots of folks still without power this morning) have cooled things off a tiny bit: Highs today “only” in the upper-80s. As is our scene, there’s another chance for severe storms this evening after 5:00 PM. Keep an eye on things if you’re pool-bound!

Water cooler

The RTD is absolutely determined to be on the right side of history (this time around) about our obsession with Confederate symbols–and guys, it fills my heart with gladness. They’ve had several anti-Confederate-flag pieces run over the past few days (including one from the anonymous editorial board) which have all led up to this Michael Paul Williams piece, simply titled: “It’s time for Confederate monuments to come down“. I wish I could just quote the entire thing to you, but this will have to do: “But if we allow ourselves to honestly contemplate the meaning of Monument Avenue, we must acknowledge that it sends a message incompatible with 21st-century values. The rewrite of history embodied by those statues cannot change this, and I can no longer reconcile their outsize presence in the city of my birth. Let’s place these statues in a proper museum setting and replace them with monuments we all can embrace.”

Until yesterday, Charles Samuels had received exactly one email in support of Bus Rapid Transit. Don’t let bystander effect ruin what looks to be something incredible for transit in our city! Email your council person and let them know you support BRT–here’s their contact info should you need it. Should even that be too much work, RVA Rapid Transit has written the email for you.

Because I live steeped in an enormous amount of privilege, I never even thought about the mural scene being a male-dominated space–but, unfortunately, like most spaces, it is. So it’s good to read and be reminded of that by Style Weekly’s profile of artist Emily Herr.

Yesterday the Supreme Court decided that Obamacare subsidies are totes fine–here are one million links detailing that and the other opinions issued yesterday. They’ve got one more big decision, which should drop today: Obergefell v. Hodges, which deals with states recognizing valid same-sex marriages established in other states. Hop on the SCOTUSblog for live coverage of the 10:00 AM decision.

Antivaxxers beware! California is coming for you!

Sports!

• Tonight is your last chance to catch the Squirrels at home until July 4th! Get your tickets now!
• Nats swept the Braves with a 7-0 win. They start a three-game series with the Phillies tonight at 7:05 PM.
• Kickers take on the Charlotte Independence today at 7:30 PM. You can watch live, right here.
• D.C. United continues their tour of the country with a game against Toronto FC on Saturday at 5:00 PM.
• USA faces China in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup tonight at 7:30 PM. AMERICA!

What to expect

• Independence Day things to do that do not involve fireworks
• Beer News!
• A preview of tonight’s Women’s World Cup match
• Our House, one of my favorite columns, continues

This morning’s longread

Downtown Dublin Is Getting Rid Of Cars

In the proposed plan, the city wants to route cars around the city center, and turn major streets into car-free plazas and passages for buses, bikes, pedestrians, and a new tram line. Along the banks of the River Liffey, polluted roads will become promenades. On Grafton Street, a former car lane will turn into a tree-shaded terrace with cafe tables, while the other lane has tram tracks. New bike lanes and wider sidewalks will be added as well.

And we’re all up in arms about a single bus line!

This morning’s Instagram

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June 26, 2015 7:06 AM 0