Good Morning, RVA: Tonight is the night

New laws roll out across Virginia, while World Cup madness continues.

July 1, 2014; 7:04 AM • by Ross Catrow

Good morning, RVA! It’s 70 °F, and today’s temperatures are bound for higher ground–specifically the 90s. Plus, humidity, etc, etc, wear flip flops, you know the drill.

Water cooler

A big stack of new laws goes into effect today across Virginia. Things that may impact your life: scooters must be titled, you need to give three feet of space while passing a cyclist on the road, stricter penalties now exist for celebratory gunfire and revenge porn (male or female).

Last night, the Richmond School Board voted to get rid of mandatory expulsions for first-time marijuana and alcohol offenses–a change made possible by the aforementioned big stack of new Virginia laws.

Northside’s Sweet95 caught fire yesterday. No one was injured except the hopes dreams of dozens of neighborhood children. They’ll close (the ice cream shop, not the dreams) but hope to reopen “better than ever.”

If you see headlines like this one from the RTD, Morrissey indicted on sex charges, they’re referencing Henrico Del. Joe Morrissey not the guy from the Smiths. A grand jury charged that the former had “sex with a minor and solicited pornographic images of the 17-year-old law office receptionist.”

The Supreme Court ruled that corporations can claim “it’s against my religion” exemptions from certain laws. The ever-useful SCOTUSblog has a plain-English breakdown of the 5-4 decision.

Sports!

Squirrels halted Harrisburg, 6-4, and plan to do the same tonight.
Kickers face the Mexico U21 National team tonight at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and tickets can be had online for $20.
Nats rolled the Rockies, 7-3, and will continue the series at 7:05 PM.

World Cup

Tonight is the night! No, not when two become one, but when the valiant USMNT faces the evil Belgians of Belgium. Remember: at this stage it’s win-or-go-home.

Yesterday France and Germany advanced, and today features two matches: