WTVR CBS 6 News

"IT'S VERY UNNERVING:" A longtime rider is asking the Greater Richmond Transit Company to consider bringing back paid fares after violence occurred on and near its buses last month.

Caroline Bowers, who has been riding GRTC buses for the past several years, said she is reconsidering how she gets to her job in downtown Richmond.

However, she said she may stop taking the bus daily because of crime on and near GRTC buses last month.

“At a bus stop in the middle of the day it’s very unnerving," she said.

In August, Richmond Police responded to three separate crimes connected to GRTC buses.

According to police, two people were stabbed at the West Broad Street Pulse stop, one person was stabbed at the bus stop on Broad Street in the Arts district and a teenager was shot on a GRTC bus near the VCU campus.

Bowers is calling on GRTC to reinstate fares after she said she has seen a shift in rider behavior since the service became free in 2020 during the pandemic.

“It’s fine to be accessible to everyone, but it shouldn’t just be a ride. It’s like going to an amusement park and never getting off a roller coaster, " Bowers said. "These buses are stopping at the same places. So people who are already at odds with each other, there is pretty good chance they are going to get on the bus at some point with one another. And at some point something is going to transpire."

Find out what other riders are saying and how GRTC is responding: https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/rider-wants-grtc-to-end-free-fares-aug-31-2024

"People think the mayor, city council, can do more than they actually can do. And learning about what they can do, from there you can actually build and figure out what you want them to put in place..."

'Crucial Conversations' forum aims to engage potential voters before Richmond election The two-hour Q&A included candidates for Richmond mayor, city council and school board, starting with a brief overview of what specific group or candidate is responsible for in their role.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin's parents, U.S.-born immigrants to Israel, became perhaps the most high-profile relatives of hostages on the international stage.

Israel recovers the bodies of 6 hostages in Gaza, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin Israel on Sunday said it had recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, including a young Israeli-American man who became one of the most well-known captives held by Hamas.

🌀🌧️ Do you remember where when Tropical Storm Gaston flooded RVA 20 years ago?🌀🌧️

SPECIAL COVERAGE: Gaston at 20: The Unforgettable Flood The remnants of Hurricane Gaston stalled over Richmond, Virginia, and triggered fatal flash flooding that claimed multiple lives and caused millions of dollars in damage.

"We have fufu we have, of course, chicken made a Ghanaian or Nigerian or South African or Malian way... We also have some Caribbean dishes, so it's a mixture of cuisines from around diasporic Africa."

Afro Fest celebrating African cultures offers 'blend of cuisines' at Dogwood Dell, organizer says African Community Network President Nana Derby said the festival does not just celebrate the cultures of continental Africa, but all peoples of African ancestry.

"That track has been nimble. They have done boat shows and bass shows and camper shows. We’ve vaccinated hundreds of thousands of people, and our staff had an opportunity to work for that. So we’ll find work on those other weekends."

'Nimble' Richmond Raceway will rebound from NASCAR race weekend loss, business owner says One area businessman believes Richmond Raceway can and will rebound after NASCAR confirmed the venue is losing one of its two NASCAR races in the 2025 season.

Enough Hokies' faithful filled the stands that Diego Pavia said he couldn't hear himself call the cadence at times.

Diego Pavia makes winning debut helping Vanderbilt stun Virginia Tech 34-27 in OT Diego Pavia scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in overtime as Vanderbilt upset Virginia Tech 34-27 in the season opener for both teams.

🤩

"WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!" 💔🐕🐾 Officials at a Richmond animal shelter hope someone with a "special home" could be the forever family for two dogs that need to be adopted together.

Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) officials posted Sunday morning that female pit bulls, 4-year-old Who Goes There and 1-year-old Hi, It’s Me, "came from a bad situation."

"Get your tissues," RACC officials wrote. "They were left in a crate in a car, covered in urine/fences and flies; Who Goes There had glaucoma so bad in her remaining eye (already blind) that we removed the painful nonworking one."

Officials said the younger pup has been acting as a seeing-eye dog for the older animal.

"It will just about break your heart with love to see them together," officials wrote. "These girls love each other."

As a result, shelter staffers are looking for a home for both dogs and someone "game to" manage a blind dog.

"The easiest transition would be a quieter house with few steps and without other dogs but if you have a calm easy and friendly pup we can try," the post reads. "We know we are hoping for a miracle here but we believe in miracles! Can you help us find them a happy forever?"

Anyone interested is asked to email shelter director Christie Chipps-Peters at [email protected] with their home info and why they would be the best choice. 💔🐕🐾

This is the second scheduled change for the para triathlon events.

Paralympic triathlon events are postponed because of poor water quality in the Seine River Paralympic triathlon competitions in Paris scheduled for Sunday have been postponed because of concerns about water quality in the Seine River after heavy rainfall, organizers said.

💔 "It will just about break your heart with love to see them together... These girls love each other." 💔

Please SHARE to SPREAD the WORD and find these babies their forever "special home." They just have to be adopted together. 😭

Virginia shelter seeks 'special home' for blind pup and her seeing-eye dog: 'We believe in miracles!' Officials at a Richmond animal shelter hope someone with a "special home" could be the forever family for two dogs that need to be adopted together.

💔

"It's fine to be accessible to everyone, but it shouldn’t just be a ride. It’s like going to an amusement park and never getting off a roller coaster."

Do you think GRTC should consider ending its ZERO FARE policy?

A--Yes.
B--No.
C--I'm not sure.

Why this GRTC rider wants transit company to end free fares: 'It's very unnerving' A longtime Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) rider is asking the company to consider bringing back paid fares after the violence has occurred on and near the buses last month.

Alonza Barnett III threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to George Pettaway in the final minute of the first half to give James Madison the lead and the Dukes pulled away in the second half to earn a 30-7 win over Charlotte in a season-opener on Saturday night.

Alonza Barnett III throws 2 TD passes to power James Madison past Charlotte 30-7 Alonza Barnett completed 10 of 18 pass attempts for 219 yards with an interception and carried nine times for 89 yards to lead James Madison.

“We've heard from our senior citizens, of course, we've heard from doctors, we've heard from lawyers, we've heard from financial investors. We've heard from just about everyone, just people in general, and they're very concerned about it.”

Sheriff warns about out-of-hand scammer targeting Richmond: 'They have names, phone numbers, badge numbers' Richmond Sheriff Antoinette Irving said the scam phone called have gotten out of hand over the past few days.

"There’s a season for everything. That was a season a time ago, but now we’re going to chart a new season, open up doors for so many Richmonders."

What’s next for Bon Secours Training Camp space in Richmond: 'We’re excited' Once the home of the NFL Washington Commanders' three-week training camp each summer, the Bon Secours Training Center on W. Leigh Street in Richmond has a new name and a new tenant.

“I think about last year ... we had a similar situation and we didn't finish,” coach Tony Elliott said. “I'm really proud of the staff and the guys for finding a way to finish tonight.”

Colandrea shines as Virginia cruises past Richmond, 34-13 Saturday night’s game went into a weather delay late in the second quarter, with Virginia leading 20-7.

As they drove, Justin, unfamiliar with the city, mistakenly turned onto Broad Street instead of heading toward Jess's home in The Fan district.

Their love story started when Gaston flooded Richmond: 'Our life is revolved around him taking a wrong turn' On August 30, 2004, Jess and Justin found themselves in the midst of an unexpected weather event known as Gaston.

🌀🌧️Where were you when Tropical Storm Gaston flooded RVA 20 years ago?🌀🌧️

💔 Awful news to pass along. Please keep the victim’s friends and family in your thoughts and prayers. 💔

Man found dead in Richmond neighborhood Anyone with information about the man's death in Richmond was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.

⛈️We're tracking scattered storms with heavy rain and potentially strong, gusty winds for Sunday⛈️

⛈️Here’s when scattered storms with heavy rain and potentially strong, gusty winds will develop.⛈️

Staying muggy today with scattered storms increasing by evening Muggy conditions will continue with highs near 90. Widely scattered storms this afternoon will increase into the evening.

"We ant to invite everybody to come over here and learn about the Egyptian culture, taste the food, meet the people. It's a great vibe. You're going to love it."

Egyptian Festival in Richmond is 'a great vibe' with 'food, shows and fun,' organizer says "We ant to invite everybody to come over here and learn about the Egyptian culture, taste the food, meet the people" Michael Azab sad. "It's a great vibe. You're going to love it.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin spent part of his childhood in Richmond, Virginia.

“Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive," his mother said during her address at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who once lived in Richmond, was one of 6 hostage bodies recovered in Gaza Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, and four of the other hostages were taken at a music festival in southern Israel during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

"The majority of our people at the festival... don't speak Spanish. It's the music that brings them, and that cultural exchange is what makes Richmond a great place to be."

Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival moves to at 17th Street Market: 'The music brings people from all over' The 17th annual Latin Jazz & Salsa Festival took place Saturday for the first time at Richmond's 17th Street Market.