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Virginia

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Pharrell Williams launched his popular Something In The Water music festival in 2019 and it swiftly became one of the most anticipated events of the sort. Fans expecting the Something In The Water festival’s return to Virginia this fall will have to wait until next year after Pharrell Williams announced that he is no longer moving ahead with the event.
Using the Something In The Water X account, Pharrell Williams issued a statement regarding the cancellation of the October festival, promising that it will return after his internal team makes its tweaks.

A portion of the full statement is posted below:
Virginia doesn’t deserve better, Virginia deserves THE BEST.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER has to match that. It just isn’t ready yet. That’s why we as a team have decided we must postpone this year’s SOMETHING IN THE WATER festival that was due to take place in October.

I am so grateful to our amazing sponsors and the city for their continued support and trust in us to get this right, and that time is April 2025. This has to be EPIC, and trust me, after this long wait, it will be. Thank you for your support, love and understanding.
Something In The Water has gone through its motions since launching in 2019, which includes a cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a move to Washington, D.C. in 2022 before returning to Virginia the following year.

Dearest Virginia, you deserve THE BEST. I promise it will be worth the wait. See you in April. All my love – P pic.twitter.com/X5z2fX1WcO
— SOMETHING IN THE WATER (@sitw) September 13, 2024

Photo: The Washington Post / Getty

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The Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals have called Capital One Arena home but it appears that a change of location is on the horizon. The owner of the team and Virginia’s governor announced a plan that would bring the teams eight miles south of the city to Alexandria, Va. in 2028.
CNBC reports that Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Wizards and Capitals, CEO Ted Leonis and Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a plan that will bring a new 20,000-seat area, and practice facilities along with a mixed-used development to the Northern Virginia city, which rests in the shadow of the Nation’s Capitol.

Below is a statement from Governor Youngkin:

“This is the most visionary sports and entertainment development in the world, bringing together entertainment, sports, and technology in the most advanced innovation corridor in the United States: a once-in-a-generation and historic development for the Commonwealth, sports fans, and all Virginians. The Commonwealth will now be home to two professional sports teams, a new corporate headquarters, and over 30,000 new jobs – this is monumental. This was only made possible through consistent collaboration between Virginia’s economic development team, the Monumental Sports & Entertainment team, the City of Alexandria, our administration and the Virginia General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission, and JGB SMITH. Virginia is undoubtedly the best place to live, work, raise a family, and now watch basketball or hockey.”
Leonis added a statement as well:
“We are committed to providing world-class fan experiences while continuously evolving our teams, deepening community ties, and solidifying our role as leaders at the forefront of sports and technology. The opportunity to expand to this 70-acre site in Virginia, neighboring industry-leading innovators, and a great academic partner, would enable us to further our creativity and achieve next-generation, leading work – all while keeping our fans and the community at the forefront of everything we do.”
The move faces legislative approval from lawmakers during the next Virginia General Assembly, where Democrats control the upper chamber while Republicans, which is Youngkin’s party, control the lower chamber.
If Monumental does indeed move its business holdings and operations to Alexandria, it would leave downtown Washington, D.C., which some experts say is in decline, without the economic boosts of games and other events.

Photo: Getty

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The Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals have called Capital One Arena home but it appears that a change of location is on the horizon. The owner of the team and Virginia’s governor announced a plan that would bring the teams eight miles south of the city to Alexandria, Va. in 2028.
CNBC reports that Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Wizards and Capitals, CEO Ted Leonis and Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a plan that will bring a new 20,000-seat area, and practice facilities along with a mixed-used development to the Northern Virginia city, which rests in the shadow of the Nation’s Capitol.

Below is a statement from Governor Youngkin:

“This is the most visionary sports and entertainment development in the world, bringing together entertainment, sports, and technology in the most advanced innovation corridor in the United States: a once-in-a-generation and historic development for the Commonwealth, sports fans, and all Virginians. The Commonwealth will now be home to two professional sports teams, a new corporate headquarters, and over 30,000 new jobs – this is monumental. This was only made possible through consistent collaboration between Virginia’s economic development team, the Monumental Sports & Entertainment team, the City of Alexandria, our administration and the Virginia General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission, and JGB SMITH. Virginia is undoubtedly the best place to live, work, raise a family, and now watch basketball or hockey.”
Leonis added a statement as well:
“We are committed to providing world-class fan experiences while continuously evolving our teams, deepening community ties, and solidifying our role as leaders at the forefront of sports and technology. The opportunity to expand to this 70-acre site in Virginia, neighboring industry-leading innovators, and a great academic partner, would enable us to further our creativity and achieve next-generation, leading work – all while keeping our fans and the community at the forefront of everything we do.”
The move faces legislative approval from lawmakers during the next Virginia General Assembly, where Democrats control the upper chamber while Republicans, which is Youngkin’s party, control the lower chamber.
If Monumental does indeed move its business holdings and operations to Alexandria, it would leave downtown Washington, D.C., which some experts say is in decline, without the economic boosts of games and other events.

Photo: Getty

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Source: Franklin Virginia PD / Franklin Virginia PD
Crazy news coming out of Virginia as U.S. Marshalls have issued an arrest warrant for rapper 23 Brazy who they allege shot and murdered a 10-year-old child.

On Tuesday (Aug. 15), U.S. Marshalls shared a press release in which they explain that Tashawnda Nicole Drayton aka 23 Brazy is being sought in connection with a shooting that left a 10-year-old dead and a 37-year-old adult male injured in Franklin, Virginia Aug. 9.
From U.S.Marshalls.gov:
Drayton is a Black female, with brown eyes and black hair.  She stands 5 feet 11 inches and weighs approximately 250 pounds. She has “only loyalty” tattooed above her left eyebrow, “23 Brazy” in red letters on her forehead, along with several tattoos on her face and neck. Drayton also has multiple tattoos on both of her arms and hands.
Drayton has ties all over the Hampton Roads area and should be considered armed and dangerous.
Following the shooting authorities issued the arrest warrant for Drayton, which includes counts for “first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, threat to burn or damage a building, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharge of a firearm in a public place,” according to the press release.
No motive for the shooting has been revealed as of yet, but don’t be surprised if you don’t hear a new record from 23 Brazy for a very long time whether she’s still roaming free or locked up behind bars.
In a Facebook post detailing the murder, Police Chief Steve Patterson wrote, “This is a very sad day for the City of Franklin. Any loss of life is unwarranted but for a 10-year-old to be the victim of violent crime is unacceptable and we as a community must come together and end this senselessness. The Franklin Police Department offers its condolences to the family of the young man killed today and hopes the community will come together to support both families during this time.”
A $5,000 reward is being offered for anyone who can help tip authorities to Brazy’s whereabouts and arrest.

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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
A shooting after a high school graduation ceremony held at a university in Virginia has left a teen and his father dead, with seven others injured.

On Tuesday (June 6), a high school graduation ceremony held on the grounds of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia had just ended when an individual opened fire on the crowd that gathered in Monroe Park. Shawn Jackson, 18, and his father Renzo Smith, 36, were shot and killed. Five other people ranging in age from 14 to 58, all male, were also injured by the gunfire and were transported to the hospital. One of them is currently being treated for life-threatening injuries. Two other victims took themselves to the hospital for treatment.

Tameeka Jackson-Smith, Shawn Jackson’s mother, told the press that Renzo Smith was in attendance to watch his son graduate from Huguenot High School, with the ceremony held earlier at the Altria Theater. “He was so happy — oh my God — because he got to graduate. He worked hard,”  she said of her son. Interim Richmond Police Department Chief Rick Edwards confirmed that a 19-year-old who was one of two people initially taken into custody is the suspected shooter. Edwards also said that they believe he knew at least one of the victims and that the suspect faces two counts of second-degree murder.
The police chief also went on to say that four firearms were recovered from the scene of the shooting. Nine other people at the scene were treated for anxiety, and a nine-year-old (who Jackson-Smith confirmed to reporters was her daughter), who was hit by a car as the incident unfolded was also treated at the scene before going to the hospital, authorities disclosed.
A statement from Richmond Public Schools that evening said that all district schools would be closed on Wednesday and that the remaining high school graduations for the week would be canceled. RPS Superintendent Jason Karmas, still in his graduation robe, spoke to the press while overcome with emotion. “I can’t shake the image of him receiving CPR on the ground,” he began before saying, “I’m tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get shot, and I beg of the entire community to stop. To just stop. Our kids can’t take it. Our teachers can’t take it. Our families can’t take it anymore. I beg of you to stop.”

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Starr Hill Presents & Haymaker Productions announce the inaugural Iron Blossom Music Festival, taking place in the heart of Richmond, Va. on Aug. 26 and 27. Iron Blossom will offer two days of topline musical talent in the idyllic and historic Monroe Park, located next to the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

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Iron Blossom will draw from Richmond’s vibrant and diverse community to bring fans a unique musical experience, with local artists sharing the stage with regional acts and international headliners. Headliners include singer-songwriter Hozier, indie rockers Lord Huron and indie pop singer Noah Kahan. Additional artists rounding out the two days of good vibes and harmonies include: Elle King, Faye Webster, Rayland Baxter, Colony House, The Heavy Heavy, Nikki Lane, Devon Gilfillian, Mipso, Son Little, Celisse and more.

The event is a partnership between Starr Hill Presents, IMGoing Events, Haymaker Productions, and Lovely Day Presents. 

Ken MacDonald of IMGoing Events says “the growth of Richmond is on full display here. We look forward to having Iron Blossom be a showcase for the vibrancy and culture of the city and a positive, enduring part of the community.”  

“This is the moment the people of Richmond deserve and Iron Blossom is the ‘arrival’ moment for music fans in Richmond,” says Tom Beals of Haymaker Productions. “It’s because of the fans that we’re able to do this at all. The love of live music is part of Richmond’s culture, and we get to share in that by bringing these artists to Monroe Park.”

In addition to these vibrant musical offerings, the Iron Blossom Music Festival will bring attendees the very best of Central Virginia’s food, beverage and maker communities. Fans will enjoy farm to table and various street foods, craft beers and cocktails, and wares from dozens of artisan vendors. A VIP experience is being offered, giving fans up-close stage views, an exclusive lounge with cash bars, vendors and more. 

Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 4 at noon ET at IronBlossomFestival.com.

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Irvo Otieno, who came to the United States at the age of four with his family from Kenya, died while in the custody of Central State Hospital in Dinwiddie County in Virginia. Video footage shared with a grand jury showed seven Henrico County sheriff’s deputies and three hospital employees piling atop Otieno for 12 minutes before he stopped moving.
According to the Associated Press, Irvo Otieno crossed paths with Henrico police on March 2, who then delivered him to Parham Doctors Hospital per an emergency mental health order. The police report stated that Otieno became aggressive with the officers upon arrival at Parham and moved him to the Henrico County Jail for holding.

On March 6, Otieno was moved to Central State Hospital in Dinwiddie County, just southwest of Petersburg, Va. It was there that Otieno succumbed to being smothered by the deputies and hospital staff while shackled with leg irons and handcuffed.
In a hearing that was held earlier in March, Dinwiddie Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Baskervill said, “In the video at Central State you see at least a knee inflicted on the body, which is — we’ve seen this before as a country. He was held down on the ground, pinned on the ground for 12 minutes by all seven of our defendants charged here.”
The outlet adds that two of the 10 indicted attempted to have their legal team stop the entering of the security footage from the hospital into evidence but were unsuccessful as the grand jury witnessed the video earlier on Tuesday (March 20).
Irvo Otieno was 28 at the time of his death.

Photo: CNN