Richmond Police have arrested a woman and charged her with attempted murder for a shooting that occurred in the 900 block of North Lombardy Street at 11:01 a.m. today.

Quasia Hayes, 22, of Richmond, has also been charged with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

An adult female at a business suffered a gunshot wound and received treatment at the scene for a non-life-threatening injury.

Patrol officers were able to quickly apprehend the suspect after gathering information on the scene.

“This is outstanding work by Fourth Precinct patrol officers who were able to make an apprehension within minutes of the shooting,” said Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards. “Quick response from experienced officers executing strategic and coordinated efforts made this fast arrest possible.”

Anyone with further information about this shooting is asked to call Detective L. Burrell at (804) 646-3185 or contact Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous.

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Nearly $2.3 million in workforce development opportunity grants were awarded for 22 projects throughout Virginia.

Grant recipients will focus program efforts on boosting outreach and education for youth, providing technical and soft skill training, and increasing work-based learning opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships.

The programs are designed to help disadvantaged youth and help remove barriers of entry for individuals seeking meaningful employment.

“While Virginia’s labor force participation has hit historic levels, we need to keep our foot on the accelerator,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “In order to keep Virginia competitive for future economic growth, we must continue to invest in results-oriented programs that boost our workforce readiness.”

Grants like these provide resources to programs that help Virginians, said Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater.

“Whether it is exploring career opportunities with high school students or providing technical training to adults, these programs will help create pathways to successful careers for hard-working Virginians,” said Slater.

Youth outreach and marketing grant

The intent of this project is to develop and implement outreach programs that engage and inspire high school students to pursue education, training, and careers in the skilled trades. Outreach strategies must educate parents, students and guidance counselors on the benefits of skilled trades.

• Bay Consortium Local Workforce Development Area, Richmond County
• Central Virginia Local Workforce Development Area
• Greater Roanoke Local Workforce Development Area, Roanoke
• Hampton Roads Local Workforce Development Area, Virginia Beach
• Northern Virginia Community College

Transportation to learn grant

The intent of this project is to increase youth exposure to the benefits and opportunities of workforce development programs, such as registered apprenticeships and in- demand occupations. Projects should enable youth (in-school and/or out-of-school youth, 14 to 24 years of age) with barriers to employment to visit in-demand trades employment opportunities that are available in their local communities.

• Bay Consortium Local Workforce Development Area, Richmond County
• Greater Roanoke Local Workforce Development Area, Roanoke
• Hampton Roads Local Workforce Development Area, Virginia Beach
• Northern Virginia Community College

Technical skills training grant

The intent of these funds is to increase the number of technical training offerings in information technology and healthcare fields statewide to meet the growing needs of Virginia businesses.

• Community College Workforce Alliance/Reynolds Community College
• Greater Roanoke Local Workforce Development Area, Roanoke
• Pulaski County, New River Mount Rogers Local Workforce Development Area

Soft skills training grant

The intent of this project is to provide opportunities for innovative soft skills training to individuals in low income and disadvantaged, rural communities.

• New River Mount Rogers Local Workforce Development Area, Pulaski County
• West Piedmont Local Workforce Development Area, Pittsylvania County

Supplemental workforce development training opportunity grant

The intent of these funds is to increase the number of participants in workforce development training activities statewide, with a specific focus in work-based learning activities including, but not limited to, on-the-job training, registered apprenticeships, internships, and customized training. The training activities must lead to job placement in in-demand occupations.

• Arlington County Economic Development, Arlington
• Capital Region Local Workforce Development Area, Henrico County
• Central Virginia Local Workforce Development Area, Lynchburg
• Greater Roanoke Local Workforce Development Area, Roanoke
• Hampton Roads Local Workforce Development Area, Virginia Beach
• New River Mount Rogers Local Workforce Development Area, Pulaski County
• Northern Virginia Community College
• Northern Virginia Local Workforce Development Area, Fairfax County

The grants were awarded through an open bid process using funds from the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title 1 funds. Under the ACT, Title I funds are available to states for the development and support of programs that provide job search, education and training activities for adult, youth and dislocated workers seeking to gain or improve their employment prospects.

Each year, the governor has discretion over a portion of the funds that may be distributed to projects based on a competitive grant process.

More information can be found on the Virginia Career Works website.

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The bridge project over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks on Route 29 near the Lynchburg Regional Airport is in its final stretch.

One of the remaining tasks is resurfacing work, which will take place from 7 p.m. on Friday through Saturday afternoon.

The work will require the closure of one lane at a time for northbound traffic, beginning approximately .6 mile south of the ramp to Route 460 East/Route 29 North.

This work may cause delays for some motorists.

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The next couple of weeks are going to be dry in Virginia but the conditions should be temporary, according to an Accuweather Senior Meteorologist.

“While the next 1-2 weeks will be on the dry side, I don’t think we are heading into a drought,” said Tom Kines, Director of Forecaster Scheduling.

It does look like higher temperatures are also in the forecast next week, he said.

“It looks like we have a few days next week when heat returns, most likely the first half of the week,” Kines said.

He also predicts wetter conditions will return in September.

“We feel there will be more opportunities for rain as we enter the month of September,” Kines said. “We still feel September temperatures will average above normal and rainfall near to maybe a little above the historical average.”

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Marion Trai Strong, 21, was convicted of felony hit and run in Norfolk Circuit Court today after pleading guilty as charged to leaving the scene of a fatal crash last summer.

On June 24, 2022, around 8:20 p.m., Strong, was driving a black BMW on Tidewater Drive.

According to police, just before traveling through an underpass, Strong stopped at a traffic light at the intersection with St. Julian Ave.

Other drivers reported that Strong had been weaving in and out of traffic prior to stopping, and when the light turned green, they saw Strong take off at a high rate of speed.

After Strong traveled through the underpass, the witnesses behind him in traffic said they saw his vehicle swerve off the roadway in the 2400 block of Tidewater Drive and up onto the sidewalk.

Strong hit a pedestrian and struck a tree, flipping the vehicle over.

Many individuals immediately stopped to help the pedestrian, 36-year-old Karl Henry Wilkerson, but Wilkerson died from his injuries after being transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Strong was able to crawl out of a window of his car and immediately began removing his license plates.

Another vehicle pulled up to the scene moments later, and Strong was photographed by a witness getting into that car while holding his license plates and leaving the scene.

At no point did Strong check on the victim, purposefully leave behind any identifying information, or contact Norfolk Police.

At some point after the crash, Strong fled the state. He was apprehended by U.S. Marshals and returned to Norfolk.

Strong pleaded guilty as charged on Thursday to felony hit and run, and Judge Jerrauld C. Jones accepted his plea.

Strong is docketed for sentencing on Oct. 20.

“In any vehicle crash, everyone absolutely must stay at the scene to help anyone who is injured,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Leaving the scene only makes it worse. It may cost a victim his life, and it will come with consequences to the person who leaves. Stay and help.”

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Virginians should take proper precautions when venturing outdoors as tick season heats up in warmer months.

In Virginia, tick exposure can occur year-round. The state ranks in the top 10 for tickborne disease cases with more than 6,000 recorded, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bites from the small arachnids can infect humans with illnesses such as Lyme disease, which accounts for more than 80 percent of tick-borne illnesses.

Tick-borne diseases also can vary by region, with more than 17 human diseases known to be caused by at least nine kinds of ticks nationally, the CDC reports.

Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening or hunting can put you in close contact with ticks, and many people encounter ticks in their own yards or neighborhoods.

The CDC suggests familiarizing yourself with where to expect ticks before stepping outside. Avoid woody and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter, and walk in the center of trails.

While ticks can’t fly or jump, they can detect heat, breath and other signals from warm creatures.

To find meals, they typically cling to the tops of grass blades or leaves with their back legs and hitch a ride on people’s apparel.

Tips for avoiding ticks

• Check clothing for ticks upon entering the household, and use tweezers to immediately remove any that are found. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill clinging ticks, or longer if the clothes are damp. If washing clothing first, use hot water—cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.
• Ticks also can ride into homes on pets or objects and attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats and daypacks.
• Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce the risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tick-borne diseases.
• The CDC also recommends checking under arms, in and around ears, inside navel, back of knees, in and around hair, between legs and around the waist for any unwanted visitors.
• For extra protection, treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin or purchasing permethrin-treated clothing can help ward off ticks.

For more tips on avoiding ticks, visit cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html.

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The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will accept applications for the 2023 beehive distribution program from Aug, 28 through Sept. 12.

The program provides free equipment for assembling new beehives to Virginia residents.

Qualified applicants are selected at random from qualifying applications received during the application period.

“In Virginia, honeybees are essential pollinators for the fruits and vegetables consumed by people and wildlife,” said Keith Tignor, State Apiarist. “The beehive distribution program helps counteract dramatic honeybee losses in the state over the past several decades by assisting individuals in establishing new hives.”

Beehive regulations

• Individuals who are Virginia residents, and 18 years of age or older at the time an application is submitted, are eligible to receive beehive units.
• Entities such as businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies are not eligible to receive beehive units.
• Multiple individuals with the same mailing and/or physical address (household) may apply to the program; however, distribution of beehive units will be limited to no more than three beehive units per household in the same fiscal year, July 1 to June 30.
• Recipients of beehive units must assemble the equipment and occupy it with a colony of honey bees within one year of receiving the equipment.
• VDACS does not provide honey bees or equipment for managing the hives, such as personal safety equipment or honey processing equipment.

To learn more about the Beehive Distribution Program or to submit an application, visit the Beehive Distribution Program website.

For more information, contact the VDACS Office of Plant Industry Services at (804) 786-3515 or vabees@vdacs.virginia.gov.

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An eight-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 at the 163 mile marker in Botetourt County took the life of a Richmond man.

According to Virginia State Police, William Lawrance Towns, 61, of Richmond, was driving a 2023 Dodge Ram when he slowed for traffic ahead of him.

His vehicle was struck in the rear by a Kenworth tractor-trailer at 3:31 p.m.

Towns, who was wearing his seatbelt, died at the scene.

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Leesburg Police conducted an undercover operation at 29 retail establishments that sell tobacco, resulting in charges for four clerks who sold vaping products to customers under the age of 21.

The clerks were each issued a summons charging them with violating Virginia Code Section 18.2-371.2, which prohibits the purchase, possession, and sale of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, alternative nicotine products, and hemp products intended for smoking to persons under 21 years of age.

A violation of this code section is punishable by a civil penalty.

“Operations like these send a clear message to retail establishments in town, that they are responsible for training their staff to properly follow the law to ensure that age restricted products are only sold to those of legal age,” Leesburg Police Capt. David Smith said. “For this reason, the Leesburg Police Department periodically conducts operations relating to the sale of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to underage persons.”

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Virginia State Police are investigating a reported shooting at a vehicle on Interstate 64 at the 193 mile marker in Henrico County on Wednesday.

According to VSP, a 2007 Chevrolet Impala was traveling on I-95 southbound to the I-64 east/ Exit 75 at 7:20 p.m., and as the vehicle merged onto I-64 eastbound, the driver, a 33-year-old female from North Chesterfield, noticed an older model sedan tailgating her.

At Exit 193/ Nine Mile Road, she took the first exit and pulled to the right shoulder to allow the sedan to pass. As the tailgating vehicle was passing, it began firing at the vehicle.

The driver of the Impala was struck multiple times and was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. There were no passengers.

Anyone with information related to the shooting is encouraged to contact the Virginia State Police by calling 804-609-5656 or #77 on a cellphone or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov.

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