Some Richmonders are turning laundry into a side hustle to help bring in extra cash.

Why it matters: Laundry service Poplin can be done largely from home, making it an option for parents and others in need of flexible work.

The big picture: Nearly 600 Poplin "laundry pros" are in metro Richmond working for the app-based "Uber for laundry," company spokesperson Pete Bahrenburg tells Axios, most of them moms.

• That includes Henrico stay-at-home mom Alexis Faber, who started working through Poplin around 2022, she tells Axios.
• She picks up bags from customers' porches, washes, dries and folds the laundry, then drops it off.
• These days, she says she takes about five or six orders a week, bringing in about $200-$300 for two hours of work.

How it works: Poplin charges customers $1 a pound and workers keep 75% of that, plus all customer tips, per Bahrenburg.

What they're saying: "DoorDash is absolutely not an option," says Faber, who has two young children.

• With Poplin, her kids can ride along for pickups and drop-offs, and be home with her while the machines are running — so no babysitter needed.

Yes, but: The work comes with costs traditional employees don't shoulder.

• Poplin staffers are responsible for their utilities and transportation, plus the wear and tear on their appliances.
• Faber says her utilities increased when she was doing full-time Poplin work, though not enough to deter her.

Zoom out: Side hustles are increasingly common, particularly for younger workers, Axios' Sami Sparber reports.

• 57% of Gen Zers surveyed last year said they worked a side gig, according to The Harris Poll.

The bottom line: Gig work, whether laundry or something else, "can be an awesome way to make ends meet for your family," Faber says.

Tell a friend

Virginia taxpayers could pay an estimated $7.4 billion toward President Trump's mass deportation push — about $2,400 per taxpayer — according to a new calculator from the Economic Policy Institute.

Why it matters: The estimate puts a local price tag on Trump's deportation agenda as thousands of Virginians receive removal orders, including over 2,000 in the Richmond area during the first half of 2026.

The big picture: Virginia has been among the top states for deportation orders in recent years, per data from the nonpartisan Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).

• And Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield account for about 1 in 6 of the removal orders involving Virginians from January through June.
• EPI estimates taxpayers in those localities would also contribute about one-tenth ($747 million) of Virginia's projected deportation spending.

By the numbers: Richmond's estimated per-taxpayer cost: $2,527.

• Henrico: $2,238.
• Chesterfield: $1,938.

The other side: In a statement to Axios, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson blamed the Biden administration for ignoring the costs of illegal immigration, and said the Trump admin's self-deportation program saves taxpayers money.

How they calculated the numbers

🎰 A Richmond judge dismissed Henrico's challenge to the Roseshire gambling parlor that opened last year, ruling the county lacked legal standing to appeal the state racing commission's approval. (Times-Dispatch)

🚫 The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden workers' union voted to reject what their employer said was its final and best contract offer. (The Richmonder)

• The workers, who unionized in 2024 and have spent nearly two years negotiating their first contract, didn't share the offer details, but previously called it "disappointing."

A U.S. citizen in Fall Church says an ICE agent pointed a gun at her during an encounter on Monday after agents accused her of trying to hit them with her car, a claim she denies. (Washington Post)

• "It really felt like a Renée Good situation," she told the Post.

🏁 Richmond Raceway will open the NASCAR Cup Series Chase on Sept. 11, 2027, marking the first time the track has hosted the postseason opener since 2021. (News release)

👋 Karri here, back from trying Bon Temps, the Creole-Caribbean restaurant in Bon Air.

Why it matters: While the bistro doesn't have a "True Blood" theme (which feels like a missed opportunity, tbh), it's serving up delicious cuisine, making it worthy of a trip.

State of play: A Trinidadian couple opened Bon Temps in February, bringing Trinidadian cuisine and Caribbean cocktails to a Buford Road strip mall.

On the menu: Handhelds like Po'boys and chicken or creole shrimp tacos ($15-$18) and entrees like stewed oxtail and fish en papillote ($30-$40).

Zoom in: My dining pal and I ordered the fish en papillote and shrimp 'n' grits on our recent visit.

• The shrimp is served head-on — "a bold move for Chesterfield," my friend noted.
• Both dishes were delicious, packing flavor, a twinge of spice and a hint of sweetness.

Pro tip: The sleeper hit is the happy hour: $6 small plates on weekdays, 4-6pm.

Keep reading for the hours

Richmond is the new New York City. Or Miami. Depends on who you ask.

Why it matters: What started as a social media bit comparing RVA to New York and Miami has become an inside joke, and people keep falling for it.

What's happening: The trend has Richmonders saying there's no point in traveling to Central Park or Miami Beach ... when we've got both at home with Monroe Park and the James River.

• One video claims we have the superior transit because GRTC buses are free.
• Other comments say: Our Statue of Liberty? The Arthur Ashe monument. Our version of the Met? The VMFA.

The other side: Another ragebaiting camp says Richmond is the new Miami, or "RVMiami," with Scott's Addition being Brickell.

The bottom line: It's a pick-your-own delusion in a city that loves arguing about what it's becoming: South Beach or Brooklyn.

Tell your gullible friend