Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

The Richmond Oktoberfest is held in the Old Dominion Building at the Richmond Raceway Complex. (Richmond Oktoberfest)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Although Oktoberfest started in Munich, Germany, in 1810 as a celebration of a royal wedding, it has since become a global celebration of German culture, cuisine, and beer. In Virginia this year, a number of Oktoberfest events are slated for mid-September through late October. 

Happening this month:

• Triple Crossing is continuing the fun it started last year with its 2nd Annual Oktoberfest on Sept. 12 from 12-5 p.m. The Fulton location’s taproom and outdoor space will be transformed into a Bavarian playground. Admission is free.

• OktoberForest: Taste of Virginia in Powhatan is The Nature Conservancy’s unique spin on the classic Oktoberfest tradition, with six unique beers crafted by local breweries using ingredients from the conservancy’s preserves. Running from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 13, the event will also feature live music, hands-on conservation activities, and fresh oysters.

• Head to St. Benedict Catholic Church in Richmond’s Museum District for St. Benedict Oktoberfest. The free event runs from 4-11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, 12-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, and 12-6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, and will will include music, dancing, children’s activities, German cuisine, and both German and local beverages. 

Want more fun? We’re featuring September, October, and November events at the link below. 

We’re switching up the order just a bit today. Since we didn’t have a newsletter on Labor Day, I didn’t have a chance to ask y’all a question on Monday. Hence, the Question of the Week appearing midday on a Wednesday.

Flock cameras—devices that take pictures of your vehicle and license plates and post them to a searchable, nationwide network—are popping up throughout Virginia. I’d love to know how you feel about them. 

How concerned are you about Flock cameras in Virginia? 

Vice President JD Vance, right, walks with Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., following an event marking 250 years of the American military at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Ken Cedenoe/Pool Photo via AP)

By Michael O’Connor

In a campaign ad released this month, Republican US Rep. Jen Kiggans of Hampton Roads jogs down a residential street, touting her record on healthcare, as a Politico headline flashes. 

“Kiggans Sticking Her Neck Out For Healthcare” the headline reads. 

The headline references an article about Kiggans’ support last year for extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance subsidies before they expired on Dec. 31, a position that put her out of step at the time with Republican Party leadership. 

During last year’s debate over the subsidies, it was widely understood that allowing them to expire would make healthcare more expensive and out of reach for millions of Americans. Kiggans, a nurse practitioner and US Navy veteran, seemed to understand this, too. 

“In six weeks or so, people will get a notice that their health care premiums are going to go up by thousands of dollars,” Kiggans said in the Politico story. “And at the end of the year … for people that either have this type of insurance and work in small businesses, are self-employed, you know, I worry about their access to health care.”

Kiggans ultimately voted for legislation that allowed the subsidies to expire. The Virginia State Corporation Commission estimated that 100,000 Virginians have lost health insurance coverage as a result of higher premiums. State figures show that so far this year 94,000 fewer Virginians are enrolled in ACA insurance, according to a Virginia Mercury report. 

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