See which 8News stories you read most this year
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Throughout 2025, our team of reporters, news producers and factual storytellers at 8News has worked very hard to bring you stories of Central Virginia.
As we're approaching the end of the year, let's take a look at the top headlines we brought you for each of the months in 2025.
8News has compiled a list of our most-read stories for 2025 using a content analytics tool that tracks pageviews and engaged time. Keep scrolling to see which stories shaped Central Virginia this year.
January
Top story: Immediate boil water advisory issued for Richmond, residents should limit water use
We started 2025 with a boil water advisory across the Richmond area, marking the beginning of what many would later call the "Richmond area water crisis." Residents were asked to limit their water use after city officials said a power outage at Richmond’s water reservoir system caused a malfunction on Jan. 6.
February
Top story: Winter storm with heavy snowfall headed for Central Virginia
Our StormTracker8 team tracked a powerful winter storm that hit Central Virginia on Feb. 17 and into Feb. 18. We also saw a couple of inches of snowfall during the storm.
March
Top story: State police operation results in 603 felony arrests, drug seizures
Virginia State Police led "Operation Snow Eagle" earlier this year from Feb. 23 to March 1. The operation resulted in over 600 felony arrests, the recovery of firearms and narcotics and the investigation of multiple crimes.
April
Top story: Snake falls into margarita at Henrico restaurant, leaving woman traumatized
In an exclusive interview with 8News, Carletta Andrews shared how she was traumatized after a snake fell from the ceiling of a Mexican restaurant into her margarita. Andrews said she and her husband had just finished their food when she felt something on her forehead.
May
8News spoke with the five Richmond Public Schools (RPS) bus drivers who said they were terminated on April 25 after they advocated for overtime pay outside of City Hall on April 8.
8News also obtained an email from RPS superintendent Jason Kamras about its termination decision.
Those drivers were later reinstated in July after a three-month battle.
June
Top story: Seven movies and TV shows you didn’t know were filmed in Central Virginia
8News compiled a list in June of seven movies and TV shows that were either fully or partially filmed in Central Virginia. Spoiler alert: A spinoff of the original "Walking Dead" series is on the list.
July
Top story: Richmond doctor faces 26 health care fraud charges after allegedly injecting patients with ozone gas
A Richmond doctor was charged with health care fraud after reports claimed he subjected patients to unapproved ozone gas treatments and requested over $5.2 million in government reimbursements.
August
Top story: ‘Before I knew it, I’d been hit’: Lyft driver shot on the job in Richmond
8News spoke with Lyft driver Lamar McCray, who said he had just picked up his first passenger on Aug. 23 on Old Denny Street in Richmond when the evening took a violent turn.
September
Board member Dorothy Heffron resigned from Chesterfield County Public Schools after she made a controversial social media post in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination.
October
A Chesterfield mother took to TikTok to get donations for her son’s classroom, and she said the celebrity who responded “blew her mind.” 8News sat down with mother Susana Berrios for this exclusive interview.
November
Top story: Explosion on I-95 triggers hours-long backup as Thanksgiving travel builds
A Nov. 25 fiery crash and explosion on Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County left one man injured and shut down traffic for hours.
December
Top story: VIDEO: Raccoon drunkenly waddles through Virginia ABC store in Hanover
Of course, our local internet sensation made it to the list. The story of a raccoon breaking into a Virginia ABC store in Hanover County and passing out drunk in the bathroom has since garnered national and international attention.
If you haven't already, you can now watch a video of this tipsy critter.
