Virginia lawmakers have passed a new seatbelt law that would require backseat passengers to buckle up or face a $25 dollar fine. The push for the new law was led by Williamsburg resident Christy King, a mother who lost her son in a tragic accident in 2020.Preview: The legislation, awaiting Governor Glenn Youngkin's signature, aims to increase seatbelt usage rates in the state.Preview: If signed into law, the new legislation would take effect on July 1st.
Metro is really raking in some of that cash from fares it's been missing in recent years. The transit agency says Monday and Tuesday were some of the busiest days for trains and buses since before the pandemic hit five years ago. The ordered return to the office for federal workers is driving the spike and Metro believes it'll soon be back to transporting a million passengers a week.
A new version of a historic roller coaster is coming to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. The amusement park plans to open a new inverted coaster in the Oktoberfest area later this year. The park is playing up the new coaster's ties to the Big Bad Wolf coaster that was open from 1984 to 2009. Busch Gardens will let guests help pick a name for the new coaster, with all three choices having the word "wolf" in the title. The park is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Americans' view of the nation's economy is souring. The latest Consumer Confidence reading shows the largest monthly decline since August of 2021. For the first time since last June, the Expectations Index was below the threshold that usually signals a recession ahead. The board's chief economist said the fall in confidence was shared across all income groups but was deepest for consumers between 35 and 55 years old.