Thank you for your expertise and the shoutout!

Penny’s Wine Shop was featured in a Super Bowl commercial for Google Gemini, a generative artificial intelligence program. Also— The use of AI in small businesses has nearly doubled in the last year.
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In January, members of the United Campus Workers of Virginia lobbied in support of collective bargaining rights for public sector employees and the right to protest on campus. m.richmondfreepress.com/news/2025/ja...

Richmond Fire Chief Melvin Carter announced his retirement at the end of last year. He worked with Richmond Fire for nearly 40 years. m.richmondfreepress.com/news/2025/ja...

Gov. Youngkin announced tax relief for tipped employees in December. Del. Mike Jones supported the idea, but believes the governor can do more to support working families. m.richmondfreepress.com/news/2024/de...

Holiday shoppers at the Short Pump Mall donated to charity through a vending machine that works in reverse. m.richmondfreepress.com/news/2024/de...

In mid December, one of 14 fridges maintained by RVA Community fridges was vandalized. Richmonders responded by donating food and money to get the organization back on track. m.richmondfreepress.com/news/2024/de...

If we are going to continue with automation of customer service (and losing jobs in the process), the technology should at the very least be functional and easy to understand for all of us.

As someone who has worked as a pharmacy clerk I have seen firsthand the confusion and frustration that barriers like this create for our elderly community members. I’ve seen folks take the bus across town to pick up something that isn’t ready because an automated text told them it was.

As young person, I have the advantage of understanding this technology. I wonder if my grandmother, who has many more prescriptions than I do, would be able to navigate the obstacles that stand in the way of contacting a health care provider.

The machine replies “sorry, I didn’t quite get that” twice before deciding that yes, I do need to speak with someone at the pharmacy. I could have told it that, but whatever

I called the pharmacy today after receiving a message to do so in order to discuss a prescription. When I ask to speak with the pharmacy, the answering machine says “I can actually help you with most concerns.” I tell the machine I was specifically instructed to speak with the pharmacy.

She did!! It has like a fart scent inside and it actually smells pretty bad. I didn’t think it was a real thing but toys are way cool nowadays