Richmond to Host 'Morbid Masquerade' Ball

- The Hofheimer Building, an example of "Exotic-Revival style" architecture, was constructed in 1928 for a fine rug company and incorporates leftover glazed mosaic tiles from the 1926 construction of what is now the Altria Theater. - The "Morbid Masquerade" is an annual event presented by AfterDarkRVA.com, which also organizes other themed 21+ events in Richmond like the Vampire Ball and a New Year's Gatsby Gala. - The ball includes a charitable component, featuring a canned food drive to benefit Feed More, a hunger-relief organization serving Central Virginia. - While Richmond hosts various social events, the city is also a focal point for legislative changes impacting maternal health care. As of July 1, 2025, House Bill 1904 will allow certified nurse-midwives to be part of the 24-hour on-call roster for nursery care in hospitals when a physician is unavailable, a move intended to address care shortages. - This legislative change is significant as approximately 36% of Virginia's counties are classified as "maternity care deserts," lacking adequate access to obstetric services and providers. - The Virginia Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives is actively involved in state-level advocacy, recently supporting HB 1923 to ensure insurance reimbursement parity for all licensed midwives, which also takes effect in July 2025. - The Virginia Department of Health recently launched new data dashboards to better track maternal health outcomes, responding to a governor's directive. Preliminary 2024 data showed a maternal mortality rate of 24.5 per 100,000 live births, a significant decrease from 49.2 in 2021. - For those interested in policy, the Virginia ACNM has an upcoming "Midwives' Advocacy Day" at the General Assembly scheduled for February 4, 2026, to engage with legislators on midwifery care access.