+6 In graduation news, thousands of degrees are conferred over the weekend to students at Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Union and Virginia State universities. And now for the bad news: At least 5 percent of college graduates end up on reality TV.

-6 Using data on America's health, Newsweek's Daily Beast ranks Richmond as the second-fattest city in the country, right after Memphis, Tenn., with about 30 percent of the population cited as obese. Shoot, the only reason Memphis beat us is because Elvis is still buried there.

0 A Mitt Romney campaign source tells Politico that the candidate's safest choice for a vice-presidential running mate will be an "incredibly boring white guy." Something tells us there's a giddy governor throwing back some really stiff 1-percent milk right about now!

-5 Delegate Bob Marshall speaks against the nomination of Richmond Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland to a general district court judgeship, citing his history as an "aggressive activist for the pro-homosexual agenda." C'mon Bob, doesn't everyone wearing those robes feel a little bit gay?

+8 Richmond gears up to honor veterans with the Welcome Home Our Heroes Parade, along the Boulevard to Dogwood Dell starting Saturday at 10 a.m. And if we can't draw more people than showed up to Elliott Yamin's "American Idol" parade, we're all going to hell.

+7 President Obama makes Richmond the second stop of his re-election campaign kickoff, rallying supporters and getting Coach Shaka Smart’s endorsement at VCU’s Siegel Center. Who better to help Obama get to the Final Four years of his presidency? +1 In the midst of the Obama rally and Cinco de Mayo, a correspondent for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” comes to town, interviewing locals at Baja Bean and the Siegel Center while wearing a sombrero and Mexican poncho. Because talking about illegal immigration is a lot more fun when you’re blitzed on dirt-cheap margies. +3 The University of Richmond holds its 182nd commencement ceremony, sending 1,073 graduates into the cruel world of reality. A world full of hand-me-down Lexuses. Oh the horror! 0 Richmonders gazing upward see the “super moon” over the weekend, the effect of the full moon getting as close as it gets to the earth this year. Unfortunately all the astronomy nerds were inside watching “The Avengers.” -3 Scooter thieves are going gangbusters, warn Richmond police, who cite 79 moped thefts so far this year, up nearly 150 percent from the same period last year. Also up 150 percent: the number of Richmond hipsters bragging about the dope deal they got on their Piaggio at the pawn shop.

+6 Race fans flock to Richmond International Raceway for NASCAR weekend, which features Kyle Busch breaking a track record by winning a fourth consecutive spring race with the Capital City 400. Busch takes record-setting laps. We take record-setting naps.

+2 It appears that the long local nightmare of our inchworm invasion is over, with the little buggers dying out, getting eaten or escaping underground. At least Richmond can now say it had a peaceful Occupy movement that ended with no arrests.

-1 Some students and alumni at the University of Richmond and Christopher Newport University are complaining about the selection of Gov. Bob McDonnell as their graduation speaker. Female students just shrugged — they already know when it comes to McDonnell, they don't get a choice.

-3 Speaking of, Richmond gets no mention whatsoever on a new Men's Health list ranking the cities with the most eligible single women — the highest number being in Washington. We now fully support that high-speed train between here and there.

-2 A podiatrist in Colonial Heights is arrested on charges that he traded oxycodone prescriptions for weed, the T-D reports. Let's have a little compassion. If you looked at feet all day, you'd need a little down time too.

+5 The Richmond Earth Day Festival draws more than 6,000 folks to Manchester for outdoor activities, live music and environmentally friendly partying. Denizens of Pluto, still touchy over their planetary downgrade, mock the festivities as excessive and pretentious.

+2 In other green-related news, some of Richmond's more laid-back citizens mark 4/20 day with celebratory puffs and a rally at Monroe Park calling for an end to the war on drugs. Now this is where the food truck court should have parked.

+1 After rigorous debates, intense number crunching and back-room political dealing, the General Assembly finally passes a state budget. We're still dirt poor, but at least our governor can afford quality hair care.

0 The Greater Richmond Chamber leads a group of business execs and civic boosters on a jaunt to Boston, traveling to find ideas on how to improve Richmond. And so we introduce our new tourism slogan: "You's Guys, Richmond is Wicked Good."

+1 The University of Richmond announces final-exam breaks for students, which include food, games, massages and stress-relieving playtime with dogs that are brought on campus. For those of you who attended that 4/20 celebration, don't worry, they're not that kind of dogs.

+6 The RVA Street Art Festival brings local and national artists to the flood wall along the James River, painting murals that create a sweeping outdoor art exhibit. Now if we can just make the river smell as good as it looks.

+4 Alternative-rock station The X holds its Chili Cookoff, drawing thousands of folks to the Richmond Raceway Complex for a day of live music, beer drinking and giant vats of simmering meat. And on this day, men became men. Big, happy, farting men.

-1 After its splashy local arrival at a party in Chesterfield, the designer drug 25i gets the attention of the governor, who adds it to legislation that cracks down on man-made drugs, including snortable bath salts. Geez, weed needs a new P.R. guy.

-3 Longtime pork, pie and limeade destination Bill's Barbecue scales down from eight restaurants to three, citing economic concerns. It's the first time in history this place has been associated with belt tightening.

+2 For a Wal-Mart campaign, the Martin Agency lands the big victory at the Richmond Ad Club's annual competition, which gives out cannonball awards for the best locally created advertising work. Ironically, the only thing we can't seem to sell is the Civil War.

+3 The T-D reports on a potential deal with the 30 protesters arrested during a women's rights rally at the State Capitol, in which charges could be dropped against those arrested if they perform community service. Such as holding a women's rights rally against ridiculous legislation proposed by the General Assembly.

+8 Thousands of people flock to Monument Avenue on Sunday for the annual Easter on Parade, showcasing fancy, colorful, big and beautiful hats. It's a great opportunity for white folks to dress like they're going to a black church.

+4 And amid the Easter parade music, revelry and sunny weather are lots of dogs — dogs wearing bonnets, scarves and rabbit ears. We subject them to this, yet ban them from eating chocolate bunnies?

-3 NBC-12 reports on a "Wake Up Call" anti-theft initiative by Richmond police in certain neighborhoods, where they'll knock on your door between midnight and 4 a.m. if you've left any valuables in your car within plain sight. Sure, you might have the crap scared out of you in the middle of the night, but at least you'll save that iPod.

-2 A grand reopening to showcase interior improvements to Richmond's Krispy Kreme shop is put on hold after a minivan runs into the store. Yet another sugar crash.

+6 More than 40,600 people race in the Monument Avenue 10-K, which is won by Mengistu Nebsi of Ethiopia, followed closely by Kenyans Julius Kogo and Benson Cheruiyot. That's OK, Richmond, we haven't had a native son win on Monument since the addition of Arthur Ashe.

-3 In the aftermath of the Mega Millions frenzy, no one in Richmond wins the largest lottery jackpot in history. Who wants to be a 1-percenter anyway?

0 After a nearly two-year investigation, the Virginia State Police and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control announce the destruction of 25 moonshine stills and 36 black-pot stills that can hold 400 to 800 gallons of whiskey in Southwest Virginia. That might explain the new police motto, "To Protect and Serve, Chilled Over Ice."

+4 The Richmond Flying Squirrels work out at The Diamond before hitting the road to Connecticut on Thursday to take on the New Britain Rock Cats. And if you want more proof that spring baseball is back, Nutzy the Flying Squirrel says he's finished thawing out his nuts.

+3 A half-dozen Richmond food trucks gear up for the city's first one-stop-eating gathering, setting up Tuesday and Friday behind the Virginia Historical Society. This will correspond with the museum's new exhibit, "Burritos Through Time: a Commonwealth's Search for Intestinal Fortitude."

+6 The 27th Annual Irish Festival draws an estimated 20,000 people to Church Hill for a weekend of bands, bagpipers, food, Guinness — and rain. Speaking of, remind us not to wear our white kilt next time.

+2 Devoted watchers of the Times-Dispatch's eagle-cam freak out when the larger, older eaglet muscles aside its runty sibling in a ruthless quest for survival. See? Everyone's getting into "The Hunger Games"!

+3 Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield takes over title sponsorship of the popular Richmond Marathon and announces a new finish line at Brown's Island. Finally, a sponsor that can really tackle all that runner's rash.

+1 After on-air tryouts and listener votes, talk-radio station WRVA picks Leland Conway out of Lexington, Ky., as the local host to follow Rush Limbaugh's show in the afternoons. And what do you know, this Leland guy already has more advertisers.

-3 With chef Todd Schneider gone, Virginia State Police reveal that investigators are exploring "a reported allegation of improprieties involving the kitchen operations" at the Governor's Mansion. Let's just hope those desecrated apple pies will get justice.

+6 One game shy of the Sweet 16, the VCU Rams return home to cheering fans, congratulating them on a successful season. After all, they're still better than Duke.

+5 Shamrock the Block lures more than 25,000 green-shirted, bead-wearing, plastic-cup-bearing revelers to Shockoe Bottom. Half of them still think they were celebrating St. Shaka's Day.

+3 Trained on a nest for weeks, the Times-Dispatch Eagle Cam captures the hatching of the two chicks, watched over by parents Virginia and James. The last Eagle to draw this much attention in Richmond spent two years in prison.

-2 A woman tells NBC-12 that she was written a ticket for destruction of property after Richmond police spotted her daughter making chalk doodles on the rocks at Belle Isle. Fortunately her daughter isn't a Grateful Dead fan.

-1 Concerned parents and officials in Chesterfield County meet about a new designer drug popping up among kids — a hallucinogen called 25i. Teenagers taking the drug are moody, sweaty, agitated and prone to seizures. Or they might just be listening to dub step.

+5 The VCU Rams find out they'll play the Wichita State Shockers in NCAA tournament in Portland, Ore., on Thursday. Shockers, meet Shaka, Shaka, Shokers. Shokers, Shaka. …

0 Gov. Bob McDonnell appears on NBC's "Meet the Press," answering questions about his presidential endorsement, the economy and, most contentious, his backing of the controversial ultrasound bill. He's feeling pretty good about his performance, until someone mentions that women have the right to vote.

-4 Speaking of Virginia's General Assembly, lawmakers adjourn without agreeing to a budget. On the upside, they adjourned.

-9 The State Fair of Virginia goes bankrupt, putting the future of the long-running event in limbo. As for the deed to the property, it will be put up for sale as soon as it's battered, deep-fried and impaled on a stick.

+3 A Richmond contingent of hipsters, techno geeks and music enthusiasts invades Austin for South by Southwest. Either that or a whole lot of people are just hiding out in their bedrooms and tweeting about Jay-Z, Sean Parker and Likester. #sxsw #nofilter