Wednesday, November 27
Agelasto wraps up City Council service with a look back
City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, 43, wrapped up his final week and walked away before Thanksgiving from City Hall and his post as the 5th District City Council representative.
Let’s do the right thing
Re “Get out: Court-ordered RRHA evictions raising alarms in Creighton Court,” Free Press Oct. 24-26 edition: It is a shame that many of our city’s top officials did not say anything when public housing tenants were being given eviction notices.
A.I. and African-American workers by Marc H. Morial
“Black America’s collective response to emerging technology will determine whether it is an opportunity or an existential threat.” – George H. Lambert Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Greater Washington Urban League
John Brown: Saint or madman? by John Michael Cummings
I grew up in the 1970s, a stone’s throw away from John Brown’s Fort in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Today, many are throwing verbal stones at the fort.
America's last slave ship could offer a case for reparations
Alabama steamship owner Timothy Meaher financed the last slave vessel that brought African captives to the United States, and he came out of the Civil War a wealthy man.
Shockoe Bottom's slave history to be subject of symposium Dec. 7
Fans of African-American history will be offered an all-day feast of information about Shockoe Bottom on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St.
Vocalist Rene Marie looking forward to RVA 'homecoming' with RJS
Virginia born and internationally acclaimed vocalist René Marie will perform as part of the Richmond Jazz Society’s Guest Educators Concert Series on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at The Capitol Ale House Downtown Music Hall, 623 E. Main St.
Mr. Sailor, Ms. Simms wed
C.J. Sailor was on the campaign trail with Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie in 2017 when they made a campaign stop at Southern Kitchen restaurant. That’s when the statewide director of coalitions for the Gillespie campaign spied Chelsea Simms, who was working at the Shockoe Bottom restaurant owned by her mother that has since relocated to Jackson Ward. Mr. Sailor was lovestruck.
No need to be alone with area Thanksgiving dinner programs
The holiday season has begun. Thanksgiving, a time for family, friends and fellowship, is upon us. But it can also be a stressful and lonely time for many. Several Richmond area organizations are helping by providing free Thanksgiving dinners to area residents. Many organizations also are welcoming additional volunteers — cooks, turkey carvers, servers and greeters, table designers and general helpers — to assist at various locations.
Bill Russell finally accepts Basketball Hall of Fame ring
It took him 44 years, but Bill Russell finally accepted his Basketball Hall of Fame ring.
Highland Springs football dynasty ends; TJ plays Nov. 29 for region title
It’s over. After four straight state championships and 40 consecutive wins, the curtain finally fell on what has been the greatest show in local high school football history.
VSU's team virtually all new
This has been something of a “meet-and-greet” basketball season at Virginia State University. With the top five scorers gone from last year’s CIAA championship squad, name tags might be helpful in knowing the “rookies.”
VCU to play Purdue Friday
Virginia Commonwealth University’s basketball team is off to its best start in school history, but the road ahead is looking rocky.
VUU's Jordan Peebles jumps to a leadership role
Jordan Peebles is a high-wire act without the trapeze and safety net. The Virginia Union University junior does his best work high above the floor for Coach Jay Butler’s Panthers.
Faith groups sue Trump administration over refugee resettlement order
Three faith-based groups that assist with refugee resettlement are suing the federal government, arguing a recent executive order granting state and local officials the authority to block refugee resettlement violates federal law and inhibits their ability to practice their faith.
Funeral programs helping to connect African-American families to roots
Volunteers across the state are combing through a large collection of old African-American funeral programs to help families connect with distant relatives of the past.
Dr. Wesley B. Carter, child and adolescent psychiatrist, dies at 77
For more than 50 years, Dr. Wesley Byrd Carter specialized in helping children and teens deal with mental health challenges.
Pastor Dimitri Bradley, co-founder of City Church, dies at 51
Beginning with just 12 members, Pastor Dimitri R. Bradley and his co-pastor and wife, Nicole, built one of the largest congregations in the Richmond area. Now the estimated 4,000 members of Henrico County-based City Church are mourning the loss of Pastor Bradley.
Personality: Brenda A. Campbell
Spotlight on founder of The Enhancement Foundation
For Brenda A. Campbell, founding executive director of The Enhancement Foundation, “Christmas: A Season of Celebration, A Lupus Fundraising Event” is an opportunity for her nonprofit organization to reach out to women across the city and inform them about an illness that affects women by a large margin.
Virginia DMV ramps up for Real IDs required by October 2020
After noticing his driver’s license was set to expire, Loudoun County resident John Akins paid a recent visit to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. This time he obtained a Real ID-compliant driver’s license — a new requirement for many Americans.
Mayor Stoney lauds record pothole repair
A record 31,000 potholes have been repaired this year, City Hall announced Tuesday.
'Hope' returnes to Henrico's Hope Village housing complex
A $5 million facelift of Hope Village, a 100-unit affordable housing complex in Henrico County, is now complete.
GRTC to honor Rosa Parks on Dec. 1
On Sunday, Dec. 1, the first passenger seat in every GRTC bus once again will be reserved in honor of the late civil rights icon Rosa Parks, it has been announced.
Vernon J. Harris Medical and Dental Center to reopen
A mainstay of health care in Richmond’s East End is reopening after being sidelined for a year of renovation.
McCoy removed as Chesterfield Branch NAACP president
LaSalle J. “L.J.” McCoy Jr. has led the Chesterfield Branch NAACP for 11 years. But on Nov. 12, Mr. McCoy abruptly was replaced.
RPS rezoning plans with pairings criticized as too costly
Parents and community members voiced opposition to several proposals to rezone Richmond Public Schools attendance districts, saying the plans are too costly and diversity in schools can be achieved in other ways.
Thanksgiving holiday schedule
In observance of Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28, please note the following closings:
Remains found in VCU well returned to Richmond after Smithsonian study
The bones of 53 African-Americans are back in Richmond after a 25-year sojourn at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
New drug approved to manage sickle cell disease
U.S. regulators have approved a new medicine that can help reduce extremely painful sickle cell disease flare-ups.
Bill Cosby speaks from prison
Bill Cosby broke his silence, granting his first exclusive interview since beginning his sentence at SCI-Phoenix, a maximum-security Pennsylvania penitentiary near Philadelphia.
Joy from pain
2 women impacted by gun violence work to bring comfort to others at Thanksgiving and throughout the year
Turning tragedy into something positive for the community — that’s what two Richmond area women are striving to do even as they grieve losses from gun violence.
End surprise medical bills
Congress needs to take action to end surprise medical bills. These are the bills patients receive when they unknowingly go outside of their insurance network for care, without realizing their insurance will not cover them.
Friday, November 22
Church grapples with aftermath of latest school shooting
Soon after a 16-year-old shot and killed two of his classmates and wounded three others at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Calif., on Nov. 14, Grace Baptist Church Senior Pastor David W. Hegg and members of his church opened their doors to the community.
School Board backs resolution to protect school funding in Coliseum financing plan
The Richmond School Board approved a resolution Monday requesting that City Council allow them to opt out of the funding plan for the controversial Coliseum replacement and Downtown redevelopment proposal.
Pushback
Richmond native files complaint about Navy Hill District Corp. with Internal Revenue Service; City Council vote on project may come as late as March
The battle over the proposed $1.5 billion Navy Hill District Corp. project in Downtown could rage for a few more months.
No knee now
Kaepernick saga continues with surprise public workout
Colin Kaepernick’s saga took another surreal turn last Saturday — a last-minute audible to nix an NFL-arranged workout and a quick dash 60 miles to the other side of Metro Atlanta, where the exiled quarterback staged his own impromptu passing display on a high school field in dwindling light as hundreds of fans cheered him on from behind a chain-link fence.
Justices could return Allen's cable TV race bias suit to lower court
The U.S. Supreme Court seems likely to overturn a lower court ruling in favor of an African-American media mogul and comedian who’s suing cable giant Comcast for racial discrimination.
Housing advocates threaten to sue RRHA for keeping public housing units vacant
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has been warned that it would face a federal lawsuit if it refuses to start leasing units that deliberately have been kept vacant in the Creighton Court public housing community.
Complaint to national challenges Va. NAACP election
The Virginia State Conference NAACP is facing more turmoil following a tumultuous convention at which Robert N. Barnette Jr. of Hanover County was elected the new state president.
Richmond delegates expected to have greater clout in upcoming General Assembly
At least four Richmond area delegates to the Virginia General Assembly are poised to gain increased clout when the new Democratic majority takes control of both the House of Delegates and the state Senate when the 2020 legislative session opens in January.
Parents back rezoning plan for greater diversity
Roughly 40 people voiced their over- whelming support for a Richmond Public Schools rezoning plan that would create more racial integration by pairing elementary schools that now have largely black or white student populations.
Anderson new City Council chief of staff
Lawrence Rashad Anderson, a former urban research fellow at American University in Washington, is the Richmond City Council’s new chief of staff.
State Board of Elections acts to protect election data
The three-member state Board of Elections imposed minimum standards on Monday to protect election data from being hacked.
VSU board extends president's contract to June 2024
Dr. Makola M. Abdullah, the president of Virginia State University, has received a three-year contract extension.
Dixon to become Crusade for Voters new president
John I. Dixon III, former Petersburg police chief and a retired Richmond Police Department major, will become president of the Richmond Crusade for Voters on Jan. 1.
No injunction granted in black-owned health companies' federal lawsuit
A federal judge has refused to block several health insurance companies from firing 33 small, mostly African-American-owned companies that provide mental health and substance abuse counseling services to Medicaid patients.
Melvin 'Mel' Tull
Spotlight on board chair of Children’s Home Society of Virginia
November is National Adoption Month, and the Children’s Home Society of Virginia is highlighting the best of their work with profiles of successful adoptive families in the Richmond area in hopes of encouraging the public to provide a loving home for Virginia’s youths in foster care. CHSVA has connected more than 700 youths and families across Virginia during the past year under the direction of leaders like Melvin “Mel” Tull, its board chairman.
Rev. Barber wins highest N.C. award
The Rev. William J. Barber II, a social justice activist and co-leader of the national Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, has been awarded the state of North Carolina’s highest honor.
'Yes in God's Backyard' to use church land for affordable housing
Faith congregations across California are responding to the state’s housing crisis by sharing their parking lots with people living in their cars, providing mobile showers for the homeless and joining their neighbors in calling for rent control in their communities.
Jimmy Carter still drawing devotees to church
The pilgrims arrive early and from all over, gathering hours before daybreak in an old pecan grove that surrounds a country church. They come, they say, for a dose of simple decency and devotion wrapped up in a Bible lesson. The teacher is the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter.
Ethiopian runners win Richmond Marathon
The Richmond Marathon is an annual gathering for thousands of local and state runners, plus a group of elite runners. Again, elite runners from an African nation were the winners last Saturday.
Joe Taylor to be inducted into Black College Football Hall of Fame
Joe Taylor may need to add another shelf to his already bulging trophy case. Taylor, vice president for intercollegiate athletics and community wellness at Virginia Union University, has been named to the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
VSU knocked out of bid for NCAA football playoffs
You win some. You lose some. And sometimes you just scratch your head. Virginia State University hoped it had made the field for the NCAA Division II Region 2 football playoffs. But Coach Reggie Barlow’s Trojans never saw Miles College coming.
Sports brawls: Dangerous, sometimes forgiven but not forgotten
Swinging a football helmet at someone’s head is a terrible thing. Swinging a baseball bat at an opponent’s noggin is far more hazardous. The sports world has been abuzz about the NFL “Footbrawl” on Nov. 14 in which the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett lost control of his senses.
NBA players netting big bucks
There are buckets of money to be made playing professional basketball, if you’re very, very good at it.
Fashion's LaQuan Smith embraces the champagne lifestyle
LaQuan Smith is all about the champagne lifestyle — bubbly, luxurious and, especially when it comes to the women’s clothes he creates, sexy.
AIDS docudrama to be presented Nov. 24
“Voices from Richmond’s Hidden Epidemic,” a docudrama based on the oral histories of people living with HIV/AIDS, will be presented at noon Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Richmond Triangle Players’ Robert B. Moss Theatre, 1300 Altamont Ave.
Author: British Museum wold's largest receiver of stolen goods
An outspoken human rights lawyer is calling for European and U.S. institutions to return treasures taken from subjugated peoples by “conquerors or colonial masters.”
Don't let 'holiday heart syndrome' ruin your holidays
From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, emergency room visits and hospital admissions for acute illnesses tend to spike. While the holidays are a joyous time when friends and family gather to celebrate the season, there can be significant health dangers lurking.
If they build it ...
When it comes to the costly Coliseum replacement and Downtown redevelopment plan, the Navy Hill District Corp. believes in the adage made famous by the 1989 drama-fantasy movie, “Field of Dreams.” That adage: “If you build it, they will come.”
Rep. McEachin: À votre santé
We send up positive thoughts for the good health of Congressman A. Donald McEachin, who has been sidetracked lately while undergoing surgeries in his battle with health issues.
Let localities lead by Mayor Levar M. Stoney
When the Dillon Rule, a law limiting local autonomy, was created in 1868, the opinion was state governments would know how to govern better than localities. As a leader of local government, it is baffling this argument still holds weight in 2019. Local leaders do the grueling groundwork in their communities every day. They, not the state, are better informed about their residents’ needs and should therefore have more authority to create positive change.
Why Trump hearings are important by Rep. Frederica S. Wilson
History continues this week on Capitol Hill as impeachment inquiry hearings into President Trump continue.
Trump: A ‘self-serving con man’
Donald Trump is a horrible president. He has spent three years demeaning the fundamental values and institutions of our democracy. He has scuttled thousands of federal regulations protecting peoples’ health and safety. He has done his best to destroy and eliminate Obamacare’s coverage of 20 million Americans. Worst of all, he demonstrates every day the hurt and the harm of bullying and of bigotry toward those who are not white or male or rich.
Democrats have ‘a lot of work to do’
We, Democrats, now have control of the GeneralAssembly and the Governor’s Office. We have a lot to repair.
Friday, November 15
Let’s get ready to rumble
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a spectacular night for a heavyweight live political title bout here at the O.S.A. arena in downtown Philadelphia.
City Council bids Agelasto adieu with award and tough new ordinance
City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto got a rousing sendoff from his colleagues after joining them Tuesday night in votes to maintain the real estate tax rate at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value and to approve a public safety measure Mayor Levar M. Stoney spearheaded to fine residents who fail to report a lost or stolen gun within 24 hours.
Frozen
RRHA puts hold on all public housing evictions through December, but residents are skeptical, concerned bigger issues are not being addressed
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has frozen all evictions for the rest of the year, following months of growing scrutiny and backlash from residents and housing advocates over the organization’s actions and priorities.
School Board member seeks to protect school funding in costly Coliseum plan
The Richmond School Board could weigh in on the debate over the controversial $1.5 billion Coliseum replacement and Downtown redevelopment plan.
House Dems elect women to top posts
Fresh from sweeping enough seats in the Nov. 5 election to take the majority in the House of Delegates, Democrats plan to install two women in the top posts for the first time in state history.
Richmond area on-time postal delivery among nation’s worst
Rachel Westfall, who lives in Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood, said her mail service has always been hit or miss. But since April, there have been a lot more misses.
Public hearings slated on 4 RPS rezoning plans
Rezoning plans for Richmond Public Schools are now in the city School Board’s court.
Black-owned health companies claim insurers are forcing them out of business
Small companies that are largely African-American-owned are fighting against an effort that they claim will put them out of business by stopping them from providing mental health and substance abuse services to Medicaid patients.
South Side senior receives $2,898.13 refund for city trash, recycling fees
“I feel like I just won the lottery.” So said Judy Dinsmore after getting a refund check last week from City Hall totaling $2,898.13.
City's interim HR director enticed out of retirement with high salary
City Hall’s new interim director of human resources has been hired at a salary far above that paid to the most recent director or interim director, Mayor Levar M. Stoney confirmed.
Solar panel installation training starts Nov.18
A new weeklong program to train up to 20 people ages 18 to 24 to install solar panels is being initiated through the City of Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building’s workforce training program.
GSK to add 150 jobs at city research center
Richmond is to gain 150 new jobs and an enlarged role as a hub of consumer product research and development for a joint venture of two pharmaceutical giants, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer.
Sen. Kaine speaks out to restore aid to HBCUs
A powerful Republican senator is holding up millions of dollars in federal aid to historically black colleges and universities in Virginia and elsewhere and to other minority-serving institutions.
Remarkable 'Hidden Figures' to receive Congressional Gold Medal
Katherine Johnson of New- port News, one of the African-American women whose groundbreaking NASA work received global attention in the best-selling book and blockbuster movie, “Hidden Figures,” will receive a Congressional Gold Medal thanks to a bipartisan bill passed by Congress in October and signed into law Nov. 8 by President Trump.
Personality: The Rev. Cora Harvey Armstrong
Spotlight on honoree of gospel tribute and appreciation service
Churches and religious music groups are uniting under the auspices of the Friends of Gospel Music at Trinity Bap- tist Church on Saturday, Nov. 16, to pay tribute to a pianist, composer and preacher, the Rev. Cora Harvey Armstrong.
Rubye M. DeWitt, retired speech therapy supervisor with Richmond Public Schools, dies at 101
Rubye M. DeWitt, a retired supervisor of speech therapists with Richmond Public Schools and a champion for children and equity, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Williamsburg.
Longtime Delegate Mary T. Christian of Hampton dies at 95
Dr. Mary T. Christian, a retired educator who represented Hampton in the Virginia House of Delegates for many years, died Monday, Nov. 11, 2019.
On your mark...42nd Annual Richmond Marathon gets underway Saturday
For thousands of runners, the time has come to lace up the sneakers, stretch the quads and hamstrings and pray all the training will pay off. The Richmond Marathon, now in its 42nd year, has become a bold-letter event throughout Central Virginia and beyond.
VSU beats VUU; sets hopes on NCAA
Virginia State University has taken care of business on the football field. Now the Trojans must wait and hope. By edging Virginia Union University 27-24 in overtime last Saturday at Rogers Stadium in Ettrick, VSU is positioned for — but not assured — an NCAA Division II playoff bid.
VSU’s Lual Rahama plays his way into the spotlight
Lual Rahama, answering to “Daniel,” isn’t a new face at Virginia State University. But the Sudan native is new to the spotlight.
Black head coaches rare at top tier of college basketball
Jeff Capel carries a measure of gratitude with him every time he paces the sideline at Petersen Events Center.
VUU honors Wyatt Tee Walker legacy with new society
Virginia Union University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology announced the creation of the “Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker Social Justice Society of Preachers and Prophetic Witnesses” during a formal service Monday in Coburn Hall on campus.
Jackson Ward church hosting free community dinner Nov. 15
Friday night could be a nourishing one for the Richmond community in more ways than one, courtesy of Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church in Jackson Ward.
Hanover church organization hosting group trip to 'Harriet'
More than 100 members of predominantly African-American churches in Hanover County are gathering to see the story and journey of Harriet Tubman on the big screen in the new biopic “Harriet” on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Holiday gift assistance programs ready to give
Angel Tree, Silver Bell and other holiday gift assistance programs are now in full swing in the Richmond area.
'16 Bars' documentary from the Richmond Justice Center opens Nov. 14
It already has been seen in Charlottesville, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Now, a 94-minute documentary is finally set to debut in Richmond about four current and former inmates and their personal stories told through music at the Richmond Justice Center with the help of Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist Todd “Speech” Thomas.
Hopewell assistant principal wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award
Ryan Sykes, an assistant principal at Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, was surprised with the $25,000 Milken Educator Award during an assembly Nov. 6 at the school.
Harriet Tubman program Nov. 23 at Black History Museum
The life of Harriet Tubman and the impact of the Underground Railroad in Central Virginia will be the focus of a presentation by researcher and author Elvatrice Belsches at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, 122 W. Leigh St.
Hampton extends free tuition for second semester to Bahamian students
The 46 students from the Bahamas who were displaced from their colleges at home to Hampton University following Hurricane Dorian were given an unexpected Halloween treat.
Real role models
We all need role models. We’re not seeing many coming out of D.C. right now, with President Trump’s criminal foibles exposed even more with the public impeachment inquiry broadcasts that started Wednesday.
Veterans hurt by predatory for-profit colleges by Charlene Crowell
Nov. 11 is observed as Veterans Day every year. It’s a time to honor the 18.2 million men and women still living who served in at least one war. Though observances vary across the nation, each celebrates the American ideal of service to country.
Clearing the way for Medicare for All by Jesse L. Jackson Sr.
Affordable health care for all is now at the center of the presidential debate. Two of the top three contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination — Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders — support Medicare for All. The third, former Vice President Joe Biden, and those hoping to take his place as the leading centrist in the race, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, have attacked the plan to contrast their candidacies from Sens. Sanders and Warren.
Friday, November 8
Stephanie A. Lynch wins 5th District City Council race
Stephanie A. Lynch is the new 5th District representative on Richmond City Council.
Company believes it can attract more than 600,000 patrons to new Coliseum
John Page’s company, Spectra, is betting its management can turn Richmond’s proposed 17,500-seat Coliseum into one of the busiest and most successful entertainment centers in the world, if Richmond City Council approves allocating more than $300 million in taxpayer dollars over 30 years to build it.
Cityscape: Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
Booklovers who want to share their love of reading have placed a Little Free Library in their yard in the 1600 block of Laburnum Avenue in North Side.
Deaths reaffirm importance of CBC, by Marc H. Morial
In recent days, America lost two influential African-Americans who served as high-ranking members of the Congressional Black Caucus — Rep. Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland and former Rep. John Conyers of Michigan. Their loss has served to reaffirm the importance of the CBC and the election of dedicated public servants.
Commit to affordable health care, by Ray Curry
Laughter is the best medicine, says the Reader’s Digest version of America. But not when it’s the only medicine, responds the America that far too many have known and continue to know. Not when the United States alone is one of the world’s top 33 most developed countries that does not have a form of universal health care that covers all of its population.
Dispelling the myth about lynching, by Jesse L. Jackson Sr.
President Trump’s use of the term “lynching” to describe the ongoing impeachment inquiry in the U.S. House of Representatives naturally sparked bipartisan outrage. The president and his shameless apologist, South Carolina’s U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, defended the use of the word, with Sen. Graham calling the investigation a “lynching in every sense.”
Yes!!!
The voters of Virginia have spoken. And we are jubilant about the message they sent through the ballot box on Tuesday — that they want a more progressive Virginia as envisioned by Democrats.
'Harriet' movie tells unvarnished story of need to 'live free or die'
For a nation built on truth, Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist, freedom fighter and ex-slave, should have the acclaim of a Paul Revere or Patrick Henry, whose courageous lines “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” guided the American Revolution.
AKA's PROC Foundation to present 5 young men
Five young men from area high schools will be presented at the 25th Annual PROC Beautillion on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Bryson Bruce goes deep to play Thomas Jefferson in 'Hamilton'
The last thing on a black actor’s bucket list is to be cast as a white slave owner and Founding Father in a Broadway hit play. But that’s exactly what Bryson Bruce is doing.
Hard work pays off with Celtics contract for Javonte Green
Virginia’s contribution to this year’s NBA rookie crop includes three familiar names, plus a relative unknown.
World Series winners visit White House
The World Series champion Washington Nationals were honored at the White House on Monday, although more than a half-dozen players skipped the ceremony on the South Lawn.
HU's Jermaine Marrow scoping out a record-breaking final season
Jermaine Marrow has built a convincing case for greatness in his first three seasons playing basketball at Hampton University.
VUU Panthers to meet VSU Trojans Saturday in Ettrick
Often in sports, when one door closes another swings open. Ancient rivals Virginia Union and Virginia State universities won’t be going to the CIAA championship game, but they could ring the NCAA bell.
New rule would allow foster care, adoption agencies to exclude on religious grounds
The Trump administration is proposing a new rule that would allow adoption, foster care agencies and other social service providers receiving taxpayer funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to refuse to serve people based on religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
'Friday' actor-comedian John Witherspoon dies
Actor-comedian John Witherspoon, who memorably played Ice Cube’s father in the “Friday” films, has died. He was 77.
Personality: Matthew S. ‘Matt’ Spahr
Spotlight on 1708 Gallery board chairman
Evening in Church Hill next weekend will be a spectacular sight as InLight Richmond showcases the 12th edition of its free lighted public art exhibit from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, in Chimbarazo Park. And Matthew S. (Steven) “Matt” Spahr is helping ensure the program returns every year as the current board chairman of the 1708 Gallery, the sponsor for the annual show.
ACA health insurance enrollment deadline Dec. 15
More choices in health insurance that will cost less. That’s the good news for people who have until Sunday, Dec. 15, to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Open house Saturday at VCU Health Hub at 25th in Church Hill
The new VCU Health Hub at 25th in Church Hill will host an open house offering health screenings, fitness and children’s activities, giveaways and other programming from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9.
Goldman to appeal judge's ruling on Coliseum referendum
Paul Goldman, leader of the Put Schools First campaign, is not giving up on his effort to put a referendum on a future Richmond ballot to allow voters to weigh in on the controver- sial $1.5 billion Coliseum replacement plan that is now before Richmond City Council.
Veterans Day 2019
In observance of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, please note the following for the City of Richmond and Henrico and Chesterfield counties:
2 men arrested, another sought in death of Markiya Dickson, 9
Two young South Side men have been arrested and charged in the murder of 9-year-old Markiya Dickson at Carter Jones Park during the Memorial Day weekend.
4 school rezoning plans are up for final consideration
Four school rezoning plans — two of which include proposals for pairing some elementary schools and all of which keep Bellevue Elementary open — are now considered finalists.
RPS school construction costs, process criticized
Richmond School Board members Kenya Gibson, 3rd District, and Jonathan Young, 4th District, used Monday’s School Board meeting to express concern that the bidding process Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration used to choose contractors to build three new district schools has added tens of millions of dollars to the cost.
NAACP members, others protest Dominion Energy's involvement in state conference
“NAACP, we find ourselves in a mess right now.” Those words, delivered last Saturday by the Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, vice president of religious affairs and external relations with the National Action Network, were referring to the climate of bigotry, hate and fear in the world at large. But they easily could have applied to the internal and external troubles the civil rights organization has faced during the past year.
McEachin, Jewett score big wins without opposition
Voters made it official that Colette W. McEachin will be Richmond’s first elected female commonwealth’s attorney. Voters also gave Edward F. Jewett a second eight-year term as clerk of Richmond Circuit Court.
Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon L. Taylor handily wins re-election
In a suburban locale that now favors Democrats, Shannon L. Taylor easily won her bid for a third term as Henrico County commonwealth’s attorney.
Incumbents sweep Henrico supervisor elections
Incumbents won the day Tuesday, with all five members of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors winning re-election.
Col. Alisa A. Gregory to become first woman and first African-American sheriff in Henrico
Henrico voters made history Tuesday by electing Alisa A. Gregory as the county’s new sheriff.
Atkins becomes first black woman to serve on Henrico School Board
The Henrico School Board is set to welcome its first female African-American member.
Will history be made with next speaker of the House?
Will the next speaker of the House of Delegates be the first woman or the first African-American to hold the post in Virginia history?
Contentious state NAACP election gives Barnette 2-year term
Robert N. Barnette Jr., who has led the Virginia State Conference NAACP since August when the previous presi- dent was removed, will hold the top post in the civil rights organization for the next two years after emerging victorious in a controversial election.
Dems win control
For the first time in 24 years, Democrats will hold the majority in the state Senate and House of Delegates
For the first time in 24 years, Virginia voters handed Democrats control of both houses of the General Assembly in Tuesday’s election.
