Justin-Mychal White, 28, adjusts the straps of his 2-year-old daughter Reagan’s new backpack last Saturday at the 10th Annual Back-to-School Rally sponsored by the Northside Coalition for Children. Reagan’s older brother, Jeremiah seems like an old pro with his new backpack. The 6-year-old will be a first-grader at Longdale Elementary School in Henrico County in the fall. The nonprofit coalition gave away the backpacks stuffed with school supplies at the Richmond Raceway.

City officials and representatives of five overseas cities join Monday in unveiling Richmond’s new International Guidepost at Kanawha Plaza amid a downpour. The new sign celebrates Richmond’s Sister City relationship with Richmond upon Thames, England; Saitama City, Japan; Ségou, Republic of Mali; Windhoek, Namibia; and Zhengzhou, China. Saitama’s representatives included members of the Japanese city’s Little League baseball team. Richmond began a relationship with its English namesake in 1930 and began forging bonds with additional cities in 1980 after forming the 13-member Sister Cities Commission.

Workers with Envirowash scrub and power wash the base of the Lee statue on Monument Avenue last Saturday after the Confederate statue was vandalized sometime overnight between Aug. 3 and 4. The state Department of General Services, which owns and maintains the statue at Monument and Allen avenues, paid more than $4,400 for the cleanup.

Ornamental grass in Downtown

DJ Tony Fernandez spins high-energy house music Saturday at the 3rd Annual RVA Soul House Fest held at St. Joseph’s Villa. The free event, a community party, featured six DJs and a host of entertainers serving up a variety of “house music,” a mix of soul and R&B.

Christopher Woody amazes the crowd with his dance moves and death drop Saturday at the 3rd Annual RVA Soul House Fest held at St. Joseph’s Villa. The free event, a community party, featured six DJs and a host of entertainers serving up a variety of “house music,” a mix of soul and R&B.

Left, Kavin Baines, 18, of Portsmouth gets a helping hand from her mother, Miki Baines, during last Saturday’s freshmen move-in at Virginia Union University. Orientation for members of the Class of 2022, along with classes for new students, started Monday on the Lombardy Street campus. Future student Kenzie Creekmur watches and takes notes about dormitory life in the background.

Cree takes in the artwork that she and 19 other program leaders at ART180 created to celebrate the nonprofit’s 20th year of giving young people from challenging circumstances an opportunity to express themselves through painting, sculpture, murals and other art. The anniversary exhibit opened last Friday at the organization’s Atlas Galley, 114 W. Marshall St. Work from the exhibit, titled “Twenty: ART 180 Takes the Bus,” will spend most of August touring the city on GRTC buses.

Marlene Paul, left, ART 180’s co-founder and executive director, greets Melody Barnes, former White House domestic policy adviser, and her husband, Marlon Buckner Jr., at the opening of ART180's 20th anniversary exhibit last Friday at the organization’s Atlas Galley, 114 W. Marshall St. Work from the exhibit, titled “Twenty: ART 180 Takes the Bus,” will spend most of August touring the city on GRTC buses.

Hundreds of people across metro Richmond turned out Tuesday night for the 35th Annual National Night Out, an event observed across the country to promote safe neighborhoods while building police-community relations. McGruff the Crime Dog and the Richmond Police Department’s top brass and officers made the rounds at several of dozens of events put on by neighborhood and community groups across the city, including the one pictured here at Pollard Park in North Side. The event featured music, food and performances.

Hundreds of people across metro Richmond turned out Tuesday night for the 35th Annual National Night Out, an event observed across the country to promote safe neighborhoods while building police-community relations. McGruff the Crime Dog and the Richmond Police Department’s top brass and officers made the rounds at several of dozens of events put on by neighborhood and community groups across the city, including the one pictured here at Pollard Park in North Side. Felicia Joyner volunteers for grill duty.

Hundreds of people across metro Richmond turned out Tuesday night for the 35th Annual National Night Out, an event observed across the country to promote safe neighborhoods while building police-community relations. McGruff the Crime Dog and the Richmond Police Department’s top brass and officers made the rounds at several of dozens of events put on by neighborhood and community groups across the city, including the one pictured here at Pollard Park in North Side. Camya Brown, 7, shows off her dance moves during the event.

Hundreds of fans and autograph seekers flocked to the Washington professional football team’s training field to hobnob with their favorite players during last Saturday’s Fan Appreciation Day. Following practice, wide receiver Darvin Kidsy signs footballs and other team paraphernalia for fans of all ages.

Hundreds of fans and autograph seekers flocked to the Washington professional football team’s training field to hobnob with their favorite players during last Saturday’s Fan Appreciation Day. Outside the gate, Stephen Rivera of Richmond protests the team’s racist name and mascot, which are offensive to many Native Americans.

Hundreds of fans and autograph seekers flocked to the Washington professional football team’s training field to hobnob with their favorite players during last Saturday’s Fan Appreciation Day. Pictured here, a trainer works with a player on stretches, an important part of the practice session.

Hundreds of fans and autograph seekers flocked to the Washington professional football team’s training field to hobnob with their favorite players during last Saturday’s Fan Appreciation Day. Safety Kenny Ladler, left, cuts in to snatch a catch from wide receiver Cam Sims.