Thursday, March 6
Marching Forth
Protest challenges Trump policies
Hundreds gathered in Capitol Square on Tuesday for the “March 4th Democracy,” protest march, a show of resistance aimed against the Trump administration’s policies that threaten reproductive rights.
Personality: Bernette Hardy-Keyes
Spotlight on Richmond area president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women
Bernette Hardy-Keyes saw an opportunity when a stranger knocked on her door, inviting her to help charter the National Coalition of 100 Black Women -Richmond Metropolitan Area Chapter (NCBW-RMAC). She had been searching for a community service organization to join, and a neighbor, aware of her work with the local homeowners association, recommended her.
Olympic champions, amateurs flock to Kenya for world-class training
As dawn breaks over the sleepy town of Iten, its dusty tracks come alive with packs of runners keeping rhythm, often followed by cheerful children headed to school. Some of the athletes are elite Kenyans. Others travel from farther afield.
Poor communication, delayed maintenance blamed for water crisis
Poor communication, a lack of preparation and decades of deferred maintenance projects worsened a crisis that began with an outage at Richmond’s water treatment plant and left residents without running water for days last month, according to a new report released Monday.
VMI board votes against contract renewal for first Black superintendent
Virginia Military Institute’s first Black superintendent will leave his position June 30 after the school’s board voted against renewing his contract, a decision that followed months of political debate.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending Saturday, March 1, COVID-19 accounted for 1% of all emergency department visits in Virginia, with overall respiratory illness rates low and trending down compared to previous data. No COVID-19-related deaths were reported during this period at press time.
Protesters in Jefferson Park denounce treatment of immigrants
About 50 Richmond area residents gathered Sunday afternoon at Jefferson Park to support immigrant communities facing state and federal investigations, detention and deportation.
RPS proposes $30.8M spending increase in budget
The Richmond School Board unanimously approved a revised fiscal year 2026 budget increase of $30.8 million over the previous year at Tuesday’s meeting, following weeks of deliberation and public input.
A chorus of goodbyes
The hits just keep coming, for people who love music and the people who make it. This year, we’ve already said goodbye to a remarkable group of artists across genres who each left a lasting impact on music and culture.
Don’t ‘reverse’ our national progress, by Clarence Page
Marlean Ames of Akron, Ohio, is not gay or a member of a racial minority. But, please, she points out, don’t hold that against her, as she alleges her employers have, as she takes her “reverse discrimination” case all the way to the Supreme Court.
Fireworks, giveaways, special jerseys spotlight Squirrel’s 15th season
A night at a Richmond Flying Squirrels game is about more than baseball. Whether it’s fireworks lighting up the sky, fans walking away with unique giveaways or special theme nights transforming The Diamond, the Squirrels have built their reputation on making every game an event.
Governor grants clemency to police officer convicted in fatal shooting
Days after a judge sentenced a Virginia police officer to prison in the fatal shooting of an unarmed man accused of stealing sunglasses, the state’s Republican governor granted the fired officer clemency, meaning he won’t have to serve further time behind bars.
Two-day event to bring women together for inspiration, community
Women seeking encouragement, spiritual renewal and community support will come together for “Empowered Women of Faith: Inspiring Change and Breaking Barriers.”
Richmond to host Broadway hits, including ‘The Wiz,’ ‘The Outsiders’
Broadway in Richmond recently unveiled its 2025-2026 season lineup, which will feature four Richmond premieres, two returning family favorites and the return of an iconic musical.
Henrico County native embraces new life in Ghana’s Eastern Region
Henrico County native Indee Jordan first visited Ghana in 2006, searching for a place to surround herself with “people who looked like her.” It took years of planning before she and her husband decided to make the West African country their new home. In 2022, they settled into a small resort town in the Eastern Region of Ghana called Atimpoku. Located along the Volta River, about two hours north of the capital city of Accra, she said her family’s new home provides a profound sense of belonging and peace.
Woodford announces bid for Virginia’s 73rd House District
Justin Woodford recently announced his candidacy for Virginia’s 73rd District in the House of Delegates, focusing his campaign on issues affecting working and middle-class residents.
Richmond SCLC elects new officers, board members
The Richmond chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference chose new officers and board members during its election Feb. 27.
Clemency for a cop
We believe the dying words of Timothy McCree Johnson. We don’t think he was reaching for anything when he was shot by a “fearful” Fairfax County police officer as he ran away from him on a March evening in 2023. We do think the governor of Virginia is reaching when he states that freeing the former officer who killed Johnson is “in the interest of justice.”
Roberta Flack’s music and message, by Marc H. Morial
“I’m deeply saddened that many of the songs I recorded 50 years ago about civil rights, equal rights, poverty, hunger, and suffering in our society are still relevant in 2020. I hope that people will hear these songs in a new way as they connect to their lives today, to this pandemic, to the growing economic disparities, to Black Lives Matter, to police brutality, to activism versus apathy, and the need for each of us to see it and address it.” – Roberta Flack
Virginia’s public workers deserve a voice — it’s time to act, by Felicia Boney
Last year, my City of Richmond co-workers and I came together to make history and negotiate one of the first-ever union contracts for front line City workers. Now, we need to expand the freedom to collectively bargain to all public service workers around Virginia, so that all workers and all communities can share in the benefits that come when we empower working people.
Time to recognize Pauli Murray’s legacy in Richmond
Thank you for your recent Personality feature on Russell W. Scott, current president of the Howard University Alumni Club of Richmond. It’s vital to highlight the achievements, both local and universal, of HBCU alumni, not only during Black History Month, but throughout the year.
Judge recalled as ‘legend’
Former judge Willard H. Douglas Jr. was a legend among men. He was the type of person who could hold a conversation with a layman, governor or any other dignitary. I knew him very well from working next door to him at the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center on Mecklenburg Street.
Virginia State captures CIAA title, awaits NCAA selection
Virginia State claimed its first CIAA men’s basketball championship since 2019 with a 71-64 victory over Bluefield State in the 2025 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore. .
Eryn Byrd, Lauryn Taylor help VCU secure second at A-10
VCU placed second at the 2025 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships, earning eight medals across all events on the second day of competition. The Rams were led by Lauryn Taylor, who won three gold medals, and Eryn Byrd, who earned her fourth career gold in the shot put.
Byers named Black College Football Player of the Year
Jada Byers, a record-setting rusher at Virginia Union University, was recently named Black College Football Player of the Year by the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Orchard House Middle School to host screening of ‘Daughters’
Orchard House Middle School will host a public screening of “Daughters” on March 20 in partnership with Girls For a Change. The documentary follows four young girls as they prepare for a Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, examining the impact of separation on their relationships.
Calendar-Ray honored for a lifetime of community service
Cassandra Calendar-Ray was honored Feb. 22 for her dedication to improving the lives of Virginia families at a ceremony held at The Betty J. Queen Intergenerational Center in Louisa. The NAACP Branch #7085 recognized her with the NAACP Phenomenal Woman Plaque and the Harry Leroy Nuckols Memorial Certificate of Recognition for her exceptional community service.
Sigma Gamma Rho to host youth symposium focused on girls’ empowerment
In response to growing concerns about the safety and well-being of young girls, the Iota Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority will host its annual Youth Symposium on March 8 at Fairfield Middle School.
Wednesday, March 5
Tributes pour in for R&B singer Angie Stone after her death
Fans are remembering the voice and songs of trailblazer Angie Stone after her death at 63 in a weekend crash on an Alabama highway as she traveled from a performance.
