VUU kicks off homecoming with gospel concert
Virginia Union University will kick off this year’s homecoming festivities with a live gospel concert and recording presented by the Hezekiah Walker Center for Gospel Music at VUU on Sunday, Oct. 15.
VSU marching band is 3rd in the nation, ESPN says
Virginia State University’s Trojan Explosion Marching Band is named one of the best HBCU bands in the country, according to newly released rankings by ESPN. The band is ranked third in the Division II/NAIA category in ESPN’s HBCU Band of the Year rankings posted by HBCU Gameday.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein offered a valuable voice in a divided Senate, by Clarence Page
Amid the multitude of tributes that poured out after her death at age 90, one description of California U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Senate’s oldest sitting member, was appropriately prominent. “A true trailblazer,” said President Biden, “a pioneering American,” and “for Jill and me, a cherished friend.”
Let consumers make their own food buying choices, by John Burnett
Amid Congress’ best efforts to keep the government open, it’s also hard at work to re-authorize affordable food, farmers’ ability to insure their crops, and ranchers being able to export their products to foreign markets.
RPS taps Sands Anderson to investigate graduation shootings
A new investigation into Richmond school operations before, during and after the June mass shooting that followed the Huguenot High School graduation, is set to begin after the Richmond School Board approved a third-party review by the Sands Anderson law firm.
With passion and purpose
Nearing retirement, Debra Carlotti has helped empower children and parents for decades
Richmond Public Schools educator Debra Carlotti was born in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., a place that is a lot more trendy now than when she grew up there in the 1950s and 1960s, she said.
Kevin McCarthy was an early architect of the Republican majority that became his downfall
The day before he was ousted, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was doing what he loved — stopping to greet tourists at the Capitol, gushing about the beauty of the place and its history at the center of American democracy.
Personality: Ann Oppenhimer
Spotlight on co-founder, executive director of Folk Art Society of America
The Museum of International Folk Art describes the medium as art that is decorative or utilitarian, used every day or reserved for high ceremonies, is handmade or includes handmade elements, as well as new, synthetic or recycled components.
Funds available for groups hurt by Enrichmond’s collapse
A promised $250,000 bailout fund for more than 80 community groups that lost most of their money in the 2022 collapse of the Enrichmond Foundation is finally available.
Falcons hope to be ‘primetime’ players
Charles Scott is becoming the Deion Sanders of the East. In a blink, Coach Sanders, aka “Coach Prime,” turned a ragamuffin University of Colorado program into a national talking point with a 3-0 start. Meanwhile, on the high school level, Scott has awakened the long-slumbering Huguenot High Falcons.
Southside Community Center’s $16M addition
Construction of a new addition to the Southside Community Center is officially underway.
Boston University names Melissa L. Gilliam 11th president
‘I lead by listening, collaborating and empowering’
Melissa L. Gilliam, the executive vice president and provost of The Ohio State University and a distinguished educator, scholar, research scientist, and physician, will be Boston University’s 11th president, the Boston trustees announced on Wednesday. She will assume the post July 1, 2024.
Enrollment growing at Virginia HBCUs, but they face historic underfunding, by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury
As enrollment drops at many Virginia higher educa- tion institutions, the state’s two public historically Black colleges and universities offer a bright spot, with steady student increases. However, a historical lack of funding for HBCUs and financial resources for their students is causing concern among policymakers and graduates.
People’s Tribunal to address injustices experienced by the formerly incarcerated, family members of prisoners
Hundreds are expected to attend a daylong discussion Saturday on how Virginia treats the incarcerated and detained.
Virginia’s AI directive
A newly-issued state directive seeks to ensure the ethical, transparent use and oversight of artificial intelligence technologies in Virginia.
City to open new temporary shelter
Richmond will have a far bigger temporary shelter if another tropical storm hits or the weather plunges below freezing in the next two months.
Hickory Hill hopes for historic designation
Hickory Hill Community Center in South Side is on its way to securing designation as a historic building.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
VCU announces guaranteed university admission program
Virginia Commonwealth University has announced a guaranteed university admission program for first-year freshman applicants who are among the top 10% of their high school graduat- ing class or have a high school GPA of 3.5 or above. This is the first university-wide program of its kind among Virginia’s R1 universities and is open to any qualifying student nationwide, according to a university news release.
Butler sworn in as third Black female senator in U.S. history, replaces late California Sen. Feinstein
Former union leader and Democratic insider Laphonza Butler was sworn in as the newest member of the Senate on Tuesday, replacing California Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death and becoming only the third Black female senator in history.
