
Servant leader Gregory A. Cummings dies at 67
Former MEGA Mentors president assisted thousands of area youths
Gregory A. Cummings, a role model for Chesterfield County and Petersburg youths, was memorialized Tuesday at Second Baptist Church in South Side Richmond. He died Saturday, May 20, 2023, at age 67.

Plans for fire training center collide with zoning issue
The Richmond Fire Department’s plan to replace 2 acres of park land at the Hickory Hill Community Center with a new fire training center has run into a surprising roadblock – zoning.

Never again? We wish
George Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020, was supposed to be a wake-up call for America.

New education center won’t ignore James River’s painful past
On May 8, 2023, the James River Association broke ground on a new river education center on Dock Street in Richmond’s East End. The James A. Buzzard River Education Center will be located on Richmond’s riverfront, just steps from the James River, and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2024. Education programs offered at the center will explore the James River, its natural resources, as well as its historical significance.

Is Tim Scott running for president or chaplain in chief?, by Julianne Malveaux
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has joined the throng of Republicans seeking to unseat the former president as the frontrunner of that party. So far, Sen. Scott is polling in the single digits, but he has $22 million left from his last senatorial race that he can use for his presidential race.

Richmond Region Tourism launches destination marketing campaign
Multi-channel ad campaign highlights how “The Richmond Region Speaks for Itself”
Quick. What comes to mind when you think about Richmond and surrounding areas?

What we can no longer permit, by Ben Jealous
Picture a mountain valley somewhere in the Alleghanies, Appalachians or Blue Ridge. It’s a safe bet what you just imagined didn’t include a metal pipeline more than 3 feet wide running down a steep ridge or crossing a pristine stream.

Agreement limits low-income housing in redeveloped Creighton Court
Highly visible work is underway along Nine Mile Road in the East End as crews and machines prepare the land for the new townhouses and apartments that eventually will replace the 504 public housing units in Creighton Court.

Shielding from responsibility?
City mum on funds diverted to police
Mayor Levar M. Stoney joined community partners Tuesday to announce the city is all for trying to prevent the killings that leave bodies in the street and families in mourning. However, during his City Hall press conference, the mayor didn’t mention that just a few weeks ago his administration gained approval from

5 takeaways from The Associated Press series on health disparities impacting Black Americans
The Associated Press spent a year examining how racial health disparities have harmed generations of Black Americans.

The need for food and shelter grows for city’s homeless
“The need has tripled,” Rhonda Sneed said. “More and more people are experiencing a crisis at this time, and so many with food insecurity. I am seeing more people seeking some form of nourishment from a trash receptacle.”

Festival of the Arts
The 66th edition of Richmond’s Festival of the Arts at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park will launch Saturday, June 10, with a six-hour showcase of music, dance, food and culture of immigrants who now live in the Richmond area.

Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:

Operation Safe Summer gears up
Richmond, state and federal law enforcement will be working closer together than ever as part of a new initiative they say will seek to stop violent crime and protect children, during a season when crimes tend to increase.

Youngkin hails new digital hub for veterans benefits
Earlier this month Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin announced the rollout of a Gold Standard Digital Hub for Virginia veterans and their families to ensure easier access to information regarding earned benefits and resources tailored to their needs.

Gov. Youngkin scraps college degrees for most state jobs
Most Virginia government jobs will be open to high school graduates, beginning July 1.

HU Coach JT Giles-Harris, U.S. head to lacrosse World Championships
There will be an HBCU influence on this year’s United States lacrosse team.

A-10 tourney coming to area
The Atlantic 10 Conference women’s basketball tournament is returning to the 804 Area Code, but not to the city of Richmond.

After clearing obstacles, NSU’s Brown is Wilma Rudolph Award recipient
Basketball standout Cahiem Brown never gave in to adversity, and the sports world has taken notice.

Spurs strike gold with ‘Wemby’
And the winner is ... On May 22, the San Antonio Spurs may have won the NBA prize of this century, or perhaps any century, via the NBA Draft Lottery.