Defend democracy, demand diversity, defeat poverty, by Marc H. Morial
“For more than 100 years, this organization has worked to bring our country together in coalition in the collective fight for the freedom, rights, and justice of all people. ... We know we have more work to do, being clear-eyed about the moment we are in - a moment when state by state in places like Texas and Florida, extremist so-called leaders attack hard-won rights and freedoms.” — Vice President Kamala Harris, National Urban League 2023 Conference
Vaccines provide hope and care, by Bel-Kelly Russo
Seven years after my father passed, I recently experienced an unexpected emotion: Hope.
Jay-Z’s Made in America fest canceled
Fans spot rapper, producer during wife Beyoncé’s performance at Fedex Field
Jay-Z’s annual Made in America festival, scheduled for next month in Philadelphia, has been canceled.
Hot and unhoused
Councilwoman urges city to open shelter for disabled people, families and children; Efforts to ‘expand the safety net’ for homeless coming early September, says official
Staying outdoors in the summer heat “is no fun,” said Thomas Bateman, a disabled factory worker. The bedraggled 63-year-old Richmonder hasn’t been able to find an affordable place to stay in the city, and his only income, a government disability check, allows him to pay for a motel stay just one night a month.
Charles Ogletree, longtime legal and civil rights scholar at Harvard Law School, dies at 70
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a law professor and civil rights scholar with a distinguished career at Harvard Law School, and whose list of clients ranged from Anita Hill to Tupac Shakur, died Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 70.
Millions struggle to pay AC bills in heat waves
Federal aid reaches only a fraction
Bobbie Boyd is in a losing battle against near triple-digit temperatures in Northwest Arkansas.
Personality: Raven Bates
Spotlight on Art on Wheels board president
Raven Bates, the board president of the Richmond-based nonprofit Art on Wheels, says the best thing her parents Robert and Tracey Wilkinson ever taught her was not to fear being different or independent.
City’s Charter Review Commission releases report
After eight months of work, a commission set up to review Richmond’s constitution or City Charter has stopped short of recommending a major overhaul of the city’s form of government.
Harris takes his turn steering Vikings ship
‘I knew all along I’d come back,’ says TJ’s coach
Eric Harris, a familiar face around Richmond for decades, is the new head football coach at Thomas Jefferson High.
Library workshop details new laws about expungement reform
At age 19, John Campbell III, was convicted of highway robbery and sentenced to 25 years in prison with 10 years suspended. After his first release, he was in and out of prison 10 times. Now 74 years old, he has not been back to prison since 2005, he said. Mr.Campbell’sconvictionofhighwayrobbery is the one offense that bars him from opportuni- ties to advance, he said. He receives disability benefits and seeks jobs where he can counsel others in situations similar to his. However, he has been dismissed from these jobs as soon as employers learn about his conviction, he said. Mr. Campbell was among nearly two dozen
Richmond fireman Rodney Jermaine Coles, 49, dies
The Richmond Fire Department has announced the death of a 15-year veteran, Rodney Jermaine “Cup” Coles.
Electoral Board reverses decision after earlier action ruled illegal
The Richmond Electoral Board, as anticipated, voted last Friday at a special meeting to reverse course and open two more sites for in-person early voting that will begin next month 45 days ahead of the Nov. 7 general election for General Assembly seats.
COVID-19 hospitalizations show slight increase
Local and national health officials are reminding the public to stay safe during the summer season amid record high temperatures and a small but noticeable increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
City hires urban forester
Michael Webb is the City’s first urban forester. Mr. Webb will work with the community to develop the City’s Urban Forestry Master Plan.
A 6-year-old said ‘I did it’ after shooting his teacher at Virginia school, warrants say
In the moments after a 6-year-old shot his teacher in a Virginia classroom last January, the boy made statements, including “I shot that (expletive) dead,” and “I did it. I got my mom’s gun last night,” according to recently unsealed police search warrants.
Going green with RVA Urban Ag Kickoff
Urban agriculture and the benefits of a sustainable community will be the focus of a new event in Richmond on Thursday, Aug.17, as the inaugural RVA Urban Ag Kickoff is set to be held at Miles Jones Elementary School at 200 Beaufont Hills Drive from 1 to 3 p.m.
New law addresses temporary detention orders during mental health crises
‘A law like this was needed’ says woman who faced hospital stay
A new state law might have prevented Jamisha L. Seward’s ordeal nearly a year ago when she was handcuffed and shackled by her leg to a hospital bed for more than 80 hours while a rotating shift of Henrico County police officers kept an eye on her.
Riverfront brawl brings unwelcome attention to historic civil rights city in Alabama
Three white boaters in Alabama’s capital city will be charged with misdemeanor assault for a riverfront brawl with a Black boat captain that drew nationwide attention, with more charges likely to come, police said.
Pregnant woman sues Detroit, police officer after arrest involving facial recognition
A Detroit woman is suing the city and a police officer, saying she was falsely arrested when she was eight months pregnant and accused of a carjacking based on facial recognition technology that is now the target of lawsuits filed by three Black Michigan residents.
