Ma Cong’s ‘Firebird’ mixes storytelling and dance
The Richmond Symphony will accompany ballet’s East Coast premiere
The storyline of the ballet “Firebird with Serenade” is set in a fairytale. It involves princesses, spells and castles. However, the foundational theme of the piece is based on the realities of reunion and love.
Grammys rebound from COVID years, reach 12.4 million viewers
An estimated 12.4 million people tuned in to watch stars Harry Styles, Lizzo and Bad Bunny perform at the Grammy Awards, along with a tribute to 50 years of hip-hop.
Grammy moments: Hip-hop tribute for the ages, Beyoncé triumphs
Beyoncé sits alone atop the Grammy throne as the ceremony’s most decorated artist in history, but at the end of Sunday’s show it was Harry Styles who walked away with the album of the year honor.
JM’s Lady Justices go all in this season
Richmond has two state champion basketball contenders, and both have the same address: 4225 Old Brook Road on the North Side.
The secret is out about Trinity’s football dominance
It all started about four years ago. First one standout football player enrolled at Trinity Episcopal School. Then another ... and another ...
VUU defeats Elizabeth City 87-71 on live TV
Harding, Osborne score 17 points each
Tahj Harding looks good on camera.
Love Stories
The Free Press proudly presents its annual Valentine’s Day feature. It shares the Love Stories of five Richmond-area couples.
Senate committee’s ‘no’ vote for Morrissey casino bill may mean ‘yes’ for Richmond
With two weeks to go in the 2023 General Assembly session, Richmond appears to be on track to retain the right to hold a second vote on hosting a casino in November. While it could all change, Richmond gained much needed help from a slim majority of the Senate Finance Committee. Last week, the committee voted 8-7 to kill Petersburg Democratic state Sen. Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey’s bill to add the Cockade City to the list of cities allowed to have a casino and authorize that city to host a referendum before Richmond made a second attempt to get voters to approve after a majority rejected a casino plan in 2021. If the majority holds in the Senate Finance Committee, the same fate would await an identical bill that Petersburg Repub- lican Delegate Kim Taylor successfully pushed through the House on Tuesday. Petersburg believed it had a good chance to win after sign- ing an agreement with The Cordish Companies of Baltimore to deliver a casino and related developments worth $1.4 bil- lion. Despite the setback, that city is still is likely to hold a November referendum seeking approval from its voters for the Cordish proposal. Richmond is not guaranteed to retain the right to hold a referendum. With Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin seeking to lift up Petersburg, the Free Press has been told that some of those who opposed Sen. Morrissey’s bill in the committee could use the Petersburg casino measure as a bargaining chip when the House and Senate conferees meet to finalize the budget. A year ago, after Sen. Morrissey’s bill appeared to be dead after losing 9-7 in the Finance Committee, budget language re- vived it. The legislature followed Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan’s
Is our gun-crazed society reflection of entertainment biz?
The prop gun killing on the “Rust” movie set by Alec Baldwin reminds me of other reckless gun-violence disasters on movie sets. Specifically, when the actor Jon-Erik Hexum died after shoot- ing himself in the head with a prop gun blank while pretending to play Russian roulette with a .44 Magnum on the set of the 1984 CBS television series “Cover Up.” As well as when actor Brandon Lee, 28, son of the late martial arts star Bruce Lee, died after being hit by a .44-caliber slug while filming a death scene for the 1993 movie “The Crow.”
‘Why support legislation designed to obstruct a Richmond casino?’
I am strongly opposed to any legislation that has been crafted specifically to obstruct economic development in the city of Richmond. The fact that a state senator, who represents Richmond, would lead the charge to strategically cut Richmond out of an opportunity to build a casino, while feverishly promoting a casino in Petersburg, is unconscionable. Richmond was one of the five original cities selected by the legislature to build a casino. Curiously, the other four cities have all moved forward with building their casinos without opposition. It has not gone unnoticed that the proposed Richmond casino would be the only Black-owned casino in the state and that it plans to offer profit-sharing for its employees. The Richmond proposal indicates that ap- proximately 2,050 new jobs would be created by the casino. According to the state’s own research, a Richmond casino would generate almost $300 million in net gaming revenue, over $91 million in local tax revenue and over $33 million in state gaming tax. In fact, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission reported that a Richmond casino would be the highest earning facility in the state. The proposed Richmond casino will be an $800 million private investment, which will greatly enhance economic development in our capital city. It will undoubtedly create a long-lasting opportunity to positively impact the citizens of Richmond and the entire state. So the “million dollar question” is, “WHY” would anyone support legislation that was crafted with the single purpose to obstruct Richmond from realizing such a tremendous economic opportunity? BIRDIE HAIRSTON JAMISON Richmond
AP course tests our racial politics, too, by Clarence Page
Sometimes people who want to show you how clever they are only end up exposing their own ignorance.
Housing is a vaccine for poverty, by Mayor Levar Stoney
When I was growing up in Hampton Roads, we lived paycheck to paycheck. My father regularly stated we were just one missed paycheck, one missed rent payment from potentially losing our home.
Just One Look
The Richmond Free Press congratulates the five brave couples who shared their recipes for finding and sustaining love and marriage in this year’s Valentine’s “Love Stories.”
Cash call
Unconditional cash assistance is having a moment. Even before the pandemic, there was growing recognition that our heavily work-conditioned safety net is inadequate.
Blood drive for firefighter’s cancer fight
When Richmond firefighter Jonathan Clarke went for a routine visit to his primary care doctor last year, he left with a referral to see a hematologist.
Jackson Baynard named chief of Division of Fire
Henrico County appointed Jackson P.F. Baynard to serve as chief of the Division of Fire, effective Jan. 28.
Free tax services available
Need help with filing taxes? United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg once again is offering free tax preparation services in partnership with a variety of organizations and volunteers.
Democrats reject 3 Youngkin appointees
Virginia Senate Democrats voted Tuesday to reject several appointees of GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin, including the state health commissioner.
Details for voting in Feb. 21 congressional election
Deadlines are approaching to vote early in the 4th Congres- sional District election to replace the late U.S. Rep. A. Donald McEachin.
Report card
Funding, other details still unclear a year after Fox Elementary fire
It will take at least two more years to reopen historic William Fox Elementary School in The Fan — but only if nearly $26 million is available to make it happen.
