School board weighs renaming Armstrong High School
A spirited debate over school names and legacies prompted the Richmond School Board to hit pause Monday night, choosing instead to let the community weigh in on whether Armstrong High School should become Armstrong-Kennedy High School.
Family of Alabama teen shot by police seeks access to video of shooting
Lawyers representing the family of a Black teenager shot and killed by police in an Alabama suburb said the state’s refusal to release body-camera video during an investigation is fueling mistrust over the shooting.
‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ unofficial Black national anthem, celebrates 125 years
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a hymn many African Americans of older generations just know. They sang it in church, learned it in school and stood for what is dubbed the unofficial Black national anthem just like they might for “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Proposals sought for transformation of Intermediate Terminal Building
Sitting along the James River waterfront, the Intermediate Terminal Building stands as both a relic of Richmond’s industrial past and a blank canvas for its future. Now, city officials are looking for proposals to bring new life to the historic structure at 3101 E. Main St.
Richmond police cut ATF access over immigration data use
Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said in a press release Tuesday afternoon that data from the department’s license plate reader program was used to assist with immigration enforcement, in violation of the department’s policy.
Digital project aims to preserve and expand the legacy of Bayard Rustin
Social justice advocates are creating a queer history archive that celebrates Bayard Rustin, a major organizer in the Civil Rights Movement and key architect of the March on Washington.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs gets standing ovation from inmates after court victory, lawyer says
Sean “Diddy” Combs got a standing ovation from fellow inmates when the music mogul returned to jail after winning acquittals on potential life-in-prison charges, providing what his lawyer says might have been the best thing he could do for incarcerated Black men in America.
Gun thefts from cars surge nationwide, now account for 40% of cases
A growing number of firearms are being stolen from parked cars nationwide, especially in urban areas including Virginia Beach, Virginia, according to a new report that highlights a frequently overlooked source of illegally circulating guns.
Our city, our rules
The Richmond Police Department did the right thing in pulling the plug on federal access to its license plate reader system after learning it had been misused to track down people over immigration issues.
‘Welfare queen’ legends haunt Trump’s budget plan, by Clarence Page
As the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives neared passage of President Donald Trump’s beloved — and enormous — “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” my mind raced back as it often does in such debates to memories of the late Linda Taylor, a Chicago woman better known as “the welfare queen.”
Fighting the prevalence of gun suicides requires more attention, action, by Roger Chesley
They’re an ever-growing crisis, often underreported and overlooked because they involve a topic – killing oneself – the news media have been reluctant to cover.
New York Knicks hire Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year
The New York Knicks liked Mike Brown’s experience with championship teams, after he worked for four of them.
Juicy tradition continues at Hanover Tomato Festival
The 47th annual Hanover Tomato Festival returns Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12, at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville. This free, family-friendly event celebrates Hanover’s signature juicy tomatoes with live entertainment on two stages, nearly 100 vendors, and a variety of children’s activities, all centered around the beloved tomato.
Festival returns to Chimborazo Park to uplift East End youth
The seventh annual RVA East End Festival is set for Saturday, Sept. 27, from noon to 7 p.m. at Chimborazo Park, 3215 E. Broad St., organizers announced Monday.
City advances upgrades to water system and emergency plans
Following a series of high-profile water system failures earlier this year, Richmond officials say they are making steady progress on state-mandated improvements to the city’s water treatment operations and emergency response plans.
Personality: Will Melton
Spotlight on the board chair of Housing Families First
Will Melton carries with him the memory of the housing insecurity his family faced growing up in Lansing, Mich. That experience, along with the loss of his father at age 12, shaped his resilience. As his mother worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, he took on the responsibility of helping care for his siblings. Despite the hardships, Melton channeled those struggles into a relentless drive, using his work as a springboard to build a different future.
Henrico gets a head start with back-to-school bash
Henrico County Public Schools will hold its annual Back-to-School Kickoff on Thursday, July 31, at the Henrico Sports & Events Center, marking the second consecutive year the event will take place at the spacious venue. The free, divisionwide event aims to energize students and families ahead of the first day of school on Aug. 18.
Richmond’s procurement director steps into interim deputy CAO role
Rene Almaraz, Richmond’s director of procurement, has been named interim deputy chief administrative officer for finance and administration.
Voices sought to shape memorial at lost burial site in Shockoe Hill
City officials and local partners are inviting the public to weigh in on plans for a permanent memorial at the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, where an estimated 22,000 free and enslaved African Americans were laid to rest.
Charles brings listening tour to Richmond theater
Independent gubernatorial candidate Donna Charles will host a community listening session Saturday in Richmond as she seeks to become Virginia’s first elected female governor.
