Grand jury clears officer who shot and killed Pharrell Williams’ cousin
A special grand jury found that a Virginia Beach police officer was justified in fatally shooting a man armed with a gun during a chaotic night of violence on the city’s oceanfront this spring, authorities said late last month.
Sources: $12.8M city budget error found by outside auditor
Richmond’s outside auditor has uncovered a $12.8 million error that has inflated the amount of surplus the city has reported for several years, the Free Press has been told.
Richmond among 10 localities piloting Marcus Alert system
Virginia is launching a new system to improve the response to mental health emergencies.
More options under consideration for RPS academic calendar
Richmond Public Schools is considering a fourth option in adjusting the academic calendar for the 2022-23 school year.
New area resource center opens in Lakeside
Area residents in need of a helping hand during the winter season have a new option.
Herring: ‘No evidence of recklessness’ warranting indictment in Lawhon death
The decision not to bring criminal charges against two Richmond Police officers and two paramedics in connec- tion with the fatal smothering of Joshua L. Lawhon three years ago was made by Michael N. Herring, former Richmond commonwealth’s attorney.
Efforts start to reconnect parts of Richmond
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg promoted a new program to spend $1 billion to reconnect neighborhoods torn apart by the construction of the interstate highway system 66 years ago during a visit to and tour of Richmond last Friday, Dec. 3.
‘Skill games’ back in business in convenience stores, truck stops statewide
“Skill games” are suddenly legal again.
Trammell to introduce collective bargaining ordinance at next City Council meeting
Richmond is poised to consider expanding collective bargaining to city employees.
Pulitzer winner Michael Paul Williams to speak at VUU scholarship event
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Virginia Union University alumnus Michael Paul Williams will speak at the annual VUU National Alumni Association Scholarship and Awards Luncheon hosted by the John W. Barco Alumni Chapter 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11.
Bobby Dandridge to be honored by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Billed as the “Call to the Hall,” the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame will honor Richmond native and former NBA star Bobby Dandridge on Jan. 19 in Virginia Beach.
African faith leaders combat fake cures for COVID-19
When some African church pastors ordered their followers to eat grass or gulp petrol or even drink poison-laced water, their congregations have obeyed the instructions, thinking the practices would bring them closer to God.
Personality: James Harris Jr.
Spotlight on founder of Men to Heal
James Harris Jr. knows the trials and tribulations of the therapy experience.
Charlottesville’s Lee statue to be melted down for new art
The statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that drew violent protests to Charlottesville will be melted down and turned into a new piece of public art by an African-American heritage center.
On the way out
Gov. Ralph S. Northam orders removal of 40-foot granite pedestal that held Confederate Robert E. Lee’s statue on Monument Avenue, and for the land to be turned over to the city
When the giant monument of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee went up 131 years ago, fiery Richmond Planet editor John Mitchell Jr. described it as monument that would hand down to future generations “a legacy of treason and blood.”
REA wins victory giving city teachers, staff collective bargaining authority
In a nearly unanimous vote, the Richmond School Board voted 8-1 Monday night to approve a resolution giving teachers and other school staff the power to establish a union and collectively negotiate for pay and benefits.
Addressing climate change is critical
I am a 16-year-old sophomore in the International Baccalaureate program at Henrico High School. Within the past few months, I have become more aware of the climate change crisis and the important global summit, COP26, held recently in Glasgow, Scotland, on the issue.
Reflecting on Richmond’s rejection of a casino-resort
To the Richmond residents south of the James, it is with deep regret that the vote for a casino came in “no,” and it was due to no fault of yours.
As many pastors as we want, by Julianne Malveaux
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton were doing the right thing when attending the Ahmaud Arbery trial. They demonstrated the solidarity that the Black community has with each other when one of us appears to be lynched. Each of us, every Black person, is repulsed and dismayed when we learn that armed white men, using the pretense of “citizen’s arrest,” can kill any of us. What is a citizen’s arrest, anyway? Is it simply a license to kill?
