
Personality: Rasheeda N. Creighton
Spotlight on co-founder of the Jackson Ward Collective
As Black-owned businesses braced for the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new organization emerged in the Richmond region with the goal of ensuring these local businesses don’t just survive during this period, but thrive.

VCU to get $16M to purchase new stadium site
The General Assembly just gave a big boost to the plan to build a replacement for The Diamond baseball stadium on the stateAlcoholic Beverage Control Authority property at Hermitage and Robin Hood roads.

General Assembly wraps up session ushering in changes
The death penalty was abolished, a new state Voting Rights Act was approved to ensure voter suppression does not happen and racial bigotry was a labeled a public health crisis.

Marijuana justice groups criticize legalization bill passed by General Assembly
Just wait three years. That’s the message the General Assembly sent after finally passing a bill to legalize recreational marijuana use for those 21 and older.

City Council OKs $325M development replacing Public Safety Building
It’s official. The decaying Public Safety Building in Downtown is to be transformed during the next four years into a tax-and job-generating $325 million office-hotel-retail-child care complex linked to the Virginia Commonwealth University medical campus.

RRHA taking comments on what qualities next CEO should possess
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is asking the public to weigh in on what qualities the next CEO should possess.

Public engagement sessions on casino for Richmond start March 9
Richmond residents will be able to voice their opinions at virtual meetings City Hall plans to hold on the prospects of becoming a casino mecca and on the six proposals for casinos an internal committee has begun reviewing.

Richmond and Henrico to get 2 new Black judges
Black female attorneys are continuing to make judgeship gains in Richmond and Henrico County.

Conservancy turns up small, Black family cemetery on protected land
Nine years after the Civil War and his enslavement ended, Abraham Truman scraped up the money and bought a 40-acre farm plot for his family in the historically African-American Gravel Hill community in Eastern Henrico.

Answers to questions about new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
With 69,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson, single-dose COVID-19 vaccine scheduled to be distributed throughout Virginia this week, the Richmond Free Press sought answers to questions about the newest vaccine that was granted emergency use authorization last Saturday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be offered free to the public.

Late actor Chadwick Boseman, others win Golden Globes as foreign press group called out for lack of diversity
The organization that hosted the Golden Globes said it is developing a plan to recruit Black members after falling under sharp criticism for lacking diverse members.

Footwear and talent carry Atlee’s Jada Foreman to victories
Atlee High School junior Jada Foreman is easily spotted at track and field meets. She’s likely the one carrying the most medals—and also the most shoes.

RPS to reopen April 12 to 800 students
After hours of debate, an attempted amendment and process clarification, the Richmond School Board voted Monday night to reopen schools to 800 students April 12.

Bloody Sunday memorial March 7 to honor late civil rights giants
This year’s commemoration of a pivotal moment in the fight for voting rights for African-Americans will honor four giants of the Civil Rights Movement who died in 2020, including the late Congressman John Lewis of Georgia.

Civil rights activist Vernon Jordan dies at 85
Vernon Jordan, who rose from humble beginnings in the segregated South to become a champion of civil rights before reinventing himself as a Washington insider and corporate influencer, has died at the age of 85.

Deathbed letter by former NYPD officer tells of conspiracy to kill Malcolm X
Almost 56 years to the day of the Feb. 21, 1965 assassination of Malcolm X, the slain leader’s daughters and noted civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump are shining a light on those whom they believe are responsible for the heartless murder.

School Board approves plan for $54M in COVID-19 relief
The Richmond School Board voted 8-1 Monday night to approve a plan for $54 million in federal money to handle a variety of costs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hip-hop artist Prince Markie Dee of Fat Boys dies at 52
Prince Markie Dee, a member of The Fat Boys hip-hop trio who later formed his own band and became a well-known radio host, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, the day before his 53rd birthday.