State historic markers honor Black church, civil rights leader
When Rev. Charles Henry Johnson moved in 1890 from Richmond to Bristol, which served as a railroad town, he became the minister of a little wooden church started by 39 freed slaves. A few pastors had come through Lee Street Baptist Church, which was organized 25 years earlier in 1865, but Rev. Johnson stuck, according to a Dec. 17, 2017, article in the Bristol Herald Courier.
Gen. Colin Powell remembered as a model for future generations
Former Gen. Colin L. Powell, the trailblazing soldier-diplomat who rose from humble beginnings to become the first Black U.S. secretary of state, was remembered by family and friends last Friday as a principled man of humility and grace whose decorated record of leadership can serve as a model for generations to come.
Personality: Dr. Harold C. Sayles
Spotlight on the Veterans of Foreign Wars national chaplain
Thursday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, a time when the nation pauses to honor those who have served the nation. Dr. Harold C. Sayles, who was elected during the summer as the 122nd national chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, plans to commemorate the day by attending the 65th Annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial at 621 S. Belvidere St. in Downtown.
Neo-Nazis sentenced for planning attack at Richmond rally
Two neo-Nazi group members were sentenced on Oct. 28 to nine years in prison each in a case that highlighted a broader federal crackdown on far-right extremists.
The next big thing?
City officials are turning to the planned development of 60 acres of city-owned property in North Side around The Diamond for a big return
What’s the next big thing for Richmond now that the $565 million casino-resort project for South Side and the $1.5 billion Navy Hill project for Downtown are kaput?
City School Board reverses vaccine mandate for teachers, staff
In a stunning 180-degree turn, the Richmond School Board reversed its mandate that teachers and staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 or forfeit their pay and possibly ultimately be fired.
Dems defeated
In a nail-biting race, Republicans sweep Tuesday’s election for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, and flip the Democratic-controlled House of Delegates from blue to red
So much for Virginia turning blue.
Somali love story sweeps contest for top African film prize
A Finish-Somali filmmaker has scooped the grand prize at the Pan-African film festival known as FESPACO in Burkina Faso.
David Lee gives behind the scenes look at brother Spike in new book
When David Lee was growing up in Brooklyn, his older brother would drag him out of the house whenever he got the urge to make a film.
The 804 is representing in the NFL
If Joe Burrow is the Cincinnati Bengals’ marquee leading man, then Quinton Spain should be high on the credits list of supporting athletes.
VUU to retire jersey of the late William Dillon
William Dillon has not been forgotten at Virginia Union University.
VSU wins CIAA cross-country championship
For the third time in the last four years, Virginia State University is the CIAA men’s cross-country champion.
Variety of scams targeting all people of color, by Charlene Crowell
Just as the annual holiday season of shopping and celebrating nears, a major federal financial regulator released new research detailing how communities of color not only are targeted by well-known types of predatory lenders, but new forms of fraud seek to exploit consumers in the throes of the COVID- 19 pandemic.
GOP blocking this generation’s Voting Rights Act, by Ben Jealous
Across the country, Republican state legislators have been busy imposing new voting restrictions and devising corrupt redistricting schemes to give their party more power than they could win under a fair system.
Déjà vu for 2022?, by Julianne Malveaux
It was great to see former President Obama in Richmond campaigning with former governor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on Oct. 23. He reminded me of a college pep rally cheerleader in some ways, encouraging people to get out and vote for Mr. McAuliffe and do it now since Virginia has early voting.
No dice
We are disappointed that Richmond voters did not approve the referendum for a casino within the city.
True test comes the day after
A wise person once said that the true measure of character is not what happens when you win, but what you do when you lose.
Families of 9 killed in Mother Emanuel AME Church massacre settle lawsuit over faulty gun background check
Families of the nine victims killed in the 2015 racist attack at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., have reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over a faulty background check that allowed convicted shooter Dylann Roof to purchase the gun.
Heytens confirmed for seat on 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
The lawyer who won the legal battle to bring down the giant state-owned statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue is on his way to the federal bench.
City Council poised to maintain current real estate tax rate
Richmond City Council is poised to reject any cut in the real estate tax rate in the face of soaring property values that have boosted the amount property owners must pay.
