
Damon Duncan leaves after getting paychecks from two housing agencies
Damon E. Duncan, who began working full time as the executive director of the Montgomery, Ala., Housing Authority in early May before wrapping up his full-time job as CEO of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, has finally quit.

Police Chief Will Smith orders policy review after tear-gassing of protesters
Restraint. That appears to the watchword for the Richmond Police Department that is still smarting from a June 1 incident in which officers fired tear gas and pepper-sprayed a crowd of hundreds protesting police brutality and racial injustice about 30 minutes before a city-imposed 8 p.m. curfew.

Free COVID-19 Testing
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues throughout Metro Richmond at events organized by the Richmond and Henrico County health districts, the Capital Area Health Network and the Chesterfield Health Department.

Gov. Northam announces plan to reopen schools in the fall
Richmond Public Schools teachers and students are to return to in-person classes after a long summer break, but with strict new social distancing guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Richmond reopening takes next step Friday under state’s guidelines
Restaurants, museums, gyms and other businesses in Richmond can open more to the public beginning Friday as the city enters Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

George Floyd, ‘cornerstone of a movement,’ is laid to rest
Fifteen days after George Floyd cried out for his mother with his final breaths, the 46-year-old who has become a worldwide symbol in the call for justice was laid to rest beside his mother after a funeral Tuesday in his boyhood home of Houston.

In context
Protesters and politicians alike are redefining Richmond by removing racist and obsolete symbols of oppression and inequality from public spaces
The daily explosion of young activists on Richmond streets is forcing a reckoning with Virginia’s racist past and the symbols of oppression that hang over it.

City Charter language may stymie efforts to remove Confederate statues
As demonstrations in Richmond for racial justice and against police brutality continued for the 12th day on Wednesday, all nine members of City Council already are on board for one monumental change — removal of the statues of Confederate traitors that litter Monument Avenue and other parts of the city.

Thousands of protesters hit the streets
A white Minneapolis police officer’s killing of 46-year-old George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly 9 minutes was the final straw.

Letters To The Editor: Reflections on the death of George Floyd
The senseless murders of black people who posed no threat have created the effect of rioting across the country.

‘This must stop!’, by Dr. E. Faye Williams
In his poem “No Man Is an Island,” John Donne wrote, “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.”

How we can heal, by Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan
Words fail when I try to describe the events of the past few weeks. In the midst of a pandemic that disproportionately kills black and brown people, the pain, suffering and anger over the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd have touched every community in America, including Richmond.

In remembrance
This week, we mark the sixth anniversary of the loss of Raymond H. Boone, the late founder, editor and publisher of the Richmond Free Press.

Martyrdom and change
George Floyd is now a martyr, his death precipitating marches across the nation and around the globe. His picture is a symbol for people of conscience everywhere.

Trump refuses to hold official White House portrait unveiling for President Obama
President Trump is showing his true colors again.

Black artists alliance to hold benefit online auction for COVID-19 relief
Members of the Black American Artists Alliance of Richmond are holding an online art auction from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 6, to benefit CultureWorks’ COVID-19 Arts & Culture Relief Fund.

Oprah donates $12M to combat coronavirus
During a recent virtual address to the class of 2020 college graduates, Oprah Winfrey spoke of the need to provide for those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Class of 2020 gets virtual graduation send-off from Virginia celebrities
Olympic gold medalist Angela Hucles Mangano inspired the Class of 2020 with stories of overcoming challenges and having hope for the future last Friday during “Virginia Graduates Together,” a virtual celebration hosted by Gov. Ralph S. Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam.

A salute to famous athletes who served Uncle Sam
Al Bumbry was a star in the trenches long before gaining star status on the baseball diamond.

Where are the African-American catchers in MLB?
African-American baseball catchers are a vanishing breed.