When Silence Speaks
It takes a special person to be a school superintendent. Or at least a fairly decent one. It’s a job that requires leadership, great communication skills, strategic thinking and financial acumen, among other qualities. Some superintendents are better at some of these job responsibilities than others, but most of them have one strength in common – speaking effectively about their schools and the thousands of students who attend them.
Pardons must not lead to the unpardonable, by Clarence Page
Hindsight, as the old saying goes, is always 20/20. That thought came to mind after a couple of the roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 offenders given pardons by President Trump said they didn’t want it.
Honoring MLK’s legacy through environmental justice work, by Rev. Faith Harris
Recently, we observed the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. When I think of Dr. King’s legacy, I don’t immediately think of the overused “I Have a Dream” speech. Instead, I think of his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” essay.
Chiefs, Eagles feature HBCU alumni in Super Bowl LIX
Super Bowl LIX will feature the Kansas City Chiefs aiming for a historic third consecutive championship against the Philadelphia Eagles. The matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, where the Chiefs triumphed 38-35, launching their back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
Strikers and Kickers Youth merge to form Richmond United
Two of Virginia’s top youth soccer organizations, the Richmond Strikers and Richmond Kickers Youth, have merged to form Richmond United, creating one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the country. The recently announced partnership unites more than 10,000 players under one banner.
Virginia Opera, Richmond Symphony to debut Loving v. Virginia opera
Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony will present the world premiere of “Loving v. Virginia,” a new opera that tells the story of Mildred and Richard Loving, whose legal battle led to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down laws banning interracial marriage. The production will be the final presentation of Virginia Opera’s 50th Anniversary Season.
Richmond’s first Black mayor, Henry Marsh, remembered
Henry L. Marsh III, Richmond’s first Black mayor and a trailblazer in Virginia politics, died on Jan. 23 at 91, leaving behind decades of legal and civic work aimed at creating a more just and equal Commonwealth and nation.
Youngkin’s office aware of aid portal suspensions during Trump’s funding freeze
As Gov. Glenn Youngkin was assuring Virginians on Tuesday that direct federal aid would not be suspended as part of the Trump administration funding freeze, an internal memo obtained by The Virginia Mercury shows that his office was aware of potential problems.
Something in the Water Festival canceled
The Something in the Water festival will not return to Virginia Beach this April due to contract violations, as confirmed by the Virginia Beach City Council.
Faith groups say they’ll aid refugees despite Trump order. But they’ll need help.
Jalil Dawood, pastor of the Arabic Church of Dallas, thanks God every day for the U.S. government’s refugee resettlement program, which helped him settle in the United States after he fled persecution during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Dawood, who said the program reflects the best of American values, believes he has President Ronald Reagan to thank for helping to change the course of his life.
Personality: Dr. Robert Winn
Spotlight on the Association of American Cancer Institutes Board President
Dr. Robert A. Winn, a physician-scientist dedicated to community-engaged cancer research and eliminating health disparities, is deeply concerned about the potential impact of federal funding cuts on scientific progress.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending Saturday, Jan. 25, COVID-19 accounted for 1.1% of all emergency department visits in Virginia, with overall respiratory illness high and trending up compared to previous data. No deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported within that period at press time. COVID-19 wastewater levels for Richmond and Henrico County were below detection as of the most recent sample collection week on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Chesterfield appoints new superintendent, deputy
The Chesterfield County School Board appointed John Murray as superintendent for Chesterfield County Public Schools during a special meeting last Thursday, after a months-long nationwide search.
Commutations cement Biden’s legacy as a champion of justice, by Marc H. Morial
“American communities, disproportionately Black and Brown, have long borne the scars of the Drug War. Extreme and racist sentences for crack cocaine offenses tore apart families. Children grew up visiting their parents behind bars. Those parents are now elders, yearning to hold their grandchildren. Justice is served by allowing these individuals to return home. Their debt to society was long ago paid.” — Kara Gotsch, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project
Students compete in MLK Oratorical Contest
Shyla Scott, a senior at Richmond High School for the Arts, in the MLK Oratorical Contest, held Saturday at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.
Caregivers need fair pay to continue vital work
Caregivers are the unsung heroes of our health care system.
Vick earns second Hall of Fame induction in one week
Norfolk State football head coach Michael Vick has been selected for induction into the National High School Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, the organization announced Wednesday.
Spider track team shines at VMI Invitational with strong results
The University of Richmond women’s track and field team put on a strong showing at the VMI Invitational on Saturday at the Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington, highlighted by a standout performance from the Spider 4x400-meter relay team.
Civil rights documentary fundraiser set for March 23
A fundraiser for a new documentary about a 1960 civil rights protest will be held March 23 at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.
Public input sought for Virginia’s most endangered historic sites list
Preservation Virginia is now accepting nominations for its annual Most Endangered Historic Places Program, an initiative designed to identify and protect historic sites at risk of being lost. The program invites the public to nominate significant locations facing threats such as demolition, neglect or other challenges.
