Mahomes, Chiefs fast forward to season opener
The Kansas City Chiefs insist they are not thinking about last year’s opener against Detroit, when they celebrated their latest Super Bowl triumph with a flag-raising ceremony and were promptly beaten by the Lions.
Mayoral candidates share ideas for gun violence prevention, housing during RISC forum
The future of Richmond’s approach to gun violence and housing became clearer last Thursday evening, as the five mayoral candidates shared their vision for both during a forum at Second Baptist Church Southside.
Dems embrace ‘positive masculinity’, by Clarence Page
In case you somehow haven’t noticed, manhood is on the ballot. Even before President Biden stepped aside to let Vice Presi- dent Kamala Harris step up to be the Democrats’ presiden- tial nominee, insiders from both parties were calling this the “boys versus girls election.” And even before the Republican National Con- vention opened in Milwaukee in July, spokespeople for Team Trump were telling reporters they hoped to contrast “weak versus strong” as their social media message — and present a stage show as testosterone- fueled as a Super Bowl. In that spirit, my most lasting memory from the GOP’s Milwaukee fest is Hulk Hogan’s ruddy red chest exploding across my television screen as he ripped off his T-shirt. The message? It’s OK to feel comfortable in your own skin, even if not in your own T-shirt, as you try to win the hearts of those manly man vot- ers who are already captivated and contained in the MAGA world. Then, hard on the heels of Donald Trump’s MAGAs, along came the Democrats in Chicago to challenge the GOP’s hyper masculine chest thumping with their own Hollywood star- studded post-Biden challenge to the polling gender gap. Their message: reproductive rights- dominated inclusivity across all racial and gender lines. Rarely has an election campaign been so sharply and unashamedly defined by the gender gap. Of course, considering how the last time the race was so sharply defined by the gender gap may have been 2016, when Hillary Clinton lost to Trump, it was prudent of Harris to pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. In contrast to the famously bombastic style of Trump, Walz presents what feminists have called “positive masculinity.” He’s also been predictably slammed by attack campaigns, to limited effect. Walz spent 24 years in the Army National Guard, having joined at age 17. However, he never served in an active combat zone. Nevertheless, at a public meeting about gun violence in 2018, he said, “We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is the only place where those weapons are at.” His use of the phrase “in war” on this one occasion was seized on by Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq — although not in combat. The Harris-Walz campaign responded that Walz “mis- spoke.” Frankly, as a Vietnam War veteran who also missed com- bat, I honor both men for serving their country. That service, too, offers an example of positive manhood. Positive masculinity is an assortment of attitudes and behaviors that build on the qualities positively associated with traditional masculinity while avoiding its negative aspects, which include thought- less aggression, domination and violence — behaviors that too often victimize women and girls. One particularly striking an- ecdote from Walz’s past might well have sealed the deal in his favor. When he was asked in 1999 to be faculty adviser for his Southern Minnesota high school’s first gay-straight alliance club, Walz, then a geography teacher and football coach, agreed to do it — much to the relief of then-student Jacob Reitan, now 42. “It was important to have a person who was so well liked on campus, a football coach who had served in the military,” Reitan said in an interview with The New York Times. “Having Tim Walz as the adviser of the gay-straight alliance made me feel safe coming to school.” Indeed, by doing his duty as an educator in this instance, Walz set an example that may not grab as much attention as, say, ripping his shirt off in front of a national television audi- ence. But as lessons for life go, it’s a lot more valuable. The meaning and value of manhood are endlessly de- bated topics, as they should be. They should not be endlessly exploited. Honor, courage, leadership, honesty, integrity and fairness are just a few of the quali- ties we should associate with positive manhood. It’s easy to think of more. Unfortunately, it can be a lot harder to live up to them. The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
Building memories and literacy with your grandchildren, by Kristen J. Amundson
It has been 40 years since I last read Dr. Seuss’ “The Foot Book” aloud, but I can still recite it, nearly word for word. That’s because I read it an estimated 83,492 times during my daughter’s earliest years.
John Lewis Act aims to reinvigorate Voting Rights Act, by Marc H. Morial
Last week in Chicago, the National Urban League joined with the Brennan Center and Democracy SENTRY for a conversation on voting rights.
EcoFest comes to James A. Buzzard River Education Center
The James River Association will host its first James River EcoFest on Sept. 7, offering a day of river-based activities and environ- mental education. The event, scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m., will take place at the recently opened James A. Buzzard River Education Center at 2528 Dock St. in Richmond. EcoFest will feature free paddle tours, trips aboard JRA’s education boat “Spirit of the James,” a rain barrel workshop, and tree giveaways. Several local nonprofit organiza- tions, including the Capital Trail Foundation and Peter Paul Development Center, will participate. The event will serve as an open house for the Buzzard River Education Center, which opened in July. The facility aims to provide environmental education for students in the Greater Richmond area and improved river access for visitors. According to the JRA, the event is a celebra- tion of the James River Watershed, inviting the community to learn about local ecology and discover sustainable practices they can apply in their own backyards. Parking and shuttle transportation will be available at Stone Brewing, located at 4300 Williamsburg Ave. The EcoFest is sponsored by the Robins Foundation, ReMax, Troutman Pepper and Whitten Brothers Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Richmond. Organizers encourage attendees to register in advance for special activities through the JRA website at jamesriver.org.
Back to protest
VCU students walk out, assemble
More than 100 Virginia Commonwealth University students walked out of their classrooms and assembled in the Park Plaza Amphitheater behind the Cabell Library on Wednesday afternoon. There, they protested against the war in Gaza, its impact on Palestinian life and decried the school’s new policies that have made similar gatherings more difficult.
The Black church has moved from essential to voluntary, says author
Jason Shelton has made a deep scholarly dive into the world of the Black church. But not everything in his new book, “The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion,” was learned at the University of Texas at Arlington, where Shelton is a sociologist. He drew as well from his experience growing up in Black churches, in his familial home in Ohio and in Los Angeles — at United Methodist, Church of God in Christ, African Methodist Episcopal and non-denominational churches — and searching as an adult for the right spiritual space for his family.
Flying Squirrels to nest in CarMax Park
CoStar Stadium? Dominion Energy Field? Capital One Yards? If those were your guesses for which Richmond-based company will snag the naming rights for Richmond’s next stadium, we hope you didn’t place a hefty wager on it. The Richmond Flying Squirrels and their longtime partner announced Wednesday that the new Richmond ballpark and entertainment venue will be called — CarMax Park.
Long COVID’s lasting impact on Richmond residents
Leslie Mento was working as a front line health worker and physical therapist in New York when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. He was among the first in the country to help patients suffering from long-term effects of the virus, a condition then known as post-COVID. Now based in Richmond, Mento continues his work with Long COVID patients at Sheltering Arms’ Bon Air clinic. His experience reflects how the lives of many have been reshaped by this persistent illness and the ongoing efforts to address its impact.
Virginia War Memorial honors 9/11 victims with Patriot Day event
The Virginia War Memorial will hold its annual Commonwealth’s Patriot Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending Saturday, Aug. 31, confirmed hospital admissions for COVID-19 in Virginia rose 4% from the previous week, and new admissions remain low. One death associated with COVID-19 was reported within the same timeframe. Updated data on COVID-19 wastewater levels in the Greater Richmond area showed plateaued levels starting the week of Aug. 25.
Women make history with leadership roles
Two new hires are making history in Henrico and Chesterfield counties.
Folk Festival drops performance schedule for 20th anniversary
The Richmond Folk Festival returns for its 20th anniversary Sept. 27 through 29, with a weekend packed with performances, cultural displays and community engagement. The festival, one of Virginia’s largest events, is expected to draw more than 200,000 attendees to Downtown Richmond’s riverfront.
Unbalanced
It needs to be said – the Republican nominee isn’t being treated fairly by the mainstream media. I think he might agree with that notion, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to predict what the 78-year-old convicted felon might say. There’s been a noticeable dip in the former president’s ability to speak coherently in the last few months. He’s embraced conspiracy theories, made them up on the spot, changed positions on major issues without notice or explanation and lied all over the place. If another candidate had done some of these things, their mental condition would be a news story. Remember our friend Joe Biden? His debate missteps became a national news story that led him to step down from his campaign. But much of the media is silent when Donald Trump appears to be mentally unraveling on stages and in interviews. His latest rant was against schools that he said provide sex change operations to students. “Think of it; your kid goes to school, and he comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what’s going to happen with your child,” he said. Of course, these schools don’t exist anywhere, but that’s not the point. The gatekeepers of the mainstream media are under the assumption that the former president is good for business and continue to allow their producers and reporters to pretend these comments are part of the normal political discourse. This is a dangerous narrative that can’t be allowed to continue. There’s only one way to cancel this frightening reality show the media has helped create – vote.
Standing firm: Protecting reproductive rights in Richmond, by Harrison Roday
The race for mayor will be filled with critical discussions on many topics: our public schools, neighborhood safety, economic opportunity, the functioning of City Hall and transportation, to name a few. But those issues will be accompanied by some new ones. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the growing threat to reproductive rights is a national issue, a state issue, and it’s a local issue. It’s a values issue.
Flying Squirrels’ final homestand against Akron
The Richmond Flying Squirrels began their final homestand of the season Tuesday night with a game against the Akron Rub- berDucks at The Diamond. Left-hander John Michael Bertrand (6-8, 4.50 ERA) started for Richmond, while Akron sent right- hander Tommy Mace (8-5, 3.75 ERA) to the mound. The Flying Squirrels will continue their series against Akron on Friday, Sept. 6, at 6:35 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 7, at 6:05 p.m. Friday’s game will feature a Groundbreaking Day Fan Fest celebrat- ing the future construction of the team’s new stadium. Festivities will start at 5 p.m. and include a commemorative baseball card giveaway, live DJ, photo booth, food and player autographs.
Roadrunners fall to DC Cyclones, but make playoffs
The Richmond Roadrunners closed out their 2024 regular season with a tough 100-58 loss to the DC Cyclones on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Henrico High School. Despite battling numerous injuries and personnel challenges, the Roadrunners finished the season with a 4-4 record and have qualified for the first round of the playoffs.
Virginia State stuns Benedict College 23-7
Virginia State University upset Benedict College 23-7 in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday, ending the Tigers’ 20-game regular season winning streak.
VMHC hosts history symposium
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture hosts the Conrad M. Hall Symposium for Virginia History 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 7. The event, designed for historians and the public, will offer a full day of presentations centered on the theme of Creation/Creating.
