Ashley Judd, politicians and advocates gather on 2nd anniversary of Dobbs
“My story includes abortion — a guy I’ve known since I was a kid raped me,” actress and activist Ashley Judd shared with a crowd of about 100 in Richmond on Monday to mark the two-year anniversary of the overturn of federal abortion protections. “And when I became pregnant, I was so grateful that I was able to access safe and legal abortion,” she said.
Virginia Museum of History & Culture to host July 4th Citizenship Ceremony
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture celebrates Independence Day with its annual Citizenship Ceremony, welcoming approximately 75 new citizens. The event, held in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, begins at 11 a.m.
Tourism program seeks nominations for awards
Richmond Region Tourism’s BLK RVA program is now accepting nominations for its Community Awards, marking the initiative’s fifth anniversary.
U.S. surgeon general declares gun violence a public health crisis
The U.S. surgeon general on Tuesday declared gun violence a public health crisis, driven by the fast-growing number of injuries and deaths involving firearms in the country.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending on Saturday, June 22, confirmed hospital admissions for COVID-19 in Virginia fell 15.3% from the previous week. One death associated with COVID-19 was reported statewide during that time frame. COVID-19 wastewater levels in the Greater Richmond area, on average, remain below detection. The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations: • Thursday, June 27, 1 to 5 p.m. - Henrico Arms Apartments, 1566 Edgelawn Circle. • Friday, June 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Southside Plaza WIC, 509 E. Southside Plaza. RHHD’s Resource Centers are providing free at-home tests for pick-up at select locations: • Creighton Court at 2150 Creighton Road, call (804) 371-0433. • Fairfield Court at 2311 N. 25th St., call (804) 786-4099. • Gilpin Court at 436 Calhoun St., call (804) 786-1960.. • Hillside Court at 1615 Glenfield Ave., call (804)230-7740. • Mosby Court at 1536 Coalter St., call (804) 786-0204. • Southwood Court at 1754 Clarkson Road. Unit #B, call (804) 230-2077. • Whitcomb Court at 2106 Deforrest St., call (804) 786-0555. For information on testing sites, visit vax.rchd.com. Want a COVID-19 vaccine? Those interested can schedule an appointment with RHHD by calling (804) 205-3501. Vaccines.gov also lists nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine, and those interested can also text their ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children between the ages of 6 months to 4 years old may need multiple doses of the updated vaccines depending on their COVID-19 vaccine status and whether they had previously received Pfizer and Moderna. Children ages 5 to 11 years who are unvaccinated or received a vaccine before the 2023-2024 formula should get one updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Those who were previously vaccinated should receive the updated dose at least eight weeks after their most recent dose. Those ages 12 years and older who are unvaccinated should get either one updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two doses of the updated Novavax vaccine. People in that age range who received a vaccine before the updated 2023-2024 formula should get one updated dose of any of the vaccines at least eight weeks after their most recent dose. Information compiled by George Copeland Jr.
Richmond awarded $150,000 grant for digital skills program
Richmond has been selected as one of 10 cities to receive a grant from the Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge, a joint initiative of Comcast and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The city will receive $150,000 to support its Strategic Opportunities Leading to Valuable Experiences (SOLVE) program.
CNN faces backlash for excluding Black-owned media from presidential debate coverage
CNN has come under fire for denying media credentials to every Black-owned media entity, including those based in Atlanta, for the upcoming presidential debate on Thursday. Despite granting over 600 media credentials, not even one was extended to Black-owned outlets, sparking outrage and accusations of systemic exclusion in a predominantly Black city.
Final score
Our Sports page will look different next week. Fred Jeter, our longtime sports writer, ends his tenure with The Richmond Free Press with this issue.
Black athletes are Black men, women first, by David W. Marshall
During a recent Fox Sports pregame show appearance, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson was asked about his return to Birmingham, Ala.’s Rickwood Field, where he played 114 games in the minor leagues. His powerful response was a stark reminder of how sports, as a social institution, is not immune to the darkest side of bigotry. To appreciate Jackson’s response, we must remind ourselves of the simplicity of sports in general and the complexity of sports when it is intertwined with a community’s prevailing social order, defined as the tendency of a social institution to resist or regulate change.
Virginia Union professor publishes new book on gospel interpretation
Virginia Union University professor Dr. Yung Suk Kim recently released a book aimed at providing a comprehensive approach to studying the Gospels.
We’re No. 1!
A CNN report this week ranked our little ol’ River City as the top of their list of “America’s Best Towns to Visit 2024.”
Celtics are team for the ages
Along with being crowned the 2024 NBA champions, the Boston Celtics are now the all-time NBA kingpins.
Spirituals, freedom songs echo across generations, by Hazel Trice Edney
Every Sunday, millions of African Americans across the nation make their way to church anticipating relief from lives of financial woes, pressures at work, health concerns, family matters, race discrimination and inequities among other stressful issues of everyday life.
Kenyans can sprint, too
Track fans have grown accustomed to Kenyans excelling globally as long-distance runners, primarily 800 meters and up. Ferdinand Omanyala, 28, threatens to break that stereotype at the upcoming Paris Summer Games.
Rams add big man to roster
VCU basketball Coach Ryan Odom went searching for another big man and found what he was looking for in Arizona.
Former Pirate headed to Paris
Hampton University has celebrated Olympic medalists before and may again.
Injuries continue to plague WNBA teams; Sparks, Dream winless with key players sidelined
The injury bug has bitten several WNBA teams this season with both Los Angeles and Atlanta losing key players last week.
New exhibition explores race and community in Richmond
A new exhibition titled “Race in Richmond: Healing in Richmond” is on display at The Gallery in Main Street Station until June 30. The exhibit features two installations: “I See You – A Portrait Experience” and “I Hear You: A Speaking Experience.”
Richard hopes to ‘flip’ the script
African American women have made a huge impact on Olympic gymnastics, with Gabby Douglas, Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles as shining examples of their dazzling skill sets. Now it’s Frederick “Fred” Richard’s turn to try and draw more attention to the men’s competition.
Nine anti-war protesters due in court Friday for I-95 blockade
Nine protesters will go to trial Friday, June 21, at the John Marshall Courts building for blockading Interstate 95 in March as part of an anti-war protest against the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
