Critically acclaimed filmmaker John Singleton dies at 51
Director John Singleton, who made one of Hollywood’s most memorable debuts with the Oscar-nominated “Boyz N the Hood” and continued over the following decades to probe the lives of African-American communities in his native Los Angeles and beyond, died Monday, April 29, 2019, after suffering several strokes during the last two weeks. He was 51.
Personality: Dr. Cynthia O. Richardson
Spotlight on president of the Petersburg Area Art League
Cynthia Owens Richardson, president of the Petersburg Area Art League, wants the nonprofit to be a mecca for people to explore, experience and be inspired by art.
City starts down road to regulate short-term rentals
Want to use Airbnb, FlipKey, VRBO or other online websites to rent your Richmond home or apartment to travelers?
228,783 That’s now Richmond’s estimated population
An estimated 228,783 people called Richmond home on July 1, 2018, the largest number since 1970 when the city’s population was near 250,000 residents, according to the latest estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Former VCU dean drops defamation suit against Wilder
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder is no longer facing a defamation lawsuit that was scheduled for trial in mid-July in Richmond Circuit Court.
Charles W. Howell Jr., longtime community advocate and health administrator, dies at 91
Since 1975, the federal government has been issuing income tax refunds to low-income working individuals and families through an anti-poverty initiative called the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC.
Salvation Army looks to relocate from Downtown to North Side
People needing temporary housing and a helping hand might soon have to walk a bit farther to reach the Salvation Army’s combination headquarters and emergency shelter.
Hemp: Virginia’s new big cash crop?
At first glance, it looks like a stoner’s paradise: Acres of plants that resemble marijuana. But this crop is hemp, a relative of cannabis that has commercial uses ranging from textiles and animal feed to health products.
Nation’s top teacher celebrated in whirlwind of appearances
If the nation’s president won’t honor you publicly as National Teacher of the Year, at least your state senators and district’s congressman will.
Judge Damon J. Keith, civil rights and judicial icon, dies at 96
U.S. Appeals Court Judge Damon J. Keith, who decided many of the nation’s most important school desegregation, employment discrimination and government surveillance cases during his more than 50 years on the federal bench, died Sunday, April 28, 2019, at his home in Detroit surrounded by family.
Balancing act
Richmond City Council designs a new budget that places a 50 cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes, increases funding for schools and expands bus service while giving city employees a 3 percent raise
An exhausted City Council completed work Monday on a new 2019-20 spending plan for Richmond that calls for a 3.6 percent, or $26 million, increase in city spending and is balanced with the imposition of the city’s first tax on cigarettes — a 50 cent levy on each pack effective July 1— and a hike in utility rates.
The Market @ 25th opens Monday with fanfare and high expectations
A new grocery store reflecting Church Hill’s history and contribution to Richmond is set to open next week in the East End’s food desert.
Northam, appeasement, atonement and black voters
In recent days, some Democrats in Virginia have seemingly adopted the principal that electoral expediency trumps zero tolerance for racism. Unfortunately, they received an eye-opening reminder that this strategy will be met by resistance from many of the very people whose votes will be essential for any Democratic victory in November.
Trump and death of democracy
Democracy is defined as government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Who are the people who support our contemporary status quo? And how, in marginalizing the will of the people, is democracy destroyed?
Barr, truth and the Mueller report
The much-anticipated and long-awaited Mueller report has been handled in an unbelievable way. We first received four pages about a 22-month study that told us nothing truthfully. U.S. Attorney General William Barr led us to believe everybody had been “picking on the poor innocent president.”
Thank you and goodbye
City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto has done the right thing by announcing he is stepping down from his seat representing the 5th District.
Congratulations, Mr. Robinson
Congratulations to Richmond’s own Rodney A. Robinson, who was named 2019 National Teacher of the Year! We believe Mr. Robinson, who successfully teaches students at the Virgie Binford Education Center in the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, has a story to tell and tips to share with teachers across this nation.
Tribute to Al Drummond, first African-American basketball player at University of Virginia
There was something missing from the University of Virginia’s recent basketball celebration. Sadly, Al Drummond wasn’t present to enjoy the Cavaliers’ first NCAA basketball championship.
VUU golf team clinches CIAA title
After a lengthy snooze, the Virginia Union University golf team has emerged from hibernation. The Panthers displayed considerable talent and depth April 18 and 19 in winning its first CIAA golf championship since 1971. That was four years before Tiger Woods was born and at a time when African-Americans were barred from playing on many private courses.
NFL draft may hold some surprises
Kyler Murray was barely a blip on the draft radar starting the 2018 season. Now he’s a favorite to be picked No. 1 overall by the Arizona Cardinals. Few athletes have shifted gears so dramatically as the multitalented Oklahoma Sooners quarterback.
