Head of the class!
Richmond Public Schools teacher Rodney A. Robinson, who mentors and inspires students at the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, wins 2019 National Teacher of the Year
Rodney A. Robinson, the 40-year-old history and social studies teacher who inspires students each and every day inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, where he has worked at the Virgie Binford Education Center since 2015, has been named 2019 National Teacher of the Year.
Agelasto out, but not soon enough for critics
Parker C. Agelasto is ready to leave his seat on Richmond City Council nine months after he and his family moved their residence outside the 5th District he was first elected to serve in 2012.
Plans gain steam to rehab old Fulton Gas Works
A four-year-old plan to turn the now vacant Fulton Gas Works in the East End into a modern hub of the city’s gas utility is quietly gaining momentum, although a separate project by Stone Brewing to create a restaurant to complement the company’s beer factory appears to have stalled.
Standing up for a sister
My good friend Dick Gregory often talked about the power of the black woman. He said the two strongest forces in the nation are the black church and the black woman. Despite all of our hardships, discrimination and disrespect by gangsta rappers and others, black women have shown the strength and the know-how to overcome whatever gets in our way.
Use bank fines to help communities they hurt
As Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California convened a recent House Financial Services Committee hearing featuring the CEOs of Wall Street’s biggest banks, the financial watchdog group Better Markets released a stunning report on the banks’ criminal records: “Wall Street’s Six Biggest Bailed-Out Banks: Their RAP Sheets and Their Ongoing Crime Spree.”
Malevolence of Section 8 housing laws
The Black Holocaust denies are constantly among us. This is because the Black Holocaust is still going on. It didn’t end with slavery or early Jim Crow days. The Section 8 rental law was meant to keep black people from being homeowners. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers voted for this “help people” law knowing its true purpose.
Panthers 2019-20 football schedule announced
Virginia Union University and Hampton University have agreed to renew their ancient football rivalry.
VUU golf team heading into CIAA tourney with wins
Three down and one to go. The Virginia Union University golf team is nearing a clean sweep of CIAA tournaments. Coach E. Lee Coble’s Panthers have won three straight events heading into the CIAA Golf Championship on Thursday, April 18, and Friday, April 19, at The Club at Viniterra in New Kent County.
High schooler named MVP
Jada Walker’s first basketball season playing away from home couldn’t have gone more smoothly.
Brown wins ‘Dash for Cash’ at Monument Avenue 10K
In foot-racing lingo, it’s called a “finishing kick” — that ability to grit the teeth, ignore the pain and crank up the speed as the victory tape nears. Brian Brown used just such a “kick” last Saturday to win the Monument Avenue 10K “Dash for Cash.” The kick earned him a $2,500 take-home reward.
$140M Deal makes Russell Wilson highest paid in NFL
The Richmond native posted a video on social media early Tuesday saying, “Seattle, we got a deal,” shortly after agreeing to a $140 million, four-year extension with the Seahawks, his agent Mark Rodgers told The Associated Press. Wilson’s new deal runs through the 2023 season and includes a $65 million signing bonus, a no-trade clause and $107 million in guaranteed money.
Pope Francis’ symbolic gesture raises hope for peace in South Sudan
Pope Francis knelt and kissed the feet of South Sudan’s rival leaders last week, in an unprecedented act of humbleness to encourage them to strengthen the African country’s faltering peace process.
Hate crime charges filed in Louisiana church fire
The white man suspected in the burnings of three African-American churches in Louisiana will remain in jail, denied bond Monday by a judge, as state prosecutors added new charges declaring the arsons a hate crime.
RRHA gets heat to all apartments in time for spring temps
Every public housing unit in the city finally had working heat as of April 12, although three still only had partial heat, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is reporting.
Arthur Ashe Blvd. dedication June 22
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22. That’s the date of the official dedication of the new Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond. Richmond City Council voted Feb. 11 to rename The Boulevard for Richmond native Mr. Ashe, the late, great tennis champion and humanitarian.
Chesterfield to stay in recycling program through Dec.
The Richmond region’s recycling program will remain intact at least through December. Chesterfield County is still mulling its future with the program and has agreed to participate for the rest of the year in the 10-year-old operation run by the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority.
Agelasto facing 3rd suit for his removal from office
Parker C. Agelasto is facing the threat of a third lawsuit seeking his removal from the 5th District City Council seat for moving to the 1st District. Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring told the Free Press that he would file his own lawsuit to remove Mr. Agelasto if the City Council member fails to notify Richmond City Council soon that he will resign his office by the end of the year.
Small City of Richmond Radio Shop produces big results
• Interior car temperatures monitored by a cellphone application. • Lights and sirens that shut off automatically when the vehicle is put into park. • Windows that come down when the interior gets too hot.
Mayor Stoney ruffles council members with remarks
Mayor Levar M. Stoney, frustrated by City Council opposition to his plan to raise the city property tax rate and impose a new cigarette tax to raise new revenue, is taking verbal shots at council foes, riling them.
