Federal panel selects redistricting plan for House of Delegates
A federal three-judge panel announced Tuesday it has selected a redistricting plan to end illegal packing of African-American voters into 11 Virginia House of Delegate districts.
Postal rates go up Sunday
The price of a first-class stamp will jump to a record 55 cents on Sunday, Jan. 27. The nickel increase from the current 50-cent stamp price is the largest single jump in the history of the American postal service, according to U.S. Postal Service records.
Case against VUU president in Florida appears stalled
Bethune-Cookman University in Florida appears to have halted its legal effort to hold former top officials accountable for their alleged role in saddling the Daytona Beach school with an overly expensive dormitory.
Showdown expected at Feb. 11 City Council meeting over renaming Boulevard for Arthur Ashe Jr.
Will the Boulevard be renamed for Richmond-born tennis great and humanitarian Arthur Ashe Jr.?
Richmond teacher is finalist for National Teacher of the Year
Richmond teacher Rodney A. Robinson’s star keeps rising. Mr. Robinson, who was selected in October as Virginia’s 2018 Teacher of the Year, is one of four finalists for the National Teacher of the Year.
Wakanda forever: ‘Black Panther’ poised for Oscar win
The box office smash “Black Panther” just made history as the first superhero film to be nominated for an Academy Award, the top award in the movie world. The film, directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler, is one of the eight movies, including “Green Book” and Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman,” that will compete for best picture honors at the 91st Academy Awards to be broadcast Sunday, Feb. 24, it was announced this week.
$14M slice
RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras releases plan to cut $14M from city schools; $13M from central office alone
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras wants to strip $13 million from the school system’s budget by making cuts to the central office.
Lt. Gov. Fairfax sits to take a stand
Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax, the second African-American to hold statewide office in Virginia, made a statement with a “sit-in” of sorts last Friday in the state Senate chamber, where he presides.
Groups using Super Bowl spotlight to push against Confederate statues
A coalition of civil rights groups in Atlanta is using this year’s Super Bowl to help kick off a renewed “war on the Confederacy,” in a fight to remove Confederate monuments around the nation.
‘The Art of Freedom’ exhibit to open at Black History Museum
“The Art of Freedom,” a new exhibit opening Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, will feature more than 60 works by African-American artists expressing their meaning of freedom.
24th Annual Freedom Classic Festival this weekend
The 24th Annual Freedom Classic Festival gets underway this week with family-friendly activities celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
NFL Conference finals players always have had flair
For Sunday’s NFL Conference finals, expect a steady diet of orchestrated end zone celebrations and other zany sideshows, minus the fear of penalty. It wasn’t always that way.
John E. Wilson, oldest living Harlem Globetrotter, dies in Chester
John E. Wilson, who was the oldest living Harlem Globetrotter, has died at age 91. Known as “Jumpin’ Johnny” for his uncanny leaping ability, Mr. Wilson died Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, at his home in Chester, where he was living with his son, John Wilson Jr., an assistant athletic director at Virginia State University.
MJBL players headed to Bahamas
Some local teenagers won’t have to wait until warm weather to play baseball. The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League is sending a team to Nassau, Bahamas, for games next week.
VUU, VSU revving up for Freedom Classic matchup Saturday
Virginia Union University’s basketball season has been given a jumpstart. When the Panthers trek to Ettrick on Saturday to play Virginia State University in the Freedom Classic, VUU will have new vroom under the hood.
Sophomore Roosevelt Wheeler is John Marshall High’s tall secret weapon
Young basketball players and teams generally are taught to work the ball inside for a higher percentage of shots close to the basket. That strategy is likely to backfire against Richmond’s John Marshall High School. Facing the Justices, the closer to the basket the opponents get, the higher the degree of difficulty becomes.
Hundreds turn out for equal rights
Hundreds of social justice advocates, community members and students marched for women’s rights last Saturday in Richmond.
Scooter legislation advances in City Council
Electric scooters are headed to Richmond, but this time legally. After two months of talks and review, Richmond City Council appears poised to approve legislation that would authorize scooter companies such as Bird and Lime to begin offering rental service.
Southside Hardware closing doors for last time Saturday
Southside Hardware was long a place to find the unusual, from replacement wicks for kerosene heaters to the special keys needed to operate radiators, antique radios and baby buggies.
Cityscape: Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
Workers are moving forward to create a $33 million apartment complex on a 2½-acre block in Jackson Ward, despite recent weather challenges.
