You smell that?
The African-American community has long lived with the trauma of police harassment and abuse. Civil rights leaders and lawyers have pushed back for decades to end these deplorable, and many times, unconstitutional, practices.
Homeless services should be under one roof
According to state statistics, there were 1,394 homeless students in Richmond Public Schools in 2016-17. Chesterfield County and Henrico County had 715 and 986 homeless students, respectively.
Carver Elementary’s ‘enemies are internal’
Re Letter to the editor, “Carver Elementary’s success became ‘a target on its back,’ ” Free Press Aug. 9-11 edition: Like many others, I could not have been more disappointed in the behavior of teachers and administrators over the Standards of Learning debacle, especially because I was a student at Carver Elementary School the very first year it opened.
Richmond Chapter of The Drifters Inc. host national convention
Women from around the country converged on Richmond this week for the 62nd National Convention of The Drifters Inc., a national women’s civic and service organization started in 1954 that now has more than 600 members in 35 chapters in the United States.
Plan launched to rename the Boulevard for tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr.
A new effort is underway to rename the Boulevard in honor of Richmond-born humanitarian and tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr. Richmond City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray said this week she plans to introduce legislation in September to change the street’s name to Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
Free Press wins NNPA award
The Richmond Free Press has been recognized with a national award. The Free Press won the Ada S. Franklin Best Women/Lifestyle Award June 28 at the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual convention in Norfolk.
Out: Richmond School Board accepts resignations
The Richmond School Board accepted the resignations of former Carver Elementary School Principal Kiwana Yates and five other school employees named by state officials as part of a cheating ring at the school.
Charlottesville confronts identity, braces itself, one year after clashes
For many residents of Charlottesville, last year’s white nationalist rally shattered the city’s carefully curated reputation as a progressive, idyllic place to live.
Teachers learn about slavery at Lee’s birthplace
At Stratford Hall in Virginia, birthplace of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, a group of K-12 teachers gathered recently to talk about slavery and how to teach it.
Federal appeals court rulings put brakes on 2 pipeline projects
A federal appeals court in Richmond on Monday threw out two key permits for the Atlantic Coast pipeline, a ruling environmental groups said should halt construction on the 600-mile natural gas pipeline.
Toxicology report rules out drugs in Marcus-David Peters’ death, family says
A local activist coalition and a victim’s family continue to question the details of the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Marcus-David Peters by a Richmond Police officer in May. Mr. Peters’ sister, Princess Blanding, and the Justice and Reform for Marcus Peters Coalition challenged the accuracy and transparency of the Richmond Police Department’s report on the fatal shooting by Officer Michael Nyantakyi at Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s Third District community meeting July 31.
City alleys now to receive maintenance on regular schedule
The roar of heavy equipment over a backyard fence signals the start of work on another alley. Suddenly, with little publicity, city alleys are starting to get regular attention and care.
New mobile health van to provide food pantry, HIV testing
A new mobile health van will carry food and provide HIV testing to people in low-income communities in Richmond and the surrounding counties.
Meeting Aug.15 on Brook Road bike lane plans
Civic leaders in North Side will get their first look at an updated City Hall plan to install bike lanes on Brook Road and reduce space for traffic to one lane in each direction.
City Council member raises host of questions on homeless plan
City Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson feels caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to a proposal to create a housing services center for the homeless in a church building in South Side.
GRTC CEO leaving
GRTC is looking for a new leader. The search is about to begin following the sudden resignation of David Green, GRTC’s chief executive officer, less than two months after launching the new Pulse bus rapid transit system ushering in a controversial overhaul of all other GRTC bus routes.
‘Smell of marijuana’ new police tactic?
A new police tactic is opening the door to warrantless searches of individuals, vehicles and homes. To generate the “reasonable suspicion” that courts require for police to conduct such a search, officers are claiming to smell marijuana, possession of which is still illegal in Virginia, according to defense attorneys and area residents.
Personality: Terrence L. Graves
Spotlight on president of the Richmond Bar Association
The Richmond Bar Association is always striving to increase the diversity of its membership, says Terrence L. Graves. The 54-year-old attorney with Sands Anderson PC can make sure that happens now that he’s in charge.
Joseph L. Hayes Sr., former director of VEC’s Administrative Law Division, dies at 85
Joseph Lewis Hayes Jr. initially set out to become a pharmacist. Along the way, he switched to legal studies and eventually became one of the leading experts on the laws regarding unemployment benefits.
Alabama minister, wife purchase Rosa Parks letter
A letter written by civil rights activist Rosa Parks describing the 1957 bombing of her neighbors’ home has been purchased at auction by the couple targeted in the attack.
