City Council vote on meals tax hike set for Feb.12
Proving more adept at corralling a majority of City Council votes on a big issue than former Mayors L. Douglas Wilder and Dwight C. Jones, Mayor Levar M. Stoney is rushing to gain quick approval of his plan to raise the city’s current 6 percent meals tax by 1.5 cents.
Ora Lomax to be treated at North Side dialysis center
After weeks of stress, Ora M. Lomax has learned a new clinic has accepted her for the life-saving dialysis treatments she needs.
RRHA tenants to get refunds in lawsuit settlement
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which is the landlord for Richmond’s public housing, has agreed to refund nearly $1 million to current and former tenants who were overcharged for electricity over four years. In addition, the RRHA plans to return nearly $80,000 to tenants as it implements new utility allowances that will increase the amount of power tenants can use before they must pay.
Henrico schools superintendent to retire
Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Patrick C. Kinlaw will retire June 30. The announcement was made Tuesday by schools officials.
City Council approves Larus Park water deal
Richmond City Council this week lifted an 18-year-old ban on development in a 106-acre city park in South Side to enable the city Department of Public Utilities to sell more water to Chesterfield County.
Creighton Court heating work to take longer than expected
Spring will have arrived before heat is fully restored to apartments in the Creighton Court public housing community, according Orlando Artze, interim chief executive officer of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Mr. Artze confirmed Tuesday that the work to install new baseboard heat in the 78 units where radiator heating failed likely will not be complete until March 29.
Kings Dominion changes name of roller coaster
Kings Dominion amusement park is changing the name of a roller coaster named after the war whoop of a Confederate soldier.
Florida votes to replace Confederate statue in Congress with one of Mary McLeod Bethune
Florida could soon help diversify the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall by replacing a Confederate general’s likeness with the hall’s first statue honoring an African-American woman.
Renewed Poor People’s Campaign starts first of several national actions
The renewed version of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign to lift poor people held its first national mobilization, with actions and events Monday in 32 states and the nation’s capital.
Ready to work
New RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras rolls out ambitious 100-day plan just days after being sworn into office
The new Richmond Public Schools chief wasted no time getting to work. Just four days after being sworn in, Superintendent Jason Kamras on Monday night rolled out his plan to get RPS moving.
Private contractors costing city big $ for snow removal
When snow falls in Richmond, City Hall is forced to pay big bucks to private contractors to clear the streets. The reason: Up to half of the aging fleet of city dump trucks that double as snowplows are usually parked, awaiting repairs, according to a new report from the Department of Public Works.
New report: Reforms to help drivers with suspended licenses not working
When Shaniqua Wyatt Jackson needs to go somewhere, she has to catch a ride with a friend or catch a bus. She knows how to drive, but the 37-year-old would court arrest because her driver’s license is suspended. It has been since 2015 because she could not pay the fines a Richmond judge imposed after finding her guilty of several traffic infractions.
CHIP program extended for 6 years
The Children’s Health Insurance Program, which benefits nearly 70,000 Virginia children and about 9 million youths across the country, has gained six years of new life and funding.
Minor re-elected chairman of Richmond Democratic Committee
James E. “J.J.” Minor III will continue to lead the Richmond Democratic Committee.
6 Virginia tribes win federal recognition
Six Indian tribes in Virginia have secured federal recognition after nearly 20 years. The recognition became official Monday when President Trump signed legislation that recently passed Congress.
Stolen private account information discovered by UR security
During a security sweep, the University of Richmond’s information security staff discovered a website containing a list of stolen account credentials — a list with approximately 1.4 billion pieces of private account information such as email addresses and passwords.
Homeward, volunteers take census of city’s homeless
As part of a statewide assessment, a nonprofit group is taking its annual census of Richmond’s homeless, aided by a coalition of outreach programs.
Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It is a privilege to join you tonight. We are here in Fall River, Mass., a proud American city built by immigrants.
New commission to investigate threats to voting rights
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s first speech at the Lincoln Memorial was not his celebrated 1963 address at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
The power of protests
For those of us who grew up during the marches, sit-ins and demonstrations of the 1960s and 1970s, we’re used to large, noisy crowds of people hitting the streets and sidewalks to create awareness and change on a whole range of issues.
