Can Richmond afford 4 planned new schools?
One unanswered question hovers as the Richmond School Board and schools Superintendent Jason Kamras push the city to seek bids for new buildings to replace four aging schools: Can the city afford them?
Free Press wins 11 state journalism awards
The Richmond Free Press continues its 26-year tradition of award-winning excellence. The newspaper was recognized with 11 awards, including four first place awards, at the annual Virginia Press Association competition in writing, photography, news presentation and advertising.
New Capitol Square monument honors Virginia’s native tribes
Leaders of Virginia’s Native American tribes joined Gov. Ralph S. Northam, members of the Virginia Indian Commemorative Commission, state legislators, dignitaries and state residents Tuesday morning to dedicate a new monument in Capitol Square honoring Virginia’s first inhabitants.
Area students expected to walk out Friday for gun violence rally
Thousands of high school students and their supporters are expected to ignore threats of discipline from their school divisions and pour into Downtown this Friday, April 20, to protest gun violence in schools and issue a fresh call to lawmakers to pass stronger gun control laws, according to police.
Starbucks to close 8,000 U.S. stores for racial bias training
Starbucks Corp. will close 8,000 company-owned U.S. cafés for the afternoon on Tuesday, May 29, to train nearly 175,000 to prevent racial discrimination in its stores.
Target settles claims it screened black people, Hispanics out of jobs
Target Corp. has agreed to review its policies for screening job applicants and pay $3.74 million to settle a lawsuit claiming its use of criminal background checks kept thousands of African-Americans and Hispanics from obtaining employment.
A heroine honored
April 23 now designated as Barbara Johns Day in Virginia to honor 1951 student activist who helped dismantle public school segregation
Today’s students need to continue to speak out when they see injustice. That was the message from Joan Johns Cobbs, the younger sister of the late Barbara Johns, and Mrs. Cobbs’ classmate, Joy Cabarrus Speakes, as Virginia prepares to celebrate the first Barbara Johns Day on Monday, April 23.
Kindergarten registration April 19
Registration for kindergarten is Thursday, April 19. That’s the registration date for 15 school divisions in the Richmond area covering 152 elementary schools. Children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 30 can start kindergarten in the fall, but they must be registered at the school they will attend.
VCU dean steps down after filing countersuit against L. Douglas Wilder
L. Douglas Wilder is proving he still has plenty of bite.
Health systems securing naming rights to GRTC’s Pulse
Richmond area taxpayers apparently will not have to spend as much to subsidize rides on GRTC’s new bus rapid transit service, also known as Pulse, thanks to two area health care giants, VCU Health System and Bon Secours Richmond Health System.
RRHA still fixing heating systems
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has restored heat to 318 apartments, but still has 93 units in various public housing communities to complete, according to an update released last week.
Rebuilding Together Richmond seeking volunteers for April 28 repair blitz
Want to help people stay in their homes?
Hear history from one who made it
In recent days, we’ve enjoyed some wonderful reflections about the accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his colleagues during the mid-1960s peak of the Civil Rights Movement.
Double standard?
I usually do not send in my opinion concerning various issues, even though I may have one. But this time, I must respond.
‘The Silent Support Syndrome’
There seems to be a reluctance by white moderates in Virginia — elected officials and otherwise — to challenge the public existence of Confederate statues in the Commonwealth. I refer to such as “The Silent Support Syndrome.” Following the American Civil War, Virginia was one of the last seven states to re-join the United States of America, along with Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas. Virginia was among the first states to erect statues to Confederate generals and soldiers in the 1890s.
The new Poor People’s Campaign
Recently, comedian Chris Rock made a good point when he said that U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell has represented the state of Kentucky for more than 30 years and he’s one of the nation’s most powerful and richest senators.
Hurry, Mr. Mueller
The law is closing in on President Trump and he’s not happy.
Early mistake?
Richmond’s new schools superintendent, Jason Kamras, recently named five of the six top officials he is bringing in to be a part of his cabinet in running the city’s public school system.
Inaugural ‘I Have a Dream’ Festival Saturday
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney will be the grand marshal of the community “I Have a Dream” Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in Richmond’s East End, that also will feature music from the No BS Brass Band.
Defenders to honor local activists at anniversary banquet
Four community activists will be honored as the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality marks its15th anniversary with a banquet from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1720 Mechanicsville Turnpike, it has been announced.
