
Uncovering the Tulsa Massacre truth, by Marc H. Morial
Oct. 14, 2024 “We acknowledge descendants of the survivors, and the victims continue to bear the trauma of this act of racial terrorism. We have no expectation that there are living perpetrators who could be criminally prosecuted by us or by the state. We honor the legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre survivors, Emmett Till, the Act that bears his name, this country and the truth by conducting our own review and evaluation of the massacre. In the words of Ida B. Wells, one of this nation’s most staunch antilynching advocates, ‘The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.’” – Assistant U.S. Attorney for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke

Indigenous communities lead in crucial environmental fight, by Ben Jealous
Contamination from lead, arsenic, and the other toxins in Tar Creek in Northeastern Oklahoma stole the potential of many children of the Quapaw Nation. As a parent, I can only imagine the anguish and the anger. As a lifelong activist for civil and human rights and the environment, I deeply admire the resilience of the Quapaw and the many Indigenous communities with similar stories.

Peggy Davis, VSU athletics VP, dies
Peggy Davis, Virginia State University’s associate vice president for athletics who led the institution’s sports programs to numerous championships and accolades over nearly three decades, died Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. She was a longtime fixture in NCAA Division II athletics.

Virginia State’s offense explodes for 457 yards in homecoming rout
Virginia State University’s football team showcased an impressive aerial attack, amassing nearly 330 passing yards from three quarterbacks to defeat Bowie State 38-17 during Saturday’s homecoming game.

Animated film celebrates Pharrell’s musical journey, hits
Pharrell Williams is deserving of a film that highlights his musical accomplishments. He’s won 13 Grammy Awards, received an Academy Award nomination (“Happy,” from Despicable Me 2), and his productions have sold around 100 million copies worldwide. Surely, if Sean Combs could produce a film about himself (“Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Story”), Williams is entitled to the same. Right?
Crowd Pleasers
Crowd Pleasers

Pharrell Williams: LEGO documentary captures his essence
Pharrell Williams is deserving of a film that highlights his musical accomplishments. He’s won 13 Grammy Awards, received an Academy Award nomination (“Happy,” from *Despicable Me 2*), and his productions have sold around 100 million copies worldwide.

Richmond Behavioral Health Authority receives $4.9M grant for school mental health
The Richmond Behavioral Health Authority has been awarded a nearly $5 million grant to expand mental health programs in Richmond Public Schools and its clinic.

Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm
Hurricane Milton crashed into Florida as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, pounding the coast with ferocious winds of over 100 mph (160 kph) and producing a series of tornadoes around the state. Tampa avoided a direct hit.

RPS announces top accreditation numbers at School Board meeting
Richmond Public Schools announced at Monday evening’s School Board meeting that it is leading the state in the number of accredited schools.

Teen inventor challenges immigrant stereotypes, by David W. Marshall
It is unlikely that we will ever hear Donald Trump mention Heman Bekele by name during one of his campaign rallies. Knowing Trump’s character as a man, it would be hard to fathom seeing him properly reference Bekele in public or private conversations.

Trailblazer, philanthropist remembered for community support
Retired businesswoman and community patron Audrey Dixon Settle died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at age 76, leaving behind a personal and professional history that touched many.

Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending on Saturday, Oct. 5, COVID-19 accounted for .9% of all emergency department visits in Virginia, trending down from previous data. No deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported within that timeframe at the time of publication. Data on COVID-19 wastewater showed levels plateauing for Richmond and below detection in Henrico County starting Sunday, Sept. 22.

Defense delivers Commanders a 4th victory, but Ravens will be a bigger test
Frankie Luvu sacked Deshaun Watson twice by himself, shared another sack and recovered a fumble. After he and the Washington Commanders’ revamped defense had by far their best game of the season, he was not taking a victory lap.

First municipal African burial ground in city gets state recognition
Virginia officials will unveil a state historical marker next week honoring Richmond’s first municipal African cemetery, a site that dates back to 1799.

Trump ‘saved’ Obamcare? Now that’s a whopper, by Clarence Page
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it is said. And in Washington, so is stealing credit.

VCU students lead anti-war march to State Capitol on Gaza War anniversary
Traffic on East Broad Street came to a standstill Monday afternoon, as anti-war, pro-Palestine students at Virginia Commonwealth University walked out of classes to march against the conflict in the Middle East.

Harris ahead in state by comfortable margin, new poll says
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, leads Republican Donald Trump by 11 points (52% to 41%) among Virginia likely voters, according to a new poll released Monday by the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University.

Mayoral candidates propose plans to boost Richmond’s arts and culture
Richmond’s mayoral candidates brought their perspective to the city’s artistic community Tuesday evening during an Arts & Culture Mayoral Forum organized by CultureWorks and All City Art Club.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ guilt hinges on how the women will be judged, by Mary Sanchez
For years, a barely worn blazer has hung in my closet. It features a graceful cut and fabric woven with the colors of the sea, offset by a white silken lining. The garment exemplifies a certain freshness, a vibrancy, a bit of luxury. The designer’s label: SEAN by Sean Combs.