Happy birthday to Medicaid
For more than a half century, Medicaid has been a shining example of the good and essential support government can provide those most in need across all ages. Through the years, we have been striving to live up to the promise of ensuring all children and young people a chance to reach healthy adulthood — laboriously and successfully expanding coverage to more children thousands by thousands, millions by millions, state by state.
End the paralysis
Once again, we have turned our Richmond public schoolchildren and their parents into beggars.
The latest stunt
We are living in dangerous times. The bigots in the White House have launched a federal Justice Department study of anti-white bias in college admissions. The New York Times reported Tuesday that the Trump administration plans to redirect the civil rights division’s efforts toward investigating and suing universities over admission policies believed to discriminate against white people. What????
McEachin task force to host forum on special needs students
A task force created by Congressman A. Donald McEachin of Henrico will host an education forum on Saturday, Aug. 12, to help parents understand their rights and the resources available for special needs students. “I’m bringing this task force together out of frustration,” Rep. McEachin said in an interview with the Free Press. “But we’re doing this with the hope that we’ll be able to pull together a solution to help the students who are affected.”
Pulitzer winner Tracy K. Smith named U.S. poet laureate
Tracy K. Smith, who won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2012, has been named the nation’s 22nd poet laureate, and her recognition is being trumpeted in more than the usual places.
Robert ‘Fat Rob’ Kelley is growing his skills
NFL history is flavored with running backs with colorful nicknames suggesting stardom. Examples include “Rocket” (Raghib Ismail), “Beast Mode” (Marshawn Lynch), “Kansas Comet” (Gale Sayers), “Diesel” (John Riggins),” “Mercury” (Eugene Morris), “The A Train” (Mike Alstott) and “The Jet” (Joe Perry).
CIAA football roundup
Virginia Union University’s Lavatiae Kelly is feared as a triple threat by rival CIAA football coaches. The senior player for the Panthers has been named to the Preseason All-CIAA team at three different positions — wide receiver, punt returner and kickoff returner.
MEAC outlook not too promising for NSU and Hampton
Hampton University and Norfolk State University must hope their conference’s crystal ball is broken. The MEAC preseason football predictions are in, and they aren’t too promising for Virginia’s entries in the historically black athletic league.
Former George Wythe standout signs with VSU basketball
Virginia State University’s most recent basketball signee comes from Texas. But he is no stranger to this area. Brandon Holley was a standout on George Wythe High School’s 2015 State Division 3 championship team. Holley has signed with VSU Coach Lonnie Blow Jr. following two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.
Bolt’s lightning career may end soon
Usain Bolt may be nearing his final finish line. The iconic Jamaican sprinter, long hailed as the “World’s Fastest Human,” has announced he is retiring following the upcoming IAAF World Championships in Athletics at London’s Olympic Stadium.
David S. Carter Jr., husband of School Board member Nadine Marsh-Carter, dies at 59
David Samuel “Big Dave” Carter Jr., the husband of 7th District Richmond School Board member Nadine Marsh-Carter, died Sunday, July 30, 2017.
Rev. Alexander ‘JJ’ James III, associate pastor of Trinity Baptist, dies at 42
Just a few hours after welcoming the Rev. Jesse Jackson to his church last Sunday, Trinity Baptist Church’s pastor, the Rev. A. Lincoln James Jr., and his wife, Mary P. James, suffered a shattering loss.
Sandra L. Wright-Bonner, former member of Wright Family Singers, dies at 73
Sandra L. Wright-Bonner touched the lives of untold numbers of people with her voice, her work and her leadership in her church.
Richmond Christian Center again facing sale
The Richmond Christian Center, still struggling to emerge from bankruptcy after nearly four years, once again is facing the loss of its property in South Side.
St. Elizabeth’s 9th Annual Jazz and Food Festival this weekend
St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Highland Park will host its 9th Annual Jazz and Food Festival from noon to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, on the church grounds at 2712 2nd Ave.
Personality: Sylvia Alexander-Wall
Spotlight on founder and president of The Ladies of Elegance Inc.
The purpose pushing Sylvia Alexander-Wall’s passion to help people and families enduring cancer can be summed up in two words: Early detection.
Fate of East End school on hold
When students, teachers, staff and administrators walk into George Mason Elementary School, two welcome mats greet them, each bearing the school’s name. The first one says “Expect the Best,” and the second says “Moving from Good To Great.”
Pay raise problems resolved
The salary snafu at City Hall has been resolved. Police officers and firefighters are to receive their delayed raises on Friday, Aug. 11, when the next city paychecks are issued, according to Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s press secretary, Jim Nolan.
GRTC to hold meetings on bus route changes
How will GRTC’s overhaul of its bus routes and bus stops affect you? Regular riders and potential transit users can find out at a series of information meetings that kick off Saturday, Aug. 5. The meetings will spell out the changes to be put in place when the new Pulse Bus Rapid Transit System begins operating.
More charges prompt hold on Morrissey bar hearing
Attorney Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey can still practice law — for now. A three-judge panel hit the pause button Wednesday on a scheduled two-day hearing to determine whether the former state delegate should keep his law license.
