Seed money stalled for city’s Whitcomb Court redevelopment
With the transformation of the Creighton Court public housing community underway, Richmond City Hall is seeking to change a second public housing community, Whitcomb Court, into a mixed-income community.
Crusade weighs charter change to help replace decrepit city schools
The Richmond Crusade for Voters, the city’s oldest and largest African-American political group, is considering putting the city’s failure to overhaul its decaying public school buildings on the front burner.
Wilder School panel calls for renewed civic engagement
Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and a panel of political experts called for renewed hope and civic engagement as ways to heal the nation’s current divided political climate.
City Hall sponsors RVA Photog competition
You can by participating in Richmond City Hall’s second annual RVA Photog competition that will focus on Shockoe Bottom, it has been announced.
Obamacare lives; Trumpcare DOA
Obamacare lives! That was the jubilant cry last week as President Trump’s attempt to roll back health insurance for millions of Americans suffered a stunning defeat.
Unequal punishment
Rep. McEachin requests federal investigation into high suspension rates for African-American students and those with disabilties
Congressman A. Donald McEachin has asked the U.S. Department of Education to investigate the disproportionately high suspension rates for African-American students and students with disabilities in his district. His request, made in a letter Monday to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, seeks a prompt review by the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights.
New restaurant on Brookland Park Blvd.
The closed Streetcar Café is about to replaced with a new restaurant at 10 E. Brookland Park Blvd. in North Side. The Luncheonette, an outlet based in Shockoe Bottom, has leased the 1,800-square-foot space from the nonprofit Nehemiah Community Development Corp., according to the online Richmond BizSense.
Unemployment rate in Va. drops to 4%
People like Percy Bell appear to be having an easier time finding work as unemployment returns to levels of nine years ago and employers begin to strain to fill openings.
Regional registration for kindergarten April 20
Registration for youngsters in 150 public elementary schools around the Richmond region is Thursday, April 20. This marks the sixth year a regional registration day will be held for 13 school districts in and around Richmond. The event is coordinated by Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond in an effort to have parents get the needed paperwork together in time for registration.
Cindy Menz-Erb chosen for School Board 3rd District seat
Cindy Menz-Erb, a former nonprofit agency executive who moved to Richmond last year, was sworn in Tuesday as the new 3rd District representative on the Richmond School Board. She replaces Jeff Bourne, who stepped down after winning a special election in early February to the Virginia House of Delegates.
A slew of changes needed in D.C.
To get more money in, we need new tax laws.
What will happen to people under Trumpcare?
Re “Report forecasts millions would lose health insurance under Trumpcare,” March 16-18 edition: What will happen to the 24 million people who would lose their health insurance under Trumpcare? We all know in our hearts that this is wrong.
Exclusion ‘appalling but unsurprising’
Re “Sessions seeks to revive federal anti-crime program that targeted African-Americans,” March 16-18 edition: Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ failure, perhaps calculated, to invite the Richmond Free Press to his meeting in Richmond is appalling but unsurprising.
Kudos on Free Press coverage
Re “Nat Turner links black, white George Wythe High alumni,” March 2-4 edition: Thank you for including the Nat Turner article in your fine newspaper and sharing the story of Nat Turner’s descendants and what happened back in 1831 on Virginia soil.
Could the current allegations against the sitting president arising from contact with the Russians justify impeachment? The history of impeachment is short, usually used to remove judges. The history
Could the current allegations against the sitting president arising from contact with the Russians justify impeachment?
Trump milking taxpayers
President Trump doesn’t want to spend federal dollars on after-school programs, meals for poor people or heating assistance that helps keep folks alive. But he has no problem wasting more than $3 million a pop to spend weekends at his private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Hero or goat?
Richmond schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden had an $8.3 million secret that popped out recently — that $8.3 million sits in an “unassigned fund balance” for Richmond Public Schools.
Maymont Farm to reopen with celebration Sunday
Maymont Farm will reopen Sunday, March 26, after being closed for 10 months to undergo a $3 million facelift.
Tim Reid holds 2nd Annual Spring Fashion Showcase fundraiser April 2
Actor and film producer-director Tim Reid is best known for his role as Venus Flytrap on the 1970s television sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati,” and for his Petersburg-based film production company, New Millennium Studios, that he sold a few years ago.
Virginia Arts Festival to feature Kathleen Battle, Wynton Marsalis
Noted operatic soprano Kathleen Battle, a five-time Grammy Award winner, will be featured in “Kathleen Battle: Underground Railroad” as part of the Virginia Arts Festival.
