Mitchell crafting his own future at VUU
It was a long and rocky road — cluttered with pitfalls — that led John Mitchell to Virginia Union University. The VUU senior tells of a heartbreaking ordeal of youth survival. But here’s the good news: The “John Mitchell Story” appears headed to a smiley-face ending.
Granberry taking it to another level at VSU
If any element was missing from last season’s Virginia State University basketball success, it was a dominant, under-the-basket post player.
Personality: Kathey B. Stone
As parents around Richmond prepare for the holidays by purchasing gifts, scheduling mall visits, tapping into savings and sharing holiday cheer, Henrico County resident Kathey Bacon Stone will be in Whitehouse, Jamaica, giving the best gifts of all — time, opportunity and love.
Mayor-elect Stoney appoints 2 to key positions
On the campaign trail, Levar Stoney promised to be a “visionary, forward-thinking” leader who would restore confidence in Richmond City Hall.
School Board chairman eyes run for House of Delegates
Jeff M. Bourne just won a second term on the Richmond School Board. But his tenure might turn out to be far shorter than four years.
Herring, Woody signal plans to run for re-election
Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring and city Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. already are gearing up to run for re-election next year.
Federal judge finds no ADA violation in Sheriff’s Office hiring decision
A federal judge has found that Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act when he declined to reassign a disabled deputy to a vacant payroll position and instead hired someone else to fill the job.
Prosecutor vows to retry S.C. ex-officer after mistrial in death of motorist
A South Carolina prosecutor said she would retry the former South Carolina police officer, a white man, who shot and killed a black motorist as he ran during an April 2015 traffic stop.
Civil rights coalition to hold pre-inaugural march in D.C. on MLK weekend
The Rev. Al Sharpton, head of the National Action Network, has announced that a coalition of civil rights and advocacy organizations will lead a march and rally at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington on Saturday, Jan. 14 — less than a week before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
La. congressman new CBC chair
Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond has been elected chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 115th Congress, which begins Jan. 3.
Race central issue in Virginia-Maryland redistricting arguments before high court
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy appears to hold the decisive vote in two cases involving challenges from African-American voters to electoral districts in Virginia and North Carolina.
Mayor Jones’ final bow
Richmond’s chief executive reflects on his 8 years in office
Mayor Dwight C. Jones entered City Hall in 2009 amid the worst recession in 75 years. He sought to be “a unifier” who would end the turmoil between the Mayor’s Office, City Council and the School Board and would create a Richmond people were proud of.
Plans could transform Grace St. block into retail-residential mix
Nearly a block of city-owned parking space near the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Arts Center in Downtown could be transformed into a mix of residences, offices and retail shops, accompanied by an 800-car parking deck.
Police funding decision before City Council Dec. 12
Richmond City Council has dropped its plan to hold a special meeting to shift $1.7 million to the city Police Department to cover the cost of hiring and training 20 recruits.
Councilman-elect Jones not interested in leadership post
The Rev. Michael J. Jones says he is not campaigning to become vice president of Richmond City Council when the governing body begins a new term and selects new officers at its organizational meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The incoming 9th District City Council member said Monday that he is not interested in a leadership post in response to a Free Press report last week.
Trump’s choices portend disaster
Jane Elliott is not commonly known in American households. She holds no fame among the elites, nor does she command any known political clout. She doesn’t boast of great wealth. Seeing her, one probably would think of her as being non-threatening, even grandmotherly.
Broader view needed on Castro
Fidel Castro, Cuba’s leader for almost six decades, has died at 90 in Havana. USAToday’s headline on Monday read, “No Mourning in Miami,” noting the continued bitterness of those who left Cuba. The Washington Post featured testimonies condemning Mr. Castro’s authoritarian government. A revolutionary, a brutal dictator who sided with the U.S.S.R. in the Cold War, a sponsor of guerilla wars, leader of a failed economy — Mr. Castro’s death has unleashed the full indictment against him.
On health
As the talk grows in Washington about dismantling and/or privatizing nationally supported health care programs, including Obamacare, or the federal Affordable Care Act, and Medicare, we remind our readers that the health and lives of countless individuals and families have been made better because of such programs. Destroying these programs will have a deleterious impact within Richmond, the state and the nation.
Keeping it real
We are trying very hard to keep an open mind — and a thimble of optimism — about what lies ahead under the new administration of soon-to-be President Donald Trump.
Downtown comes alive with holiday events, parade
Love Christmas lights, holiday cheer and the thought of a white Christmas? What about tree lightings and holiday movie binge watching?
