Readers speak out on Nov. 8 elections
I want the citizens of Richmond to remember back to when a former City Council was in office and corporate Richmond would not work with them. New businesses were locating in the county. The City of Richmond was not growing. In 1994, a new City Council was elected that included Tim Kaine, Viola Baskerville and others. Corporate Richmond worked well with them.
Trump unshackled, unhinged
When Donald Trump gloated that “the shackles have been taken off me,” I immediately wondered, how was he shackled? Was that the shackled Mr. Trump, for example, who obsessively attacked Judge Gonzalo Curiel in May, Khizr Khan and his family in July and Alicia Machado in September?
Save sacred ground for the future
Richmond understands the importance of its history — most of it, anyway. Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, the early debates over the proper relationship between religion and government, Richmond’s brief role as capital of the Confederacy, even Abraham Lincoln’s walk through the city after retreating Confederates set it ablaze — all are recognized as important parts of our complex collective story. But the fact that for 30 years, pre-Emancipation Richmond was the epicenter of the massive U.S. domestic slave trade has, until very recently, been literally buried.
We endorse Hillary Clinton for president
This upcoming presidential election is exceedingly consequential, perhaps even more so than the presidential elections of 2008 and 2012.
Problems of the 1960s still plague black community
The problems driving dissatisfaction among African-Americans in the 1960s — discriminatory police practices, unemployment, unequal pay, poverty and more — continue to plague many people in the African-American community today.
VSU celebrates homecoming this weekend
Grammy Award-winning gospel musician and choir director Kirk Franklin will perform at Virginia State University’s 2016 Homecoming Gospel Concert. The ticketed concert, slated for 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the VSU Multipurpose Center, is among the activities celebrating homecoming at the university in Ettrick.
‘Diversity Day’ slated this Friday
A range of speakers are expected for “Diversity Day,” an inaugural event “to address diversity and inclusion head-on in an effort to strengthen race relations and communication in Metro Richmond,” according to organizer David Dise. The event will be held noon to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at Plant Zero, 500 Stockton St., in South Side.
TEDxRVA holds talks by women Oct. 28
The popular international speaking series TEDx will return to Richmond on Friday, Oct. 28, with a special focus on women. The TEDxRVA Women conference will be held at the Byrd Theatre in Carytown. Men and women are welcome to attend.
VSU Trojans looking for a homecoming win against Lincoln University
Virginia State University will celebrate homecoming this weekend while still being haunted by a case of “What if?” The Trojans came so close last Saturday to controlling the driver’s seat of the CIAA Northern Division race. Instead, the team’s in the difficult position of needing to roll the table while also soliciting help elsewhere.
Battle of quarterbacks as VUU tackles Bowie State on Saturday
Virginia Union University’s football defense has sprung a leak at a most inopportune time — with Bowie State University’s explosive offense coming to Richmond. The Panthers are reeling from a woeful 54-21 loss at Chowan University in North Carolina in which the host Hawks rang up a whopping 631 yards total offense.
AJ English to coach at LU
Lincoln University of Pennsylvania will have a familiar face on the sidelines during the coming basketball season when the Lions visit Virginia Union University on Jan. 21.
Freshman quarterback at JM has big heart
When your varsity quarterback is a smallish, 14-year-old freshman and there are only three seniors on the team roster, two things are predictable:
Former Richmond players transfer to Newberry College
Newberry College in South Carolina will have a distinct Richmond look during the coming basketball season.
First African Baptist group adopts half-acre to maintain at historic cemetery
The Men’s Ministry at First African Baptist Church wants to do its part to help restore the neglected, but historic Evergreen Cemetery, while also challenging other churches to get involved.
Religious extremist group frees kidnapped girls; ready to release more
The Islamic State-allied faction of Boko Haram, which last week freed 21 of more than 200 Chibok girls kidnapped in April 2014 in northeast Nigeria, is willing to negotiate the release of 83 more of the girls, the Nigerian president’s spokesman said Sunday.
Personality: Vanessa Myers Mason
Spotlight on co-chair of Sauté & Sizzle: Richmond Men Are Cooking
With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, recipes for holiday staples are passed between family chefs like love letters.
City school officials: Test scores to get worse before they get better
A Richmond Public Schools official warned student scores on state Standards of Learning tests are headed for further decline. The dire prediction from Valenta Wade, RPS manager of testing and data, sent members of the Richmond School Board into a tailspin at Monday night’s meeting at City Hall, with some members expressing concern about increased state intervention.
Felons fired up, ready to vote
Rochelle Russell, 33, is one of 206,000 Virginians who has a felony conviction, served her time and is now living back in the community.
New ballpark for city? Squirrels, VCU hope so
Will Richmond be getting a new $55 million baseball stadium? Don’t bet on it.

