RPS threatens to close 5 schools
“It’s ridiculous.” That was the response Wednesday from Jakela Cannon, the mother of a John B. Cary Elementary School kindergarten student in the West End, to a cost-cutting plan introduced this week by the Richmond Public Schools administration that seeks to close Cary, three other elementary schools and Armstrong High School. The proposal would move those students to other existing schools in the district and consolidate three unidentified alternative schools into one.
Coalition hosts conflict resolution workshop April 9
Three Richmond area crime prevention groups are presenting a Citywide Violence Prevention Conflict Resolution Workshop. The workshop will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the Royal Manchester Event Center inside the Richmond Christian Center, 1173 Wall St., in South Side.
Hope Christian Ministries sends water to Flint
Richmond-based Hope Christian Ministries has added its name to the list of area congregations and civic groups sending water to aid the lead-poisoned residents of Flint, Mich.
President Obama urges people of faith to stand strong
President Obama hosted his last Easter Prayer Breakfast with Christian leaders, pausing to reflect on what he called a “bittersweet” occasion.
Freeman’s ‘God’ series asks bigger questions about religion
It all started about seven years ago when actor Morgan Freeman visited the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Noticing the mosaics of Jesus inside the museum, Mr. Freeman asked his tour guide, who was Muslim, if the tiles had been covered when the building, originally a Greek Orthodox church, was used as a mosque. No, the guide said, because Muslims view Jesus as a prophet.
Personality: Allen S. Lee
Spotlight on winner of LEO Award for lifetime achievement in IT
“I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it,” Allen S. Lee, a professor of information systems at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business, says was his reaction to learning he was the recipient of the LEO Award for Lifetime Exceptional Achievement in Information Systems.
Another Barbara Johns?
Open High students plan citywide walkout to protest lack of funding
Imagine all 5,600 high school students in Richmond walking out to protest the physical conditions of their buildings. Then imagine them overflowing the Richmond City Council chambers a few hours later to bring their concerns to the nine-member governing body.
City’s anti-poverty office losing director
The city is looking for a new director to lead its anti-poverty effort through the city Office of Community Wealth Building. Thad Williamson announced he is resigning as the director to return to his position as associate professor of leadership studies at the University of Richmond.
Governor vetoes bills ahead of April 10 deadline
Richmond and other localities can still, if they choose, require employers with government contracts to pay workers a “living wage” that is well above the current $7.25 an hour federal minimum wage. However, the state will not be creating an experimental, independent school system where students in kindergarten through 12th grade could take all of their classes on a home computer or laptop.
Black Lives Matter co-founder brings message to Richmond
Opal Tometi, a co-founder of Black Lives Matters, said she and other leaders of the movement consider slogans, marches and rallies for just treatment for African-Americans to be critical, but it’s more important “to move to systems that protect and affirm black life.”
Men’s group seeking mentors for middle school boys
The Richmond Chapter of Concerned Black Men is looking for more men interested in mentoring youths. The program is holding its next orientation sessions for mentors Thursday, April 7, and Thursday, May 5, at the organization’s office, 2025 E. Main St. Both sessions will be 6 to 8 p.m.
Reversal of misfortune
Kemba Smith, whose prison sentence was commuted in 2000, dines with President Obama after meeting with White House aides
When U.S. Sen. Barack Obama was making his initial bid to become president of the United States, Richmond native and 1989 Hermitage High School graduate Kemba Smith was among the thousands volunteering in his ambitious history-making campaign.
First African-American police officers to be remembered in April 30 ceremony
Officers Doctor P. Day, John W. Vann, Frank S. Randolph and Howard T. Braxton made history when they were hired May 1, 1946, by the Richmond Police Department. They were the first African-Americans allowed to join the department since it was formed in 1807. Maj. E. Hudson Organ was Richmond’s police chief when they were hired.
Trial continued of Henrico cop charged in shooting
The case of a Henrico County police officer, who was charged with malicious wounding for shooting into a car and injuring a woman in mid-December, has been postponed for two months.
Richmond Public Schools undergoes staff changes
Richmond Public Schools’ leadership team is undergoing a major makeover. Ralph Westbay, who helped craft the school system’s current budget plan as the assistant superintendent for financial services, is retiring May 1.
Federal agency investigating local postal union election
The U.S. Labor Department is investigating the conduct of the Dec. 16 election of officers for the Richmond-based Old Dominion Branch Local 496 of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
City’s energy savings plan didn’t pan out
Earlier this year, City Hall rejected a proposal to use energy savings to pay for $13 million in improvements to an array of city buildings, including replacing old boilers, aging windows and outdated lighting.
Fulton streets may change for Bus Rapid Transit
Richmond is moving forward with a proposed $7.9 million overhaul of Dock and East Main streets to improve the road network for the new Stone Brewing plant and the coming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the East End. The project appears to expand potential sites for development near the riverfront and the Virginia Capital Trail, the Richmond-to-Williamsburg bike and pedestrian connector.
First family celebrates Easter at historic black church
President Obama and the first family attended Easter service at a historic African-American church that traces its origins to the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. The Rev. Howard-John Wesley, pastor at the 198-year-old Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria’s Old Town, welcomed back the Obamas, whom he described as “the gorgeous family.” The Obamas also visited the church last Easter.
60 years late
Richmond woman honored by college after being denied admission in 1956
As a young black girl in Stafford County, Va., in the 1950s, Gladys White Jordan saw up close how privilege was largely determined by skin color.
