Homecoming highlights ...
The high-stepping marching band and the crowning of Mr. Virginia Union, Jason Smart-El, and Miss Virginia Union, Khadijah Harvin, were among the highlights of last weekend’s homecoming festivities at Virginia Union University. Thousands of alumni, students, community members and others joined in the festive occasion.
Personality: Marie Drexler Kolendo
Spotlight on new CEO of Greater Richmond Alzheimer’s Association
Marie Drexler Kolendo knows first hand the devastating toll that Alzheimer’s disease takes on afflicted individuals and their loved ones.
Racist song played at school by black student, sources say
Who was responsible for playing the racist, demeaning song laced with the n-word over the public address system last Friday at predominantly white Glen Allen High School in Henrico County during warm-ups for the homecoming football game against predominantly black John Marshall High School of Richmond?
Opinion does not belong in headline
Re: “Right and wrong,” Oct. 15-17 edition:
Embracing our own
Damien Durr is a brilliant young man who grew up in Ohio in a family of teachers where education was always stressed. No one, including Damien, ever thought he wouldn’t finish high school.
Jim Webb’s ‘culture’ war
Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, feeling disrespected at CNN’s Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, says he’s dropping out to consider running as an independent. That’s his right, but I wonder whether anyone will notice. It is well known that Mr. Webb, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, former secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan and author of numerous books, has two flaws for an aspiring politician: He doesn’t care much for campaigning and he really hates asking people for money.
Insidious racism
We were quite disturbed by news that a song loaded with racist lyrics and sentiment was piped over a public address system at Glen Allen High School as players from the largely white Henrico school and from the largely black John Marshall High School in Richmond were warming up for a homecoming football game.
Bye, bye Jim
The Internet and airwaves are atwitter with the latest news that Vice President Joe Biden will not be getting into the presidential race. His decision was the right one for this time, particularly with Republicans still riding a roller coaster with their zany field of candidates led by Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson. We also bid adieu to Jim Webb from the Democratic presidential nominating process, a process that he had great difficultly maneuvering both politically and financially.
Hampton U. professor wins Miss Virginia USA
Desiree Williams is sporting a new crown — Miss Virginia USA. An assistant professor at Hampton University, Dr. Williams, 26, won her latest state title at the Oct. 11 pageant in Charlottesville.
Miss Harris, Mr. Blackwell marry
Geneva Harris of Richmond became the wife of Nelson Blackwell of Dinwiddie on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Hanover Black Heritage Society program set for Oct. 24
The Hanover County Black Heritage Society is hosting a ceremony to honor the initial inductees for its Wall of Honor from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Henry Clay Inn, 114 N. Railroad Ave., in Ashland.
VUU homecoming victory sets up fight against the Bulldogs
Virginia Union University has become both the irresistible force and the immovable object of CIAA football. Under second-year Coach Mark James, the Panthers have showcased the league’s most powerful offense — 422 yards per game — and also the stiffest defense, with a scant 149 average yield.
VSU homecoming a heartbreaker
Virginia State University’s Trojans are down but not necessarily out. Following a heartbreaking 22-19 homecoming loss Oct. 17 to Bowie State University before 7,300 fans, VSU still has an outside chance of “three-peating” as the CIAA Northern Division champion. But for that to happen, the Trojans, now 1-1 in the division, will need to go on a winning streak — and get some outside help.
VCU hoops opens with exhibition game
The Will Wade era of Virginia Commonwealth University basketball is on the launching pad, preparing for a long-awaited take off.
WNBA champs
Minnesota Lynx party like it’s 1999 — with Prince
What better time to party than after winning the WNBA title for a third time in five years. And who better to party with than Prince. The Minnesota Lynx and the megastar singer-songwriter partied like it was 1999 after the Lynx won the WNBA championship crown Oct. 14 over the Indiana Fever.
Community turns out to mourn Alicia Rasin
God chose Alicia Rasin to serve the city’s poor, forgotten and downtrodden. That was the message the Rev. Leonidas Young II passionately delivered to hundreds of people who attended the funeral service Saturday for Ms. Rasin at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in Henrico County.
$3M civil suit filed against ABC agents
How much is Martese Johnson’s pain, suffering and bleeding worth? Mr. Johnson, now a fourth-year honors student at the University of Virginia, was slammed onto the pavement outside a Charlottesville pub last March by three agents from the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control who suspected him of trying to use a fake ID to enter.
Protest over teacher transfers
Dozens of angry teachers, parents and students protested Richmond Public Schools’ plan to move 10 teachers from four elementary schools into classrooms at other schools in the district. Teachers held signs proclaiming “Save Our Teachers,” “Our Students Deserve Better” and “Teacher Power!” Their protest mounted at Monday’s meeting of the Richmond School Board is against the school administration’s process known as “leveling,” which Superintendent Dana T. Bedden explained is to provide more equitable teacher-student ratios in schools across the district.
Gov. uses powers for gun control
Gun-toting Virginians, except for law enforcement and military personnel, are to be banned from state office buildings — even if they have concealed weapons permits. Separately, judges are to be encouraged to force people involved in domestic violence to surrender guns they own if they are subject to protective orders.
Crusade for Voters announces endorsements
Democrat Daniel Gecker has secured the endorsement of the Richmond Crusade for Voters in the hotly contested four-way race in the 10th Senate District, which includes a big chunk of the city. The Crusade announced Wednesday that it’s throwing its support behind Mr. Gecker, a member of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, in the Nov. 3 general election.
