Chesterfield NAACP president acquitted; Lucas arrested for stalking
The president of the Chesterfield County Branch NAACP has been found not guilty of assaulting an NAACP member and advocate for special needs children. LaSalle J. McCoy Jr., who also serves as secretary of the state NAACP, was acquitted last week at a hearing in Chesterfield General District Court.
Armstrong High music teacher fired
Willie D. “Will” Griffin has won plaudits during his eight years as a music teacher at Armstrong High School. Best known for his work with the school’s choir, Mr. Griffin was named Armstrong’s Teacher of the Year in 2013 — the same year he took eight choir members to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall, a first for the school system.
Hammond to VSU: Bye
Interim president out of consideration for top job
Virginia State University soon may have a new president, but it won’t be Dr. Pamela V. Hammond, VSU’s interim president. Dr. Hammond unexpectedly has pulled her name from consideration for the university’s top job — notifying the head of VSU’s board of visitors that she no longer is interested and would be leaving when her current contract expires Dec. 31. In a four-page letter to VSU Rector Harry Black dated Oct. 14, Dr. Hammond provided the required 60-day notice that she did not want the board to “renew my current contract” and was “formally withdrawing my name for further consideration as a candidate for the presidency.”
Buyer beware
Consumers may flip wig over falsely labeled hair
Unsuspecting women are being ripped off when it comes to buying wigs. They are being induced to pay higher prices for cheaper wigs that are falsely labeled as being a more expensive product. So says Mary J. Harris, a retired Richmond factory worker.
Historic Eggleston Hotel site to get new life
Development soon could be underway on 31-unit apartment project in Jackson Ward. The proposed Eggleston Plaza, which has been planned for five years, is at the site of the former Eggleston Hotel at 2nd and Leigh streets.
State NAACP annual convention to start Oct. 30 in Richmond
National NAACP President and CEO Cornell W. Brooks, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and celebrated political commentator Roland S. Martin will address civil rights activists from around Virginia at the 80th Annual Convention of the Virginia State Conference NAACP in Richmond.
Leaf collection scaled back for residents
Soon after taking office in 2009, Mayor Dwight C. Jones reversed the action of his predecessor, L. Douglas Wilder, who reduced the vacuuming of leaves to once a year to save $300,000. Mayor Jones restored the traditional two cycle collection of leaves in city neighborhoods.
RRHA residents in ‘buy or move’ spot
Charlene C. Harris hoped to live out her years at 1600 Colorado Ave., the single-family brick cottage that she and her family have called home for 47 years. But now the retired 68-year-old state employee is being told she must either purchase the two-bedroom home from her landlord, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, or face moving. “It’s a terrible situation,” she said. “RRHA has told me I have to put up $500 to begin the process and to get a mortgage by December. Otherwise, I would have to accept relocation.”
‘Ambassador of Compassion’ dies at 62
Even in the final few days before she succumbed to heart failure, Alicia C. Rasin found the time and energy to assist others in need.
Justice Or Else
Million Man March 20th Anniversary draws throngs calling for justice, equity
Twenty years ago, 1.2 million African-American men assembled in a blanket of humanity that spread across the National Mall from the U.S. Capitol to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to attend the first Million Man March. There, they declared “their right to justice to atone for their failure as men and to accept responsibility as the family’s head.”
Panthers roaring back
There was a time when Virginia Union University dominated CIAA football and ranked among the most successful programs in NCAA Division II.
American people treated like road kill
The Republicans have the gall to call themselves road kill. Under the Republicans, the American people have been repeatedly run down and run over by these hit-and-run politicians.
Support needed for caregivers
A debilitating disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, takes a devastating toll on the people who suffer from it as they lose their ability to walk, dress, write, speak, swallow and breathe. But the disease, as well as brain injury and other conditions that render someone unable to care for themselves, also wreaks havoc on the sufferers’ families.
Potential is not power
Have you ever heard someone say, “Black people have the potential to be a force to be reckoned with?” How about this one? “Black folks have all of the potential in the world to become, to achieve, to affect and to change.” Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Alabama’s Jim Crow far from subtle
In Alabama, 50 years after Selma, voting rights are once more under assault. Even as Alabama finally took down its Confederate flags this year, it has raised new obstacles to voting. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder to gut the Voting Rights Act, supported by the five conservative justices alone, opened the floodgates to legislation in more than 21 states erecting new obstacles to make voting more difficult. These obstacles have included limiting the days for early voting, eliminating Sunday voting, requiring various forms of ID, shutting down voting sites and more. Alabama — the home of Selma and the Bloody Sunday police riot that spurred the passage of the original federal Voting Rights Act 50 years ago — is one of the leaders in the new forms of voter suppression.
Gun control for cops
Last week, we used this space to advocate for tougher gun control laws and increased data collection to protect the safety and health of the people.
Round 1
Tuesday night’s Democratic debate offered an interesting opening look at the five candidates vying to win voter support to become the nation’s next chief executive. As expected, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont posted the strongest showings, with former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee trailing.
Music by the river
An estimated 200,000 people gathered under mostly sunny autumn skies last weekend to enjoy crowd-pleasing music and dances performed by more than 40 artists at the 11th Annual Richmond Folk Festival.
Virginia Randolph school to mark 100th anniversary on Saturday
The Academy at Virginia Randolph will celebrate its centennial Saturday, Oct. 17, marking a century since the Henrico County school was dedicated in honor of Ms. Randolph, the pioneering African-American educator.
VUU and VSU homecomings this weekend
It’s time for joyful reunions, parties, tailgating and football as Virginia Union University and Virginia State University celebrate their homecomings this weekend.
