Henrico High’s Williams headed to VSU
After helping Henrico High School to a state championship earlier this year, Walter Williams will continue his basketball career at Virginia State University.
Armstrong tennis team ramps up for winning season
George Banks has a powerful hunch there is a potential tennis phenom somewhere within Richmond’s city limits. And if his instincts are correct, Banks is determined to discover him or her, outfit the prospect with a racquet and sneakers and swing open the door of opportunity.
R&B singer Ben E. King, 76
Soul and R&B singer Ben E. King, famous for his deep, velvety baritone voice and the classic hit song “Stand by Me,” died of natural causes in New Jersey at 76. He died Thursday, April 30, 2015, his publicist, Phil Brown, said. Mr. King was born Benjamin Earl Nelson in Henderson, N.C., and moved to Harlem, N.Y., at age 9 with his family. He began his career in the doo-wop group The Five Crowns, which later became The Drifters, before branching out as a solo artist.
History-making golfers die days apart
Two of professional golf’s successful African-American golfers have died — Calvin Peete and Pete Brown. Mr. Peete, the most successful African-American professional golfer on the PGA Tour prior to Tiger Woods, died Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in Atlanta.
Stroke education dinner slated for May 14
“Jazz Up Your Health.” That’s the invitation from the American Stroke Association and Bon Secours Neuroscience Institute. They are hosting a “Power to End Stroke Jazz Night.”
Former HUD secretary to keynote housing coalition event May 21
For 25 years, the Better Housing Coalition has been transforming lives and communities in the Richmond-Petersburg area by providing affordable housing with ongoing support services for residents. Those services include GED and computer training for adults, helping senior citizens apply for medical benefits and Social Security and programs for teens.
Harriet’s Place tea ministry opens in Washington Park
More than 100 colorful teapots of all shapes and sizes fill the idyllic home in the historic Washington Park community on North Side. They will serve as the centerpiece for Scripture Tea Fellowship Ministries, whose mission is to “provide spiritual, social, educational and economic empowerment in a safe place of refuge and relaxation over a cup of tea and the word of God,” according to the Rev. Jeanette Brown, the ministry’s founder.
Personality: Thomas L. Johnson Jr.
Spotlight on local chapter president of National Negro Golf Association
Fore! Be on the lookout for golf, fun and fellowship. That’s what organizers of the National Negro Golf Association (NNGA) are aiming for next weekend when the organization kicks off its 50th anniversary celebration with golf, get-togethers and commemorations in the Richmond area.
Michael Brown family files lawsuit against Ferguson
The family of Michael Brown has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Ferguson, Mo., seeking unspecified damages and police reforms after the black teen’s killing by a white policeman prompted a national debate on law enforcement and race. The civil lawsuit filed April 23 in St. Louis County, Mo., names the city of Ferguson, former Police Chief Thomas Jackson and former police officer Darren Wilson as defendants.
Protests in Israel over police brutality against Ethiopian Jews
At a protest on April 30, demonstrators blocked one of the city’s main traffic arteries and the light rails service. They marched toward the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before being stopped by police with water cannons.
Reparations OK’d for Chicago’s police torture victims
For decades, a police unit in Chicago used torture to induce confessions from black suspects. This week, the Chicago City Council approved a unique $5.5 million reparation fund to benefit dozens of surviving victims who were shocked, burned and beaten into admitting — often falsely — to crimes by the unit led by Jon Burge, a former police commander.
Slavery memorial to gain in capital budget plan
The battle over the ballpark in Shockoe Bottom apparently is over. At the same time, hopes are fading for Richmond Public Schools to gain funding to develop essential new schools on South Side to relieve overcrowding.
Justice Dept. opens investigation into Gray’s death; officers charged
There’s an uneasy quiet in Baltimore after six police officers were charged last week in the mysterious death of Freddie Gray while he was in their custody. Underneath the calm simmers apprehension and anger in the African-American community — ready to erupt again at any moment — if there’s another incident of police brutality against a black man in the town known as “Charm City.” That grim reality was clear Monday afternoon when angry community members and officers in riot gear quickly converged in West Baltimore after an erroneous TV report stated police had shot and perhaps fatally injured a young African-American man who was seen running away from pursuing officers.
Services sacrificed in council’s $ plan
Richmond Public Schools is on track to gain an extra $9 million to help meet critical needs in the coming year. Police officers and firefighters also are on track to gain bigger raises of roughly 2.5 percent to help reduce turnover in public safety.
Rayvon Owen hometown ‘Idol’
He sang for Richmond Boys Choir, took talent to national stage
Rayvon Owen’s eyes sparkled with delight. When the limousine carrying Rayvon and his mother, Patrice Fitzgerald, pulled up to the James Center in Downtown last Friday, about 1,000 cheering fans were waiting for him in the rain.
$1 City selling home sites for low, moderate income families
Vacant property for $1. That’s the price that City Hall is setting to clear out its inventory of home sites and to help cut the future purchase price of the houses to be built on them. This effort also will help finish partially completed developments that have been on hold since the economic recession began in 2008. In a first step, at least 16 lots are being prepared for sale, primarily in Southern Barton Heights. A few lots in Swansboro on South Side and in Newtowne West near Virginia Union University also are part of the sale. The board of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the properties’ nominal owner, helped clear the way by approving the transfer of the properties to the city at its meeting last week.
Richmond schools to get boost from state
Higher than expected enrollment is helping Richmond Public Schools avoid falling into a deficit. Richmond reported 128 more students than expected on March 31, boosting total enrollment to 21,973 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, according to a report to the School Board. The extra students should result in a $1.6 million boost in the state’s contribution, according to the report from Ralph L. Westbay, assistant superintendent for financial services. The state contribution previously had been projected at $121.7 million.
Pinkney Eppes reinstated to committee service
Tichi Pinkney Eppes is once again a full member of the Richmond School Board. The 9th District representative was one of five members who voted to end the ban on allowing her to serve on board committees.
VSU, NSU still facing cutbacks
Cutbacks. That’s what Norfolk State and Virginia State universities are facing because of surprisingly steep enrollment drops. Enrollment at both of the state-funded, historically black institutions peaked in 2012 and then began a sharp decline. Based on current projections, both schools expect to enroll at least 25 percent fewer students in the fall than in 2012. That means less income and more need to reduce spending on staff and programs.
Study: Teachers quicker to label black students as ‘troublemakers’
A new study suggests that racial stereotyping by teachers could be a root cause for harsher discipline imposed on black students. Two Stanford University psychologists, Dr. Jennifer L. Eberhardt and doctoral candidate Jason Okonofua, conducted the study to determine if hidden bias could explain government data showing that misbehaving black students are three times more likely to be suspended or expelled from public schools than their misbehaving white peers. The psychologists’ research found that teachers are quicker to label black students as troublemakers and to consider more severe penalties for them, compared with white students who misbehave.
