Graduation rate in city inches up
Richmond awarded diplomas to 1,156 students in June, or 81.4 percent of the 1,421 students in the Class of 2015, new data from the Virginia Department of Education shows. The good news: That is Richmond’s best showing since the state began reporting systematic graduation results for each class in 2008.
Turmoil, charges rock Chesterfield NAACP
The president of the Chesterfield County Branch NAACP is facing a charge of assault in the wake of a bizarre incident in which he sought to block a critic from attending a branch meeting, which usually is open to the public. LaSalle J. McCoy Jr. was arrested Saturday on a misdemeanor charge and released on his own recognizance in the case that has embarrassed both the branch and the state NAACP, Virginia’s oldest and largest civil rights group.
VEC ruling sets precedent
Richmond Public Schools and other employers who fail to follow their agency’s own drug policy cannot prevent alleged violators from collecting unemployment benefits, the Virginia Employment Commission has ruled.
Golf tournament to benefit scholarship program
A day of golf will help raise money to provide scholarships for deserving Richmond Public Schools students who live in the city’s public housing communities.
Free Press photographer honored with ‘Acts of Kindness’ award
“It’s not what you have, it’s what you give. And I have been blessed by doing that.” Rudolph “Rudy” Powell, a Richmond resident and part-time Free Press photographer, lives by that credo.
U.S. greets pope
Pope Francis urged the United States to help tackle climate change and touched on other divisive U.S. political issues such as immigration and economic inequality on his first visit to the world’s richest nation. In a speech Wednesday on the White House South Lawn, the Argentine pontiff — known as “The People’s Pope” — lauded President Obama’s efforts to reduce air pollution, months after Pope Francis made the environment one of his top issues by issuing a landmark encyclical letter to the church.
VUU Panthers plan to take Golden Bulls by the horns
Native Richmonder Kermit Blount would love to rain on Virginia Union University’s football parade Saturday at Hovey Field. At the same time, Mark James will do everything in his power to spoil Blount’s return to his hometown. Here’s the deal:
‘What about white-on-white crime?’
Regarding Megyn Kelly of Fox News and her ignorance challenging Professor Cornel West on black-on-black crime. I would like to tell her, and those who think like her, that there is no such thing. There is only American crime. People tend to kill those in communities in close proximity to them. White people don’t kill white people?
Invest in our children, our schools
When any city, town or neighborhood loses its talent and tax base, it becomes a poverty area. Large urban areas have seen this deterioration over the decades. During integration we called it “white flight” and we saw it in Newark, New Orleans, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Detroit.
Free Press fighting the good fight again
Re “No hero” editorial, Sept. 10-12 edition: Thank you for the editorial, “No hero,” in reference to Kim Davis, the clerk of Rowan, Ky., who refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of her religious convictions. While some have compared to her to Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we found those connections insulting and based on total ignorance.
What happens after the bike races?
What is the City of Richmond going to do after the UCI Road World Championships is over? What’s next for the city? What if the bike races hadn’t come to Richmond? Would city officials have spent the money fixing up parts of the city? Where would that money have gone?
Black women hold primary power
Those advising political candidates hope to gain a winning advantage by spotting key, unexpected trends long before the actual voting. Admittedly, the Virginia Democratic presidential primary voting isn’t until March 1, 2016, with the field in limbo as front-runner Hillary Clinton and her main rival, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont waiting to learn whether Vice President Joe Biden will run.
Where are we in political arena?
Here is something to think about as we watch the political circus that is currently dominating the news: Black people are nowhere to be found in the real action, nowhere to be found in determining the candidates from which we will eventually choose to compete for the presidency, and nowhere to be found in the debate questions or answers. We are merely watching from the balcony, as we had to do in the 1950s in segregated theaters and churches.
Papal lessons
We join in the excitement surrounding Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. It is the pontiff’s first visit to this country. In addition to saying Mass in Washington and Philadelphia and visiting with cheering throngs of the faithful on this six-day visit, he is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on Thursday and speak to the U.N. General Assembly on Friday in New York.
Bike hype
We’re now learning whether the international bike races are a winner for Richmond. Opinion is mixed. One thing is clear: Anyone who expected 450,000 people to flood into town to view 1,000 of the world’s top cyclists compete for medals misunderstood the size of this event from the get-go.
More than 12,000 flood Brown’s Island for race opening
Richmond native and American Idol finalist Rayvon Owen and the Richmond Symphony wowed more than 12,000 people Friday night on Brown’s Island as they opened the UCI Road World Championships with a dazzling show ushering in a resplendent riverside sunset. The Richmond Cycling Corps, a group of East End youngsters ages 12 to 17, then led a colorful procession of the 16 cyclists from Team USA, followed by 74 youngsters carrying the flags of the nations participating in this international bicycling race.
Protest launched over Confederate bike route
As a small plane flew overheard carrying a banner with a Confederate battle flag and the message “Confederate heros (sic) matter,” cyclists from the Chilean and Mexican national bike teams pedaled up Monument Avenue on Saturday and turned at the statue of Confederate president Jefferson Davis to head back Downtown to finish their training course.
Old school music review set for Sept. 25
A Motown tribute is coming to town. The Recapture the Memory Motown Revue & Musical Tribute Show will present old school tunes 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, 1000 N. Lombardy St.
History-making women to speak at Chimborazo Elementary
Powhatan native Lillian L. Lambert was the first African-American woman to graduate from the Harvard University Business School. The Rev. Sylvia V. Tucker, who lives in Disputanta, was the first female African-American hospital chaplain in Virginia. The women are scheduled to share their success stories Friday, Sept. 25, with students at Chimborazo Elementary School, 3000 E. Marshall St., in the East End.
