Al Sharpton to speak Sunday in Petersburg
The Rev. Al Sharpton will be the guest speaker at the 11 a.m. service at Gillfield Baptist Church in Petersburg on Sunday, Sept. 20, the church’s pastor, Dr. George W.C. Lyons Jr., has announced.
Blake vows to use police takedown as ‘catalyst for change’
The New York City Police Department on Friday released a security camera video showing former tennis star James Blake being tackled, thrown to the ground and handcuffed by an undercover officer in a case of mistaken identity. The incident occurred as Mr. Blake, formerly the world’s fourth-ranked player, was calmly standing by the entrance of a midtown Manhattan hotel, waiting for a car to take him to the U.S. Open.
Hate crimes, racist speech should be condemned
In America, all youths should be able to live without fear and the threat of race-based violence. Sadly, reports of explicit racism and violence directed at Latinos are on the rise.
4 ways for young voters to have impact
The younger you are as a registered voter in the United States, the less likely you are to cast your ballot. And the more you may have to lose by not doing so.
Fair housing’s unfinished business
In early September, public policy experts, housing advocates, civil rights leaders, academicians and others came together to listen, learn and craft a way to advance housing rights and opportunities. Convened by HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, the conference celebrated major milestones in the fight for fair housing, recalled noteworthy achievements and itemized all that still remains to be accomplished.
Another government shutdown
Congress must approve a budget by Oct. 1, or our government will shut down. That means that people will not be paid and, technically, government departments will cease to operate. Social Securitypayments, veterans’ benefits and more will cease to be paid. Literally, government will shut down.
Sanders in the lion’s den
Hats off to Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Earlier this week, the U.S. senator from Vermont went into the proverbial lion’s den of religious fundamentalists at the late Rev. Jerry Falwell’s ultraconservative Liberty University in Lynchburg. And like Daniel in the Bible, he came out unscathed. In fact, he apparently gained the respect — if not the votes — of many students at the college.
On the races
Why is it that we wait until guests come before we bring out the good dishes? With the arrival this week of the UCI Road World Championships and thousands of national and international cyclists, the City of Richmond has shown that it, too, suffers from the same dippy syndrome of waiting for guests before bringing out the good stuff.
Going to the races: A quick guide to the UCI Championship bike races
The world will be in our front yard starting this week as cyclists with the 2015 UCI Road World Championships race through Richmond.
Journey for Justice’ makes stop in Richmond
“The struggles (for civil rights) that our parents and grandparents fought still continue. Those who would take away hard-earned rights take note: A new generation has taken up the challenge. As we march on this America’s ‘Journey for Justice,’ we say to everyone, ‘We will not turn around!’ ”
Hilda Y. Warden, 97, one of first black graduate students at RPI School of Social Work
Hilda Yates Warden had an unquenchable passion for helping the less fortunate. “Her greatest achievement was guiding people in the right direction,” said her son, George Warden Jr.
Rev. Jesse Jackson’s mother dies at 92
Helen Burns Jackson, mother of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, has died. She was 92.
Personality: Lindsey N. Shavers
Spotlight on Jack and Jill Mid-Atlantic Teen President
It’s hard to believe Lindsey N. Shavers finds enough hours in the day to fulfill all her leadership responsibilities. The senior in Henrico High School’s International Baccalaureate program was a human dynamo this summer, wearing many leadership hats.
From ‘Mumbles’ to ‘MVP’
Petersburg basketball icon Moses Malone dies at 60
Moses Eugene Malone, the Petersburg native and basketball icon whose talent took him directly from high school to the pros, died of apparent heart failure while sleeping Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015.
VSU wins in Tennessee, welcomes Kentucky State to Ettrick
Virginia State University features two star running backs plus a defensive back that can really run. That combination enabled first-year Coach Byron Thweatt to record his initial Trojans victory last Saturday against Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn. The Trojan win over Tusculum: 40-16.
VUU beats St. Augustine’s, on the road to Gardner-Webb
In two coaching seasons at Virginia Union University, Coach Mark James is 9-3 overall, but 7-0 against North Carolina opponents.
Serena loses at U.S. Open, but remains a champion
Serena Williams had been a vulnerable conqueror at this year’s majors, living dangerously and dicing with defeat on numerous occasions as she tried to become only the fourth woman to complete a calendar Grand Slam. Her luck finally ran out Sept. 11 at the U.S. Open on a court where she had not been beaten since 2011.
City hands keys to port to state authority
Jobs, jobs, jobs — that’s the vision being conjured up as Richmond hands the keys to its 120-acre port to the state of Virginia for 40 years. On Monday, the same night as Richmond City Council gave a thumbs up to a proposal for a freestanding children’s hospital on the Boulevard, the nine-member governing body also unanimously approved the award of a four-decade lease of the shipping facility to the state. The hope: That the VPA will do for Richmond what it has done for another inland port in Front Royal — spark major job growth by attracting new businesses seeking port services.
Alicia Rasin suffers relapse
Alicia Rasin, Richmond’s “ambassador of compassion” who had been inactive in recent months because of health problems, planned to return to her volunteer mission of helping relatives of homicide victims.
