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Personality: Jamal Brooks
Spotlight on the VA Pride’s Scholarship Committee chairman
Jamal Brooks was 17 years old when his education came to a sudden stop.
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Va. lawmakers pass bipartisan budget leaving tax policy unchanged
After months of partisan combat over different priorities, Virginia lawmakers approved a bipartisan budget deal Monday with no major tax changes, funding boosts for education and mental health and salary increases for teachers and state employees.
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Personality: Linwood ‘Shawn’ Nelson
Spotlight on board chairman of Rx Partnership
Linwood “Shawn” Nelson, a product of rural Virginia, was no stranger to poverty while growing up.
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‘Why support legislation designed to obstruct a Richmond casino?’
I am strongly opposed to any legislation that has been crafted specifically to obstruct economic development in the city of Richmond. The fact that a state senator, who represents Richmond, would lead the charge to strategically cut Richmond out of an opportunity to build a casino, while feverishly promoting a casino in Petersburg, is unconscionable. Richmond was one of the five original cities selected by the legislature to build a casino. Curiously, the other four cities have all moved forward with building their casinos without opposition. It has not gone unnoticed that the proposed Richmond casino would be the only Black-owned casino in the state and that it plans to offer profit-sharing for its employees. The Richmond proposal indicates that ap- proximately 2,050 new jobs would be created by the casino. According to the state’s own research, a Richmond casino would generate almost $300 million in net gaming revenue, over $91 million in local tax revenue and over $33 million in state gaming tax. In fact, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission reported that a Richmond casino would be the highest earning facility in the state. The proposed Richmond casino will be an $800 million private investment, which will greatly enhance economic development in our capital city. It will undoubtedly create a long-lasting opportunity to positively impact the citizens of Richmond and the entire state. So the “million dollar question” is, “WHY” would anyone support legislation that was crafted with the single purpose to obstruct Richmond from realizing such a tremendous economic opportunity? BIRDIE HAIRSTON JAMISON Richmond
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N.C. A&T wins Celebration Bowl
On a football scale of 1 to 12, North Carolina A&T State University is a 12. The Aggies finished the season 12-0 with a 21-14 victory over Grambling State University of Louisiana last Saturday in the third annual Celebration Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Changing Hanover school names ‘won’t change a thing’
Letters to the Editor
Re “Hanover County NAACP files federal lawsuit over schools’ Confederate names,” Free Press Aug. 22-24 edition: The Hanover County Branch NAACP’s federal lawsuit over Hanover schools with Confederate names is on specious grounds.
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Lesley McSpadden weeps over the police killing of her son, Michael Brown Jr., in Ferguson, Mo. His death has sparked protests and riots in the …
Published on August 18, 2014
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Virginia State University’s interim President Pamela V. Hammond and her husband, Gary John Hammond, celebrate VSU’s win over Lincoln University for the women’s title
Published on March 5, 2015
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LeBron James, center, celebrates on the court with teammates following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA championship victory Sunday over the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif.
Published on June 24, 2016
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Virginia Union University quarterback Shawheem Dowdy drops back to pass during last Saturday’s comeback victory over Bowie State University at Hovey Field in Richmond.
Published on October 30, 2016
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Stanford players celebrate after clinching the NCAA crown Sunday at the buzzer with a 54-53 victory over Arizona at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Published on April 8, 2021
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The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore on Tuesday. The bridge fell after the cargo ship Dali lost power and …
Published on March 28, 2024
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Silas Barksdale was named Class 5 State Player of Year after leading Woodside High of Newport News to the state title with a 53-33 win …
Published on March 28, 2024
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Liberation Church’s intent is children’s learning center, not homeless shelter, says pastor
The founding pastor of Liberation Church is pushing back against a report that the city was considering placing a large homeless shelter on the site of the main sanctuary at 5501 Midlothian Turnpike. Founding Pastor Jay Patrick said the church never considered that idea.
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City housing director, church leaders discuss shelter options
$3M on the table for homeless
Ninth District City Councilman Michael J. Jones hopes a network of churches can be developed to provide shelter for the homeless during inclement weather, particularly during winter cold.
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Property in Henrico’s Garden City may be taken for planned development
Some homeowners in Henrico’s Garden City neighborhood may have their property taken for new roads for the $2.3 billion planned GreenCity development.
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Mustang Club revs engines to mark classic car’s 57th birthday, service award
Thomas Victory and the Victory 7 Mustang Club are celebrating a birthday on April 17 — the 57th birthday of the Ford Mustang.
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GOP blocking this generation’s Voting Rights Act, by Ben Jealous
Across the country, Republican state legislators have been busy imposing new voting restrictions and devising corrupt redistricting schemes to give their party more power than they could win under a fair system.
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Harding’s leading man status
For three seasons, Tahj Harding sat on the runway, with engines revved, at Virginia Union University. This year he’s taken off and his only limit is the sky.
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RRHA reviewing new sites to relocate Fay Towers
The Frederic A. Fay Towers once again seem to be upholding the city housing authority’s reputation for slow-moving development projects. Instead of breaking ground last summer as promised, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is still struggling to determine the site where it will build a replacement for the aging high-rise in Gilpin Court, just north of Downtown.
