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Justice Department protests powerful, by Marc H. Morial
The decision in late December not to charge the officers who shot and killed a Black child on sight encapsulates everything that is wrong with the U.S. Department of Justice under the current administration.
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VSU recognizes 700 grads in first in-person commencement since 2019
It was a day of celebration last Sunday at Virginia State University, as three classes of graduates marched and were recognized during the first in-person commencement held at the university since 2019 because of the pandemic.
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VSU to eliminate names of white supremacists from campus buildings
Virginia State University is removing the names of four campus buildings that officials said “do not reflect the rich heritage and spirit” of the school.
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Mayor Stoney claims victory nearly 24 hours after polls close
It took an extra day, but Mayor Levar M. Stoney finally could claim victory in his bid for re-election to a second, four-year term.
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Control of the state legislature, a casino in Richmond top ballots in coming elections
Abortion, clean energy, public education funding and state tax policy will all be on the ballot in the upcoming election for the General Assembly.
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Loss of support from Republican evangelicals suits MAGA crowd just fine, by Clarence Page
Black voters traditionally have been pivotal to the fortunes of the Democratic Party, but some recent polls have suggested that they are proving less bankable for President Biden than in the past. Whether or not as many as 20% of Black voters have in fact deserted the Democrats, as some recent polls suggest, is a contested matter. But it’s probably fair to say that Democrats currently are in more of a defensive than a growth mode with that portion of the electorate.
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What’s in a name?
School Board entertains names for new middle school
Southside Middle School. Benjamin Banneker Middle School. Barack Obama Middle School. Those are just a few of the suggested names for a “new” middle school in Richmond.
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Charity no substitute for justice
In his speech the night before his murder, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. repeated the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan who stopped and helped the desperate traveler who had been beaten, robbed and left half dead as he journeyed along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The Good Samaritan is traditionally considered a model of charity for his willingness to treat a stranger as a neighbor and friend. Dr. King agreed that we all are called to follow his example and serve those around us who need help. But he reminded us that true compassion — true justice — requires attacking the forces that leave others in need in the first place.
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City continues to catch up on paying old bills
Richmond City Hall is doing a far better job of paying its bills by its self-imposed 30-day deadline, according to a new report to Richmond City Council.
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Richmond Democratic Committee and REA endorse Stoney
Richmond mayoral candidate Levar Stoney has picked up two significant, but not unexpected endorsements.
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Control the agenda
Sexual boasting, emails, tax returns, deplorables — the second presidential debate Sunday featured insults wrapped up in put-downs. This debate was held within miles of Ferguson, Mo., but it was never mentioned. The citizens offered questions about issues — health care, the U.S. Supreme Court, energy. The moderators peddled scandals — and elicited insults.
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City Council seeks to allocate surplus
Just in case the city ends up with another big surplus when the 2017 fiscal year closes on June 30, Richmond City Council is trying to limit the mayor’s ability to put the extra money into a “rainy day” fund, or unassigned account, to make it off limits.
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Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter presents 20 debutantes
Twenty young women were presented by the Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at its 2016 Debutante Presentation and Ball.
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Sweeping changes to impact high school learning, training
High school is headed for an overhaul in Virginia. Under reforms approved by the General Assembly, students who take courses to become computer technicians, mechanics, nurses and plumbers or enter other career and technical fields are to be placed on an equal footing with students seeking to go to college.
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By invitation only
New members to join Academy after 2nd all-white Oscars draws criticism
After suffering severe criticism for having a second straight year of all-white acting nominees for the Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 683 new members to join the organization. The academy says its invitees are 46 percent female, 41 percent minority and represent 59 countries.
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Voting rights fight comes to Va.
National NAACP President Cornell William Brooks and Stephen Green, the civil rights organization’s youth director, were arrested Monday in the Roanoke office of Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte after a six-hour sit-in calling for the full restoration of the federal Voting Rights Act, the NAACP said.
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After 26 years, Judge Roberts retiring from juvenile court
For 26 years, Judge Angela Edwards Roberts has been a presence in the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Along with her colleagues, she has dealt with all the sad, messy issues involving individuals and families — ranging from cutody battles to stalking and domestic abuse to teens involved in bad behavior and criminal activity. She also has experienced the joy of helping create families through adoption. “The work we do is emotionally draining,” Judge Roberts said. “We see everything that goes wrong with society. People come to us when they
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Debt collection reform needed
When many consumers think of billion-dollar industries, banks and Wall Street often come to mind. Yet there is another industry in the same lucrative league that affects more than 70 million consumers each year — debt collection.
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City surplus larger than reported
It turns out that Richmond’s surplus is actually $7.9 million larger than reported, Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration has confirmed.
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Music educator and band director John H. Scott Jr. dies at 59
As a young man, John Henry Scott Jr. loved playing the trumpet in marching bands in high school and college.
