Story

Election officials encourage voters to report problems, irregularities
Chesterfield resident Clarence Lee, 90, has been an active voter since the 1950s. He was planning to vote in person on Nov. 3.
Story

Skipping school
Data show that 40% to 60% of Richmond area teachers are absent from the classroom 11 or more business days a year
Students always seem to be the focus of concern when the discussion centers on the ill effects of class-cutting, truancy and chronic absenteeism on education.
Story
Story

Black History Month events calendar 2021
A variety of events are planned in and around Richmond for Black History Month.
Story

Blanche Moore named Henrico County Christmas Mother
Blanche Moore has been selected to a very exciting and much needed Henrico County volunteer position – the 2021 Henrico County Christmas Mother.
Story

Henry L. Marsh III Elementary School: A building worthy of kings and queens
Henry L. Marsh III grew up across the street from the handsome new elementary school in Church Hill that is named in his honor.
Story

Players of color dominate AL lineup in MLB All-Star Game
Players of color will be front and center at next week’s Major League All-Star Game.
Story

Adele C. Johnson, Black History Museum executive director, succumbs at 70
Adele C. Johnson pushed to ensure the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia lived up to its name during her four-year tenure as executive director.
Story

DPU struggling with customer service
April Bingham is proud of the progress the Richmond Department of Public Utilities has made in clearing a backlog of customer service issues.
Story

City Council votes for tax rebate, other spending
Richmond property owners will receive a 4.2 percent rebate on the real estate taxes they paid earlier this year, equal to $50 for each $100,000 of property value.
Story

Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
Story

2 VSU mothers graduate alongside their children at commencement
At Virginia State University, the tradition of academic pursuit across generations is a tangible reality. The Spring 2024 Commencement witnessed a significant milestone as two families celebrated graduating together.
Story

Grassroots effort mounts to keep Bedden
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden interviewed Wednesday for the superintendent’s job in snow-covered Boston and prepared to meet Thursday with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. The Boston School Committee is expected to name its top choice for the job early next week, according to reports. Meanwhile, a growing number of Dr. Bedden’s supporters in Richmond are continuing their efforts to convince him to stay and lead the aggressive RPS turnaround effort he began after becoming the struggling school district’s superintendent in January 2014.
Story

Richmond Unitarian church starts pledge to end racism
The Birmingham Pledge to end racism is painted on the wall of the city’s police headquarters in Birmingham, Ala. “I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity ...” the pledge on the wall reads. A painting of four white and black boys with their arms around each other accompanies the pledge, which first circulated around Birmingham about two decades ago.
Story

RRHA steps up efforts to help residents find jobs
A Creighton Court community room packed with people seeking to learn about employment opportunities.
Story

Frank Mason III of Petersburg is semifinalist for coveted Naismith Award
The University of Kansas’ Frank Mason III is flirting with college basketball’s highest individual honor — and his fans can have a voice in the final decision. Mason, who graduated from Petersburg High School in 2012, is one of 10 semifinalists for the coveted James A. Naismith Trophy awarded to college basketball’s most outstanding player. Four finalists will be announced Sunday, March 19.
Story

Parents anxious about virtual learning as new school year starts
As Richmond Public Schools launches a new school year Tuesday, Sept. 8, with all virtual learning, parents and students are grappling with the reality of not having face-to-face instruction.
Story

Salvation Arms headquarters move to North Side has clear path from City Council
The Salvation Army appears to have won its nine-month battle to move its Central Virginia headquarters and shelter program from Downtown to North Side after the main opponent, 3rd District Councilman Chris A. Hilbert, dropped his opposition.
Story

Ensuring democracy by securing elections
by Sen. Mark R. Warner
For the past two years, I have served as vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, helping lead the only bipartisan investigation into Russia’s attack on the 2016 election. Our goal in this investigation is not to re-litigate the 2016 election or question its validity. Instead, we are focused on how we can protect the integrity of future elections so that every American heads to the polls confident that his or her vote will count.
Story

Tree problems go unanswered by city
Editor’s note: Just before the Free Press Wednesday deadline, Spencer Turner sent a text message to a Free Press reporter stating: “Thanks for help. They are cutting tree down Friday. The power of a free press.” As of deadline, the Free Press had not been able to confirm Mr. Turner’s statement with city officials. By Jeremy M. Lazarus