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Former Chesterfield NAACP head wins libel suit
LaSalle J. McCoy Jr. said he never took a dime from the Chesterfield County Branch NAACP during the 10 years he served as president, and a county General District Court judge has agreed with him.
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City Council OKs $325M development replacing Public Safety Building
It’s official. The decaying Public Safety Building in Downtown is to be transformed during the next four years into a tax-and job-generating $325 million office-hotel-retail-child care complex linked to the Virginia Commonwealth University medical campus.
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CoStar expansion a shining example
Tuesday was a banner day for Richmond as ground was broken on one of the biggest single private developments in city history.
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Marking the milestone of COVID-19 in city
Richmond officials recognized the milestones— good and bad — and ongoing challenges of COVID-19 during a news conference Tuesday afternoon marking two years since the city first began its response to the pandemic.
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Buyer beware
We were not surprised that the developers of the defunct new Richmond Coliseum and Downtown development project ran to the welcoming embrace of Henrico County when their costly $1.5 billion Navy Hill project was rejected last year in Richmond.
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With legislative control at stake, House of Delegates races take on more urgency
Can Democrats hold the Virginia House of Delegates after two years of control?
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VSU eliminates debt for 1,200 students
At least 1,200 students attending Virginia State University no longer have to worry about the money they owe the school.
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New pro basketball team is looking for ballers
So, you’re out of school, getting a bit older, but still want to play some serious basketball? Here’s your chance. There is a new pro basketball team forming in town — the Richmond Ram Chargers — and it’s looking for ballers.
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Saving planet matter of choice, by Ben Jealous
There’s a phrase you hear from business schools to board rooms that comes from L. John Doerr, a legendary investor who backed Google, Amazon and Intuit: Measure what matters. Those words certainly jumped to mind this summer as leaders from Washington to London sent signals that protecting a safe, livable planet hardly matters because it’s not worth accounting for accurately and honestly.
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Outdoor concert venue booked for council approval
A 7,500-seat outdoor concert venue that will feature 25 to 30 concerts each season is likely headed to the Richmond riverfront.
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Pine Camp theater program enhances students’ confidence, world view
A program at Richmond’s Pine Camp Cultural Arts and Community Center is helping students learn job readiness skills by using theater as a backdrop to encourage creativity and self
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Mail delays leave Richmonders in the dark
In some Richmond-area neighborhoods, residents have grown accustomed to having their mail delivered around 10 p.m. or later.
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VSU to go all the way in CIAA tournament?
Flip a coin. That may be as good a way as any to predict the winner for the 70th CIAA men’s basketball tournament that commences Feb. 24 in Charlotte, N.C. There is no clear dominant team this winter and Time Warner Cable Arena has proven to be an equal opportunity venue since the tournament set up shop there in 2006.
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VSU spring enrollment brings optimism
Enrollment at Virginia State University has dropped less than initially projected — good news for the school and a relief to Dr. Pamela V. Hammond, the interim president. The latest figures indicate nearly 4,500 students are en- rolled and validated as meet- ing their financial obligations. That’s about 130 students fewer than projected for the spring semester in the university’s budget. Earlier this month, Dr. Hammond and VSU’s board of visitors were advised that fewer than 4,250 students might be enrolled this semester. Dr. Hammond told the Free Press last week the higher enrollment means she will not have to consider additional personnel actions to balance the budget. After taking office Jan. 1, she ordered a freeze on hiring and other spending to stabilize finances and those freezes are still in place. She said the freezes should keep spending in line with revenue through the rest of the fiscal year.
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City eyeing sale of parking operations to raise millions
City Hall has been considering using its parking operations as a way to raise $150 million for school construction, street paving, sidewalk development and other unaddressed capital needs. Norman D. Butts, the city’s top financial officer, confirmed that there have been discussions about awarding a long-term conces- sion to an undisclosed private group willing to pay big bucks for a 30- to 40-year concession to operate the city’s 20 parking lots and garages.
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Monument Avenue race freezes out African elite runners
The popular Monument Avenue 10K looks pretty much the same as it always has — except for the runners at the very front of the pack. Approximately 30,000 runners, joggers and walkers signed up for this year’s 16th edition of the annual event coordinated by Richmond Sports Backers.
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Plan for former Highland Park Catholic school building stalls
The plan to replace a vacant Catholic school on North Side with 80 affordable apartments is on hold as the nonprofit developer seeks to overcome opposition from neighborhood St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and nearby residents. The Free Press reported on the plan in early February, but the proposal has been stalled since an ordinance to support the work was sent to Richmond City Council for approval.
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Obstacles to mental health care
In 2015, Jamycheal Mitchell died in the Hampton Roads Regional Jail after being arrested for stealing $5 worth of snacks from a convenience store. According to Mr. Mitchell’s family, he had bipolar disorder and schizophrenia but had stopped taking his schizophrenia medication.
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ACA eliminates barriers to health care
The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) promised to improve the delivery of health care services in America — especially for historically disadvantaged communities that suffer high rates of chronic illness. The ACA has begun to deliver on that promise, but work still remains to ensure all who need healthcare in the most prosperous nation on earth can receive it. Healthcare.gov is now available for the open enrollment period through Sunday, Jan. 31. It’s imperative that members of the African-American community take advantage of this opportunity to access the coverage and care they need.
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Policing and COVID-19: A dangerous combination
As protests in Richmond continue to draw attention to decades of overpolicing, it has become abundantly clear that the status quo cannot hold. Richmond is a city with deeply entrenched segregation and brutal poverty alongside glittering new developments. Recent police actions here make the state’s “Virginia Is for Lovers” slogan ring hollow. These responses to protests are made even more harmful by police reliance on aggressive strate- gies that only exacerbate the health risks of the coronavirus.
