Story
Parole-to-prison merry-go-round, by Dr. Donald Fraser
State-run parole and probation programs are designed to keep persons convicted of crimes, including a very large number of nonviolent crimes, out of prison.
Story
Commitment needed to solutions for homelessness and recidivism
With the Democratic primary season kicking into gear and the general election right around the corner, the stage is set for an impassioned battle of ideas and policy initiatives that could shape our country for the next decade.
Story
Interfaith group works to repair historic black church
Inside a small Woodside Avenue church set amongst the trees, the oldest African-American congregation in the northern Pioneer Valley has made its home for more than a century.
Story
New development, residents behind city’s housing value jump
The value of property is climbing in Richmond, most notably in areas such as Church Hill, Blackwell and Highland Park that were once stigmatized as less desirable because they were predominantly African-American and low income.
Story
GRTC learns good news, bad news
The start of the Pulse bus rapid transit system and the overhaul of bus routes appears to be a good news-bad news story for GRTC.
Story
Organizers claim success in schools petition drive
The petition drive to put the issue of modernizing Richmond’s dilapidated public schools before city voters has succeeded, according to the leader of the campaign
Story
School Board approves $303.3M budget plan
Richmond schools Superintendent Jason Kamras and the Richmond School Board are seeking $11 million more from the city to operate schools in the next budget year that will begin July 1.
Story
Council committee blocks entry of medical transport company into Richmond market
A City Council committee has rebuffed Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s attempt to end the Richmond Ambulance Authority’s 28-year monopoly on emergency and non-emergency medical transports.
Story
Senate passes major criminal justice reform package
The U.S. Senate voted 87-12 Tuesday to usher in the most substantial change to the 1990s tough-on-crime sentencing laws that have ballooned the federal prison population and created a criminal justice system that is seen as costly and unfair.
Story
City Council members not embracing new location for Social Services building
A marketing campaign to sell the public on the $1.4 billion plan to reshape Downtown and develop a new Coliseum is in full swing, even though the legislation to support the plan is still incomplete and has not been sent to Richmond City Council.
Story
$14M slice
RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras releases plan to cut $14M from city schools; $13M from central office alone
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras wants to strip $13 million from the school system’s budget by making cuts to the central office.
Story
New study shows disparity in number of city police encounters with African-Americans
African-Americans in Richmond are involved in nearly two out of three civilian encounters with police officers, with lopsided contacts when police are checking out suspicious persons or activities, a new study finds.
Story
Morrissey announces primary challenge to Sen. Rosalyn Dance
State Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance of Petersburg is facing a fight to keep her legislative seat for a second four-year term. Former Delegate Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey of Richmond announced Wednesday that he is challenging Sen. Dance in the June 11 Democratic primary for the 16th Senate District seat.
Story
We’re Americans, too!
Throughout #45’s campaign, he made a great issue about “Making America Great Again” and “America(ns) First.” Those who voted for him obviously believed him. Given his professed preeminence for everything American, it is reasonable to think that after a natural disaster he would take a no-holds-barred, equitable approach to providing relief to our citizens. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have had dreadful impact upon millions. There are those, like #45, who believe that there has been an appropriate response to those affected. Just as many believe that his response to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands has been tepid and measured more critically than his response to mainland relief. The truth of this informs us who #45 considers “real Americans.”
Story
Foremost wishes for 2018
Warner, Page and Hilbert tell them
Mark R. Warner, U.S. senator representing Virginia and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence investigating allegations of collusion by the Trump campaign and Russian officials to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election:
Story
VUU to play Elizabeth City State for homecoming at Hovey Field
Through eight football games, Virginia Union University has been explosive on offense, porous on defense and its own worst enemy on penalties.
Story
Dr. King’s work not finished
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t plan to get involved in the Memphis, Tenn., garbage workers’ strike. He hadn’t planned to be there on the fateful day when he was shot on April 4, 1968. But he was pressured to go the first time and found the garbage workers’ strike compelling. He promised to return, and felt it important to keep his word, despite a packed schedule.
Story
Fannie Lou Hamer, breast cancer and black women
Columnists
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the proliferation of pink ribbons is starting. Predatory capitalists will make breast cancer their cause, producing pink T- shirts, pocketbooks, everything.
Story
A moral demand
I had the opportunity recently to participate in the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Along with Jerry Paris, general manager of WPFW-FM 89.3, and the Rev. Graylan Hagler, I was invited to co-anchor the program carried by WPFW-FM radio.
Story
End blockade of funds for HBCUs
Columnists
Each year as families beam with pride at seeing a son, daughter or another relative graduate from college, that achievement is nearly always the result of a family’s commitment to higher education. And when these institutions are among more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, that pride is magnified by the history of how our forefathers overcame what once seemed to be insurmountable challenges.
