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Rev. Janie M. Walker retiring as co-pastoral director of Richmond Hill
After a 15-year relationship with Richmond Hill, the Rev. Janie M. Walker, co-pastoral director of the religious community on Church Hill, is retiring. Rev. Walker, whose last day is May 15, has led the residential ecumenical Christian community since 2014.
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A new lease
T.K. Somanath resigns from the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority amid criticism regarding heating crisis
Battered by criticism over his handling of a heating crisis in the Creighton Court public housing community, T.K. Somanath abruptly resigned Sunday as chief executive officer of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
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From hatred to hope
The 131-year old, 12-ton bronze symbol of white supremacy honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue is taken down as scores watch in person and online
An empty pedestal covered with colorful anti-racist slogans. That’s all that remains of the state’s greatest symbol of white supremacy – the statue of the traitorous Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee riding his horse, Traveller.
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With crackdown on panhandling, people wrestle with their conscience
Driving to his downtown clothing business, Hans Herman Thun finds it impossible to ignore the beggars. They catch his attention with handwritten, cardboard signs such as “Homeless and hungry,” “Anything helps! God bless” and even “I’ll be honest — I could really use a beer.”
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Frozen
RRHA puts hold on all public housing evictions through December, but residents are skeptical, concerned bigger issues are not being addressed
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has frozen all evictions for the rest of the year, following months of growing scrutiny and backlash from residents and housing advocates over the organization’s actions and priorities.
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Personality: Douglas Powell aka ‘Roscoe Burnems’
Spotlight on Richmond’s first poet laureate
Douglas Powell is many things — a poet, author and spoken word artist who performs under the alias Roscoe Burnems. He is a National Poetry Slam champion, a former TEDx speaker, a husband, father and teacher who has contributed to a number of creative endeavors in Richmond. And now, Mr. Powell has been selected to serve as the city’s first poet laureate.
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Personality: Dr. James J. Fedderman
Spotlight on the incoming president of the Virginia Education Association
When Virginia schools return to some kind of normalcy in the future, its education system will be facing a bevy of challenges. With the effects of the coronavirus resulting in cuts in state education spending, localities have turned to cuts in expected pay raises, salary freezes and furloughs that have and will produce struggles for teachers, staff, parents, students and others. For those navigating this aspect of a tumultuous period in Virginia, the Virginia Education Association is working to create a path forward alongside its president-elect, Dr. James J. Fedderman.
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$10,000
Biden announces big student loan forgiveness plan
President Biden on Wednesday announced his long-awaited plan to deliver on a campaign promise to provide $10,000 in student debt cancellation for millions of Americans — and up to $10,000 more for those with the greatest financial need — along with new measures to lower the burden of repayment for their remaining federal student debt.
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Personality: Jer’Mykeal D. McCoy
Spotlight on president-elect of the Urban League of Greater Richmond Young Professionals
The Urban League of Greater Richmond Young Professionals has helped its members become entrepreneurs and homeowners, engage in the community’s civic affairs and enhance their careers and leadership abilities. Jer’Mykeal D. McCoy, the organization’s incoming president plans to continue that work and increase the number of members.
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‘Rethinking Incarceration’
Author on justice, race and Jesus as a prisoner
The problems in the United States’ criminal justice system go all the way back to slavery, according to Dominique DuBois Gilliard, who directs racial reconciliation work for the Evangelical Covenant Church. Both slavery and incarceration are means of racial and social control, said Mr. Gilliard, who sees these controls working together throughout American history — from Jim Crow to lynchings to the war on drugs to the privatization of prisons.
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Nearly 1,000 good reasons
Editorials
Some people claim there is no reason to enact tougher gun laws in the United States. We wholeheartedly disagree.
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VUU homecoming kicks off
Virginia Union University’s homecoming this weekend should be a memorable affair.
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Community cleanup celebrates Maggie Walker’s birthday
Liza Walker Mickens, the great-great-granddaughter of Maggie Lena Walker, left center, walks with other volunteers during a National Park Service and City of Richmond cleanup project on July 16 in honor of Mrs. Walker’s 158th birthday, which was on July 15.
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Gov. Youngkin recognizes October as Virginia Wine Month
Gov. Glenn Youngkin invites Virginia wine lovers from across the Commonwealth and the U.S. to celebrate Virginia Wine Month. October signals the peak of harvest for more than 300 wineries and vineyards as the next vintage of Virginia wine is underway.
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‘Modern-day segregationism hypocrisy’
When Thomas C. Williams was shown to be a mid-1800s slaveowner, as well as helping to set up the regulation of faculty at the University of Richmond, Mr. Williams was essentially disavowed after the university rechristened its T.C.Williams Law School building.
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VCU Rams score victories in Greece
New VCU basketball Coach Ryan Odom is piling up the miles on his “Odometer” before his first season begins.
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Williams brings HBCU talent to Squirrels
HBCU alumni are rare in professional baseball, but the Richmond Flying Squirrels have one.
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German goes from zero to hero
The New York Yankees’ Domingo German was a somewhat ordinary big league pitcher until June 28, when ordinary turned into extraordinary.
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Richmond Kickers sign Simmonds to USL Academy contract
Nicholas Simmonds isn’t your average 16-year-old athlete. While most soccer players his age would be happy to just make their school team, Simmonds has gone pro with the Richmond Kickers.
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2nd Street Festival returns to Jackson Ward
Marking its 35th year, the 2nd Street Festival returns Saturday and Sunday in historic Jackson Ward.