Story
Richmonders want funding for schools, housing, less gas
Fund the full request for Richmond Public Schools. Improve our parks. Fully fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and fund repairs for decaying mobile homes. Protect the environment by planning for elimination of the city’s gas utility. Those were among the ways that least 20 speakers urged City Council to amend the 2023-24 budget plan at a public hearing Monday night.
Story
Lochte loses sponsors after Olympic embarrassment
U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte lost the last of his four major sponsors, Japanese mattress maker Airweave, days after he admitted to exaggerating his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio during the Olympics. The incident embarrassed the host city, angered the local police and government and dominated news coverage of South America’s first Olympics, leading the U.S. Olympic Committee to issue an apology.
Story
’Black Panther’ director mistaken for bank robber in Atlanta
Movie director Ryan Coogler was briefly handcuffed by Atlanta police after a bank teller mistook him for a robber when he passed her a note while trying to withdraw a large amount of cash from his account, police said.
Story
NFL reviewing Commanders sale agreement
The NFL is now reviewing the sale agreement of the Washington Commanders, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because details of the sales process are not being publicized.
Story
Another Barbara Johns?
Open High students plan citywide walkout to protest lack of funding
Imagine all 5,600 high school students in Richmond walking out to protest the physical conditions of their buildings. Then imagine them overflowing the Richmond City Council chambers a few hours later to bring their concerns to the nine-member governing body.
Story
Catholic dioceses release list of 58 clergy accused of sexually abusing children
Virginia’s two Roman Catholic dioceses on Wednesday published lists of 58 priests credibly accused of sexually abusing minors, joining other dioceses around the country in answering calls to make public the names of abusive clergy.
Story
Scott co-leader of bipartisan effort to curb federal prison spending
From Virginia to California, states are pushing change to cut their ballooning prison costs that collectively approach $60 billion. Instead of automatically locking up people, 32 states have put in place reforms during the past five years that have reduced the numbers of people imprisoned without increasing crime rates. The efforts have saved at least $4 billion. That includes reserving prison cells for the most serous offenders and doing more to divert lower-level offenders to supervised support programs outside prison.
Story
RPS $311.2M budget for 2020-21 unveiled
Superintendent Jason Kamras’ proposed $311.2 million general fund operating budget for the new fiscal year that will begin July 1 received mixed reviews at the Richmond School Board meeting on Monday night.
Story
City Council calls for Washington team to pay its way or end relationship
Will Washington’s pro football team continue to run a summer training camp in Richmond after 2020? That question is expected to be decided after Mayor Levar M. Stoney and team representatives hold talks, likely in May, on a potential extension of the current agreement.
Story
Architects for future George Wythe High gather comments, ideas from public
The idea of a new George Wythe High School is beginning to take shape, but a rendering shared with an audience of about 60 in the school’s auditorium Tuesday night is only a starting point said RRMM Architect’s president and CEO Duane Harver.
Story
VCU drops Moore Street School day care project
Virginia Commonwealth University apparently has dropped its $5 million plan to transform the historic, but deteriorating Moore Street School in the Carver community near Downtown into a day care and child development center for pre-school children.
Story
License plate campaign pays homage to Richmond Planet
Reginald L. Carter is within striking distance of scoring another victory for his campaign for Black history and racial justice.
Story
Petersburg votes to rename Confederate schools
The Confederate names on three Petersburg public schools are coming down. The Petersburg School Board voted unanimously on Feb. 7 to rename the schools following a series of public meetings, a public hearing and survey of Petersburg teachers, students, families, school employees and the public.
Story
GRTC extends free fares
As anticipated, free rides will continue on GRTC for another year, without any additional subsidy from Richmond taxpayers.
Story
The cost of electricity is going up
Surging demand and a jump in the price of natural gas is about to impact electric bills in Virginia.
Story
New agreement appears to move forward Diamond District, stadium
A breakthrough in negotiations has put the $2.4 billion Diamond District deal back on track, the Free Press has learned.
Story
City Council setting up procedures for public meetings online
The Richmond City Council is moving to set up processes and procedures for holding online public meetings, including ways to gain resident comments on legislation, it was announced Tuesday.
Story
$1M upgrade at Main Library in Downtown
Every day, dozens of people flood into the Main Library in Downtown to use public computers. They come to check emails, seek employment, do research and handle other activities in the online world, including paying bills and applying for visas.
Story
Mountain of Blessings starts Chesterfield satellite service Nov. 1
Henrico-based Mountain of Blessings Christian Center is making a fresh go at expanding south of the James River nine months after its bid to buy the Richmond Christian Center on the city’s South Side was rebuffed.
Story
Locked out
Report: Fewer mortgages approved in predominately African-American, Latino areas
The greater the number of African-Americans and Latinos living in a Richmond neighborhood, the tougher it is for home buyers in the neighborhood to get a mortgage approved or for existing owners to get their home loans refinanced. That’s the rule of thumb that prevails among banks and online mortgage lenders, according to a new report from the Richmond-based fair housing watchdog group, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia.
