Story
Who’s running RPS superintendent search?
Who is controlling the future of Richmond Public Schools? In a school system with a high poverty, predominantly African-American student population, the new search committee charged with identifying superintendent candidates to lead RPS is being guided, in part, by some of the city’s most influential corporate personalities.
Story
GRTC slated to start CARE-on-demand service Aug.1
Roderyck Bullock is gaining a new transportation option. Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 1, the Richmonder will be able to use a new Uber-style, on-demand service that GRTC is putting in place to upgrade service to the elderly and disabled who rely on the company’s CARE paratransit service.
Photo
Eye on the ball Tiffany Smith of Richmond, 6, has her eye on the ball at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Courts in Battery Park. She …
Published on July 21, 2017
Story
HOME explains role in RRHA housing issue
Re “Prospect of home ownership escapes 70-year-old Randolph resident,” Free Press June 29-July 1 edition: The role of Housing Opportunities Made Equal in the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s scattered site process was to provide education and counseling. HOME is not a lender and does not provide financing.
Story
Grammy winner, Prince tour manager credits ‘Tiger Tom’ Mitchell with his start
Re “Broadcast legend ‘Tiger Tom’ Mitchell dies,” Free Press July 13-15 edition: When my family moved to Richmond from up North in 1959, I was a somewhat naïve, pimply-faced kid at a segregated, all-white junior high school, with a budding affection for black music.
Story
Obamacare wins again
After Republicans spectacularly failed to gather enough votes to repeal and replace Obamacare, President Trump should consider changing his slogan from “Make America Great Again” to “Hey, We Tried.”
Story
Health care fight
Republican efforts to dismantle health care in this nation are not over, despite the setback handed to the GOP leadership earlier this week. On Monday, a handful of their own U.S. Senate colleagues refused to go along with a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.
Story
Maggie Walker’s awesomeness
We are still filled with pride and exuberance from the Maggie L. Walker statue dedication last Saturday in Downtown. There was a gloriousness about the day that Richmond rarely sees.
Story
Ph.D. rapper bringing hip-hop to U.Va. classroom
A.D. Carson isn’t concerned about those who don’t think hip-hop is a valid area of study in academia. Nor does the rapper who just earned his Ph.D. in May from Clemson University by presenting his dissertation as an album want people to think he’s the first to pursue hip-hop as an academic subject.
Story
U.S. appeals court strikes down prayer practice before government meeting
Government officials who lead Christian prayers to open meetings are violating the U.S. Constitution, a divided federal appeals court in Richmond has ruled.
Story
Personality: Antonio ‘Toby’ Mendez
Spotlight on sculptor of the Maggie L. Walker statue
Antonio “Toby” Mendez did not know much about Maggie L. Walker when he first began working on the statue that now stands at Adams and Broad streets in Downtown Richmond. But as the process of making the statue progressed, he learned more about her life and works.
Story
Poor conditions at George Mason Elementary fire up School Board
After an unusual, tense public exchange between members Monday night, the Richmond School Board voted to hold a public hearing on Monday, July 31, to discuss the condition of George Mason Elementary School and what to do about it. Although George Mason boasts prominent alumni, including former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, several officials said the school building at 813 N. 28th St. is easily among the city school district’s worst facilities.
Story
Wells Fargo to give $4M to HOME to expand black home ownership
Five years ago, banking giant Wells Fargo paid more than $200 million to settle documented government allegations that it deliberately charged African-American borrowers higher fees and interest rates on home loans.
Story
City Hall’s most feared man is out
For 11 years, he was considered the most feared man at Richmond City Hall as he led a staff of 14 in ferreting out waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayers’ dollars. But that time is over for City Auditor Umesh Dalal.
Story
Resolving conflict focus in youth camp this Saturday
The Richmond Department of Juvenile Justice Services and the Capital District of the Virginia Juvenile Justice Association are sponsoring the W.E.B. Football and Life Skills Camp from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at John Marshall High School, 4225 Old Brook Road, on North Side.
Story
Story
Honoring greatness
Statue of Richmond pioneer Maggie L. Walker unveiled to cheers at gateway to Jackson Ward
Richmond residents and officials rejoiced Saturday morning as the long-awaited statue of hometown hero Maggie Lena Walker was unveiled.
Story
Faith group opposes Trump on voting data request
A national network of progressive faith organizations is rallying support for officials in Virginia and 43 other states and the District of Columbia who have rebuffed a Trump administration effort to collect detailed personal information on voters as part of a probe of alleged voter fraud.
Story
RRHA ‘missed a golden opportunity’ to help people become homeowners
Re “Prospect of home ownership escapes 70-year-old Randolph resident,” Free Press June 29-July 1 edition: I was appalled reading the Free Press front page story about Charlene Harris, the 70-year-old Randolph resident. Is the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s management becoming aloof and unfeeling towards the residents they serve? To think that the RRHA would move a 70-year-old lady from a house she has lived in and called home for 49 years and relocate her into a less desirable house and neighborhood is inconceivable.
Story
Stop the madness
We are tired of President Trump and his lies. And we are particularly aggravated by his hubris and deceit when it comes to his connections with Russia and his collusion with the Kremlin to win the November 2016 presidential election.
