Story

Praise, doubt as Facebook rolls out new prayer tool
Facebook already asks for your thoughts. Now it wants your prayers.
Story

New $720,000 policy gives RPS employees a week off for spring break
For the first time, principals, maintenance workers and other 12-month public schools employees in Richmond will receive a week of paid leave during the upcoming spring break, even though it will cost more than $720,000.
Photo

Million Man March 20 years later - Throngs of people from across the nation flooded the National Mall in Washington for the Justice Or Else …
Published on October 16, 2015
Story

Petersburg jail closure to cost taxpayers $
Instead of saving money, the closure of the Petersburg Jail will cost city taxpayers at least $1.2 million extra each year, a Free Press analysis has determined. Figures from Petersburg’s government confirm the newspaper’s finding that closing the jail is more expensive than keeping it open, belying claims from Mayor W. Howard Myers and three other council members who supported the jail’s shutdown. That extra cost is embedded in the proposed budget that Petersburg City Manager William E. Johnson III presented recently to the seven-member Petersburg City Council. His proposed budget also provides no raises for city employees and no increase in city contributions to the public schools.
Story

Like Black families, HBCUs are financially short-changed
As college students settle into campus life, many Black Americans remember the multigenerational sacrifices that have established higher education as a bridge to a better life.
Story

Lower electric bills expected
Warmer winter weather and cheaper natural gas are fueling plans by Dominion Virginia Power to lower electricity costs for residents.
Story

State NAACP to hold “The Urgency of Now Rally” Feb. 12 at Capitol Square
The Virginia State Conference NAACP is urging people to rally in support of teaching Black history from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Bell Tower on the grounds of the State Capitol.
Photo

Easter Events In the City // dressed in colorful holiday outfits, from left, Heaven Johnson, 9, Precious Johnson, 6, Javien Tineo, 5, and Jaiden Taveras, …
Published on March 31, 2016
Photo

Tyre Nichols’ stepfather Rodney Wells, second from left, and Mr. Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, third from left, close their eyes in prayer before a news …
Published on September 14, 2023
Story

Dems win Va. House, Senate
Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin went all in on winning Republican majorities in the state House and Senate — and lost. Unofficial results from Tuesday’s elections show Virginia Democrats again will be in charge of both houses of the General Assembly.
Story

State may force city to replace voting machines
Richmond, Henrico County and 27 other localities might be forced to immediately buy new voting machines for use in upcoming elections. The reason: The state Board of Elections is considering banning the wireless touch-screen machines the city and the other localities successfully have used for 10 years.
Story

State Fair of Virginia kicks off Sept. 23
The Spinners’ ‘one of a kind’ music among main stage acts
The State Fair of Virginia returns to Meadow Event Park Sept. 23 through Oct. 2 with activities focused on Virginia agriculture and forestry. The park is at 13191 Dawn Blvd. in Doswell.
Story
Clean air, but at what price
On the surface, accepting the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan sounds like a great idea — reduced carbon emissions and pollution, ideally leading to cleaner air. Yes, this is a great idea. But at what cost? This is just another example of the federal government get- ting involved in state matters and proposing regulations that create catastrophic consequences. I’ve learned that Virginia is held to a higher clean air/carbon standard than our neighbors (Virginia is required to reduce almost twice as much carbon emission as West Virginia and Kentucky), and it will cost us billions to shut down the power stations that have been operating fine for decades.
Story

ACA health insurance enrollment deadline Dec. 15
More choices in health insurance that will cost less. That’s the good news for people who have until Sunday, Dec. 15, to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Story
Story

Automatic expungements can help remove barriers by Mayor Levar M. Stoney
Unjust and racist policies continuously serve as a barrier to progress for our Black and brown communities, creating a stifling environment for socioeconomic mobility that makes it less and less likely for each generation to be better off than the last.
Story

Class action suit filed against BB&T for stop payment request violation
When Ronnie and Christine Gilliam told BB&T bank they were revoking the right of a payday lender to take electronic payments from their checking account, they allege the bank ignored the request.
Story

Personality: Pam Mines
Spotlight on founder of nonprofit JP JumPers Foundation
Helping people in the special needs community is a labor of love for Pam Mines. “I am not the advocacy voice for the special needs community. I am simply a voice,” says the Chesterfield County resident.
Story

Walmart, Target quit Thanksgiving shopping cold turkey; Black Friday still looms in the air
Forget about rushing out this year on Thanksgiving Day to get a jump on Christmas shopping. Target is joining Walmart in closing its stores Thanksgiving Day, ending a decade-long tradition of jumpstarting Black Friday door buster sales.
Story

Online Only
Threat of COVID-19 keeping RPS students at home
Richmond Public Schools students will continue learning online this fall when the 2020-21 academic year starts Sept. 8.