Story
Black contractor braved threats in removing Confederate statues
Devon Henry paced in nervous anticipation because this was a project like nothing he’d ever done. He wore the usual hard hat — and a bulletproof vest.
Story
Santa with Soul visits Dec. 5 at Black History Museum
Santa with Soul is making his annual visit to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in Jackson Ward to ask wide-eyed children their holiday wishes and to spread good cheer.
Story
Radford University stuns Notre Dame in basketball upset
A coaching staff with Richmond ties has pulled off the upset of the season in college basketball. Clearly falling under the “shocking” column, Radford University stunned the University of Notre Dame — and the world of college hoops — Nov. 14 in South Bend, Ind.
Story
RRHA taking comments on what qualities next CEO should possess
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is asking the public to weigh in on what qualities the next CEO should possess.
Story
Honorary street sign to recognize Bishop Melvin Williams Jr.
For more than 50 years, Bishop Melvin Williams Jr., pastor of the Temple of Judah at 2120 Venable St. has made his mark on Richmond and Virginia – primarily through giving. For years, his words of wisdom through his daily radio show; Christmas bicycle giveaways for children; care packages for incarcerated people; Thanksgiving giveaways; daily prayer at 5 a.m. at the church and now online; housing for the homeless and marches against crime and for community safety are just some of the services the church has provided over the years. Now, the city of Richmond is recognizing that service in a major way.
Story
Lumpkin’s Jail site to get new life
After years of neglect by the city, the site at Lumpkin’s Jail is headed toward a multimillion-dollar makeover. The jail site was a holding pen for enslaved people in Shockoe Bottom that later served as the launching ground for Virginia Union University.
Story
Free Press receives Facebook Journalism Project grant
The Richmond Free Press has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Facebook Journalism Project to boost local journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Story
First Lady Melania Trump lays wreath at slave castle in Ghana
First Lady Melania Trump laid a wreath at a 17th century slave fortress in Ghana on Wednesday, vowing never to forget where Africans were held before being shipped away into further hardship, most across the Atlantic.
Story
Biden’s student loan plan needs more reforms, by Marc H. Morial
“By forgiving up to $20,000 in burdensome student loan debt, President Biden is giving working and middle class families the financial breathing room the desperately need. Buying a home, founding a business, starting a family, and so much more will now be a financial possibility for millions more Americans. But we cannot stop there. The Congressional Black Caucus remains committed to achieving additional reforms to ensure current, and future borrowers are not subjected to this cycle of burdensome debt.” – Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Joyce Beatty
Story
It’s Met Gala time again — here’s what we know so far
Last year, it took 275,000 bright pink roses to adorn the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala, the biggest night in fashion and one of the biggest concentrations of star power anywhere.
Story
Authorities search Diddy’s properties as part of a sex trafficking probe
In the first nine months of 2023, Sean “Diddy” Combs triumphantly performed at the MTV VMAs, released an R&B album that garnered a Grammy nomination and was a suitor to buy the BET network. But several lawsuits filed late last year raised allegations of sexual assault and rape against Mr. Combs — one of hip-hop’s most recognizable names as a performer and producer.
Story
Public barred from North Side park
It’s called a public park, but, ironically, the public is barred from entering the small grassy space on North Side without buying a city permit.
Story
Virginians to be impacted by new laws now in effect
New state laws went into effect Saturday, July 1, that could impact how Virginians drive, what kind of alcohol they buy and what they wear when they go hunting.
Story
Changes at 2 North Side funeral homes
They may deal with death, but two venerable, African-American-owned funeral homes in North Side are getting new life. The former W.S. Watkins & Son Funeral Home at 2700 North Ave. has new owners who vow to rebuild the 84-year-old business.
Story
End of an era
Harvey’s Progressive Barber Shop to close Downtown
For hundreds of Richmonders, Harvey’s Progressive Barber Shop in Downtown has been their go-to place for a haircut. No more.
Story
Affordable housing or slavery memorial park may be next funding question for City Council
Beef up funding for affordable housing or shift $1.7 million from a previously undisclosed pool of dollars for a memorial park to the untold thousands of enslaved Africans bought and sold in Shockoe Bottom before the Civil War?
Story
Dems can stall another Scalia on High Court
President Trump has made it crystal clear that his SCOTUS picks will be reincarnations of the hard-line late Antonin Scalia. He was as good as his word with his first pick Neil Gorsuch. His majority vote to nail abortion, union dues, and approve No. 45’s Muslim travel ban was terrorizing proof of that. No. 45 wasted no time telling one and all that he’ll pick from a list of 25 names for a replacement for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Story
How do they get away with it?
The New York Times was reporting well-known rumors and accusations when it broke the story Thursday that big-shot movie mogul and Miramax founder Harvey Weinstein allegedly had a long history of sexually harassing, abusing and victimizing countless women. But Mr. Weinstein might have gotten away with the alleged sexual abuse that reportedly spanned three decades for a good reason — several good reasons, in fact.
Story
Gun tragedies and inaction
We woke up the morning after the Florida high school tragedy hearing that 95 percent of the American people support stronger background checks before someone can buy a gun. That sounds like a no-brainer because only 4 percent of the people oppose these checks
Story
VSU, NSU have smallest freshman classes in years
Enrollment is continuing to retreat at Virginia’s two historically black public universities, Norfolk State and Virginia State. Both institutions apparently have admitted their smallest freshman classes in at least a decade, and total enrollment has declined to levels not seen in at least 15 years or longer.
