Story
Obstacles remain as women seek more leadership roles in America’s Black Church
Male pastors still predominate, though there’s no comprehensive gender breakdown
No woman had ever preached the keynote sermon at the Joint National Baptist Convention, a gathering of four historically Black Baptist denominations representing millions of people.
Story
Personality: Coach Willard J. Coker
Spotlight on the Bulldogs’ inspiring championship leader
When people get slapped down, they have two basic options. They can accept their sad fate, throw a pity party, curse at the world and stay on their backsides. Or they can bounce back. George Wythe High School Coach Willard J. Coker is a bouncer.
Story
Fourth Baptist’s pastor leads by faith activism
Dr. Emory Berry Jr. calls himself a “walking miracle.” The 38-year-old is celebrating his fifth anniversary as pastor at Fourth Baptist Church in Richmond. When his mother was pregnant with him, doctors at a Miami hospital urged her to terminate her pregnancy because of health complications, he said. Instead, he said, his mother had faith that God would allow her to deliver the child safely and that he would make a difference in the world.
Story
Personality: Robin M. Brown
Spotlight on Grand Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star
Robin M. Brown seeks to make a positive difference in the lives of children and others in the community. That’s why she joined the Richmond-based Order of the Eastern Star of Virginia at the behest of her mother-in-law, Erma R. Brown, in 1996. The fraternal organization is affiliated with the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia Free and Accepted Masons.
Story
Call to action issued at Community Leaders Breakfast
“It’s not time for us to be silent!” Gov. Terry McAuliffe thundered. “It’s time to fire it up!” With smiling Baptist minister and Mayor Dwight C. Jones seated nearby at the 37th Annual Community Leaders Breakfast to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gov. McAuliffe sounded every bit the mission-driven evangelist as he called for the com- munity to rally around his agenda for more jobs, a commitment to early childhood education and full restoration of rights for nonviolent ex-offenders.
Story
Bill Cosby posts $1M bond after sex crime arrest
Bill Cosby was charged Wednesday in Pennsylvania with sexually assaulting a woman in 2004 after plying her with drugs and alcohol. The arrest marks the only criminal case against the once-beloved performer whose father-figure persona has been damaged by dozens of misconduct accusations.
Story
More than 12,000 flood Brown’s Island for race opening
Richmond native and American Idol finalist Rayvon Owen and the Richmond Symphony wowed more than 12,000 people Friday night on Brown’s Island as they opened the UCI Road World Championships with a dazzling show ushering in a resplendent riverside sunset. The Richmond Cycling Corps, a group of East End youngsters ages 12 to 17, then led a colorful procession of the 16 cyclists from Team USA, followed by 74 youngsters carrying the flags of the nations participating in this international bicycling race.
Story
Heat, water problems plague residents in new Highland Park apartment building
Ernest L. Fox has stopped showering since moving into the new Highland Park Senior Apartments, a former school building being converted into 77 residential apartments at East Brookland Park Boulevard and Second Avenue.
Story
Hundreds of lives saved in the city
In Virginia, more people are dying from drug overdoes than from homicides or traffic accidents, data from state agencies show.
Story
Muslim women, others denounce Trump attacks on Charlottesville family
When Donald Trump disparaged the parents of fallen Army Capt. Humayun Khan, he didn’t just pick a fight with the Khans. He now faces the ire of hundreds of Muslim American women.
Story
Fifty shades of crazy
Ignorant. Arrogant. Insulting. Racist. Sexist. Misogynistic. Anti-black. Anti-Latino. Anti-immigrant. Anti-Muslim. Xenophobic.
Story
Personality: Dayal Baxani
Dayal Baxani began to build his relationship with Neighborhood Housing Services of Richmond the same way he builds many of the relationships that have maintained his family’s business, 707 Fine Clothing, for nearly 40 years — word of mouth.
Story
Personality: Megan Walker
Spotlight on nation’s No.1 ranked high school basketball player
Megan Walker began playing basketball when she was 4 at a local YMCA
Story
Coach Lancaster starts new chapter
George Lancaster says he has retired. Officially he has after 37 seasons and two Virginia championships at Highland Springs High School in Henrico County. But the more the 71-year-old coaching legend talks, the more you learn another chapter may yet unfold. Coach Lancaster is in the process of moving back to his hometown of Chase City in Mecklenburg County, where he just may pop up with a whistle around his neck at Bluestone High School.
Story
NFL quarterback Russell Wilson gets hometown welcome
Seattle Seahawks All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson scored a touchdown with a hometown crowd of 4,500 people at the Richmond Forum, where he was the special guest and speaker Saturday night at the Altria Theatre.
Story
Rev. Wright: Faith traditions give hope for life’s journey
His voice didn’t reach the thunderous crescendo for which he is well known. Nor did he use the fiery cadences with which he has stirringly moved worshippers and other audiences for more than four decades.
Story
‘Defunding police’ rejected
Richmond City Council kills proposal to examine police funding in social, mental health and community services and move the money to other departments
No to reducing the Richmond Police budget to assuage demonstrators’ demands to “defund police.”
Story
Virginia emerges as the South's progressive leader under Dems
In a state once synonymous with the Old South, Democrats are using their newfound legislative control to refashion Virginia as the region’s progressive leader on racial, social and economic issues.
Story
City attorney: City Council has no authority to remove Confederate statues
Does Richmond City Council have the legal authority to remove or relocate the Confederate statues from Monument Avenue?
Story
‘Becoming Kareem’ coming to a city near you
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been a best-selling author, civil rights activist, actor, historian and one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived.
