Story

As diversity, equity and inclusion comes under legal attack, companies quietly alter their programs
Sophia Danner-Okotie’s has ambitious plans for her Nigerian-inspired clothing line but a sense of dread has punctured her optimism as she watches a legal battle being waged against a small venture capital firm that has provided funding instrumental to her boutique brand’s growth.
Story

Legal freedom fighters
At 75, ODBA’s struggle for justice continues
When black lawyers from across Virginia gathered in Richmond last week to mark the 75th anniversary of the Old Dominion Bar Association, far more than nostalgia was on their minds.
Story

Boxing great Marvelous Marvin Hagler dies at 66
Marvelous Marvin Hagler stopped Thomas Hearns in a fight that lasted less than eight minutes yet was so epic that it still lives in boxing lore. Two years later, he was so disgusted after losing a decision to Sugar Ray Leonard — stolen, he claimed, by the judges — that he never fought again.
Story

Women power
Military veteran becomes first-time homeowner through Habitat initiative
Spring Cambric broke down in tears as she stood surrounded by family and friends last Saturday on the front porch of her new North Side home.
Story

’Where are people to go?’
Cityscape: Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
Homeless residents of a small tent city outside the vacant Richmond Coliseum received a final notice to move before a 12-foot fence blocking access is completed. The fence is being installed as a squad of city workers prepare to salvage useful items from the building before its demolition.
Story

Richmond area toy drives and distribution
Christmas drives are underway to try to ensure that children in struggling families receive gifts.
Story

38-year-old scientist crosses into the realm of preserving historic African-American cemetery
Woodland Cemetery, the burial place of humanitarian and tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr. and thousands of other African-Americans, is looking spiffier, thanks to the dogged persistence of one man, John William Joseph Slavin.
Story

Gearing up for Sunday’s big game – Super Bowl LVI
In looking for Super Bowl storylines, a good start might be the quarterbacks, the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford.
Story

Too late to complain about Confederate flag being co-opted
Many people do not know that the swastika is actually an ancient Sanskrit symbol denoting good luck and prosperity. It is sort of an ancient Indian-Asian four leaf clover. A lucky charm. A rabbit’s foot.
Story

VCU still slays on the road
The road, almost no matter where it led, used to be a scary proposition for Virginia Commonwealth University basketball.
Story

Ora Lomax, longtime NAACP leader, civil rights advocate, dies at 86
For decades, black women could only work behind the scenes at white-owned retail stores in Richmond during the harsh era of segregation. Ora Mae Perry Lomax helped change all that.
Story

VUU, VSU clash on Saturday
Panthers eyeing tournament bids
All goals remain possible for Virginia Union University as it prepares for its final regular season football game Saturday against Virginia State University in Ettrick.
Story

CIAA champs head to NCAA (Pt 2)
Lady Panthers celebrating title; Johnson clinches MVP
Kiana Johnson and Lady Walker may be the best celebration combination since ice cream and cake. They’re the life of a Virginia Union University basketball party that’s just spreading it wings under first-year Coach AnnMarie Gilbert.
Story

Uncertain future
Richmond man says he’s being evicted after a lifetime of working and paying his bills
Phillip E. Brown Sr. is packing up his belongings as he faces being homeless.
Story

Done deal
New $3B City budget signed and sealed
Richmond’s new budget is set to go on July 1 after winning unanimous approval from City Council on Monday night.
Story

Mayor Stoney unveils $770.23M proposed city budget for 2021-22
Full funding for Richmond Public Schools. Enhanced pay for City Hall employees, including police officers and firefighters. No new taxes but an average hike of $5.70 month in the cost of utility services. Those are among the highlights of the $770.23 million general fund budget that Mayor Levar M. Stoney presented to City Council last Friday for fiscal 2021-22 that is now under review.
Story

Mayor strikes conciliatory tone on design funds for new George Wythe High
A speedy resolution? That may be on the way for a funding roadblock that could disrupt the Richmond School Board’s plan to hire an architectural firm in mid-November to begin the design for a replacement George Wythe High School.
Story

Banking on Bobb
Petersburg City Council votes to hire former Richmond city manager to help correct a raft of troubles
Here he comes to save the day. At least that’s the big hope in Petersburg after Robert C. Bobb, a former Richmond city manager, was called in to help the beleaguered city correct its finances and deal with a stream of public and private creditors badgering the city for payment.
Story

Mayor on hook for school modernization plan with charter change signing
Backed by a unanimous legislature, Gov. Ralph S. Northam has signed a new charter measure for Richmond that will require Mayor Levar M. Stoney to come up with a fully funded plan for modernizing every city school without a tax increase or explain why he cannot.
Story

Mayor Stoney unveils a $1.92 billion budget plan for 2020-21
Mayor Levar M. Stoney wants to increase total city spending an additional $135 million — or nearly $600 per resident — to beef up investments in street paving, public education, city worker pay, affordable housing and other priorities.