Story
Happy Dance moving to state Senate
Democrat Rosalyn R. Dance waltzed to victory in the special election to fill the 16th Virginia Senate District seat that General Assembly veteran Henry L. Marsh III resigned during the summer.
Story
Richmond native and noted musician Melvin ‘Wah Wah Watson’ Ragin dies at 67
Melvin Marcellus Ragin learned to strum a guitar in Richmond and went on to become a legendary studio musician whose unique sound can be heard in more than 150 recordings that topped the charts at No. 1.
Story
From SAG Awards to Sundance, diversity makes a comeback
In a flurry of wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Sundance Film Festival, diversity made a comeback. Over just a few hours last Saturday, the SAG Awards and Sundance showered their honors on a parade of performers and films that presented a stark contrast to the crisis that has plagued the Oscars. Shortly after Queen Latifah, Uzo Aduba, Viola Davis and Idris Elba (twice), received awards from the screen actors, writer-director Nate Parker’s Sundance sensation “The Birth of a Nation,” a drama about Nat Turner’s slave rebellion, swept the festival’s awards.
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
Katherine G. Johnson, trailblazing NASA mathematician immortalized in the film 'Hidden Figures,' dies at 101
Katherine G. Johnson, the mathematical genius whose calculations took her from a behind-the-scenes job in a segregated NASA as portrayed in the film “Hidden Figures” to a key role in sending humans to the moon, died on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, at her residence at an assisted living facility in Newport News.
Story
Anger grows in Virginia city where first-grader shot teacher
When a 6-year-old shot and wounded his first grade teacher in this shipbuilding city near Virginia’s coast, the community reacted with collective shock.
Story
Earth Day: A sense of wonder, by Bobby Whitescarver
My wife and I are cattle farmers in Virginia’s legendary Shenandoah Valley. Early in our marriage, Jeanne gave me a nickname: “Walk Slow, Stand Around.” Yep, that’s me. Sure, it’s funny. And it’s true. But I’m not lazy; I just wonder a lot.
Story
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago’s first Black female bishop takes office
Everyone would have understood if Bishop Paula E. Clark had stepped away from her call to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, said her fellow bishop, Mariann Edgar Budde of Washington, D.C.
Story
Support for Virginia Grocery Investment Fund
Re “First Lady kicks off initiative to attract grocers to Va.’s food deserts,” Free Press Aug. 31-Sept. 2 edition: As a lifelong resident of North Side, I was elated to attend the “Closer to My Grocer” roundtable where the Virginia Grocery Investment Fund was presented by First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, state legislators and other advocates to win support from the General Assembly.
Story
Damian Lillard joins Bucks on defense, embraces championship expectations
Damian Lillard understands he has a reputation for being an elite offensive player but not a particularly strong defender. Now that he’s on a new team, the seven-time All-NBA selection looks forward to changing that perception.
Story
School Board member resigns
The Richmond School Board now has eight members following the unexpected resignation of Nadine Marsh-Carter. Ms. Marsh-Carter, who represented the 7th District that includes Church Hill, East End and Fulton, submitted her resignation in a letter the board received on Tuesday.
Story
PTA president lives in Henrico, but keeps children in RPS
Every school day, Chastity R. Hise or her husband, James R. Hise, drives the 3 miles from their home to drop their two children off at Linwood Holton Elementary School in the city’s North Side. And at the end of the day, one of the Hises is there to drive the children home.
Story
A New Low
I am at ground zero. My law degree cannot protect me. My fancy address cannot protect me. My radio appearances and Zoom book tour cannot protect me. I check with, and for, my daughter against this madness as we all should the way the Black Power Movement taught me.
Story
RPS interim superintendent to focus on buildings, improvement plan
Thomas E. Kranz, the new interim superintendent for Richmond Public Schools, plans to focus on improving school facilities and working with state officials to make systemic changes during his six months at the helm.
Story
Duncan resigns as head of RRHA
He came from Illinois brimming with optimism about leading the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Photo
A new wave of freshmen has arrived on Richmond’s college campuses, often accompanied by their families. William P. Agble of Fredericksburg, third from right, moves …
Published on August 25, 2017
Story
Independence day: Queen blesses Harry's and Meghan's exit as senior royals
Queen Elizabeth has reluctantly agreed to the wish of her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, former American actress Meghan Markle, for a more independent future after the British royal family held crisis talks on Monday to resolve a widening rift among the Windsors.
Story
Mom uses stun gun to wake son for church
A Phoenix woman shocked her teenage son with a stun gun to wake him for church services on Easter, authorities said.
Story
Clinton talks faith, policy issues at National Baptist Convention, USA
Talking about one’s faith doesn’t come naturally to a “Midwestern Methodist,” Hillary Clinton admitted.
Story
Changing Va.’s laws would honor the work of HIV advocates, by Deirdre Johnson
For more than 20 years, organizations around the country have commemorated National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day as a moment to raise awareness, spark conversations and highlight the work being done to reduce HIV in Black communities.
