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Serena ties the knot!
Glitter and glamour were served up at the fairy tale-inspired nuptials last week of tennis star Serena Williams and her new husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Anguish of a nation
From memorial services to protests, numerous questions arise after senseless killings
“Can we all get along? Can we get along? Can we stop making it, making it horrible …?” The late Rodney King spoke those memorable words as he called for calm in 1992 after the acquittal of four white police officers who were videotaped savagely beating him triggered riots in Los Angeles.

J.C. Poma to lead Chesterfield’s sports tourism expansion efforts
J.C. Poma will become Chesterfield County’s first-ever executive director of sports, visitation and entertainment. His appointment was effective May 1.

Fort Lee being assessed as site to house unaccompanied immigrant children
Fort Lee, which sits outside of Petersburg about 20 miles south of Richmond, might become a temporary holding center for unaccompanied minors who cross into the United States without legal status and are detained by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Calls grow to save site of oldest U.S. Black women’s benevolent society
Social justice and community advocates are calling for no taxes to be levied on a mansion that has served as the headquarters for the oldest Black women’s benevolent society in America for decades.

Mayor Stoney has COVID-19; state of city address postponed
Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in a 14-day isolation after developing mild symptoms.

Virginia’s Center for the Book names new director
Writer, educator and arts collaborator Kalela Williams is returning to Virginia as the new director of the Virginia Center for the Book.

I-95 Express Lanes, Fredericksburg extension open
New road estimated to save drivers 35 minutes when coming from D.C. during rush hour
A new, 10-mile extension of the 95 Express Lanes to Fredericksburg opens to mainline traffic late on Aug. 17, according to the Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin administration.

VSU Marching Band named top divisional band by ESPN
Virginia State University’s Trojan Explosion Marching Band has been named the top Division II HBCU band in the country in 2023, according to ESPN the university has announced.

VSU hosts high school robotics championships
Virginia State University’s College of Engineering and Technology will host the 2024 FIRST Chesapeake District Robotics Competition Championship April 4-6.

V.W. Henley, 85, former president of Consolidated Bank
Vernard William Henley presided over the highs and lows of Consolidated Bank & Trust Co. in Richmond, once the oldest independent black-owned bank in America.

Two back-to-school shoe giveaways scheduled
There will be two options for families who cannot afford new shoes for their students, thanks to area churches.

City receives excellent credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s
S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings have affirmed the City of Richmond’s ratings at AA+, Aa1, and AA+, respectively, according to City officials. The rating agencies commended Richmond for its very strong economic growth, attention to increasing reserves, and sound and conservative financial management and policies.

Virginia NAACP files lawsuit against governor
The NAACP Virginia State Conference filed a lawsuit with the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond on Monday against Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Office for violating the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

BHMCCV receives 2024 Commonwealth History Fund Grant
The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA) it is one of 14 organizations selected to receive a grant from the Virginia Museum History & Culture’s (VMHC) Commonwealth History Fund.

Kaine’s history readies him for VP role
He has been Richmond’s mayor, Virginia’s governor and a U.S. senator. Now Sen. Timothy Michael Kaine — whom everyone calls “Tim” — has leaped to the national stage as Democrat Hillary Clinton’s running mate.

Poor People’s campaign in Washington to highlight low-wage earners
Is the country in a moral, economic and political crisis for ignoring people living on the financial margin?

Project Yoga Richmond closes its doors
After 12 years, Project Yoga Richmond is closing its doors. The nonprofit hosted its last classes in September, including the final Saturday Salutations at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Sep. 24.

State NAACP serves governor’s office with intent to sue for violation of FOIA
The Virginia State Conference of the NAACP served Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office with a notice of intent to sue for violation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (“VFOIA”), Va. Code §§ 2.2-3700 et seq. The notice was accompanied by a copy of the lawsuit the Virginia NAACP intends to file detailing the governor’s failure to produce any records responsive to the group’s request for public information sent on August 31, 2023.

VUU receives $6M grant from Dominion Energy; names new trustees
Virginia Union University has been awarded a $6 million grant from Dominion Energy to enable the school to beef up its offerings in science, technology, engineering and math and improve its campus.