All results / Stories / George Copeland Jr.
From vaccines to pet meds, COVID-19 has been a year of pivots for HOPE Pharmacy
HOPE Pharmacy and its owner, Dr. Shantelle Brown, faced a dilemma.
Vaccine efforts surge with 100,000th dose given at Richmond Raceway
For Antwon Agee, the 34-year-old Richmond nurse expected a routine couple of hours last Saturday helping the Richmond and Henrico County health districts vaccinate people at Richmond Raceway, as he has for the last month.
Otieno’s family seeks federal intervention after multiple charges dismissed
The family of Irvo Otieno is calling on federal officials to take up the prosecution of those charged with his murder at Central State Hospital last March. The call comes following the dismissal of charges against five people involved in the incident that led to his death.
Pushback
Maggie L. Walker’s grave, historic Black, Jewish cemeteries, hit by graffiti
Cleaning plans, discussions and investigations are underway after Maggie L. Walker’s gravesite at historic Evergreen Cemetery and at least four other historic sites — including two African-American cemeteries and a Jewish cemetery — were tagged with graffiti.
VUU ensemble going places
22 students join gospel music producer J. David Bratton on tour in Hungary and Italy for holiday season
People in Hungary and Italy are getting a helping of good gospel music this holiday as 22 members of Virginia Union University’s Select Ensemble join eight singers and musicians from around the United States — part of gospel music mega producer J. David Bratton’s “Every Praise” gospel group — to tour Europe.
Advocates launch effort to expand paid sick days for workers
An alliance of 25 Virginia organizations, coordinated by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, is calling for the expansion of paid sick days across the Commonwealth to aid workers and their families in a way that may help stem the spread of COVID-19.
Parents weigh COVID-19 vaccination for their children
Kiara Gresham has been busy with the demands of her new small business, Cookie Jar Honeypot, and the need to ensure the education, health and well-being of her children during the pandemic and a virtual school year. With summer getting closer and the new school year months away, Ms. Gresham is taking on a new task: Learning all she can about vaccinating her two older children, Queron, 14, and Kaeoni, 12, against COVID-19.
COVID-19 outbreak: Mayor, others quarantine
A rash of new COVID-19 cases, outbreaks and quarantines have emerged following the election, underlying the continuing threat of the virus locally, statewide and across the nation.
RPS approves changes in selection process for three high schools
In an effort to enable more underprivileged students to attend Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, Richmond Community High School and Open High, the Richmond School Board approved changes for admissions to those schools on Monday.
‘Telling the whole story’
Statue of Virginia segregationist Harry F. Byrd Sr., architect of ‘Massive Resistance,’ removed from Capitol Square
After 45 years in Capitol Square in Downtown, the statue commemorating arch-segregationist Harry F. Byrd Sr. was removed Wednesday morning, marking the latest undertaking in Virginia’s long reassessment of and reckoning with its history of oppressing Black people and other people of color.
Go 'Red4Ed:' Teachers lobby for education $
The State Capitol echoed with the chants “Fund Our Future!” and “Red4Ed!” as educators, students and their supporters gathered in the thousands Monday afternoon to press for increased state funding for teachers and public schools in Virginia.
Monument rally peaceful as neo-Confederates met by counterprotesters
“Tear these racist statues down!” Those words, shouted by about 40 counterprotesters on Monument Avenue, drowned out attempts by about 15 neo-Confederates on Sunday to speak in support of keeping the statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis on the tree-lined street.
School, city spirit merged at Armstrong-Walker Classic Legacy
“I’m the last Dragon.” Ashley Singleton is many things — a Richmond resident with deep family ties to Church Hill and an educator with the nonprofit Blue Sky Fund.
Concern rises about COVID-19 cases among Va. inmates
Lawmakers, advocates and inmates are demand- ing answers and new solutions to the rising cases of COVID-19 among inmates and staff in Virginia’s prisons and jails.
Black-owned businesses look back, ahead during pandemic
Michelle R. Mosby rang in the 20th anniversary of her business, International Hair Salon, on April 1 with a small group of employees and supporters in a spirited, but safe celebration at the salon on Forest Hill Avenue in South Side.
Area leaders rally ideas to try to stem gun violence killing city
Richmond leaders and organizations are pressing for proactive, community-focused solutions to halt gun violence in the wake of several shooting deaths and injuries in recent days.
City in crisis
Richmond reels from mass shooting at graduation
Huguenot High School graduate Shawn D. Jackson, age 18, and his stepfather Renzo R. Smith, 36, were killed when gunfire erupted Tuesday in Monroe Park following a graduation ceremony for Huguenot students at the Altria Theater.
Richmond Free Press freelance writer, editor Charles H. Taylor III, dies at age 70
From his earliest days to his twilight years, Charles H. Taylor III was a person of excellence and compassion for those who knew, worked with and loved him.
‘All-cause mortality’
Spikes in youth mortality and violence linked to homicide, suicide, drugs and truancy
A series of shootings in Richmond last week has sparked renewed calls for solutions to end gun violence. The urgent cries come as new research shows growing rates of death among young people throughout the country.

