All results / Stories / Jeremy M. Lazarus
Trammell, Spinks and Lambert squeeze out victories in City Council races
Tavarris J. Spinks, a specialist in information technology for health care, appears to have eked out a 26-vote victory to claim the vacant 2nd District City Council seat, according to unofficial results released Wednesday.
RPS Chromebooks missing?
A major share of the estimated 20,000 Chromebooks that were distributed to Richmond students last year to help them connect to virtual classes have yet to be recovered or accounted for, the Free Press has been told.
Brig. Gen. Patricia R. Wallace takes command
Brig. Gen. Patricia R. Wallace just became the first female leader of the Army Reserve’s 80th Training Command, one of the largest educational operations in the Army.
Councilman says city ‘not equipped’ for safer streets
“Completely miffed.” That is 1st District City Councilman Andreas Addison’s reaction to City Hall’s efforts to reduce speed and the likelihood of more fatal accidents in the wake of highly publicized traffic deaths of two Virginia Commonwealth University students since January.
Prison officials can be held liable for prisoner safety
Prison officials can be liable for damages if they ignore obvious risks to the health and safety of a prisoner who ends up being harmed, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. On a 2-1 split, a panel of the court issued that decision in a Virginia case that could shake up the monitoring of prisoners in state facilities.
$1 City selling home sites for low, moderate income families
Vacant property for $1. That’s the price that City Hall is setting to clear out its inventory of home sites and to help cut the future purchase price of the houses to be built on them. This effort also will help finish partially completed developments that have been on hold since the economic recession began in 2008. In a first step, at least 16 lots are being prepared for sale, primarily in Southern Barton Heights. A few lots in Swansboro on South Side and in Newtowne West near Virginia Union University also are part of the sale. The board of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the properties’ nominal owner, helped clear the way by approving the transfer of the properties to the city at its meeting last week.
Richmond schools to get boost from state
Higher than expected enrollment is helping Richmond Public Schools avoid falling into a deficit. Richmond reported 128 more students than expected on March 31, boosting total enrollment to 21,973 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, according to a report to the School Board. The extra students should result in a $1.6 million boost in the state’s contribution, according to the report from Ralph L. Westbay, assistant superintendent for financial services. The state contribution previously had been projected at $121.7 million.
Aspire Academy hopes to inspire student interest
They’re lost in the classroom and repeatedly act out — leading to repeated suspensions, expulsion and, sometimes, criminal charges.
McClellan wins; GOP holds Senate
Veteran Richmond Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan will be moving up to the state Senate. As expected, the 44-year-old corporate lawyer and Democrat overwhelmed her opponent, Corey M. Fauconier, a Libertarian Party member, by a 9-1 margin in Tuesday’s special election for the Senate seat previously held by Congressman A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat now representing the 4th District.
Herring, Woody signal plans to run for re-election
Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring and city Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. already are gearing up to run for re-election next year.
Henrico officer’s trial starts Monday for motorist shooting
Beautician Kimberly McNeil is still recovering from the four gunshots she suffered nearly a year ago. Next week, the man who nearly killed her, Henrico Police Officer Joel D. Greenway, will go on trial in one of the rare instances of a local law enforcement officer facing charges for shooting someone.
Petersburg pays bond bill ahead of deadline
Dironna Moore Belton appears to be getting a handle on struggling Petersburg’s finances — although she has yet to find a way to secure the short-term loan she has called essential to keeping the city’s government afloat.
Gravely still in at state NAACP
Jack Gravely is still the interim executive director of the 16,000-member Virginia State Conference of the NAACP. “I am not planning to resign this week,” Mr. Gravely said Monday, denying a Free Press report published in the June 23-25 edition in which a source indicated Mr. Gravely was poised to depart.
Ora Lomax to be treated at North Side dialysis center
After weeks of stress, Ora M. Lomax has learned a new clinic has accepted her for the life-saving dialysis treatments she needs.
Lux Church moves into Sharon Baptist Church’s former Jackson Ward home
Last Sunday was a big day for Pastor Victor Immanuel “Manny” Peña and the 100-member congregation of Lux Church. Bubbling with enthusiasm, the 35-year-old pastor led the rejoicing as church members held their first service in the church’s new home at 22 E. Leigh St., the former home of Sharon Baptist Church.
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.
Double down
City Council's yes vote is still a gamble for South Side casino
If at first you don’t succeed, ...
Virginia playing central role in high-stakes Nov. 6 election
Call it a high-stakes referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency and the Republican agenda that includes proposals to slash spending on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and anti-poverty programs to pay for tax cuts, appoint conservative judges to roll back voting rights and affirmative action, eliminate environmental protections and end abortions.
Life interrupted: Kitchen fire throws Richmond family into upheaval, uncertainty
Kitchen fire throws Richmond family into upheaval, uncertainty
It just took a small fire on the stove on Aug. 23 to upend the lives of sisters Celieto L. and Janice F. Lewis.
Rev. Wilbert D. Talley reaches 50th anniversary milestone at King William church
“I never expected to reach this kind of milestone.”