All results / Stories / Jeremy M. Lazarus
Historic Resources officials make way for Intermediate Terminal building demolition
The state Department of Historic Resources has upheld City Hall’s view that a landmark warehouse in the city’s East End, once a major source of jobs for African-Americans, has no historical value and can be demolished to make way for the modern bistro and restaurant that Stone Brewing Co. wants to build.
Director named for new VCU Health Hub in Church Hill
For more than 10 years, Natalie Pennywell led state Health Department outreach efforts to educate people about healthy eating and improved diets as a way to prevent and fight diabetes and other chronic diseases.
VEC ruling sets precedent
Richmond Public Schools and other employers who fail to follow their agency’s own drug policy cannot prevent alleged violators from collecting unemployment benefits, the Virginia Employment Commission has ruled.
Four mayoral candidates endorse Shockoe Bottom slavery memorial park
For more than five years, Ana Edwards, her husband, Phil Wilayto, and other supporters have vigorously lobbied City Hall to transform parking lots in Shockoe Bottom into a memorial park to remember and honor the enslaved who were once bought and sold like cattle in the area.
Church Hill North project among city’s costliest new apartments
Some of the costliest apartments in Richmond are being built on the former site of Armstrong High School in the 1600 block of North 31st Street in the East End — miles away from the hot development centers of Manchester, Scott’s Addition and Downtown.
Miller out at VSU
Dr. Keith T. Miller handed in his notice last Friday at the start of a closed-door meeting of the university’s board of visitors. His resignation comes four and a half years after taking the helm of the 132-year-old institution and more than two years before his contract was to expire.
450 goal reached in campaign for new Richmond Planet license plate
Coming soon: A new license plate bearing the Black power logo of a historic newspaper that fought lynching and other forms of oppression in Richmond and Virginia.
Approval of budget amendments before state lawmakers adjourn still uncertain
For the first time in two decades, the Virginia General Assembly could adjourn Saturday, Feb. 25, without approving amendments to the current two-year budget, a potential boon for Richmond’s casino backers.
‘The Bible does not speak about abortion’
City councilman and minister says right-wing evangelicals’ religious doctrine lacks biblical foundation
Dr. Michael J. Jones is ready to debate anyone who claims that a ban on abortion is based on the Bible.
Paydazed in RVA
High-fee payday loan traps Henrico man
Running short of money to pay bills, Donald Garrett did what many people do — he turned to a payday lender. He borrowed $100 from a small loan company called Advance ‘Til Payday on Nine Mile Road near his Henrico County apartment in order to catch up. Four months later, he had wracked up $320 in fees and still was unable to pay off the original $100. Until a friend stepped in and paid off his debt, he faced paying $80 each month. To pay the loan off, $100 had to be added to the $80 payment.
Mayor to deliver State of the City address Feb. 11
First, let’s get the vaccine out to everyone so we can get rid of the virus and the disruption it has caused. Then, let’s craft a recovery that promotes healing and unity and pursues social and economic equity. That’s the message Mayor Levar M. Stoney plans to deliver in his State of the City address, the first of his second term, according to a City Hall official who spoke with the Free Press on the condition of anonymity.
RPS mechanics appeal to School Board
Bus mechanics who service Richmond Public School buses are appealing to the Richmond School Board for help.
City sluggish in distributing health grant, establishing emergency fund
The City of Richmond last year was awarded a $4 million federal grant to improve health literacy in Black and Latinx sections of the city.
Family at Fourth Baptist Church sues pastor, two deacons
The pastor of historic Fourth Baptist Church is facing another legal challenge, this time from a Richmond family that claims he and two deacons wrongly removed them from the active membership rolls.
Petersburg man lost dream, but made $45,000 profit
Montague D. Phipps had big dreams three years ago when he bought a derelict duplex from the City of Petersburg for the rock-bottom price of $5,000.
Mayor Jones’ final bow
Richmond’s chief executive reflects on his 8 years in office
Mayor Dwight C. Jones entered City Hall in 2009 amid the worst recession in 75 years. He sought to be “a unifier” who would end the turmoil between the Mayor’s Office, City Council and the School Board and would create a Richmond people were proud of.
Marijuana on track for legalization July 1
In landmark action Wednesday, the General Assembly put Virginia on track to legalize possession of a small amount of marijuana on July 1.
Grand jury OKs probe of city connection to mayor’s church
A grand jury Wednesday granted the Virginia State Police permission to investigate whether Mayor Dwight C. Jones blurred his roles as the city’s chief executive and senior pastor of First Baptist Church of South Richmond. Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring called it a “procedural step” that allows the State Police to probe whether the mayor improperly used his city position to benefit the church or any of its members.
Pro-Confederate legislators make run to save symbols
Veto that bill, governor. That’s the cry from members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus after the Republican-dominated General Assembly approved a bill that would bar localities from removing Confederate hate symbols from public property. “I voted against it, but now we can only hope that that the governor will use his veto pen,” said Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan.
City Council works on plan to divvy up $17M surplus
Retired city employees are virtually guaranteed to gain the first cost-of-living increase in their pensions in at least a decade.
