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$13.5M surplus
That’s what city expects this year after crying money blues
Just like last year and the year before, financial officials at City Hall were singing the hardship blues in May in reporting to Richmond City Council that revenues were barely keeping up with expenses. They warned the council not to expect any big surplus.
Former city worker’s lawsuit alleges FMLA, overtime violations
For 11 years, Dikiviya Howell was considered a valuable city employee with an unblemished record and a willingness to work extra hours to ensure the job was done.
Nonprofit’s effort to buy St. Emma-St. Francis property collapses
A nearly two-year effort to protect the heritage of a sprawling Powhatan County site that was the home of two African-American Catholic boarding schools has collapsed.
City Council committee delays action on Arthur Ashe Boulevard, other items
City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray, 2nd District, hit the pause button on her proposal to rename the Boulevard for Arthur Ashe to honor the late Richmond-born tennis great and renowned humanitarian. Saying she wanted to “provide more time for dialogue,” Ms. Gray secured a 60-day delay until Tuesday, Dec. 18, before the plan is to be considered by the Richmond City Council’s Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee.
RRHA finishes heating updates; breaks ground on new development
The heat is finally working in all 411 public housing units where serious problems occurred last winter, according to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. That includes 78 units in Creighton Court, where new baseboard heat was installed and 333 units where radiators were repaired or replaced.
City’s first African-American fire chief Ronald C. Lewis dies at 84
Ronald Charles “Ron” Lewis led the modernization of Richmond’s Fire Department after being installed as the city’s first African-American fire chief in 1978.
Richmond woman files $30M lawsuit alleging rights violation in police traffic stop
An African-American resident of Richmond is seeking $30 million in damages from the City of Richmond and the white police officer who put her in handcuffs during a traffic stop for a defective headlight and tail light — a restraint practice the suit alleges affects mostly African-American drivers in violation of their constitutional rights.
New study shows disparity in number of city police encounters with African-Americans
African-Americans in Richmond are involved in nearly two out of three civilian encounters with police officers, with lopsided contacts when police are checking out suspicious persons or activities, a new study finds.
City Council acts to reduce ‘drama’ during annual school funding debates
Richmond Public Schools each year would receive at least 55.4 percent of all real estate tax revenue City Hall collects under a policy unanimously approved Monday night by Richmond City Council.
Kamras explains granting RPS employees vacation days with $1M price tag
The loss of one word from the official Richmond Public Schools calendar apparently will cost the city’s school system up to $1 million in extra vacation pay. The word: Designated.
Former teacher claims he is banned from RPS without official explanation
A former third-grade teacher who sought to volunteer at Chimborazo Elementary School where he taught has been banned from all Richmond Public Schools property.
Agelasto’s council fate may rest with hearing
Parker C. Agelasto’s service on Richmond City Council is now in the hands of a Richmond Circuit Court judge after months of controversy over the 5th District councilman’s move to a home outside the district.
Va. NAACP to be run by Tenn. official
The longtime president of the Tennessee NAACP has been handed control of the Virginia State Conference NAACP. Gloria Jean Sweet-Love, who has earned credit for turning around NAACP operations in her state during her 24-year tenure at the helm, was named administrator for the Virginia operations and given sweeping powers over state NAACP policies, programs and expenditures.
Morrissey announces primary challenge to Sen. Rosalyn Dance
State Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance of Petersburg is facing a fight to keep her legislative seat for a second four-year term. Former Delegate Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey of Richmond announced Wednesday that he is challenging Sen. Dance in the June 11 Democratic primary for the 16th Senate District seat.
School Board mounts effort to contain school construction costs
The Richmond School Board is taking a series of steps in seeking to get a handle on the soaring cost of school construction. The ballooning cost is undermining any hope of modernizing city schools for $800 million over 20 years — the amount the city has promised to provide.
RRHA negotiating plan to turn over 11 properties to private company
The city’s housing authority is on the verge of giving a New Jersey-based company control of 11 smaller apartment complexes that house families and the elderly as part of its larger plan to modernize public housing by turning over ownership to private companies.
Local talent to shine in “Minerva Times Change,” an original opera
“It’s a dream come true.” That’s how veteran Richmond actor, dancer and performer Keydron Dunn describes his first opportunity to sing opera.
GRTC sees rise in riders purchasing passes
GRTC is carrying more people but taking in less money at the farebox.
Questions raised about charity status of Navy Hill entities
Now stumping for tax increases that he claims will go to pave streets and repair aging schools, Mayor Levar M. Stoney has clearly put a proposal to build a new, larger Richmond Coliseum on the backburner.
4th Circuit renders decision in battle over Md. cross
For 92 years, a four-story-tall cross has stood at a major intersection in Prince George’s County, Md., paying silent tribute to members of the American military who died fighting in World War I. Now, in the latest church-state battle over public memorials, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond has ruled that the massive memorial violates the U.S. Constitution’s ban on the government imposition of a religious faith.
