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Speakers support race video and name change for Byrd Middle School
Henrico County Public Schools has not banned the video on racism that upset some parents and their children at Glen Allen High School and created wider community turmoil when the Henrico County School Board chairwoman and superintendent apologized for it being shown. In an interview Tuesday, Andy Jenks, spokesperson for Henrico County schools, told the Free Press, “No,” when asked if the video has been banned.
School Board votes to merge Elkhardt, Thompson
With full backing from the Richmond School Board, Superintendent Dana T. Bedden pulled a rabbit out of his hat this week with a move that closes one old and decrepit middle school and changes the accreditation status at two academically struggling middle schools.
Petersburg man holds memories from Selma march
As people across the nation flocked to the movies to watch “Selma,” 80-year-old Petersburg native Herbert V. Coulton Sr. already knew the story — because he was there.
Church receives national urban farm status
Feeding the hungry in the East End
Nearly 100 community members walked by tables loaded with baskets full of collard greens, kale, lettuce, turnip greens, purple sweet potatoes, carrots, radishes, leeks and other fresh produce.
Movement grows to eradicate Confederate symbols
A growing number of Virginians are enlisting in a grassroots movement spreading across the nation to remove from the public square the vestiges of the traitors who fought against the nation during the Civil War to preserve slavery. Less than a week after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and thousands of people of all ethnicities assembled July 10 to cheer the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds in Columbia, many Virginians are signaling they are fed up as well with Confederate symbols of hate and are saying “enough is enough.”
Richmond schools to close, modify schedule for bike races
Less than a month after announcing that Richmond schools would be open during the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, the district has backpedaled.
Martin ends historic tenure as U.Va. rector
As George Keith Martin nears the end of his historic tenure as rector of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, he is reflecting on his efforts and those of the board to broaden diversity at the Charlottesville school.
Pilot program to provide free dinner for students
Beginning in March, Richmond Public Schools will provide free dinners to students at eights of its schools in underserved communities. Those students also will be given backpacks containing free meals to take home for the weekend and extended school breaks such as holidays and inclement weather closings.
No eggs, bacon for The Breakfast Club
They call themselves “The Breakfast Club.” They arrive about 6 a.m. at Fifth Baptist Church in the West End every Tuesday and Friday. Deacon John Chavis opens the back door for them. On this particular morning, 13 members of the club arrive. And as they do twice a week, they play basketball in the church gymnasium.
McDonnell makes history
History will surely remember Bob McDonnell. Just not the way he had envisioned.
Fan Appreciation Day attracts 7,130 people
But numbers show interest in Washington camp declining
The Washington professional football team’s training camp in Richmond appears to be losing public interest as fast as a slow-footed quarterback loses ground behind a porous offensive line. The camp averaged about 5,800 fans each day, compared to more than 11,000 each day last summer. And Saturday’s Fan Appreciation Day attracted just 7,130 fans, down from last year’s 20,477.
Richmond schools spokesman resigns
Less than three months after he was hired, Richmond Public Schools spokesperson Richard Davis III has resigned his position. His last day on the job was Aug. 28, according to an RPS official.
Home sweet home?
Trailer park under pressure for repairs
Is the city on a code enforcement witch hunt to force vulnerable Latino citizens and other poor people to move from their mobile homes, which are for many a residence of last resort? Or are code enforcement officers merely fulfilling their duties by issuing a plethora of violations to residents at selected mobile home parks they deem hazardous to ensure they upgrade their homes for safe habitation? The answer depends on whom you ask. This week, officers from the city’s Bureau of Permits and Inspections began trailer-by-trailer inspections at the 106-unit Mobile Towne Mobile Home Park off Old Midlothian Turnpike. Mobile Towne, like many of the city’s eight other mobile home parks, has a large Latino population.
Richmond Ambulance Authority wins top U.S. award
The Richmond Ambulance Authority has earned national recognition for its innovations in pre-hospital care and community outreach.
Will the jury believe star witness in McDonnell case?
Jonnie Williams came out swinging in testimony that could land former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, behind bars for decades.
Dr. Franklin issues call to action at Community Leaders Breakfast
The state’s No. 1 cheerleader, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, drew enthusiastic applause as he delivered impassioned remarks and extolled a bipartisan approach to solving the state’s problems at the 38th Annual Community Leaders Breakfast last Friday honoring the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
'Sneakerheads' converge on the city Sunday
"Sneakerheads" will be looking to buy, sell and trade sneakers and clothing accessories from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Peep My Feet Sneaker & Streetwear Convention.
Foster care project gets $100,000 boost
Two Richmond-based nonprofits just got a huge boost in their efforts to provide support for young people who are mandated to leave the foster care system in Virginia at age 18. The Children’s Home Society of Virginia, led by president and CEO Nadine Marsh-Carter, learned May 13 it had been selected to receive a $100,000 grant from Impact 100 Richmond to aid the “Possibilities Project,” an initiative first featured in the May 14-16 edition of the Free Press.
Petersburg PACE program closing
Riverside Health System is closing its Petersburg PACE program designed to keep elderly people in their homes and avoid expensive nursing home care. Sixty-seven people served by the program will be affected, said Riverside spokesperson Caitlyn Worner. She said they are being encouraged to continue the program at one of two Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) locations in Richmond, with transportation provided. Individuals known as navigators are assigned to help them transition to care in Richmond this month.
Superintendent says $26.5 M increase needed for city schools
Pay now or pay later in negative repercussions that would largely impact the city’s most vulnerable residents. That was the urgent plea Richmond schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden issued Dec. 14 as he unveiled an estimate of needs for the district for fiscal year 2017. He requested about $26.5 million more than the current budget contains and that would raise the total schools budget to $298 million.
