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Protests erupt over teacher cuts, reassignments
Teachers, students, parents and supporters mobilized via social media when they learned Richmond Public Schools officials began instituting cost-cutting changes affecting the jobs of some of their most beloved teachers. “Please help!” read one urgent Facebook post.
Planned school cuts causing pain
North Side resident Sherri Davis said she is concerned about planned budget cuts that may close schools, crowd classrooms and have parents scrambling to arrange transportation for their children. “It becomes a safety issue when you propose to put more kids in classes,” the mother of two Richmond Public Schools students told the Free Press on Wednesday. “It’s already hard enough for teachers to teach the large numbers of students they have in their classrooms.”
School Board gives green light to charter school
Can Richmond Public Schools afford a pricey new charter school when it already claims to need tens of millions of dollars in additional spending to renovate, maintain and equip its 44 existing schools? Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden doesn’t think so. His leadership team recommended against approving the Metropolitan Preparatory Academy because the charter school’s supporters have not found a building to house it. Nor have they raised substantial funds to pay for a facility.
Richmond Public Schools hires new spokesperson
Kenita Bowers is the new chief spokesperson for Richmond Public Schools. Ms. Bowers will direct communications efforts for the city’s 45 schools that serve nearly 24,000 students. She began her duties last month, according to Richmond Public Schools officials.
Stop the violence
Community leaders, residents march in Mosby Court for peace
Community leaders, residents march in Mosby Court for peace
Aguilar’s sentencing set for Oct. 12 in Texas
Former Richmond Outreach Center Pastor Geronimo “Pastor G” Aguilar is to be sentenced by a Texas judge Monday, Oct. 12, according to Samantha Jordan, a spokesperson in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. The ex-minister, who once was respected by Richmond area politicians, law enforcement, business leaders and residents, faces life in prison when he goes before Judge Louis Sturns.
Coalition strategizes to end violence
As nearly 400 people met at an East End church last week to discuss solutions to stem the tide of violence in the city, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham somberly rose to address the audience.
NAACP officials call for continued probe into Chesterfield woman’s death
Richmond private investigator Perry Hicks began probing the mysterious disappearance and death of Ogechi Sarah Uwasomba three months ago at the behest of the Richmond NAACP and other concerned parties.
From slave to legislator
Virginia’s early black lawmakers honored
James Apostle Fields started life in Virginia as a slave in Hanover County. By his death in 1903, he had gone to Hampton University, earned a law degree at Howard University and been elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
Trial starts June 15 for former ROC pastor
Google the name Geronimo Aguilar and you’ll find articles that chronicle the rise and fall of the former Richmond Outreach Center pastor once affectionately known as “Pastor G.” An article in late 2001 asked if he was the “next great hope for Richmond’s inner city.” By May 2013, the picture turned bleak with his arrest in Texas on charges that he sexually abused an 11-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister in the mid-1990s in Tarrant County.
Hillary Clinton speaking at Jefferson-Jackson Dinner
When Hillary Clinton spoke at the Democratic Party of Virginia’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Richmond in February 2008, most of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus supported her opponent — Barack Obama — who also spoke at the event.
SisterFund giving circle seeks community change
Twenty philanthropically minded women have come together to have a greater impact on giving in the Richmond community.
Protest over teacher transfers
Dozens of angry teachers, parents and students protested Richmond Public Schools’ plan to move 10 teachers from four elementary schools into classrooms at other schools in the district. Teachers held signs proclaiming “Save Our Teachers,” “Our Students Deserve Better” and “Teacher Power!” Their protest mounted at Monday’s meeting of the Richmond School Board is against the school administration’s process known as “leveling,” which Superintendent Dana T. Bedden explained is to provide more equitable teacher-student ratios in schools across the district.
Redemption through food: Renowned chef changed life cooking behind bars
At 19, Jeff Henderson was running a $35,000 a week cocaine operation in San Diego. Now 51, he has become a New York Times best-selling author and stars in a nationally syndicated television cooking show. He credits 10 years in prison as his “blessing in disguise.” That’s where he learned to cook and appreciate that he had a lot to offer in the outside world.
Playing the ‘Trump’ card
Richmond pastor of church in bankruptcy endorses billionaire despite controversial remarks
He’s helping released jail inmates get services
Devon Simmons said he gets deep satisfaction from helping inmates leaving local jails gain a new lease on life. “Instead of warehousing them, we need to provide them with more services to give them a better chance to succeed after they are released,” he said.
Holistic expo to be held May 7 at Richmond Raceway Complex
Five-time cancer survivor and Richmond resident Steven Wentworth is bringing the Greater Richmond Holistic Expo to the Richmond Raceway Complex in Henrico County.
Selma march inspires Richmonder
Rita Willis said she was overcome with emotion when she reached the top of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., late Sunday afternoon. “I just broke down and cried,” the 65-year-old Henrico County resident said. Ms. Willis was among the tens of thousands of people from across the nation — including President Obama, his family, dignitaries and foot soldiers from the time — who assembled in Selma last weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the “Bloody
Officer’s jobs program puts men on right side of law
Jeffrey Perry served 18 years in prison for his role in an armed robbery. Shaun Moore served two separate stints behind bars — seven months for possession of drugs with intent to distribute and, later, four months for failure to pay child support.
Byrd Middle School to get name change
Jordan Chapman wore a broad smile. Her mother, Amy, wiped away tears of joy. And the people around them applauded. Their happy reaction came after the Henrico School Board voted 5-0 to change the name of Harry F. Byrd Sr. Middle School at its March 10 work session at the New Bridge Learning Center.
