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Republicans retain control of Va. Senate
For more than two hours after the polls closed Tuesday, Democrat Daniel H. Gecker held a commanding 3,000-vote lead and appeared to be headed for victory in the 10th Senate District that includes a chunk of Richmond’s West End and South Side.
Another black justice?
Political power play may lead to third African-American on Va. Supreme Court
Virginia is on its way to having a record three African-American judges on the state’s highest court — courtesy of the frayed relationship between Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican leaders who control the General Assembly. In a slap at Gov. McAuliffe for apparently ignoring them, top GOP legislators announced this week that House and Senate Republicans would take the virtually unprecedented step of rejecting the person the governor had appointed to the Virginia Supreme Court, in this case an experienced white female judge.
Black men still targets of police
Walter L. Scott shot 4 times in the back; cop charged with murder
Four bullets to the back and one in the ear. That’s the unimaginable pain an unarmed Walter L. Scott suffered as he was fatally gunned down by white police officer Michael T. Slager as he ran away following a routine traffic stop. The gruesome slaying was graphically recorded on the cellphone of a bystander Saturday morning in North Charleston, S.C. It is the latest in a string of highly publicized incidents across the nation — including Ferguson, Mo., New York City and Cleveland, Ohio — in which white police officers have killed unarmed black men. Each instance raises questions — and public consciousness — about disparate treatment by people of color by police and racial injustice in the United States. Mr. Slager was charged with murder Tuesday and fired from the police department after the video surfaced. He is being held without bond. If convicted, he could receive the death penalty or life in prison.
RRHA resident’s chilly 3-year ordeal
For the past three years, Tina Marie Shaw has had to rely on an electric space heater to keep the winter cold out of her public housing unit in Creighton Court. “I worry about the heater starting a fire,” said Ms. Shaw, who looks after her 9-year-old grandson, Xavia, her pride and joy and an honors student at a Richmond elementary school. To avoid risk to herself and the child, “I unplug (the heater) at night when I go upstairs to bed, and turn it on in the morning.”
Primary elections Tuesday, June 9
Next week, Richmond voters will go to the polls. Primary elections will be held in two area Senate and two area House of Delegates districts on Tuesday, June 9, to determine who will carry the Democratic banner into the general election in November.
Opportunity time
Richmond mayor’s race hit by 11th-hour surprises
The Richmond mayor’s race has been turned topsy-turvy as the days count down to Election Day next Tuesday, Nov. 8. As the apparent front-runner, Joe Morrissey, scrambles to contain a new sex scandal with fierce denials, one of his six rivals, City Councilman Jonathan T. Baliles, announced Wednesday he has ended his bid for the city’s top post. Trailing far behind in recent polls, Mr. Baliles issued a message to his supporters on his campaign website that he was dropping out.
Backlash supreme
Demonstrations around the country continue as President Trump names U.S. Supreme Court nominee, bans Muslims from U.S.
Just two weeks have passed since his inauguration, and despite a torrent of action, disruption, protests and lawsuits, President Trump has been on a tear to keep campaign promises, uplifting his legions of supporters and dismaying his legions of opponents.
A plan for urban recovery
As the general election season begins in earnest, the National Urban League has a message for the next president: Invest in America. When Europe found itself in physical and economic ruin after World War II, the United States invested $13 billion — $130 billion in today’s dollars — through the European Recovery Program, more commonly known as the Marshall Plan, after Secretary of State George Marshall.
Death sentence?
Virginia inmate files federal class action lawsuit to make Hepatitis C treatment available to prisoners
Terry A. Riggleman went to prison as a convicted robber. But 11 years into his 20-year sentence, he is working to change an alleged state practice of withholding life-saving medicine from Virginia prison inmates like him who are afflicted with the liver-destroying viral infection known as Hepatitis C.
Personality: Julie Anderson
Spotlight on 2017 Star of Life Award winner
Growing up as the child of a paramedic and a firefighter, Julie Anderson says she never worried about her parents’ safety, even after her father was burned and hurt his back in two separate incidents
Our place in history
On Friday, Jan. 20, a new president will be inaugurated. Donald J. Trump, the billionaire businessman who has never held elective office and is so guided by impulse that he rarely holds his tongue, will become the 45th president. As President Obama, an intelligent, grounded and measured man, turns over the reins of power and leadership during official ceremonies outside the U.S. Capitol, we will watch as the nation’s first African-American president heads off into history.
Russian roulette
Feds pull out big gun to oversee Trump investigation
Did President Trump fire FBI Director James Comey for refusing to shut down a criminal investigation against the president’s crony, retired Gen. Michael T. Flynn, who briefly served as national security adviser?
New National Museum of African American History and Culture opens to fanfare, tears
Black history officially has a new, prominent place in America’s story. With hugs, tears and the ringing of a church bell, the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors last Saturday to help this nation understand, reconcile and celebrate African-Americans’ often-ignored contributions toward making this country what it is today.
Personality: Brittney Maddox
Spotlight on president of Good Clear Sound
Brittney Maddox seeks to make a positive difference in the community in her role as the president of “Good Clear Sound,” a slam poetry collective at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Personality: Amber J. Adams
Spotlight on president of Richmond Metropolitan Chapter of NABA
In 1969, only 136 of the nation’s 100,000 certified public accountants were African-American. In response to that dismal lack of representation, nine African-American accountants met in New York to discuss the quandary faced in their profession. They formed the National Association of Black Accountants to address the concerns of minorities entering the accounting profession and to make a commitment to professional and academic excellence. They chose a theme/motto for the nonprofit organization: “Lifting As We Climb.”
Source: City Hall knew Adediran was managing church project
It was no secret at Richmond City Hall that city Public Works Director Emmanuel O. Adediran was doubling as project manager for a new $5.3 million sanctuary that First Baptist Church of South Richmond is building in Chesterfield County, the Free Press has learned. According to a highly knowledgeable source, “everyone knew (Mr. Adediran) had been asked by the mayor to help with the church project.”
City Council members call for ban on police use of tear gas, pepper spray as demonstrations continue
Ban the tear gas, pepper spray, flash bangs and rubber bullets that Richmond Police and their law enforcement partners have used repeatedly to disperse protesters clamoring against police brutality and racial injustice. That’s the cry from two Richmond City Council members who have witnessed the demonstrations and choked on the tear gas, and believe its use by police needs to end.
Help for women in addiction to expand with new CARITAS center in South Side
In a bit more than two months, Richmond will have a new shelter and treatment center for women struggling with addiction and homelessness.
5 African-American leaders recognized as 'Strong Men & Women in Virginia History'
Five African-American leaders, including a retired judge, NASA scientist and inventor and a former NFL player, were honored during the eighth annual “Strong Men & Women in Virginia History” awards program Feb. 6 at a Downtown hotel.
Dr. Lucas officially inaugurated as VUU president
Dr. Hakim J. Lucas was inaugurated as Virginia Union University’s 13th president last week in an event that recognized and honored the historic institution’s past and future.
