
Documentary screening to honor culinary pioneer Edna Lewis at Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia will host a free screening of “Finding Edna Lewis,” followed by a panel discussion onThursday, April 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event celebrates the Virginia-born chef during what would have been her 109th birthday week.

Virginia State’s Coach Blow earns spot on national coaching honor roll
Virginia State University head men’s basketball coach Lonnie Blow Jr. has been selected for the 2025 Achieving Coaching Excellence Honor Roll, recognizing his outstanding leadership this season.

Torian succeeds Bagby as leader of Virginia Legislative Black Caucus
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus elected Delegate Luke Torian as its new chair last week, succeeding Sen. Lamont Bagby, who led the group for seven years.
Faith, business leaders gather for final T.D. Jakes leadership conference
T.D. Jakes’ International Leadership Summit, presented by Wells Fargo, will hold its final gathering April 10-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, bringing together faith and business leaders for a last time under its current format.

Richmond Poetry Fest celebrates community through verse
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will host its second annual Poetry Fest this weekend, April 11 and 12, featuring free workshops, readings and performances. The event showcases Richmond’s literary community with former City Poet Laureate Roscoe Burnems hosting Saturday’s poetry slam.

Top basketball talent honored at Spring Maxie Awards
NOAH (Natives of African Heritage) Sports presented the annual Spring Maxie Awards on Saturday night, celebrating Richmond’s top high school basketball players, coaches and teams. The event was held at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia and emceed by NOAH Sports founder Clarence Kenney.

Flying Squirrels stumble late, swept by RubberDucks in season-opener
The Richmond Flying Squirrels learned a hard lesson Sunday afternoon: no lead is safe against Akron’s red-hot Jorge Burgos. After building a comfortable 4-0 advantage behind rookie Sabin Ceballos’ first Double-A homer and Adrian Sugastey’s two RBIs, the Squirrels watched their early dominance evaporate in a crushing 5-4 loss to complete a franchise-first season-opening sweep at The Diamond.

Flying Squirrels introduce new GM ahead of last season at Diamond
Anthony Oppermann is the general manager of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the team announced Monday.
‘Go with the Flow’ project aims to map flooding patterns across Richmond
Southside ReLeaf and the University of Richmond have launched the “Go with the Flow” community science project to collect data on flooding patterns across the city. The project, which runs from March 20 to Sept. 1, encourages Richmond residents to participate in a flood survey each time it rains.

VUU hosts first CIAA Flag Football Roundup
Under bright Friday afternoon skies at Virginia Union University, whistles blew and flags flew as history unfolded with the school’s first CIAA Flag Football Roundup.

VMFA hires Karen Daly to lead provenance research
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts recently appointed Karen Daly as the museum’s first senior manager of provenance research.

Donamatrix Day returns to Petersburg with fitness festival, charity events
Celebrity trainer and Petersburg native Don “DB Donamatrix” Brooks brings his signature fitness event back home with the annual Donamatrix Day Fit Fest on Saturday, April 5, at Petersburg High School.
Henrico seeks new developer for arena project at Best Products site
After the collapse of a previous development deal, Henrico is once again looking for proposals to transform the former Best Products headquarters into a mixed-use development anchored by an arena.

Kickers fall to Forward Madison in Henny Derby opener
The Richmond Kickers (2-2-0, 6 points) fell 2-1 to Forward Madison (1-1-0, 3 points) in a hard-fought first leg of the Henny Derby on Saturday.

Richmond grapples with second data mishap in weeks after erroneous mailings
City of Richmond officials announced Tuesday that 226 debt collection letters were mailed to incorrect addresses last month, marking the second time in weeks Richmond has disclosed errors in sensitive mailings.

Henrico Education Foundation CEO to exit
Henrico Education Foundation CEO Damon Jiggetts will step down this spring to become president and CEO of Access College Foundation in Norfolk.

¡FridaFest! at VMFA to honor Frida Kahlo and her Mexican heritage
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will bring Frida Kahlo’s legacy to life April 5, with a community celebration. From 1 to 7 p.m., ¡FridaFest! will mark the opening of the museum’s “Frida: Beyond the Myth” exhibition, offering visitors an experience filled with music, art, food and culture.

Baseball game raises funds for inclusive sports programs
The rivalry between Benedictine College Preparatory and St. Christopher’s School will take on a different meaning when they face off in the 15th Annual Pass the Hat Baseball Game 7 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at RF&P Park’s Glen Allen Stadium. The game has become a beloved tradition in Richmond, where competition meets community to support a greater cause — raising funds and awareness for Jacob’s Chance inclusive sports programs.

IRS-certified students offer tax assistance at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
The University of Richmond is offering free tax preparation services for the 14th consecutive year, as part of the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg’s Tax Assistance Program.

City’s first tiny forest takes root at Fonticello Park
Richmond’s first tiny forest was planted at Fonticello Park on March 15, an effort led by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Richmond Parks and Recreation with the help of about 25 volunteers.

Richmond 34 event rescheduled for March 28 at VUU
The postponed Richmond 34 event will take place this Friday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center at Virginia Union University.

City sends property tax rebate checks with incorrect names
A mix-up with property tax rebate checks sent this week has left some Richmond residents with incorrect names printed on their checks. The city confirmed no personal information was compromised and is working to correct the error.

Norfolk State’s Diamond Johnson named HBCU National Player of the Year
Norfolk State guard Diamond Johnson has been named the HBCU National Player of the Year, headlining the 2024-25 HBCU Division I Women’s All-American teams presented by BOXTOROW (Bringing Out the Excellence in Sports through Recognition of Outstanding Winners).

Reynolds student earns New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship
Sidney King, a student at Reynolds Community College, was recently named Virginia’s recipient of the New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship. King was selected from more than 2,100 applicants across 1,300 community colleges nationwide.

Food bank outreach center launches School Pantry program to fight student hunger
Students facing food insecurity in Chesterfield County will now have greater access to nutritious meals and essential supplies with the launch of the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center’s (CFBOC) School Pantry Program. The initiative was officially unveiled during a special event March 25 at J.G. Hening Elementary School.

Flying Squirrels reveal revamped Copa La Diversión branding
The Richmond Flying Squirrels unveiled a fresh new look for their Copa La Diversión identity, Las Ardillas Voladoras de Richmond, during a lively reveal event last week. The updated branding includes a revamped logo, new uniforms and an overall style makeover.

Rapper Styles P to perform at Ember Music Hall
Styles P, hip-hop artist and member of The Lox, will perform at Ember Music Hall on Saturday, March 29. Styles P will be joined by Technician The DJ, with Richmond’s DJ Hypeee providing additional music throughout the night. Cannondeck will open the show.

VUU athletes shine in field events at season opener
Virginia Union University men’s track and field team had a strong showing in its first outdoor meet of the season at the University of Richmond on March 13 and 14.

Maude Trevvett principal wins 2025 REB Leadership Award
During a recent school event, Arainau “Rainy” Neal was named the recipient of the 2025 REB Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership, marking a milestone in her career at Maude Trevvett Elementary.

Historical marker for Essex Old Folks Home unveiling this Saturday near Angel Visit
A historical marker recognizing the Old Folks Home, a facility that cared for impoverished elderly Black residents in Essex County during the early 20th century, will be dedicated this weekend. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources approved the marker, which will be unveiled Saturday, March 29, at noon. The marker is located across Route 17 from 28882 Tidewater Trail in Dunnsville.

South girls and North boys triumph in 804 All-Star showdown
The 804 All-Star Games on March 22 brought together some of the top high school basketball talent in the Richmond-Petersburg area.

5th Baptist Church hosts 5th Annual MLK Memorial Luncheon and Awards Program
On the day after the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the community will come together to recognize individuals who continue his fight for justice and progress at the 5th Annual MLK Memorial Luncheon and Awards Program, hosted by Living the Dream, Inc. The event will take place 2 p.m., April 5 at 5th Baptist Church.

Cemetery Collaboratory symposium to explore long-term cemetery care
The worn headstones and overgrown paths of many historic cemeteries tell a story of neglect, but a new symposium in Richmond is working to change that.
Jackson Ward hotel project moves forward with new development plan
A new development is set to transform a 2.95-acre site in Richmond’s Historic Jackson Ward.

Henrico to host 2025 wheelchair basketball national championships
In April, the Henrico Sports & Event Center will be the center of intense competition as the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Adult and Junior Division National Championships return for a second year. With 104 teams and more than 1,200 athletes ready to battle for supremacy, the tournament promises high-energy action and unforgettable moments on the court.
Dominion Energy, Elegba Folklore Society recognized for cultural contributions
Virginia Humanities has announced the three recipients of the inaugural Commonwealth Humanities Award, recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the humanities and their impact on Virginia’s cultural landscape.

John Marshall boys dominate in state title game, girls finish in 2nd place
The John Marshall High School basketball teams both made a run in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) state championship games last weekend at the Siegel Center. While the boys’ team came out victorious, the girls’ squad fell short.

Amy Popovich named new deputy chief administrative officer
The City of Richmond appointed Amy Popovich as the next deputy chief administrative officer for Human Services on Tuesday.

Softball program receives support from Virginia Union
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The Virginia Union University softball team will host a clinic for Richmond Public Schools’ co-ed middle school program on March 25 at 2:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. More than 80 students from all eight RPS middle schools are expected to attend, according to Dr. Stefanie Ramsey, RPS coordinator for K-12 athletics and activities, who helped launch the program.

Lounge to anchor year-round events at CarMax Park
The Richmond Flying Squirrels announced on Friday an expanded partnership with Atlantic Union Bank, which will become the first Founding Partner at CarMax Park, the team’s new ballpark scheduled to open in 2026.

Ken Burns brings ‘The American Revolution’ to Richmond
Ken Burns will begin the promotional tour for his upcoming six-part documentary series, “The American Revolution,” in Richmond on March 23.

UR to host inaugural Richmond Italian Film Festival
The University of Richmond will host the inaugural Richmond Italian Film Festival March 21-24, featuring acclaimed contemporary Italian cinema and a restored classic.

Virtual book talk explores slave trade in Civil War South
The Library of Virginia will host a free virtual talk by historian Robert K.D. Colby on his debut book “An Unholy Traffic: Slave Trading in the Civil War South” on Tuesday, March 25, from noon to 1 p.m. .

VCU heads to NCAA Tournament as No. 11 seed, set to face BYU
Virginia Commonwealth University is headed back to the NCAA Tournament after securing the Atlantic 10 Championship, earning the No. 11 seed in the West Region. The Rams (28-6) will face sixth-seeded Brigham Young University (24-9) Thursday afternoon in Denver in the tournament’s first round.

VSU names alumna Tiffani-Dawn Sykes new athletic director
Virginia State University recently named Tiffani-Dawn Sykes as its new associate vice president for intercollegiate athletics, bringing a former Trojan student-athlete back to her alma mater.

Smith qualifies for NCAA Indoor Nationals
Virginia Union University freshman Antonio Smith has qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Nationals. Smith will compete Friday, March 14, at Fall Creek Pavilion in Indianapolis.

Outdoor Festivals signal the changing seasons in Richmond
As sure as the temperatures begin to rise, Richmond’s festival season begins, signaling the arrival of spring. The city’s streets and parks become gathering places for food, music and celebration as locals shake off the winter chill and welcome the outdoors again.

Former rivals partner to bring racing back to Southside Speedway
Friday night racing is set to return to the Richmond area as Southside Speedway prepares for a revival under new leadership.

City’s vacuum leaf collection program ends March 14
Piles of leaves still lingering in Richmond yards may not be going anywhere soon unless residents act fast. The city’s vacuum leaf collection program is wrapping up for the season, with the last day to request service set for March 14.

State officials highlight flood dangers, urge preparedness
As Virginians prepare for the upcoming spring downpours and hurricane season, state officials are urging residents to assess their flood risk and consider flood insurance during Virginia Flood Safety Awareness Week, which runs March 9-15.