McClellan announces photo competition
Congresswoman Jennifer L. McClellan is inviting residents of Virginia’s 4th Congressional District to share their vision of the area and its community with her and, potentially, the nation at large.
August spells spirit of giving
Churches, corporations and RPD provide resources for schools, students
In the weeks and days leading up to Richmond area students entering a new school year, several churches, businesses and other organizations stepped up to provide backpacks, clothing, shoes, lunchboxes and even cash in an effort to ensure that children have the basics for learning.
GRTC increasing drivers, ridership
GRTC is starting to fill driver vacancies and could have a full complement of 300 drivers before the end of the year based on current recruitment, according to a report to the regional transit company’s board Tuesday.
I-95 Express Lanes, Fredericksburg extension open
New road estimated to save drivers 35 minutes when coming from D.C. during rush hour
A new, 10-mile extension of the 95 Express Lanes to Fredericksburg opens to mainline traffic late on Aug. 17, according to the Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin administration.
Richmond fireman Rodney Jermaine Coles, 49, dies
The Richmond Fire Department has announced the death of a 15-year veteran, Rodney Jermaine “Cup” Coles.
City hires urban forester
Michael Webb is the City’s first urban forester. Mr. Webb will work with the community to develop the City’s Urban Forestry Master Plan.
Down Home Family Reunion is ‘Bringing the World Home’
The 32nd Annual Down Home Family Re- union will bring music, dance, stories, food, shopping and enrichment to Jackson Ward’s Abner Clay Park on Saturday, Aug. 19. Presented by the Elegba Folklore Society, this year’s cultural arts festival highlights “A Celebration of African American Folklife.”
VCU Medical Center leads again in annual ranking
For the 13th consecutive year, Virginia Commonwealth Uni- versity Medical Center has been recognized as the No. 1 hospital in the Metro Richmond area by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Hospitals rankings for 2023 and 2024.
Rep. McClellan addresses climate crisis during museum roundtable
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, was joined by National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy on Monday to tour the Science Museum of Virginia’s exhibit, “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience.”
Women’s soccer league returning to Richmond
A new pre-professional soccer team is heading to Richmond, according to the news site Axios.
Chesterfield County receives $755,000 broadband grant
Chesterfield County has been awarded a $755,523 grant through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Develop- ment’s Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) to support the county’s partnership with All Points Broadband and Dominion Energy to develop broadband availability countywide.
DHR approves 7 state historical highway markers
City’s African burial ground, Washington Park to be recognized; Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup hailed
The Virginia Board of Historic Resources recently approved seven new historical markers that will be placed along roadsides in Virginia. The signs will highlight the City of Richmond’s first municipal African burial ground; three communities founded by formerly enslaved African-Americans after the Civil War; and the life and work of Arthur Crudup, a 20th century blues musician of the Eastern Shore whose song, “That’s All Right,” launched the career of Elvis Presley.
Coming Together Virginia presents ‘Education Not Incarceration’
The school-to-prison pipeline is the focus of an upcoming discussion, “Education Not Incarceration: Stopping the Prison Pipeline,” that will be hosted by Coming Together Virginia on Thursday, July 20,rom 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Branch Museum on 2501 Monument Ave.
Free workshop for clearing records
The Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorneys office, Nolef Turns, Justice Forward Virginia and the Richmond Public Law Library will present a free informational workshop on expungement from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, July 15, at the Richmond Public Library, 101 E. Franklin St.
Erica Abrams Locklear, Kidada Williams lead Library of Virginia author talks
The Library of Virginia’s Carole Weinstein Author Series continues this summer with free talks from experts on regional culture and history.
Bright Minds RVA to enlighten teens with chess
The Bright Minds RVA Chess Classes and Tournament for Richmond area teens will take place Aug. 7 through 17 at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, 122 W. Leigh St.
Librarian of Virginia announces retirement plans
Search begins for her successor
The Library of Virginia Board will embark on a national search for the 10th librarian of Virginia after Sandra Gioia Treadway announced her intent to retire by the end of the calendar year. Dr. Treadway has spent 45 years with the agency.
Average White Band headlines this year’s 2nd Street Festival
Beloved festival celebrates 35 years in Historic Jackson Ward
The 2nd Street Festival will marks its 35th anniversary when it returns Oct. 7-8 to historic Jackson Ward.
RHHD offers immunizations, physicals
Families in Richmond and Henrico County are encouraged to take advantage of free school-required immunizations and physicals throughout the summer, courtesy of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts.
Girls For A Change launches ambassador program at Meadowbrook High School
Girls For A Change will launch its Girl Ambassador Program, a four-year, tiered approach to workforce development, at Meadowbrook High School.
JWC Foundation announces academy for Black entrepreneurs
The JWC Foundation, home of the Jackson Ward Collective and BLCK Street Conference, will launch its 3rd Cohort for the Community Business Academy, a 12-week course featuring hands-on training to teach business fundamentals.
VMHC announces civic education merger
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture will ring in July 4 this year with a merger with the John Marshall Center for Constitutional History & Civics into the VMHC and the launch of a three-year civics initiative.
Salvation Army gains new leadership
A new couple is in charge of Salvation Army Central Virginia, based at 2 W. Grace St.
Meadow Farm hosts Henrico’s Red, White and Lights celebration
Henrico County’s Division of Recreation & Parks will present its annual Red, White and Lights community celebration of Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4 at Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park, 3400 Mountain Road.
VMHC hosts new citizens swearing-in ceremonies July 4
Approximately 75 candidates will be sworn in as newly naturalized citizens during a July 4 ceremony in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Jazz, concert bands highlight City’s July 4 celebration
Dogwood Dell will host the City of Richmond’s Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday July 4.
Fireworks to light up Petersburg on July 3
The City of Petersburg and will spon- sor and co-host the second annual Peters- burg Independence Day Fireworks Show at the Petersburg Harbor on Monday, July 3.
VCU’s Project Gabriel hosts second round of community forums
A Virginia Commonwealth University commission has announced two public forums as it moves to carry out a 2021 state law requiring the school to set up a scholarship program for descendents of enslaved people and to memorialize those enslaved who helped develop the campus.
Hampton University to benefit from new philanthropic initiative
Hampton University was awarded $750,000 as part of an inaugural $10 million plus venture capital fund, The Historic Fund. The new fund aims to bolster the endowments of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), as well as highlight their importance and the role they play in promoting equity and inclusion in higher education, according to a news release issued by the university.
VUU elects new board members
Virginia Union University Board of Trustees announced that it has elected new members to serve as trustees of the University:
Maggie Walker site names new superintendent
Scott Teodorski is the new superintendent for Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site.
New General Assembly building to open later in 2023
Anticipating a possible special session, the Virginia General Assembly announced it won’t be moving into its new building until later this year.
VHMC announces 2024 history fund grant cycle
As the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) prepares for the 2024 Commonwealth History Fund grant cycle, the museum encourages organizations that wish to receive funding to begin planning now.
Library of Virginia, Virginia Folklife Program hosts ‘Celebration of Virginia Folklife’
The Library of Virginia and the Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities will present a free two-day celebration featuring documentary screenings, live music and more to highlight Virginia’s diverse and evolving folklife heritage. “A Celebration of Virginia Folklife” will take place July 7 and 8 at the library as part of its yearlong 200th anniversary celebration.
Jeff Wilson receives local PRSA chapter’s highest honor
VHMC’s Taylor Fuqua receives ‘Rising Star’ award
Jeff Wilson, vice president of Workplace Culture, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and chief of staff at Padilla, recently received the 2023 Excellence in Public Relations Award from the Richmond chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Richmond).
New tool to help Chesterfield residents locate voting precincts
With the June 20 primary one week away, the Chesterfield County Registrar’s Office is making it easy for county residents to locate their respective representatives and voting precinct with the click of button.
U.S. Club Lacrosse National Championships taps local region for 2024 event
America’s top youth lacrosse athletes will vie for national titles when the first ever U.S. Club Lacrosse National Championship comes to the Richmond Region next year.
VMHC honors dads with free admission
Dads may visit the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and receive free admission to the museum galleries, including the museum’s most recent exhibition, “Apollo: When We Went to the Moon,” as part of a special Father’s Day offering.
New leader of Richmond Crusade for Voters
Jerome Legions Jr. is now the former president of the Richmond Crusade for Voters.
Sign of a trailblazer
Several family members, neighbors and friends gathered yesterday for an honorary street renaming of the 5300 block of Marian Street in honor of the late Bettie Elizabeth Boyers Cooper. Mrs. Boyers Cooper was best known for being a plaintiff during the Civil Rights Movement whose federal lawsuit led to the integration of Richmond’s schools.
Gov. Youngkin scraps college degrees for most state jobs
Most Virginia government jobs will be open to high school graduates, beginning July 1.
June is Pride month
Richmond once again is raising the Progress Pride flag over City Hall to open Pride Month in the city.
Elegba Folklore Society presents 27th annual Juneteenth celebration
Elegba Folklore Society’s “Juneteenth 2023, A Freedom Celebration” will take place Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11. Saturday’s program, “Torch Lit Night Walk Along the Trail of Enslaved Africans,” begins at 7 p.m. at the Manchester Dock, 1308 Brander St. It is free to attend, however donations are welcome.
Operation Safe Summer gears up
Richmond, state and federal law enforcement will be working closer together than ever as part of a new initiative they say will seek to stop violent crime and protect children, during a season when crimes tend to increase.
Youngkin hails new digital hub for veterans benefits
Earlier this month Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin announced the rollout of a Gold Standard Digital Hub for Virginia veterans and their families to ensure easier access to information regarding earned benefits and resources tailored to their needs.
Chesterfield’s Memorial Day event to unveil Tomb of the Unknown Soldier replica
During a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29, Chesterfield County will include the unveiling of a replica of the iconic Tomb of the Unknown Solider and present a live re-enactment of the changing of the guard by the Chesterfield County Sheriff Honor Guard. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on the Historic 1917 Courthouse Green.
Alphas trailblazers — again
When Tyler Parker, a member of the Henrico County Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was informed by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources on Sept. 15, 2022, that its application for a “Trailblazers of a New Era” highway marker was approved, he knew the organization’s next steps.
Petersburg city pool opens Memorial Day weekend
Petersburg’s public swimming pool located at 1216 Farmer St. will open for the season on May 27, it has been announced. The pool will remain open through May 29, from 12 to 6 p.m. each day for the holiday weekend.
Virginia Career Works hosts job fair May 31
Former Tyson workers, immigrant communities encouraged to attend
Virginia Career Works-Capital Region will host a job and resource fair Wednesday, May 31, that is open to all job seekers, but largely tailored to former employees of the closed Tyson plant in Glen Allen and members of immigrant communities, the organization has announced.
Virginia Department of Veterans Services to host Memorial Day ceremonies
Memorial Day will be commemorated at four special ceremonies hosted by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) on Monday, May 29. The events are free and open to the public.
