Mayor appoints Lincoln Saunders as acting CAO
J.E. Lincoln Saunders is now in charge of City Hall operations.
Sen. Morrissey in legal trouble again
Richmond Democratic state Sen. Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey confirms that when he was running for office in November 2019, he gave out doughnuts to election staff inside the polling place at the Powhatan Community Center on Fulton Hill on Election Day and also took pictures with some of them.
Dr. Willie Woodson, minister and community activist, succumbs at 72
Dr. Willie Woodson wore multiple hats as a Richmond faith leader.
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe makes it official: He wants another 4 years
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe has been saying for months he wants his old job back. On Wednesday, Mr. McAuliffe made his bid official.
Controversial Broad Street high-rise ordinances withdrawn
The battle over possible Broad Street high-rise buildings has temporarily ended in victory for the opponents.
Martha Norris Gilbert, who led the former Virginia Department for Children, dies at 82
Martha Norris Gilbert, who led the first Virginia agency that focused on children and was involved in expanding pre-school programming in public school divisions across the state, has died.
South Side woodland to be turned over to city for possible parkland, trails
South Side is gaining 13 additional acres of parkland as a gift from the land’s current owners, it has been announced.
Faye B. Walker, a backbone of the African dance and culture group Ezibu Muntu, dies at 66
Faye Bettina Walker spent 47 years teaching and spreading interest in African dance in the Richmond area and beyond.
Federal lawsuit filed over tear-gassing of inmates at Richmond Justice Center
In late August, during an outbreak of the coronavirus at the Richmond City Justice Center, deputies under the command of Sheriff Antionette V. Irving tear-gassed inmates who raised concerns about safety practices. Dozens of others in the same area also were impacted.
Dr. Andrew M. Mosley Jr., retired pastor of Quioccasin Baptist Church, dies at 80
Dr. Andrew Monroe Mosley Jr., who served as pastor of Quioccasin Baptist Church in Henrico County for three decades during his 52-year ministry career, has died.
Electoral board chair planning hearing on city registrar’s removal
James M. Nachman, chairman of the Richmond Electoral Board, is planning to hold a board hearing to consider the removal of veteran Richmond Voter Registrar J. Kirk Showalter.
The Ingramettes to receive honorary degrees
The Richmond-based Ingramettes are still serving up gospel music five years after the death of their founder and leader, Maggie Ingram.
Virginia NAACP names new executive director — Da’Quan Love
Da’QuanM.LoveisthenewexecutivedirectoroftheVirginia State Conference of the NAACP.
Henrico Coliseum?
Navy Hill developers who were rejected in Richmond plan to build a bigger development with a new 17,000-seat arena off Parham Road in Henrico County
Richmond is about to lose its title as the region’s entertainment capital.
City Council receives bids from 22 who want Confederate statues
To donate or not to donate? That is the question Richmond City Council may face when it comes to disposing of most of the city-owned Confederate statues.
Task force recommends bevy of public safety reforms to Mayor Stoney
Handed the mission of re-imagining public safety in Richmond, Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s 38-member Richmond task force has come up with a buffet of ideas.
Pressure mounts on city voter registrar to resign or be fired
J. Kirk Showalter continues to lead the voter registration operation in Richmond, just as she has for 25 years.
State lawmaker calls for tax on marijuana to pay for reparations
If marijuana is legalized in Virginia, Democratic Delegate Lee J. Carter of Manassas wants all of the tax revenue generated to be devoted to paying reparations to Black people and Native Americans in the state for their suffering.
Power, resistance and spiritual beliefs all told in Richmond cemeteries
To Dr. Ryan K. Smith, cemeteries are ideal places to learn about the past and present of a community.
Renaming of Jefferson Davis Highway rolls ahead
His statue has already come down from Monument Avenue.
‘Time to legalize’
Gov. Ralph S. Northam lights fire under legislation on use and sale of marijuana
Marijuana legalization is poised to become another victory for the racial justice movement that rocked Richmond during the late spring and summer, swept away racist Confederate statues and shook up politics as usual.
Larry J. Bland, whose leadership of The Volunteer Choir spanned more than 45 years, dies at 67
Larry Jerome Bland left his mark on gospel music in Richmond and beyond during an artistic career that spanned more than a half century.
Herring asks Va. Supreme Court to remove injunction against taking down Lee statue
Attorney General Mark R. Herring is officially fed up with Richmond Circuit Court judges blocking the removal of the largest symbol of white supremacy in Virginia — the giant statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue.
2nd District surprise
Katherine L. Jordan declared winner of City Council seat after election night miscount
Katherine L. Jordan is in, and Tavarris J. Spinks is out.
VCU drops Moore Street School day care project
Virginia Commonwealth University apparently has dropped its $5 million plan to transform the historic, but deteriorating Moore Street School in the Carver community near Downtown into a day care and child development center for pre-school children.
Special prosecutor wants State Police involvement in Confederate statue removal probe
Yes, it merits investigation. No, I’m not going to conduct it. That’s the answer Timothy A. Martin, the Augusta County commonwealth’s attorney, has provided to the question of whether a probe is needed of Richmond’s spending of $1.8 million to remove city-owned Confederate statues from Monument Avenue and other locations in early July.
Forward by faith
COVID-19 survivor Rev. Morris R. Gant Jr. credits faith, prayers and medical care for getting him to the other side of pandemic
Tens of thousands of people across Virginia and millions across the nation have been infected with COVID-19 — and the data show the vast majority recovered without feeling much effect. So how bad can this virus be? Just ask the Rev. Morris R. Gant Jr., 62, who is living proof of the agony that those hit hardest can endure — if they live.
New review of Marcus-David Peters case finds shooting justified
Once again, Richmond Police Officer Michael Nyantakyi has been cleared in the May 2018 fatal shooting of 24-year-old teacher Marcus-David Peters during what has been described as a mental crisis, although Mr. Peters’ family continues to describe Mr. Peters’ death as an unpunished murder.
Virginia voters approval constitutional amendments, local referendums
Yes, to allowing a 16-member commission to undertake the chore of drawing new political maps. Yes, to exempting totally disabled veterans from the local personal property tax on one vehicle. Yes, to casino gambling in four cities located near the border with North Carolina. No, to removing Confederate statues from their locations outside courthouses in six counties, including Charles City County, with a population that is 57 percent people of color.
Pilot program to guarantee $500 monthly to families – no strings attached
Eighteen Richmond families each will receive $12,000 over two years in a pilot program testing whether a guaranteed income would make a difference in helping them achieve financial stability.
Friends of East End Cemetery end work at historic cemetery after rift with new owner
The all-volunteer Friends of East End Cemetery no longer is involved in restoring the once abandoned historic African-American burial ground.
Better Housing Coalition to develop affordable apartment complex in Jackson Ward
Another piece of a grand 30-year-old urban renewal plan for Jackson Ward is moving closer to development.
Jackson Ward hotel project dies after dispute with RRHA over land price
In the summer of 2019, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority awarded a Black-led development team the right to build a 115-room hotel, at least 63 apartments and a retail store on 3.4 acres in Jackson Ward.
Trammell, Spinks and Lambert squeeze out victories in City Council races
Tavarris J. Spinks, a specialist in information technology for health care, appears to have eked out a 26-vote victory to claim the vacant 2nd District City Council seat, according to unofficial results released Wednesday.
Nail-biter
Joe Biden rallies for likely presidential win
Democrat Joe Biden apparently will be the next president.
Mayor Stoney claims victory nearly 24 hours after polls close
It took an extra day, but Mayor Levar M. Stoney finally could claim victory in his bid for re-election to a second, four-year term.
All Souls Presbyterian shares its North Side sanctuary with new nondenominational ministry
Sharing space with other ministries. That is the formula that 68-year-old All Souls Presbyterian Church in North Side is using to keep its doors open.
New single-family homes, townhouses to be developed in Highland Grove
It has taken seven years, but a long-awaited mixed-income subdivision is being launched in the Highland Grove community in North Side.
Virginia Department of Education stepping up its monitoring after critical federal report
Richmond and other local public school divisions will face more oversight of their special education programs from the Virginia Department of Education.
4 state schools fail four or more SCHEV performance measures
Smaller enrollments of in-state students and lower than projected graduation rates are among the main reasons that Virginia State and Norfolk State universities got failing grades on most of the performance measures set by the State Council of Higher Education, according to a report released Monday.
ELECTION 2020: Voters are asked to decide on 2 state constitutional amendments
Two state constitutional amendments are on every Virginia voter’s ballot along with candidates seeking office.
Richmond EMT and new American Doll face to be grand marshal of 37th Annual Christmas Parade
A Richmond woman who spends her days saving lives will be the grand marshal of the 37th Annual Richmond Christmas Parade, it has been announced.
ELECTION 2020: Will a winner prevail in mayor’s race or will there be a runoff?
Will there be an outright winner or a runoff election?
ELECTION 2020: Contests for City Council seats being waged in all but 2 districts
Richmond City Council is guaranteed to have at least two new members sworn in next year, with a potential for additional newcomers depending on the outcome of the five contested races that voters will decide on Election Day.
Bring it down
Judge rules that Gov. Northam has authority to take down towering statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue
Virginia is finally washing its hands of Robert E. Lee, 150 years after his death.
Gray still questions cost of taking statues down
City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray, who is challenging Mayor Levar M. Stoney for the city’s top elected job, said this week that the Associated Press interview with contractor Devon Henry has not changed her view that an investigation is needed into the $1.8 million contract he received to remove the city’s Confederate statues from Monument Avenue and other public property in early July.
Construction of new city schools didn’t meet deadline, goal for minority participation
Richmond has built three new school buildings, but can teachers and students use them if the School Board decides to restart in-person learning?
50 homeless people aided under city’s new shelter plan during weekend cold snap
City Hall appears to have succeeded in sheltering the homeless in the first test of its new model to assist people when the temperature plunges.
City Council committee blocks mayor’s dedicated fund plan for affordable housing
A City Council committee has quietly blocked Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s plan to earmark millions of dollars flowing into the general fund to aid development of lower-cost apartments and homes.
George Wythe High School replacement may get new life with expected announcement
City Hall is poised to move faster to replace George Wythe High School in South Side, the Free Press has learned.
