Black community divided over whether Northam should resign
To condemn or to forgive? The Rev. Al Sharpton took center stage on the condemnation front Feb. 7 as he took part in a Virginia Union University program titled “Reflections on Faith, Community and Racial Reconciliation in the Commonwealth.”
City Council and street names
One Richmond group is calling on City Council to change the names of streets and bridges that are named for slaveholders and those who fought to keep African-Americans enslaved.
Joe Morrissey exploring run against Sen. Dance
Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey is preparing to make a political comeback.
Council approves new housing, shelter policies
Overshadowed by the debate over renaming the Boulevard, Richmond City Council Monday night unanimously approved policy changes that will impact affordable housing and the use of city property for cold weather shelters.
City to get new children’s hospital
Construction is set to start in a few months on a $350 million, 92-bed hospital for children on the medical campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
RRHA poised to name Duncan as new CEO
Damon E. Duncan, a public and affordable housing veteran with 26 years of experience, is to be named the next chief executive officer of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Free Press has learned.
A boulevard named Arthur Ashe
City Council approves street to honor Richmond legend
From now on, it will be Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
Pope Francis publicly acknowledges clergy’s sexual abuse of nuns
Pope Francis publicly acknowledged the scandal of priests and bishops sexually abusing nuns and vowed to do more to fight the problem, the latest sign that there is no end in sight to the Catholic Church’s abuse crisis — and that it now has a reckoning from the #MeToo movement.
Fairfax battles sexual assault allegation
Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax, a 39-year-old rising star in the state Democratic Party, is battling to save his political career after being hit with a shocking allegation of sexual assault that dates back 15 years.
RRHA still dealing with heating problems; assistance available
At least seven public housing units completely lost heat last week as a result of boiler problems, the Richmond Redevelopment and Authority reported Monday.
Possible funding increase for city schools?
Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration is hinting that it might propose a $5 million increase in support for Richmond Public Schools’ operations in the new 2020 budget it will present next month to Richmond City Council.
Mayor Stoney highlights new eviction prevention program
Good things are happening in Richmond, Mayor Levar M. Stoney said as he used his State of the City speech last week to tout the city’s progress during his first two years.
Community organizer and strategist Lillie A. Estes succumbs at 59
Lillie Ann Estes set the standard for community organizing in Richmond.
Enrichmond Foundation now owns East End Cemetery
Twenty months after buying historic Evergreen Cemetery with state assistance, a city-created charity has taken ownership of a second neighboring African-American burial ground, East End Cemetery.
400th Commemoration gives special designation to 37 state historical highway markers
Historical highway markers celebrating African-American history in Richmond and across the state are at the center of a new initiative aimed at encouraging people to learn about the people and places that shaped the state.
Henrico court ruling may impact Va. abortion clinics
Abortion clinics in Richmond and across the state might have to spend millions of dollars to upgrade to hospital-level standards if a new Henrico County Circuit Court judge’s ruling stands.
VUU and VCU create dual-degree program
Students at Virginia Union and Virginia Commonwealth universities will be able to earn dual bachelor’s degrees from both schools in engineering and science through an initiative to launch next fall.
Brook Road bike lanes get the green light
Cars and trucks will have to surrender half of their lanes on Brook Road to cyclists. That’s the final decision of Richmond City Council, which voted 6-3 to install bike lanes and uphold a nearly 4-year-old approved plan for developing biking infrastructure in the city.
Coliseum project expected to be key in mayor’s State of the City address
The currently stalled $1.4 billion plan to have Richmond taxpayers build a new and bigger Richmond Coliseum as a way to attract new development to blocks near City Hall is anticipated to be a centerpiece of Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s second State of the City speech.
Former Mayor Walter T. Kenney Sr., who worked across racial, political and regional lines, dies at 88
Former Richmond Mayor Walter T. Kenney Sr. would have been out of step in today’s polarized politics. Mr. Kenney, a proud Richmond native who died Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in a local hospital at age 88, is being remembered as the “consummate gentleman” of city politics who would talk with everyone, no matter their political leanings.
Case against VUU president in Florida appears stalled
Bethune-Cookman University in Florida appears to have halted its legal effort to hold former top officials accountable for their alleged role in saddling the Daytona Beach school with an overly expensive dormitory.
Bishop Charles A. West starting new church in Henrico County
Bishop Charles A. West, who ran the Operation Streets youth basketball program in Richmond for more than 20 years, is starting over with a new church.
Speaking Spirit Ministries says praise the Lord, pass the popcorn
Go to church and stay for a movie. That’s now possible at a satellite sanctuary of the independent Speaking Spirit Ministries.
Disabled drivers could lose free parking Downtown
Drivers of vehicles bearing handicap license plates or placards are poised to lose the privilege of parking for two hours free on Downtown streets.
Crusade for Voters urges Agelasto to resign
The Richmond Crusade for Voters announced its support Tuesday for efforts to remove 5th District City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto from office because he no longer lives in the district.
Portal in Monroe Park to connect Richmonders to the world
A gold-painted shipping container that can transport you around the world without spending a dime has been placed in Monroe Park. Enter this portal, and instantly you will be connected via videoconferencing to people who have entered a similarly equipped portal in far off places such as Rwanda, Palestine, Honduras or Germany or closer locales like Milwaukee and Chicago.
Plans underway for new VCU in-patient children’s hospital
A new in-patient children’s hospital is being planned, according to Virginia Commonwealth University. The design work is underway nearly four years after VCU and Bon Secours pulled out of a proposed free-standing children’s hospital, collapsing that effort.
Federal panel selects redistricting plan for House of Delegates
A federal three-judge panel announced Tuesday it has selected a redistricting plan to end illegal packing of African-American voters into 11 Virginia House of Delegate districts.
Showdown expected at Feb. 11 City Council meeting over renaming Boulevard for Arthur Ashe Jr.
Will the Boulevard be renamed for Richmond-born tennis great and humanitarian Arthur Ashe Jr.?
Failure to deliver: Residents describe litany of problems hampering basic mail service
Jean Morris is tired of having the Forest Hill Post Office refusing to deliver packages to her South Side residence. Donna Royster is fed up with not receiving any of the letters her grandchildren keep sending her from Hawaii at her East End apartment.
Scooter legislation advances in City Council
Electric scooters are headed to Richmond, but this time legally. After two months of talks and review, Richmond City Council appears poised to approve legislation that would authorize scooter companies such as Bird and Lime to begin offering rental service.
Southside Hardware closing doors for last time Saturday
Southside Hardware was long a place to find the unusual, from replacement wicks for kerosene heaters to the special keys needed to operate radiators, antique radios and baby buggies.
Local man refunded stormwater fees
Are property owners in Richmond getting billed for stormwater fees they do not owe? Ronald Sizemore thinks it could be happening.
Natural gas price to rise in Richmond
Cook or heat with natural gas? Beginning with the February bill, Richmond customers will pay a bit extra for the fuel. Richmond Gas Works, the city’s gas utility, has announced customers will be charged an extra penny for every 10 cubic feet of natural gas used. Ten cubic feet is the equivalent of 75 gallons of gasoline.
Official: City has fallen short on lead abatement efforts, contractor training
City Hall has confirmed a Free Press report that it has failed to hire a qualified trainer to offer mandatory classes for small contractors seeking to compete to remove poisonous lead paint from Richmond residences.
Frank J. Thornton to seek 7th term on Henrico County Board of Supervisors
Frank J. Thornton plans to seek another four-year term on the Henrico County Board of Supervisors. The retired Virginia Union University French professor announced on Tuesday his bid for his seventh four-year term representing the Fairfield District, adding that it would be his “final term.”
Richardson gets legal help in action to remove Agelasto from office
Former 5th District City Councilman Henry W. “Chuck” Richardson said Tuesday he has hired an attorney to continue pursuing legal action to remove the district’s current representative, Councilman Parker C. Agelasto.
‘Pathetic’
School advocate Paul Goldman fumes over mayor’s school funding resolution that he claims does not meet City Charter requirement
Mayor Levar M. Stoney appears to be backpedaling on his pledge to meet a new City Charter requirement to provide “a fully funded plan to modernize” Richmond’s decaying school buildings.
Confusion, communication gaps adding to Henrico Branch NAACP problems
Even as it imposed sanctions on the president of the Henrico Branch NAACP, the national office of the civil rights group has allowed other officers who complained about Frank J. Thornton to flout its rules, the Free Press has learned.
Former inmates,their families and advocates to hold rally for prison reform
Advocates, former inmates and their families will hold a rally for prison reform from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square, it has been announced.
Nightclub owner, son of state senator arrested
The son of Petersburg state Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance is facing a new charge of felony drug possession.
Dr. Walker named visiting professor at UR
Dr. Corey D.B. Walker has left Virginia Union University after giving up his role as vice president and dean of the School of Theology on Dec. 31.
RRHA residents in 117 units still having heating problems
Keeping all public housing residents warm remains a constant struggle, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority acknowledged Monday in an email to the Richmond Free Press.
Agelasto responds
City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto addresses latest effort to remove him from office through his lawyer, former Va. Attorney General Anthony Troy
Last-ditch efforts to remove Parker C. Agelasto from Richmond City Council appear to be failing — virtually ensuring the 5th District representative will be able to serve out the final two years of his term despite moving his family to a home in the 1st District.
Richmond would have only 4 House representatives under redistricting plan
Richmond’s representation in the General Assembly could be reduced from five members in the House of Delegates to four if a three-judge federal court panel accepts changes proposed by a California professor to end racial gerrymandering.
Hasan K. Zarif, longtime re-entry specialist for Goodwill, retires
Minister Hasan K. Zarif has been “Mr. Re-Entry” for untold thousands of people making the transition from prison to civilian life. A former prisoner himself who rebuilt his life, Minister Zarif has been influential in helping others undertake the hard work of doing the same thing.
City’s hourly ‘living wage’ to rise to $12.07 under mayor’s proposed pay plan
More than 3,800 employees at City Hall, from janitors to executives, will be affected by the long-awaited overhaul of the city’s pay plan that Mayor Levar M. Stoney is expected to introduce Monday, Jan. 7, to Richmond City Council.
Justice and Reformation providing space heaters to those in need
Public housing residents and others in Richmond who lose heat have a new alternative. A Richmond advocacy group is distributing space heaters to those who are shivering in cold apartments.
Court moves closer to declaring Va. law unconstitutional linking court fines to driver’s license suspensions
For more than two decades, people who cannot pay court fines and costs in Virginia automatically have had their driver’s licenses suspended.
