Downtown snags Owens & Minor expansion with new jobs
Hundreds of new, well-paying jobs are heading to Downtown.
South Side company plans to double workforce
Richmond gained a separate jobs boost Wednesday as TemperPack, an innovative packaging manufacturer, announced plans to invest $2 million to double its workforce in South Side.
Richmond Flying Squirrels hosting 3 job fairs
The Richmond Flying Squirrels will host three job fairs to fill part-time positions at The Diamond baseball stadium during home games, the team announced Wednesday in preparing for the home opener on Thursday, April 6.
Trespassing charge dismissed against education advocate
Just like two other area school districts, Richmond failed in its bid to convict outspoken student advocate Kandise Lucas of trespassing.
Hampton U cancer treatment center may get boost from General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is poised to hand Hampton University a major victory in its bid to boost the use of its seven-year-old, $225 million cancer treatment center that uses proton beam radiation therapy to help eradicate the disease in its patients.
Performance review team to examine city operations
Mayor Levar M. Stoney came into office promising to undertake a comprehensive performance review of City Hall departments with the goal of improving accountability, efficiency and the delivery of services.
Shake-up at City Hall leads to 4 dismissals
Six weeks after taking office, Mayor Levar M. Stoney has begun shaking up the administration at City Hall.
Advocates charge transit plan ignores needs of regular riders
Despite an outpouring of concern that regular bus riders, largely African-Americans, are being ignored and overlooked, Richmond City Council voted 9-0 Monday to endorse a proposed overhaul of current GRTC routes aimed at speeding up regular service and connecting riders with the east-west Pulse bus rapid transit system now under construction.
Bourne sworn in
Jeff M. Bourne headed this week to the General Assembly as the city’s newest representative to the House of Delegates, ending his four-year tenure on the Richmond School Board.
Dr. Kinney retiring as dean of VUU’s School of Theology
After 27 years, Dr. John W. Kinney is preparing to step down as senior vice president and dean of Virginia Union University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology.
Trespassing charge dismissed against TJ student
Stephanie Priddy, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, is no longer facing a charge of trespassing at the school.
Giving sanctuary?
Mayor Stoney stops short of designating Richmond a ‘sanctuary city’
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney is taking a cautious centrist approach in addressing the uproar over national immigration policy.
Better Housing Coalition advances plans for apartments on former St. Elizabeth’s School site
A fresh attempt is being made to create affordable apartments on the site of a long closed Catholic school in North Side. The nonprofit Better Housing Coalition is advancing the latest proposal.
City moves to donate land for state monument
Richmond is moving to donate a small piece of Brown’s Island to the state as the site for the future Emancipation Proclamation and Freedom Monument.
10,000 consumers to benefit from state deal with loan company
Thousands of desperate Virginia consumers who borrowed money from a supposed Native American company called Western Sky Financial soon will have their loans forgiven or will get a refund of the illegal sky-high interest they paid. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced the refunds and loan forgiveness for borrowers Tuesday in disclosing a settlement with the company, CashCall Inc., that posed as the now defunct Western Sky in what he described as a deceptive and illegal borrowing scheme.
Debate over treatment of autistic student to be battled out in court
Stephanie Priddy, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, was taken out of the West End school in police handcuffs. Her crime: Going to class.
Dr. Frank S. Royal steps down as chair of Meharry Medical College
For decades, Dr. Frank S. Royal regularly flew to Nashville to lead board meetings at historic Meharry Medical College. But at 77, the retired Richmond physician has decided “it is time to let someone else take over.”
Budget dispute may slow plans to redevelop Boulevard
A little noticed budget dispute in the General Assembly could slow Richmond’s rush to transform 61 acres of largely vacant city property on North Boulevard into retail stores, a hotel, offices and apartments. The House of Delegates and the Senate appear to be split over approving Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s proposal to authorize the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to spend up to $105 million to buy land and develop a new headquarters and warehouse complex.
Sheriff sanctioned over loss of videotape in jail inmate’s death
Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. describes the 500 video cameras that record inside the Richmond Justice Center “as a sort of a truth serum,” a way to show “what really happened” when inmates complain or there is a disagreement about events. Those words have come back to haunt him as he seeks to defend himself and the jail against a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the death of Erin Jenkins, 29, just five days after the new jail opened in 2014.
Bank branch to close in Highland Park
The last Bank of America branch located in a majority African-American neighborhood of Richmond is scheduled to close in two months, according to the bank’s website.
4 named to Mayor Stoney’s staff
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney has added four new people to his staff at City Hall, including three policy advisers and a senior assistant, as he seek to put his stamp on the city government.
Heat, water problems plague residents in new Highland Park apartment building
Ernest L. Fox has stopped showering since moving into the new Highland Park Senior Apartments, a former school building being converted into 77 residential apartments at East Brookland Park Boulevard and Second Avenue.
Petersburg group petitions court to boot mayor, councilman
Furious over the financial crisis that grips Petersburg, a faction of city voters has taken the rare step of asking a judge to remove two members of Petersburg City Council they blame for the city’s condition, Mayor Samuel Parham, 3rd Ward, and his predecessor, Councilman and former Mayor W. Howard Myers, 5th Ward.
3 candidates vying for House seat in Feb. 7 special election
Jeff M. Bourne appeared to be on a glide path to win the Tuesday, Feb. 7, special election for the Richmond seat in the House of Delegates that became vacant when Jennifer L. McClellan won a special election and moved up to the state Senate earlier this month.
More payouts
3 City Council aides receive $97,000 total in severance, vacation pay
Richmond City Council quietly approved severance packages totaling more than $97,000 for three departing council employees even as council members expressed shock and dismay over similar payments to four departing employees of former Mayor Dwight C. Jones.
Receptions, other events mark Mayor Stoney’s public inauguration
Congratulations and handshakes were the hallmarks of Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s ceremonial public installation into the city’s chief executive post.
Clarence L. Townes Jr., longtime business, civic leader, dies at 88
Clarence Lee Townes Jr. left his fingerprints on Richmond over the course of six decades of involvement in civic affairs. A bulldog of a man, with a gruff voice and a penchant for straight talk, he was a key player in creating landmarks that people take for granted — from the Greater Richmond Convention Center and Marriott Hotel to the Canal Walk by the riverfront.
City attorney rules $226,000 in severance payments legal
The controversial award of $226,000 in severance packages to four people who worked for former Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones was legal, according to City Attorney Allen L. Jackson.
GRTC plans speedier service
Plans for speedier GRTC bus service that would slash 15 to 30 minutes from trips Downtown and other parts of the city were introduced to passengers and the public this week.
Richmond protest planned Friday
A Richmond group is planning to hold a local protest Friday, Jan. 20, against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Delegation of Richmond area black conservatives headed to inauguration
The Rev. Joe Ellison Jr. was an outspoken supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump before the November presidential election. Now he’s heading to Washington to take part in the inauguration of the next president. However, Rev. Ellison and other area African-American conservatives have more on their minds than cheering the new American leader.
City Council approves CARITAS treatment center
In its first meeting of the new term, Richmond City Council cleared the way for faith-based CARITAS to develop a headquarters in South Side that is to include a treatment center for women addicted to drugs and alcohol. The decision came during a speedy 1 hour, 7 minute meeting Monday night when the council, with four new members, hit the pause button on a series of proposals so members could have a fresh review in committee.
Richmond Community ICU nurses told to apply for other jobs
A Bon Secours memo provided to the Free Press undercuts the Catholic hospital group’s public claim that it intends to maintain its five-bed intensive care unit at Richmond Community Hospital in Church Hill.
Legality of severance pay to ex-mayor’s appointees questioned
In November 2004, as Richmond City Hall prepared for the change to an elected mayor-council form of government and to abolish the city manager’s office, the outgoing City Council rushed to approve an ordinance that authorized the council or the mayor to give severance pay to appointees whose jobs were eliminated or who were terminated for non-criminal reasons.
Stoney gets high marks on first on-the-job task
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney appears to have passed the first big test for his new administration — clearing away the 8 inches of snow that fell on the city by last Saturday afternoon.
McClellan wins; GOP holds Senate
Veteran Richmond Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan will be moving up to the state Senate. As expected, the 44-year-old corporate lawyer and Democrat overwhelmed her opponent, Corey M. Fauconier, a Libertarian Party member, by a 9-1 margin in Tuesday’s special election for the Senate seat previously held by Congressman A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat now representing the 4th District.
Gov. McAuliffe announces criminal justice reform
Gov. Terry McAuliffe is proposing changes in state laws that could help reduce the number of people who end up becoming unemployed or who are sent to prison.
Powered by faith and family, gospel queen Sheilah Belle triumphs over illnesses
Richmond gospel queen Sheilah Belle is “pressing forward” through the health challenges that have dogged her for six months.
New year starts with blessings of cars
The new year rolled in with a special transportation blessing for three Richmond area women. Kambria Cook, Vivian Jefferson and Beverly Tyler each received free cars on New Year’s Eve from Village of Faith Ministries, which has sanctuaries in Henrico and Chesterfield counties. They are the latest beneficiaries of the vehicle giveaway program begun nine years ago by the church led by Pastor Michael J. Jones.
Mayor’s inaugural events
Mayor Levar Stoney is planning to keep his public inaugural events simple — no lavish dinners and no fancy balls.
New City Council president challenges colleagues to address poverty, racism
Chris A. Hilbert challenged his Richmond City Council colleagues to do more to tackle poverty and racism in Richmond after he was elected the new council president on Tuesday.
Petersburg City Council chooses new leader
W. Howard Myers is out and Samuel Parham is in as the mayor of Petersburg. Foiled in his effort to gain a second term, 5th Ward Councilman Myers nominated Mr. Parham to be Petersburg City Council’s presiding officer at a time when the city continues to face severe financial challenges.
Showalter finds money for Jan.10 special election
Richmond Voter Registrar Kirk Showalter is backing off her concern that her office would not have enough money to cover the expense of the special election for the 9th District state Senate seat to be held next Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Health care cutback?
Bon Secours to close Richmond Community Hospital’s ICU, sources say
Is Bon Secours planning to close the small intensive care unit later this month at its 104-bed Richmond Community Hospital facility in the East End?
Central Va. Cadet Corps starting in February
A new group is recruiting 30 area young men ages 7 to 14 to participate in free, monthly programs promoting achievement.
Petersburg employees credited with helping during city’s crunch
Two Petersburg Public Works managers are being credited with repairing trucks and equipment for their department that the city could not afford to fix.
Charles City native produces new citrus-infused whiskey
Walter A. Crawley is tapping his roots in Charles City County in seeking to create a better whiskey. The 53-year-old food industry veteran believes the harsh taste of corn-based alcohol can turn people off, particularly people who are trying their first drink.
Mayor-elect Stoney to take oath of office Dec. 31
Richmond’s Mayor-elect Levar Stoney is to take the oath of office at City Hall on New Year’s Eve, according to his staff, with a public inauguration expected two weeks later. Mr. Stoney is scheduled to take the oath at noon Saturday, Dec. 31, in the City Council chambers, according to his press secretary, Jim Nolan.
Sources: Hilbert to be next City Council president
Richmond City Council is poised to elect 3rd District Councilman Chris A. Hilbert as its new president, sources confirmed this week, while 7th District Councilwoman Cynthia I. Newbille is expected to win the post of vice president.
City bonuses may cause future budget problems
Just days before leaving office, Mayor Dwight C. Jones quietly awarded nearly $2 million in bonuses to most of the city’s 4,000 employees in seeking to brighten their holidays and thank them for their “dedication and commitment” during his tenure.
