
Dance takes center stage again at revived Richmond festival
The Richmond Dance Festival returns after a three-year hiatus, with a diverse lineup of performances, from contemporary and hip-hop to modern and cultural dance styles. Dogtown Dance will present three shows across two venues, the Grace Street Theatre and the Henrico Center for the Arts, on Saturday, April. 26, offering a showcase of the area’s vibrant dance community and talent.

Early voting
Early in-person voting for the June 17, primary election starts Friday, May 2, and continues through Saturday, June 14.

Gooden 1st Black recipient of prestigious Dwight Waldo Award in public administration
Susan T. Gooden, a leader in public administration and social equity, was awarded the prestigious 2025 Dwight Waldo Award from the American Society for Public Administration, this month. The award, given for sustained and impactful scholarship, recognizes Gooden’s decades of work advancing equity in government.

Richmond juvenile court to host annual Oliver Hill Day
The Atrium of the Oliver Hill Courts Building will be filled with reflection and celebration Friday, April 25, as the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court hosts its 28th Annual Oliver Hill Day. The event, honoring the legacy of civil rights icon Oliver White Hill, Sr., will mark a day of remembrance and recognition in close proximity to Hill’s birthday and the American Bar Association’s National Law Day.

SBA opens business recovery centers in Richmond, Henrico to aid storm-affected businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened two Business Recovery Centers in Richmond and Henrico to assist businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by severe storms that occurred Jan. 5 through 11. The centers aim to provide support with disaster loan applications and other recovery resources.

Cyclist calls for urgent safety fix on Mosby Street
I’m writing to demand urgent action to address the dangerous conditions on Mosby Street. As someone who commutes by bicycle, I’ve experienced firsthand how unsafe this corridor has become, and a recent incident made it painfully clear that if nothing changes, someone is going to get seriously hurt or killed.

Women gather at Hilton Short Pump for day of financial empowerment
More than 350 women gathered April 15 at the Hilton Short Pump for Virginia Credit Union’s Financial Success for Women Summit, a daylong event focused on personal finance, wealth-building and career development.

Gloucester woman receives Chancellor’s Award for philanthropy
Carolyn A. Lemon of Gloucester recently received the 19th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.

Flying Squirrels blank Baysox, 10-0, for first home win of season
The Richmond Flying Squirrels broke out of a slump in dominant fashion Friday night, shutting out the Bowie Baysox 10-0 at The Diamond to earn their first home win of the 2025 season.

Marita Golden to share insights from new book at main branch library
Award-winning author and literary activist Marita Golden will visit Richmond on Friday, May 2, for a reading and book signing of her latest work, “How to Become a Black Writer: Creating and Honoring Black Stories That Matter.”

¿Qué Pasa? Festival returns with a celebration of Hispanic heritage
The ¿Qué Pasa? Festival returns to Brown’s Island in Downtown Richmond on May 3, for a day of cultural celebration and community connection.

Richmond diocese holds mass in memory of Pope Francis
Bishop Barry C. Knestout led a Mass at noon today at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, honoring the memory of Pope Francis, who died earlier this week at the age of 88.

RRHA board votes against lease transfer for Gilpin Court
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners voted 5-4 Wednesday to reject a proposed transfer of Gilpin Court, the city’s oldest public housing development, during a meeting at Virginia Union University.

City Council, residents push for changes to Richmond’s 2026 budget
Richmond’s proposed $3 billion budget for 2026 drew scrutiny this week, as City Council members and residents attended a series of meetings to push for changes and raise concerns.

Personality: Christine DeFilippo
Spotlight on the trustee and co-chair of the National MS Society for Richmond Council VA/WV Chapter
Christine DeFilippo’s journey with multiple sclerosis (MS) began while she was on vacation in 2017. She first noticed a tingling sensation in her legs, followed by waves of hot and cold. Soon after, her legs felt like Jell-O, and she eventually woke up unable to walk.

GRTC plans to continue zero-fare policy
Riders won’t have to worry about paying for the bus anytime soon.

Packed meeting highlights division over Fall Line Trail plans
A crowd of more than 200 people gathered in the Richmond Police Training Academy last week, to weigh in on a hotly debated section of the Fall Line Trail planned through Bryan Park.

Federal cuts drive interest in Virginia’s Democratic primaries
New policies affecting the federal bureaucracy and workforce are set to play a central role in Virginia’s 2025 Democratic primaries, observers told VPM News.

Bernice King discusses Fair Housing Act, made law after her father’s murder
Bernice King warns decades of work to reduce inequities in housing is at risk, as the Trump administration cuts funding for projects and tries to reduce funding for nonprofits that handle housing discrimination complaints.
Screening out distractions
If you’re seeing this on your phone or computer, go ahead and take a moment to appreciate the irony — you’re reading about the governor’s call for “Virginia Screen-Free Week”... on a screen.