
Judgment day
Court orders RPS to release Sands Anderson report; findings show negligence
The external report by the Sands Anderson law firm regarding the June 6, 2023 shooting after the Huguenot High School graduation at the Altria Theater was ordered to be released to the public by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

As diversity, equity and inclusion comes under legal attack, companies quietly alter their programs
Sophia Danner-Okotie’s has ambitious plans for her Nigerian-inspired clothing line but a sense of dread has punctured her optimism as she watches a legal battle being waged against a small venture capital firm that has provided funding instrumental to her boutique brand’s growth.

Personality: Todd B. Waldo
Spotlight on Better Housing Coalition board chairman
When Todd B. Waldo moved to Virginia in 2002, he wanted to establish a life and home to work with students at Hampton University while continuing his career as a touring musician. Ten years later, another calling arrived when he discovered the work of the Richmond Better Housing Coalition.

Retired Armstrong High School teacher Conrad L. Dandridge, 87, remembered
Conrad Lewis “Mr. D” Dandridge spent more than 35 years teaching and mentoring countless students at Armstrong High School from which he graduated.

Double your pleasure at VSU-VUU Classic
Let Freedom ring. Doors open at 2 p.m. Saturday for the annual Freedom Classic Festival that combines basketball with numerous community and cultural activities.

Community leaders, elected officials and public celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy
The lilting sounds of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” performed by the Virginia Union University Choir helped set the stage for the 46th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leaders Celebration on Friday, Jan. 10.

Virginia Opera presents Damien Geter’s “Cotton”
Virginia Opera describes its presentation of Damien Geter’s song cycle, “Cotton,” as a “powerful fusion of music and poetry inspired by the captivating photography of acclaimed Philadelphia artist John Dowell.”

She’s a winner!
Tranelle Pollard is the 2024 RPS Teacher of the Year
Tranelle Pollard, lead school counselor at Dogwood Middle School, has been selected as the Richmond Public Schools 2024 Teacher of the Year.

Early voting for president
Early voting in Virginia’s March 5 presidential primaries is to begin on Friday, Jan. 19, and continue through Saturday, March 2, it has been announced.

New urgent care centers coming to fruition
Church Hill is moving closer to the opening of its first urgent care center.

Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:

City moves access revenue that results in $12.6M surplus
The city of Richmond’s financial team moved $30 million in excess revenue from the 2022-23 fiscal year to the city’s savings account to refund expenses and then officially announced a $12.6 million surplus from the fiscal year that ended June 30.

City receives excellent credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s
S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings have affirmed the City of Richmond’s ratings at AA+, Aa1, and AA+, respectively, according to City officials. The rating agencies commended Richmond for its very strong economic growth, attention to increasing reserves, and sound and conservative financial management and policies.

School Board election shakeup
After six years on the School Board, Kenya Gibson is seeking to move up to City Council.

Highland Grove development to restart
City Council has cleared the way for the re-start of a shut-down subdivision that is to bring 122 affordable homes to North Side.

Celebrating the legacy of L. Douglas Wilder, the nation’s first elected African-American governor
Two events this week are about recognizing and honoring the leadership and service of Richmonder L. Douglas Wilder, a lawyer and politician who became the nation’s first elected African-American governor when he won Virginia’s gubernatorial race in 1989.

City Hall offers some reforms on tax collections
Amid the uproar over meals-tax collections, City Hall is rolling out a multiple-step plan in a bid to ease complaints.

Richmond church burns
A devastating fire Jan. 9 appears to have dashed the hopes of the congregation of Seventh Street Memorial Baptist Church of returning to their long vacant “home location” in the Highland Park neighborhood in North Side.

Anita G. Lester, former lawyer with Hill, Tucker & Marsh, dies at 64
Anita Gene Lester,65, is being remembered as a caring lawyer who spent part of her career defending those accused of crimes and part of her career prosecuting them.

Pharrell Williams’ sophomore collection at Louis Vuitton showcases Americana and Native American spirit
It was Wild West meets melting pot America at the Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2024 men’s show Tuesday, where musician-turned-designer Pharrell Williams unveiled his highly-anticipated