
Changes in Youngkin administration
Kay Coles James has stepped down as Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Harold W. Clarke is retiring as director of the state’s prison system. The departure of the two senior Black state officials will usher in new leadership at several agencies in Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin’s administration.

Groups agree to disagree
Gun violence talks bear limited resolve
It may have been discouraging, but we’re not discouraged.’ — The Rev. Don Coleman

Jacksonville shootings refocus attention on city’s racist past and the struggle to move on
By some measures, Jacksonville was making strides to emerge from its racist past. But the killing of three Black people by a young, white shooter was a painful and startling reminder that the remnants of racism still fester in the Florida city.

University of North Carolina graduate student left building right after killing adviser, police say
A University of North Carolina graduate student walked into a classroom building, shot his faculty adviser and quickly left, authorities said a day after the attack paralyzed the campus as police searched for the gunman.

Judge holds Giuliani liable in Georgia election workers’ defamation case and orders him to pay fees
A federal judge on Wednesday held Rudy Giuliani liable in a defamation lawsuit brought by two Georgia election workers who say they were falsely accused of fraud, entering a default judgment against the former New York mayor and ordering him to pay tens of thousands of dollars in lawyers’ fees.

Noah Lyles, Sha’Carri Richardson and lots of unknowns as track gets ready for Paris Olympics
In some ways, track and field served up a tantalizing preview of what’s to come next year at the Paris Olympics. In others, the sport left the nine-day world championships with as many questions as answers.

Thousands gather for March on Washington’s 60th anniversary
Thousands of people assembled near the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 26 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, paying tribute to the historic civil rights gathering led by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while voicing new frustrations with political extremism that threatens racial progress.

Black women benefit from more mind, body, spirit practices
Khepera Sankara was at rock bottom when she attended her first yoga class in 2013. It was an Ashtanga class taught by yoga teacher Robbie Norris as part of a program that brought yoga to the Richmond City Jail, where Ms. Sankara was incarcerated for shoplifting. “It was a godsend,” she said in a recent phone interview. “I found it so profoundly transformational. Just the physical practice helped change my

Labor Day 2023 closings
In observance of the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 4, please note the following:

Richmond’s bike share program back in business
Richmond’s bicycle rental system is back in business, with free rides being offered through the end of the year to re-energize, raise awareness and boost interest.

New principals appointed at RPS schools
Richmond Public Schools welcomed one new principal and five new interim principals with the start of a new school year and Superintendent Jason Kamras used his daily newsletter, RPS Direct, to give each of the appointees a brief introduction last Thursday.

Labor Day holiday prompts no public celebrations for City workers now represented by unions
Cookouts, parties at breweries and restaurants and free admission to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Those are among the events planned for Labor Day in Richmond on Monday, Sept. 4, according to websites listing events. Missing from the list are parades, celebrations or other activities related to working people and labor unions — even though this holiday was created to celebrate workers.

RPS lunch times to be extended
The Richmond School Board unanimously approved a motion during their meeting Monday evening for a minimum 20-minute seated lunch time.

Pollen counts Richmond a top 25 attraction
If you are coughing and sneezing more than previous summers: you are not alone. Richmonders are feeling the effects of summer heat and worsening allergies.

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

VCU Health’s Bridging the Gap program receives $5M grant for community violence intervention initiatives
Bridging the Gap, a VCU Health program geared toward community violence intervention at the bedside and in the community, was among six recipients of a $5 million grant to sustain the work of hospital-based community violence intervention programs (HVIPs) in Virginia.

10 drugs targeted for Medicare price negotiations as Biden pitches cost reductions
President Biden touted the potential cost savings of Medicare’s first-ever price negotiations for widely used prescription drugs on Tuesday as he struggles to convince Americans that he’s improved their lives as he runs for reelection.

National Recovery Month program
A Church Hill restaurant is teaming with Richmond area playwright and author Raymond Goode to mark September as National Recovery Month in the city, it has been announced.

Science Museum’s space exhibit closing
Richmonders interested in space and how astronauts survive it have just a few days to experience it at the Science Museum of Virginia, as the “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience” exhibition will end on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4.

Oh ye of little faith
Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin and Attorney General Jason S. Miyares both profess to be men of Christian faith, which calls on adherents to be accepting of people no matter their status, resources or appearance. So why do they take such comfort supporting the oppression of transgender people?