
Do the right thing Alabama, by Marc H. Morial
“We are not aware of any other case in which a state legislature — faced with a federal court order declaring that its electoral plan unlawfully dilutes minority votes and requiring a plan that provides an additional opportunity district — responded with a plan that the state concedes does not provide that district.” – U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division

Panthers cruising into homecoming
What more could you ask for? Virginia Union University has the wind at its back, a full head of steam and arguably the nation’s top running back heading into homecoming weekend.

Armstrong Walker Football Classic Legacy exhibit opens at Richmond’s Black History Museum
The Armstrong Walker Football Classic Legacy Project has returned to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia with a new exhibit that will run until Nov. 22. During the exhibit visitors will view artifacts that help explore the history of the sports rivalry between Maggie L. Walker High School and Armstrong High School.

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

Private school’s closure leaves students without a classroom
The sudden closure of Richmond-based Metropolitan Day School has left some disabled public schools students in the lurch.

Biden condemns Hamas for ‘unadulterated evil’
President Joe Biden on Tuesday condemned the militant group Hamas for “sheer evil” for its shocking multi-pronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.

Personality: Zarina Fazaldin
Spotlight on Richmond Folk Festival Programming Committee Chair
Zarina Fazaldin left her family in Tanzania to complete high school and earn her bachelor’s degree in India before coming to Richmond to pursue post graduate studies. Back then, her dream job was to work at the United Nations. More than 30 years later, Ms. Fazaldin still lives in Richmond, a city that she loves and considers her own. Her friends in Richmond have become family, she says.

More states are teaching financial literacy
Inside a high school classroom, Bryan Martinez jots down several purchases that would require a short-term savings plan: shoes, phone, headphones, clothes, and food. His medium-term financial goals take a little more thought, but he settles on a car — he doesn’t have one yet — and vacations. Peering way into his future, the 18-year-old also imagines saving money to buy a house, start his own business, retire and perhaps provide any children with a college fund.

Fire Department 40-year veteran Earl Dyer dies
‘He was a dedicated public servant,’ Fire Chief Carter said
Battalion Chief Earl Dyer of the Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services is being remembered as a “consummate professional and a man of the highest integrity” following his death after experiencing a medical emergency at work.

Black support for Deion Sanders and Colorado is just as much about representation as it is wins
One of Trevon Hamlet’s core memories from attending the University of Colorado is living on campus his freshman year and being able to count on one hand how many Black people he’d see in a day.

Annual checkup
A year after scathing New York Times article, Bon Secours’ prescription for East End community includes jobs, training, upgraded facilities
Richmond Community Hospital continues to buzz with construction as its owner, Bon Secours, builds up operations at the East End health care center.

VUU’s Byers back on fast track
Phew! Virginia Union University football fans can breathe a sigh of relief and wipe their brows. Jada Byers is back in the saddle, meaning the rest of the CIAA may fear being trampled.

Driven
Program helps residents regain driver’s licenses, better quality of life
Perry Whitaker is on the road to rebuilding his life.

Va. Dems call on Justice Department to investigate removals from voter rolls
Virginia’s Democratic Congressional delegation has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate reports that eligible Virginia voters were removed from the voter rolls by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration, and to determine whether any violations of the Voting Rights Act or other federal laws were committed.

Fairfield meeting to feature local candidates, Thornton’s farewell message
Henrico County Board of Supervisors Chairman and Fairfield District Supervisor Frank J. Thornton will hold his final Fairfield Constituent Meeting on Monday, Oct. 16, to highlight local candidates in the Nov. 7 general election and to share a farewell message as he prepares to retire.

VCU class creates story maps of 2 historic Black cemeteries
Graduate students in a Virginia Commonwealth University class have created online story maps of two historic Black burial grounds, the Cemeteries of Barton Heights in Richmond and Woodland Cemetery in Henrico County.

Unstoppable Simone Biles wraps up world championships
Simone Biles was not too worried about the medal count, or the color of the medals, at the gymnastics world championships this week. That approach has sure paid off.

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

Flu fight
Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and other local officials gathered Tuesday at the Bon Secours Sarah Jones Garland Center for Healthy Living at Richmond Community Hospital to encourage Virginians young and old to receive a seasonal flu shot to protect themselves and others from illness.