Clarence Avant, ‘Black Godfather’ of entertainment, and benefactor of athletes and politicians, dies
Clarence Avant, the judicious manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the “Black Godfather” of music and beyond, has died. He was 92.
GRTC increasing drivers, ridership
GRTC is starting to fill driver vacancies and could have a full complement of 300 drivers before the end of the year based on current recruitment, according to a report to the regional transit company’s board Tuesday.
Plunky & Oneness at the Kennedy Center
Richmond funk group Plunky & Oneness will offer a free concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, it has been announced.
Glen Lea teacher receives health and physical education award after facing personal health challenges
When diagnosed with heart failure during the 2021-2022 school year, Glen Lea Elementary School educator Dexter Price did not plan to continue teaching.
Robinson’s size and speed commands attention in D.C.
Brian Robinson Jr.’s rookie season in Washington couldn’t have started much worse. Nor could it have ended with much more promise.
Dr. Evora W. Jones, who mentored authors and educators at VUU, dies at age 88
Dr. Evora Williams Jones, a retired English professor at Virginia Union University who focused on Southern women writers, has died.
Longtime RPS educator Eleanor R. Binford remembered
Eleanor Redd Binford influenced hundreds of elementary schoolchildren during the 35 years she taught in Richmond Public Schools.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
Afro-Puerto Rican orchestra Kadencia appears on Apple TV+ Series ‘Swagger’
Virginia-based Afro-Puerto Rican orchestra, Kadencia, appears in Season 2, Episode 7 of the Apple TV+ series “Swagger.”
I-95 Express Lanes, Fredericksburg extension open
New road estimated to save drivers 35 minutes when coming from D.C. during rush hour
A new, 10-mile extension of the 95 Express Lanes to Fredericksburg opens to mainline traffic late on Aug. 17, according to the Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin administration.
Arthur Ashe Center agreement reached
A potential roadblock for the projected $2.4 billion Diamond District development appears to have been cleared, the Free Press has learned, though questions remain on other aspects.
Judge suspends order to put casino issue on Nov. ballot
A Richmond judge will decide whether to allow a charitable gaming group to challenge the constitutionality of the city’s selection of a casino operator and potentially prevent a planned vote on whether to have a casino in the Nov. 7 general election.
What’s in a name?
Richmond has gone to considerable expense to get rid of its public display of affection for its Confederate and slavery past.
Defend democracy, demand diversity, defeat poverty, by Marc H. Morial
“For more than 100 years, this organization has worked to bring our country together in coalition in the collective fight for the freedom, rights, and justice of all people. ... We know we have more work to do, being clear-eyed about the moment we are in - a moment when state by state in places like Texas and Florida, extremist so-called leaders attack hard-won rights and freedoms.” — Vice President Kamala Harris, National Urban League 2023 Conference
Vaccines provide hope and care, by Bel-Kelly Russo
Seven years after my father passed, I recently experienced an unexpected emotion: Hope.
Jay-Z’s Made in America fest canceled
Fans spot rapper, producer during wife Beyoncé’s performance at Fedex Field
Jay-Z’s annual Made in America festival, scheduled for next month in Philadelphia, has been canceled.
Hot and unhoused
Councilwoman urges city to open shelter for disabled people, families and children; Efforts to ‘expand the safety net’ for homeless coming early September, says official
Staying outdoors in the summer heat “is no fun,” said Thomas Bateman, a disabled factory worker. The bedraggled 63-year-old Richmonder hasn’t been able to find an affordable place to stay in the city, and his only income, a government disability check, allows him to pay for a motel stay just one night a month.
Charles Ogletree, longtime legal and civil rights scholar at Harvard Law School, dies at 70
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a law professor and civil rights scholar with a distinguished career at Harvard Law School, and whose list of clients ranged from Anita Hill to Tupac Shakur, died Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 70.
Millions struggle to pay AC bills in heat waves
Federal aid reaches only a fraction
Bobbie Boyd is in a losing battle against near triple-digit temperatures in Northwest Arkansas.
