
Bon Secours expanding in East End
Following through on a three-year plan to expand health services in Richmond’s East End, Bon Secours announced this week the expansion of obstetrics and gynecology services on its Richmond Community Hospital campus, and plans to open a $2 million urgent care center by year’s end.

City in crisis
Richmond reels from mass shooting at graduation
Huguenot High School graduate Shawn D. Jackson, age 18, and his stepfather Renzo R. Smith, 36, were killed when gunfire erupted Tuesday in Monroe Park following a graduation ceremony for Huguenot students at the Altria Theater.

Fox Elementary employee to plead case before School Board
Robin Spears, a 15-year social worker, who has been on paid leave since November 2021 is going to the School Board in hopes the members will reject a recommendation that she be fired for failing to report to a position she said she was never offered.

Black kids face racism before they even start school
To her students who need the most support, India Strother is rarely just “Ms. Strother” — she’s a family figure they call “Mom,” a trusted guide as they negotiate their teenage years.

New leader of Richmond Crusade for Voters
Jerome Legions Jr. is now the former president of the Richmond Crusade for Voters.

Celebrating ‘the voice of Black America’, by Marc H. Morial
“Show me a person who is full of prejudice, and I will show you a sick, unhappy, fearful individual who is not going anywhere and who is not growing. People don’t shut other people out; they fence themselves in.” – Whitney M. Young Jr.

Personality: Elizabeth C. ‘Lizzie’ Childress
Spotlight on Richmond Public Schools 2023 top valedictorian
Lizzie Childress will be recognized as valedictorian at her graduation from Richmond’s Open High School and her 5.2958 GPA also made her the Richmond Public Schools 2023 top valedictorian.

Caught in the crossfire
‘Living in the city of Richmond, too many moms are burying their children’
Kendall Scott, 17, was excited to be graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School on Tuesday, which was to take place shortly after Huguenot High School’s graduation at Richmond’s Altria Theater.

Agnes Wilder Nicholson dies at age 98
Agnes Wilder Nicholson, who spent much of her life in education and civic service, died Saturday, May 6, 2023, at age 98.

Agnes Abuom, global ecumenist, peacemaker and African church leader, dies at 73
Kenya Agnes Abuom, a global ecumenical leader and peacemaker, died on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at the age of 73 while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Nairobi.

Jokic: Denver’s second round sensation
The Denver Nuggets’ historic success of 2023 really began in 2014 with a draft selection that hardly drew a ripple of excitement across the NBA.

Sign of a trailblazer
Several family members, neighbors and friends gathered yesterday for an honorary street renaming of the 5300 block of Marian Street in honor of the late Bettie Elizabeth Boyers Cooper. Mrs. Boyers Cooper was best known for being a plaintiff during the Civil Rights Movement whose federal lawsuit led to the integration of Richmond’s schools.

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

Council waits to hear if another casino vote is in the cards
Second District City Councilwoman Katherine Jordan remains the only opponent of giving Richmond voters a second chance to decide whether the city should be allowed to host a proposed $560 million casino-resort project in the South Side. She was the lone dissenter on Monday as the City Council moved casino-support legislation to the Monday, June 12, meeting for quick passage.

Marita Golden’s prescription for Black women and self-care
Author, educator and literary activist Marita Golden’s 20th book that will be released June 13 builds on her previous book, which pushed back against the idea that Black women have to be strong all the time.

Utility bill assistance
Richmond utility customers who are behind in paying their bills can find out their options at a customer support event on Saturday, June 10, at Henderson Middle School, 4319 Old Brook Road in North Side.

Outdoor concert venue booked for council approval
A 7,500-seat outdoor concert venue that will feature 25 to 30 concerts each season is likely headed to the Richmond riverfront.

Planned Fire Training Center clears final hurdle
The Richmond Fire Department can proceed with building a new training center on a 2-acre section of lawn at Hickory Hill Community Center in South Side, despite the property being zoned as residential.

New police precinct building set for East End
A new First Police Precinct will be built on the parking lot of the Richmond City Justice Center in the 6th Council District, according to information shared with City Council this week.