
Pinkett Smith talks hair loss ‘shame,’ outcome of Oscars slap
Jada Pinkett Smith turned her husband’s Oscar-night blowup into a teachable moment about alopecia areata, the hair loss disorder affecting her and millions of others that, in some cases, can impact a person’s sense of identity.
Tappahannock to remove Confederate figure
Following in Richmond’s footsteps, an Eastern Virginia community is about to remove a Confederate monument that has dominated the courthouse area for more than a century.

Film festival to offer showings at Byrd Theatre and Bowtie Cinema
The Richmond International Film Festival, one of the largest competitive film festivals in the Mid-Atlantic, returns to Richmond June 7 through 12.

Richmond Public Schools announces graduation schedule
In the coming weeks, hundreds of Richmond Public Schools seniors will hit a home run as they cross the stage to receive their diplomas at The Diamond baseball stadium. Scheduled graduations will take place between June 13 and 15.

The need for high-speed internet is on City Council’s agenda
Expanding broadband connections across the city. That is a key goal of City Hall’s new Strategic Plan for Equitable Economic Development or SPEED.

Probe ends of Richmond Electoral Board members
The two Democratic members of the Richmond Electoral Board are keeping their posts following a lengthy probe into their handling of the 2000 presidential election during the COVID-19pandemic. They are James M. Nachman, who chairs the board, and Joyce K. Smith, vice chair, who was re-elected in February.

Covid-19 cases going unreported
Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Virginia and nationally, a gap in reported positive cases has continued throughout Virginia, one that has persisted as the approach to monitoring the worst of the virus and testing for infection has changed and expanded, locally and statewide.

Youngkin snubs lawmakers’ efforts to support tenants
Landlords have always held the upper hand when it comes to evicting people. Republican Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin is keeping it that way, according to advocates for tenants.

Publisher announces new managing editor
I am pleased to announce that Bonnie Newman Davis has been appointed managing editor of the Richmond Free Press following the resignation of Bonnie Winston, who served in that role for seven years. Ms. Davis began her tenure with the Free Press on May 16.

Sidney DuPont finds a ‘powerful, dynamic and necessary’ role
Sidney DuPont knew he’d made the right career decision when musical theater icon Chita Rivera not only threw a shoe at him but also slapped his face.

Will Kendrick Lamar’s new release net win for Warriors?
If Steph Curry is the Golden State Warriors’ good luck charm on the floor, then Kendrick Lamar may be the team’s four-leaf clover off it.

Juneteenth Concert is a ‘Celebration of Freedom’
Juneteenth (or Freedom Day) will be celebrated in its truest sense at St. James’s Episcopal Church at 5 p.m. June 19 at the church, 1205 W. Franklin St. This event features a spectacular “Freedom Day Organ Recital” performed by renowned organist Dr. Carl Haywood, playing music he composed just for the occasion.

Personality: Walter M. Dotts III
Spotlight on board chair of Branch Museum of Architecture
For Walter Maxwell Dotts III, the preservation and improvement of architecture and design in Virginia’s capital has always been a family affair.

Jury indicts Buffalo shooting suspect on terrorism charge
A grand jury on Wednesday charged the white 18-year-old accused of fatally shooting 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket with domestic terrorism motivated by hate and 10 counts of first degree murder.

Making moves
Delegate Don Scott Jr. new Democratic House leader
In just two years, Democratic Delegate Don Scott Jr. has done the extraordinary— leaping from novice legislator to House Minority Leader.

Virginia State University’s new football coach sports impressive record
Well-traveled Henry Frazier III has been given the head coaching whistle at Virginia State University.

ATM access returns to Highland Park
Bank of America has reopened its automated teller machine at its former Highland Park bank building, 1307 E. Brookland Park Blvd., it has been announced.

Richmonders should help police stop violence
It seems that people are becoming numb to all of these killings in Richmond.

Former governor’s behavior ‘baffles and confuses Black people’
In quoting the advice offered to me as a new member of the Richmond City Council in 1978, L. Douglas Wilder said to me, “There are no black issues, only issues that disproportionately affect Black people.”