Holiday closings
In observance of Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25, please note the following closings:
New courts, new spirit
Call it Sharmar “Simba” Hill Jr.’s new house. Last Saturday, a huge, colorful basketball court was dedicated in honor of the 3-year-old who was killed by a stray bullet in February 2020 while playing outside his family’s home in the Hillside Court public housing community in South Side.
Full-time City Council voted down
Forget about it. That’s what a suddenly balky Richmond City Council has decided about a proposal to take control of setting their own salaries so they could be full time.
Officials, volunteers revving up for return of Armstrong-Walker Classic this Saturday
More than 40 years after the last official Armstrong-Walker Classic football game and parade, enthusiastic former teachers and alumni are working with city officials and community volunteers to ensure its successful return this Saturday, Nov. 27.
Wilder, James named to Gov.-elect Youngkin’s transition team
Gov.-elect Glenn A. Youngkin, who won a razor thin victory this month to the state’s top governing post, has organized a transition team that includes former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and Kay Coles James, two people of color.
Jury awards $25M in damages to victims of white nationalist violence in Charlottesville rally
A federal jury in Charlottesville, looking into deadly “Unite the Right” white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in August 2017, found defendants liable in four out of six counts and awarded $25 million in damages, according to media reports on Tuesday.
Desiree Roots joins Virginia Repertory Theatre
Singer, dancer, actor Desirée Roots has been named co-artistic director for community with the Virginia Repertory.
John Marshall High going into new basketball season with confidence, high hopes and strong players
There is a stack of reasons why hoops fans can expect big things this season from Richmond’s John Marshall High School. Let’s start with tradition.
‘They tried to ban one. We’re coming back with a hundred’
Hundreds of pastors both rallied and prayed last week outside the trial of three white men charged in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. They gathered in response to a defense lawyer’s bid to keep Black ministers out of the courtroom.
Rev. William Sterling Cary, first Black president of National Council of Churches, dies at 94
The Rev. William Sterling Cary, a pioneering minister and civil rights activist who was the first Black person in prominent church leadership roles including president of the National Council of Churches, has died, according to family members. He was 94.
Personality: Carlon R. Zanders
Spotlight on board chair of the Children’s Home Society of Virginia
November is National Adoption Month, and the need for permanent, loving homes for children awaiting adoption has never been greater, says Carlon R. Zanders, board chairman of the Children’s Home Society of Virginia.
Two men exonerated in assassination of Malcolm X after more than 50 years
More than half a century after the assassination of Malcolm X, two of his convicted killers were exonerated last week after decades of doubt about who was responsible for the civil rights icon’s death.
Making an impact
Dr. Lillie R. Bennett has been caring for Richmond children in her medical practice for nearly 50 years
Joyce Carter happily drives 40 miles from Caroline County to Richmond so her three adopted children can see one doctor.
City Council takes step towards full-time job with full-time pay
Full-time City Council members? For the first time, Richmond’s governing body is planning to seek authority from the General Assembly to hike the pay of members so they could become full time.
America has a ‘truth’ problem, by David W. Marshall
There are two undisputable facts. First, most people really have little understanding of the true meaning of critical race theory. Second, there is little evidence that CRT is taught in K-12 classes.
Senators graded on defending voting rights, by Marc H. Morial
How much do your senators care about voter suppression? How committed are they to our most sacred constitutional right? What have they done, and what are they willing to do, to defend it?
Investing in people and communities, by Ben Jealous
President Biden and the Democratic Congress have come through with a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package — something the previous president repeatedly promised but never delivered.
Tone deaf and worse
We were stopped cold by the remarks of the Richmond Marathon’s longtime lead coordinator of elite athletes, who, in an interview with the Free Press, offered his thoughts on race organizers not giving prize money to this year’s winners.
Rhiannon Giddens, Taj Mahal and others join ‘Event for the Environment
Fiddler Rhiannon Giddens, a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, bluesman Taj Mahal and more than 200 musical artists will perform next month as part of an online fundraiser for the environment that will be shown on YouTube.
