
Boston’s new mayor marks historic ‘firsts’ leading city
Boston has a new mayor. Kim Janey, who took office on Monday, became the first African-American and first woman to lead the city.

UR discussion seeks healing from history
Amid a growing controversy over the names of buildings on the University of Richmond campus, college associates joined students and a national and local audience Tuesday night in an online discussion on how to approach Confederate memorials, the history they represent and healing from that history.

State of segregationist Harry F. Byrd Sr. to be moved in July from Capitol Square
The statue of Harry F. Byrd Sr., a former Virginia governor, U.S. senator and arch-segregationist, is to be removed from Capitol Square in July, thanks to a bill signed into law March 18 by Gov. Ralph S. Northam.

City Public Defender’s Office gets award, no pay supplement
The Richmond Public Defender’s Office received high praise Monday night from City Council.

Tax amnesty application deadline March 31
A month long tax amnesty program for Richmond property owners will expire next Wednesday, March 31.

New coalition offers blueprint for more affordable housing
A coalition of Richmond groups is advancing a policy agenda they hope can be a blueprint for City Hall’s efforts to reduce evictions and make affordable apartments and homes more available.

High cost of defense
Everett L. Bolling Jr. tries to piece his life back together after winning in court but losing everything in a murder case
Eight months ago, Everett L. Bolling Jr., 37, seemed to have it all.

Comedian Micah ‘Bam-Bamm’ White celebrates 25 years in the business with benefit show
For two and a half decades, Micah “Bam- Bamm” White has been using his comedic talent to contribute to the Richmond community.

’March Madness’ turns to ‘Spring Sadness’ for VCU Rams
Virginia Commonwealth University traveled to the NCAA Big Dance hoping to kick up its heels and stay for a while.

Bishop J. Drew Sheard named new presiding bishop of Church of God in Christ
A Detroit bishop of the Church of God in Christ has been named the new presiding bishop of the nation’s largest historically Black Pentecostal denomination.

Lela Saberna Morris, longtime RPS personnel specialist, succumbs at 97
Lela Saberna Morris spent more than 40 years as a teacher and personnel specialist with Richmond Public Schools, but her road to a career in education was harder than most.

Personality: Dr. Pamela Kiecker Royall
Spotlight on first woman board chair of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Dr. Pamela Kiecker Royall is breaking ground in her newest role as the first female board chair for the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, a leadership post to which she was elected in January. And she is intent on making sure that the museum on Arthur Ashe Boulevard is “relevant and meaningful for diverse audiences.”

Irv Cross, star of football and sports broadcasting, dies at 81
Irv Cross, the NFL All-Pro cornerback who became a trailblazing broadcaster, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in North Oaks, Minn. Mr. Cross was 81.

COVID-19 scams on the rise, by Nina Mohan
Scammers are taking advantage of the confusion surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and using it as an opportunity to prey on consumers anxious to get their shots.

Black Americans want vaccine
“They’ve read all this stuff rate is half the white rate. Black people who don’t intend online, from different news sources, which is confusing. But then they meet me, as someone who has had the shot, and I can give them some real answers.”— Armando Mateos of Working Partnerships USA, a Silicon Valley-based community organization working to help dispel misinformation about the pandemic and vaccines.

‘They don’t want our souls at the polls’, by Julianne Malveaux
The Souls to the Polls movement encourages African-American church attendees to get out and vote. The churches that promote this movement cannot, because of their 501(c)(3) status, endorse candidates. They can, however, emphasize the gospel of social and economic justice and preach the gospel of civic participation.

Getting to the other side
One year ago this week, COVID-19 stealthily came into our community and upended our lives. It has been a hard year.