
Biden nominates Virginia official, former VSU dean, to key USDA post
Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh is heading to Washington to help run the U.S. Department of Agriculture after nearly three years of leading Virginia’s agricultural agency.

Good Samaritan shows there’s hope
On Jan. 16, my brother, sister and I went to World of Beers restaurant in Short Pump to celebrate my brother’s birthday. The atmosphere and food was great.

Time for GOP to examine itself
The violent storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was a repulsive display of evil, not a peaceful demonstration that is emblematic of America, and we condemn it in the strongest terms possible.

Elected officials must be held accountable for Jan. 6
I’m a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Chesterfield. And as someone who gave years of my life to defend our democracy, I must speak out about the disgraceful coup attempt that we witnessed on Jan. 6 in Washington.

Gun prohibition needs to be applied
Once again, citizens of the city of Richmond avoided Downtown on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday as a group of white supremacists smelled their musk and paraded in soldier costumes, flaunting assault weapons, each having a magazine of 30 to 40 bullets.

Movement for justice must not be silent, by Jesse L. Jackson Sr.
On Monday, we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s 91st birthday. On Wednesday, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were inaugurated as president and vice president, promising change after a dark period of division.

Trump must be convicted and barred from holding future office, by Rep. A. Donald McEachin
On Jan. 6, the president of the United States incited a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, fueled by a mob that he urged via social media to come to Washington to “fight like hell” to “stop the steal” and prevent Congress from fulfilling our constitutional duty to certify the election of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

A new day
We revel in the glow surrounding the Jan. 20 inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris, and the historic “firsts” it represents for our nation: Vice President Harris, the highest-ranking woman ever elected in U.S. government; the first woman vice president in the nation’s history; the first African-American and first South Asian ever to become vice president.

6 people, organizations receive awards at VUU’s MLK Community Leaders Celebration
The values of inclusion and diversity, public service, hope and progress were the themes of Virginia Union University’s 43rd Annual Community Leaders Celebration honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Rodman may become household name in soccer world, too
The name Rodman is very familiar to basketball fans. Now don’t be surprised if it becomes well known in the soccer world, too.

Jersey of Willie O’Ree, hockey’s Jackie Robinson, to be retired by Boston Bruins
No one will ever wear No. 22 again for the Boston Bruins. That’s the jersey number Willie O’Ree wore for Boston when he broke the color barrier in the National Hockey League in 1958.

3 former NFL players to join CIAA Hall of Fame
Three former NFL players will be among the inductees into the CIAA’s 2021 John B. McLendon Hall of Fame.

Will Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes be ready to play in AFC final?
Much is known about this NFL season after hundreds of games and five grueling months of popping pads. But it is the unknown that’s likely to spark the most conversation leading into the conference championships this Sunday, Jan. 24.

Rev. William Barber II to preach at inaugural interfaith prayer service
The Washington National Cathedral will host a virtual iteration of its traditional interfaith worship service on Thursday, Jan. 21, the day after the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Activist and pastor the Rev. William Barber II will preach the sermon.

Sandra K. Martin, assistant superintendent of the James River Juvenile Detention Center, dies at 63
Sandra Kaye Martin, who spent nearly 35 years helping troubled youths in the Richmond region find the pathway to success, has died. Ms. Martin, 63, succumbed to illness on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021.

Doris E. Day, a longtime educator and librarian, dies at 71
Doris Day influenced the lives of thousands of children as a teacher and school librar- ian for more than 40 years in Richmond and Chesterfield County.

Two-night MLK symposium to feature community leaders panel
A two-night, virtual public symposium on the topic “Strength- ening the Black Community: Where Do We Go From Here?” will be held 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, and Tuesday, Jan. 26, it has been announced.

Chesterfield Judge Pamela O’Berry in jeopardy of losing seat on bench
Judge Pamela O’Berry, currently the longest-serving Black judge in Chesterfield County, is facing removal after 12 years on the bench in Chesterfield General District Court.

Va. Senate moving against GOP Sen. Amanda Chase
The state Senate is lowering the hammer on GOP Sen. Amada Chase of Chesterfield for speaking and whipping up the crowd at a pro-Trump rally in Washington on Jan. 6 before the mob stormed the U.S. Capitol.