Personality: Shantell J. Chambliss
Spotlight on board president of the nonprofit Oakwood Arts Inc.
At the end of East Broad Street in the Oakwood neighborhood is Oakwood Arts Inc., a nonprofit focused on teaching creative skills to youths, building new career opportunities and increasing diversity across multiple fields. For the children of the neighborhood, Oakwood Arts is an avenue to learn and grow, even during a pandemic.
Weldon Edwards planted seeds as first black football player 50 years ago at UR
“Last August the University of Richmond signed its first Negro football player, Weldon Edwards,” so wrote Mark Holpe of The Collegian, UR’s campus newspaper, in 1970.
Think of groundbreaker George Taliaferro during NFL draft
George Taliaferro was a game changer regarding the NFL draft. He also took versatility to a higher level.
Former John Marshall player Isaiah Todd jumps from high school to pros
Petersburg native Moses Malone pioneered the term “Preps to Pros” in August 1974. Now former Richmonder Isaiah Todd is a pacesetter in a new option to bypass college basketball and fast break straight from high school to dunking for dollars.
Safety first in watching out for pedestrians
This is a request to skateboarders and electric scooter riders: Please slow down, watch out for pedestrians and give plenty of alert to people you are passing.
Suggestions to curb COVID-19 transmission at nursing homes
I have been a medical professional, having completed an internal medicine and pulmonary fellowship, and was one of the first hospitalists in Hampton Roads until 2004. Since then, I have been the medical director for long-term care, or LTC, facilities and a hospice organization, practicing medicine to ensure the well-being of our aging population. Unfortunately, this population is the most vulnerable for having fatal outcomes from the coronavirus.
Thoughts on identifying asymtomatic spread of COVID-19
In order to systematically detect the presence of an invisible asymptomatic pathogen like COVID-19, you must deploy a multilayered systematic approach to identifying the problem and eradicating it.
No time for Sisyphus leadership
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world much devastation, with a climbing death rate, grocery hoarding and lack of community closeness. However, it also has given us many heroes through their selfless acts.
Time to correct the disparities
It’s no exaggeration to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has upended Virginians’ lives. We’re practicing new routines — like social distancing, obsessive hand washing, preparing kids for a day of remote learning and sewing masks — while grappling with difficult, new economic realities and the constant fear of becoming sick during a time when health care resources are limited.
Money vs. lives
We hope Virginia officials won’t be swayed by the small, but noisy group of protesters pushing for a reopening of businesses, schools and other public and private facilities in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 testing in Richmond’s high-risk communities
With data showing that COVID-19 is disproportionately infecting and killing African-Americans in Richmond and across the state, we were pleased to learn late last week that city health officials were going to step up efforts to provide testing in the city’s largely black, high-poverty areas.
Virus testing expands in state prisons with push from advocates
The Virginia Department of Corrections has ramped up testing of inmates and prison staff and stepped up parole consideration as state legislators and advocacy groups pressure authorities to stop the spread of COVID-19 inside state prisons.
Student learning continues via VA TV Classroom on public television stations
Richmond area students can tune into teacher-led classroom instruction on TV thanks to a new initiative by Virginia’s public media stations.
Area meal programs feed first responders, help restaurants
City Hall is planning to pump more than $500,000 over the next two months into Richmond-based restaurants that serve meals to Richmond police officers, firefighters and ambulance staff.
City, Henrico health districts start COVID-19 testing in targeted areas
The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free, walk-in COVID-19 testing targeted to people in low-income communities of color who do not have health insurance or whose insurance does not cover COVID-19.
Richmond Convention Center not needed for auxiliary pandemic hospital
The plan to convert the Greater Richmond Convention Center into an emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients has been sidelined for now, according to Dr. Danny Avula, director of the Richmond City and Henrico County Health districts.
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
These two views document that mask wearing and social distancing do not appear to be common practices among some Richmond Police officers.
Waiver of penalties and interest on late real estate and vehicle taxes in works
Richmonders are being promised some relief as they face a Friday, June 5, deadline for paying city taxes on real estate and vehicles.
Richmond School Board grapples with $24.5M budget shortfall
The Richmond School Board is holding a special meeting 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23, to continue discussing how to handle a $24.5 million shortfall in the proposed 2020-21 budget from the loss of city revenue stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
City to step up housing aid with $4.3M in federal funding
Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced Tuesday that Richmond will use an infusion of federal cash and city funds to pour $5.8 million into emergency housing for homeless people, the creation of more housing and services to those at risk of eviction when courts resume action on cases, possibly on Monday, May 18.
