
VCU offers plan for historic Moore Street School
The historic, but largely vacant Moore Street School — one of the first built for black children in Richmond — could have a new role as a university-run day care center. After months of talks and harsh criticism from community advocates about the building’s deteriorating condition, the Richmond School Board is mulling a proposal from Virginia Commonwealth University to make that happen.

Richmond schools to be closed Jan. 27
Richmond Public Schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 27, because a large number of teachers will be attending the Virginia Education Association’s “Fund Our Future” rally at the State Capitol advocating for more state funding for public schools.

Details of new East End Boys and Girls Club expected next week
Plans to turn a former East End shopping center into a new Boys and Girls Club focused on teenagers are gaining steam. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond is expected next week to provide more details of its plan to redevelop the now vacant Eastlawn Shopping Center into a new teen-centric addition to its offerings.

Monument Avenue group raises $107,000 for Carver Elementary
A new microphone system for the auditorium. Whiteboards and projectors in every classroom. Kidney-shaped desks in each room to allow teachers to work with small groups of children needing extra attention. Those are the kinds of items that soon will be coming to Carver Elementary School, thanks to a successful fundraiser that a nonprofit group conducted on behalf of the school.

RRHA board takes major step to redevelop Creighton Court
New homes and apartments could begin to rise in Creighton Court within one to two years, if the financing can be arranged, according to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

RPS $311.2M budget for 2020-21 unveiled
Superintendent Jason Kamras’ proposed $311.2 million general fund operating budget for the new fiscal year that will begin July 1 received mixed reviews at the Richmond School Board meeting on Monday night.

Pamunkey Tribe launches plan for $350M casino resort in South Side
A Virginia Indian tribe that includes Richmond as part of the territory where tribal ancestors lived and hunted before the English invasion is planning to make a splashy return to this modern city in the form of a $350 million resort hotel and casino.

Duke and Duchess walk away from 'royal highness'
Goodbye, your royal highnesses. Hello, life as — almost— ordinary civilians. Britain’s Prince Harry and his American wife, Meghan Markle, no longer will use the titles “royal highness” or receive public funds for their work under a deal that lets the couple step aside as working royals, Buckingham Palace announced last Saturday.

Trump impeachment trial opens with GOP Senate majority rejecting Dems' attempts to bring in new witnesses
The U.S. Senate plunged into opening arguments Wednesday in President Trump’s impeachment trial, with Democratic House managers detailing the case that the president abused his power and should be removed from office.

Full-court press
Navy Hill District Corp. is pulling out all stops as Feb. 24 vote by City Council on $1.5B Coliseum replacement and Downtown development nears
From robocalls to press conferences, the Navy Hill District Corp. that Dominion Energy top executive Thomas F. Farrell II heads is pulling out all the stops to generate public support for the $1.5 billion Richmond Coliseum replacement plan ahead of the scheduled vote by City Council in late February.

Gun rights demonstration Downtown attracts thousands, fear
Richmond was on high alert Monday, as thousands of people — many with high- powered weapons — flooded Downtown to show their support for gun rights in Virginia as the General Assembly considers gun control measures.

Central Va. African American Chamber of Commerce supports Navy Hill project
The Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce has enthusiastically endorsed the proposed $1.5 billion Navy Hill District Corp. program because the Navy Hill developers have promised to “maximize the capacity” of minority business owners.

Martin Luther King Jr. holiday schedule
In observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 20, please note the following:

ERA passes hurdles toward final approval
Virginia moved to the brink of becoming the crucial 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment on Wednesday in what was seen as a momentous victory by women’s rights advocates, although it is far from certain the measure will be added to the U.S. Constitution.

Planned Parenthood to open clinic in Church Hill
The former home of Edloe’s Pharmacy and Drs. Frank S. and Harry W. Royal’s medical practices in Church Hill is being transformed into a full-service women’s clinic for the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood.

Remembering Dr. King
The nation on Monday, Jan. 20, will celebrate the life, works and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a nation divided, angry and unsure of what to expect and what we should be doing.

Trump’s claims of privilege are above the law
Re Editorial “Trump, Iran and answers,” Free Press Jan. 9-11 edition: The GOP has supported Number 45 for three years in his move to destroy the country. The killing of a contractor in Iraq who made good money for working in a danger zone is not the basis for WWIII. What about the many lives of members of the military who were lost and are going to be lost?

We must listen to the ancestral warriors by A. Peter Bailey
As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, it will be to our advantage to pay much closer attention to serious guidelines from some of our most brilliant and committed ancestral warriors.

Are you safer today? by Dr. E. Faye Williams
We have an impeached president in our country because he has done so much destruction to our country. He has even destroyed who others believe we are.