
Voting begins this week in Virginia's Democratic presidential primary
The first votes in the Democratic presidential primary in Virginia will be cast this week — 45 days before the scheduled March 3 primary election across the state.

Mayor withdraws proposal to change definition of 'emerging small businesses'
A proposal to redefine City Hall’s definition of “emerging small businesses” has been scrapped following a Free Press report last week highlighting the potential detriment the change could create for city-based businesses seeking city contracts.

Mayor's State of the City address scheduled for Jan. 28
Mayor Levar M. Stoney plans to deliver his third State of the City address 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., his office announced.

Salvation Arms headquarters move to North Side has clear path from City Council
The Salvation Army appears to have won its nine-month battle to move its Central Virginia headquarters and shelter program from Downtown to North Side after the main opponent, 3rd District Councilman Chris A. Hilbert, dropped his opposition.

Bill would set up regional transportation authority and generate $ for public projects, including GRTC transfer station
A proposal that could generate tens of millions of dollars for roads and GRTC transit service in Richmond and eight other localities in the region is working its way through the General Assembly.

Beauty and brains
Miss America shows Carver students how royalty and science mix
Wearing a white lab coat adorned with sequins, goggles and a sparkling crown, newly crowned Miss America Camille Schrier demonstrated mad science as she mesmerized an excited and cheering group of Carver Elementary School fourth-graders Wednesday at the Science Museum of Virginia.

Gov. Northam issues temporary weapons ban
Fearing a repeat of the deadly violence that engulfed Charlottesville more than two years ago, Gov. Ralph S. Northam declared a temporary state of emergency Wednesday that would ban all weapons, including guns, knives, sticks, bats, chains and projectiles, from Capitol Square through the weekend and until Tuesday.

Serena Williams wins Auckland Classic; donates money to help bushfire victims
Former world No. 1 tennis star Serena Williams won the World Tennis Association’s Auckland Classic last Sunday — her first title since 2017 — and immediately donated her prize money to aid victims of Australia’s deadly bushfires.

Independence day: Queen blesses Harry's and Meghan's exit as senior royals
Queen Elizabeth has reluctantly agreed to the wish of her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, former American actress Meghan Markle, for a more independent future after the British royal family held crisis talks on Monday to resolve a widening rift among the Windsors.

Not here
Virginia Union University rescinds permission for outside group to use campus facility for Trump event
Virginia Union University on Tuesday pulled out of allowing a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration after learning the private group arranging the event planned to bring President Trump to the campus to be honored.

Mayor, Navy Hill officials try to sweeten the pot for $1.5B Coliseum plan approval
Can a series of revisions save the massive $1.5 billion Coliseum replacement and Downtown redevelopment plan that for months has appeared to be headed for rejection by Richmond City Council?

In deep: IRS filings show Dominion Energy committed $20M over 20 years for naming rights for a new Coliseum
Dominion Energy is more entwined in the $1.5 billion Coliseum replacement and Downtown redevelopment proposal than previously disclosed.

Readers weigh in on Coliseum and Downtown development proposal
Re: “Thumbs down: City Council-appointed advisory commission rejects $1.5B Coliseum and Downtown redevelopment plan after 3-month review,” Free Press Dec. 26-28 edition:

Emancipation Proclamation still under attack, by Jesse L. Jackson Sr.
Jan. 1 marked the anniversary of a new America. On Jan. 1, 1863, as the Civil War approached the end of its second year, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are and henceforward shall be free.”

The next debate, by Julianne Malveaux
Democrats started this presidential campaign season with more than 20 candidates. Eventually, it dropped to about a dozen, with, so far, only five of those “qualified” to appear on the next debate stage this month.

Trump, Iran and answers
Now that President Trump has pushed America to the brink of war in the Middle East, we want answers.

Opportunity time
The 2020 Virginia General Assembly session started on Wednesday with several historic markers of note.

Johnson Publishing artwork going on auction block
Bankrupt Johnson Publishing Co., the former owner of Ebony and JET magazines, will sell off art that once decorated the company’s Chicago headquarters. Among the art to be auctioned Jan. 30 at a New York gallery will be paintings, sculptures and other works from 75 African-American artists.

Local premiere of 'The Unity Ride' on Jan. 16
“The Unity Ride,” a new documentary from Richmond’s Soulidifly Productions about two cyclists traveling an old slave escape route on the Underground Railroad, is to premiere 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., it has been announced.