VSU 'Trojan Express' rolls over Shaw; now heading to Elizabeth City
All aboard the Trojan Express. It’s hard to say what’s rumbling louder nowadays — Virginia State University’s offense or the Amtrak trains passing within earshot of campus.
VUU trounces Livingstone 44-0; heads to rumble in Pa. this Saturday
Traditionally, schools try and book a “sure win” for homecoming to please the returning alumni. Not so this Saturday, Oct. 12, when the CIAA heavyweight Virginia Union University Panthers go up against Lincoln University of Pennsylvania for the Lions’ homecoming.
Architect for black history museum in D.C. wins another big commission
The project was an architect’s dream and a potential nightmare: Design a tripartite worship space — to include a Catholic church, a synagogue and a mosque — in the heart of the conflict-ridden Middle East, in order to promote tolerance and at the same time reflect the three great Abrahamic faiths, which are so often at loggerheads.
Friends of East End Cemetery wins $25,000 grant
Volunteers who have worked since 2013 to reclaim one of Richmond’s historic and formerly neglected African-American cem- eteries are in high spirits after getting a new financial boost to their efforts to restore and archive a part of black history.
Trailblazing actress Diahann Carroll succumbs to cancer at 84
Diahann Carroll, a versatile singer and stage actress who quietly blazed a trail for African-American women on American television in the late 1960s by playing a widowed nurse and single mother in “Julia,” died Friday, Oct. 4, 2019.
Margaret Rodgers, retired teacher and tech guru for RPS, dies at 75
Margaret Aurelia “Rea” Rodgers was a teacher’s teacher in Richmond Public Schools when it came to computers and technology.
Personality: Robert Dunham
Spotlight on Richmond teacher and founder of ‘Be the Change RVA’
Robert Dunham proves that when it comes to teachers, he’s a cut above the rest.
Some see rush to forgive as rush to forget racial violence
When a white Dallas police officer who killed an innocent African-American man in his own living room was sent off to prison last week with a hug from the victim’s brother and the African-American judge on the case, some saw it as a moment of amazing grace and redemption. Many African-Americans, though, saw something all too familiar and were offended.
Joshua Brown, key witness in Botham Jean case, fatally shot
Dallas authorities are insisting that the slaying of Joshua Brown, a key witness in the murder trial of a former Dal- las police officer, was part of a drug deal gone bad and not connected to his testimony in the case against Botham Jean’s killer.
Independent commission to redraw City Council districts?
An independent commission might redraw the boundaries of City Council districts following the upcoming 2020 Census.
Lt. Gov. Fairfax files amended suit in $400M defamation case
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax’s lawsuit against CBS took another turn last week, when an amended lawsuit was filed Oct. 3, asserting that Richmond allies of a chief political rival, Mayor Levar M. Stoney, helped spread what he has called a “false” charge of sexual assault.
Mayor to initiate gun reporting and distracted driving legislation
Mayor Levar M. Stoney wants to fine people who fail to report a lost or stolen firearm within 24 hours and also crack down on drivers who are paying too much attention to their mobile phones.
Carver Elementary students get new footwear
Carver Elementary School in Richmond had a banner day on Sept. 19. A cadre of businessmen surprised an assembly of the school’s 80 third-graders with new sneakers.
City Council works on plan to divvy up $17M surplus
Retired city employees are virtually guaranteed to gain the first cost-of-living increase in their pensions in at least a decade.
In city, state money for street maintenance used for more than streets
Every year, Richmond receives about $28 million from the state for street maintenance. But it turns out virtually all of that money goes to maintain everything about a street but the asphalt, according to Bobby Vincent, director of the city Department of Public Works.
$15M repaving effort underway in city
Cityscape: Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
The promised extra money is starting to flow into repaving streets across the city.
VSU Trojan Explosion Marching Band suspended amid hazing allegations
All perfomances of the Virginia State University’s marching band have been suspended following allegations of hazing by band members, university officials said Monday.
Mayor Stoney throws over Columbus to proclaim Oct. 14 Indigenous Peoples' Day
Richmond has long refused to recognize the annual federal Columbus Day holiday that will fall on Monday, Oct. 14, to remember the European explorer Christopher Columbus who “discovered” America.
Bad for grads
Richmond Public Schools’ 70.6% on-time graduation rate is lowest in Virginia
Richmond Public Schools had the lowest graduation rate in Virginia last June.
VUU pulls out a win in last 21 seconds
The Virginia Union University Panthers have played like Houdini in their last two outings, escaping disaster on their home field. This Saturday, Oct. 5, the Panthers hope to take that magic to Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C., in a battle of CIAA championship contenders. In sports jargon, there’s winning by a nose, by a hair, even by a split second. In defeating Winston-Salem State University last Saturday, VUU won by an instep — that of soccer-style kicker Jefferson Souza. The final score: 16-15. The Brazilian born Souza booted three field goals during the game at Hovey Field, most dramatically a game-winning 25-yard field goal with a mere 21 seconds left. VUU fans are getting accustomed to being nervous. The week before, the heavily favored Panthers weren’t assured victory over Johnson C. Smith University until Sterling Hammond’s interception and touchdown return in the game’s closing minute. Jarrett Sumiel was the Panthers’ late-game defensive savior against Winston-Salem State. The defensive back from Westmoreland blocked a Rams punt with 1:52 to go and recovered on the Winston-Salem State 19-yard line. That set up Souza’s decisive kick that pushed VUU’s record to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the CIAA. Tabyus Taylor led the Panthers’ ground-and-pound running game with 76 bullish yards. The junior from Hopewell also caught two passes for 30 yards and returned a kickoff for 58 yards. Panthers quarterback Khalid Morris hit 11 of 14 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown to former Highland Springs High star Jaiden Reavis. Tyrone Glanton and Hammond spearheaded the Panthers’ defense against Winston-Salem State. Glanton, a graduate student from Miami, was in on eight tackles and has 31 stops for the year. Hammond, arguably the CIAA’s top NFL prospect in years, had seven tackles against the Rams and has 40 for the season. Like VUU, upcoming opponent Livingstone College also is enjoying life on the gridiron. The Blue Bears are 4-0, with wins over Chowan University, Elizabeth City State University, Allen University of Columbia, S.C., and most recently a 35-19 victory over Lincoln University. Livingstone travels best by the arm of quarterback Miles Hayes. The Miami native has hit 68 percent of his passes. He averages 204 yards through the air with eight touchdowns. Livingstone appears to be on the uptick under fifth-year Coach Daryl Williams. The Blue Bears were 0-10 in 2017 and 3-6 a year ago, including a 52-19 loss to VUU at Hovey Field. Livingstone’s only CIAA titles came back to back in 1997 and1998, while VUU has won 11 CIAA crowns, most recently in 2001. This is a pivotal game for both teams. With tough schedules looming, both need a victory to remain viable candidates for the CIAA cham- pionship game in Salem.
