Henrico sets up timeline, hearings for 2021-22 school redistricting
The Henrico County Public Schools has set up a timeline and schedule of public hearings for redrawing attendance zones for the county’s elementary, middle and high schools.
VSU to host AgFest Field Day on Aug. 28
Virginia State University is hosting AgFest Field Day 2019 for anyone interested in agriculture, fish farming, hydroponics, farming, urban gardening, and learning about agriculture production in Virginia.
Gold Award in history
Deja Williams, left, of Midlothian Girl Scout Troop 635 accepts congratulatory flowers from her longtime friend, Jane McConville, after seeing her idea for a state historical highway marker acknowledging the history of the former Midlothian Elementary School come to fruition last Saturday in Chesterfield County.
City Police Capt. Bender named LGBTQ community liaison
Richmond Police Capt. Michael Bender has been named the department’s new liaison to the LGBTQ community.
James River Park System now part of the Old Growth Forest Network
One of the Richmond region’s favorite parks has become part of an exclusive club, the Old Growth Forest Network, it has been announced.
Judge dismisses Richardson's suit to unseat Councilman Agelasto
A legal effort to immediately remove Richmond City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto from office was dismissed last week by a Richmond Circuit Court judge.
Colette McEachin wins Dem nomination for city commonwealth's attorney
Colette W. McEachin secured the Democratic nomination for Richmond commonwealth’s attorney in last week’s firehouse primary, defeating Alexander L. “Alex” Taylor Jr. by winning more than 83 percent of the votes cast, according to the Richmond City Democratic Committee. In the balloting, which was conducted by the committee at set times and locations on two days, Mrs. McEachin won 2,115 votes, while Mr. Taylor received 429 votes.
University health services bracing for ripple effect from mass shootings
The back-to-school shopping spree in El Paso, Texas, was hundreds of miles from the Richmond area. So were the calm summer bar scene in Dayton, Ohio and the fun-filled garlic fair in Northern California. Yet, the impact of the dramatic turn of events at those gatherings rippled across Virginia in every neighborhood and home.
Commentary: Virginia voters can be certain their votes count
The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee concluded in late July that election systems in all 50 states were targeted by Russia in the 2016 presidential election. While the report concluded that no votes were changed in voting machines at the time, the committee’s report warned that the United States remains vulnerable to attack in upcoming elections. In the wake of the report, the Richmond Free Press invited Christopher E. “Chris” Piper, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections, to address the question of just how secure is Virginia’s election apparatus. Here is his response, penned with Michael Watson, chief information security officer with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.
Hampton University turns to eSports for creating entrepreneurs
Students at Hampton University soon will be playing video games as part of their studies. The university is building an eSports lab, thanks to a $340,658 technology grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Toni Morrison, who transformed American literature to win Nobel and Pulitzer prizes, dies at 88
Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, a pioneer and reigning giant of modern literature whose imaginative power in “Beloved,” “Song of Solomon” and other works transformed American letters by dramatizing the pursuit of freedom within the boundaries of race, has died at age 88.
Cityscape: Slice of life and scenes in Richmond
Dragon boat racing marked its 10th year in Richmond with a festive event Saturday highlighted by the paddle-powered competition on the James River.
Say it ain't so
Letters to the Editor
Re “Big Herm’s again only black-owned food vendor at Washington NFL team training camp,” Free Press Aug. 1-3 edition: Big Herm’s Kitchen is the only black-owned vendor at the Washington NFL team training camp. This has occurred three years straight. How can the city continue to let this happen?
Righting old wrongs
Columnists
“The U.S. ‘war on drugs’ — a decades-long policy of racial and class suppression hidden behind cannabis criminality — has resulted in the arrest, interdiction and incarceration of a high percentage of Americans of color. The legal cannabis industry represents a great opportunity to help balance the detrimental effects of the war on drugs by creating an equal playing field for all people to benefit from the changing legal landscape.” — Minority Cannabis Business Association
Richmond’s next commonwealth’s attorney
Columnists
On Thursday, Aug. 8, and Saturday, Aug. 10, Richmond Democrats will vote to decide who will be the Democrats’ nominee for Richmond commonwealth’s attorney.
Nearly 1,000 good reasons
Editorials
Some people claim there is no reason to enact tougher gun laws in the United States. We wholeheartedly disagree.
New Virginia Majority to host People's Congress 2019 on Saturday
The New Virginia Majority is hosting its fifth annual People’s Congress to discuss issues and strategize for progressive policies in 2019 and 2020.
3-day Valuing Black Lives Global Summit slated for Aug. 20-22 at VUU
The 2019 Valuing Black Lives Global Summit, a three-day event designed to pro- vide psychological and emotional healing for African-Americans because of the legacy of slavery, will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20, through Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center at Virginia Union University, 1500 N. Lombardy St.
Preseason poll has NSU Spartans football team finishing in middle of MEAC
Norfolk State University football seems to be stuck in the middle of the MEAC pack.
Jaaber to hold free training session for youths
Leadersport, under the direction of former Virginia Union University basketball standout and later Panthers head Coach Luqman Jaaber, is holding a free training session 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Meadowbrook High School in Chesterfield County.
