Personality: Ayana Obika
Spotlight on co-host of Le Diner en Blanc-Richmond
The city’s diversity and elegance will shine again with the third annual Le Diner en Blanc-Richmond, a chic, pop- up dinner where diners wear all white, bring their own white tables, chairs, tablecloths and dishes — no plastic or paper allowed — and nosh on picnic fare they bring or pre-purchase and then pack up and go home, taking everything, including all leftovers and trash, with them. Ayana Obika, along with Christine Wansleben and Enjoli Moon, set Le Diner en Blanc- Richmond in motion in the River City two years ago.
Chesterfield apartment complex to change rental policy under discrimination settlement
An apartment complex in Chesterfield County has agreed to change its blanket ban on renting to people with criminal records after being hit on June 4 with a federal lawsuit challenging the policy as a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.
Historian works to humanize the enslaved who built Monroe
A trove of historical re- cords tells that Fort Monroe in Hampton was built on the backs of thousands of enslaved Africans.
Gov. Northam praises removal of Confederate honor at Fort Monroe
Gov. Ralph S. Northam praised the state’s removal of Confederate president Jefferson Davis’ name from an archway at the site where the first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia 400 years ago.
Local organization part of federal suit challenging EPA's new lead standards
A Richmond woman who has fought to end lead contamination in homes and drinking water in the metro area is taking on the Trump administration for allegedly undermining the regulation of the health-damaging metal.
Coliseum referendum hearing slated for Aug. 15
Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Jeter Taylor will determine next week if Richmond voters will have a say on the proposed $1.5 billion Coliseum project that Mayor Levar M. Stoney is asking Richmond City Council to approve.
$6M: Richmond spending much more than Chesterfield on new schools
Richmond apparently will spend at least $6 million more on building two new elementary schools than Chesterfield County is having to pay, according an update report the Joint Construction Team provided to the city School Board Monday night.
School Board member Jonathan Young springs open enrollment attendance plan on colleagues
Richmond School Board members were blindsided Monday night when board member Jonathan Young, who represents the 4th District, proposed that Richmond Public Schools allow students to choose which school they want to attend, with a lottery ultimately deciding where students would enroll.
Cliff Branch, former NFL receiver, dies at 71
Cliff Branch, one of the premier deep receiver threats in NFL history, died Saturday, Aug. 3, at age 71.
Daniel 'Sonny Strong' Gordon Jr., karate instructor at YMCA, dies at 79
Karate Grandmaster Daniel Gordon Jr., nicknamed “Sonny Strong,” died Thursday, July 11, in Richmond. Mr. Gordon was 79 and had taught martial arts at the Downtown YMCA for more than 40 years. His pupils over the decades ranged in age from toddlers to senior citizens.
Paradox of history: Enslaved commemoration
As Trump speaks at Jamestown commemoration for 400th anniversary of representative government, Va. Legislative Black Caucus boycotts with commemoration of the enslaved
Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus gathered Tuesday morning at the site of the former Lumpkin’s Jail in Shockoe Bottom, where enslaved people were bought and sold, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Africans arriving in Virginia in 1619.
Cityscape: Slice of life and scenes in Richmond
17th Street Market in Shockoe Bottom. (The name recently was changed from the 17th Street Farmers’ Market.)
Timothy Christian, right, waits on Ralph Lee in continuing a 50-year family tradition of selling fruits and vegetables at the 17th Street Market in Shockoe Bottom. (The name recently was changed from the 17th Street Farmers’ Market.)
Loss, civility and compassion
Letters to the editor
A couple of days ago, my 95-year-old mother passed away suddenly. She was doing well one day, and a day or two later, she was gone. The one good thing was that she didn’t suffer.
Kudos to state Dems for rejecting Jamestown event with Trump
Letters to the editor
Re “Virginia lawmakers spar on reported Trump visit to Jamestown,” Free Press July 25-27 edition:
‘Red Summer’: Lessons for today
Columnists
On July 27, 1919, and for 13 days after, Chicago was engulfed in violence. White mobs wantonly attacked black people and black people fought back.
And wise...
Editorials
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus wisely offered alternative events Tuesday in Richmond remembering the Africans who were brought to Virginia 400 years ago in 1619.
Healthy...
Editorials
Kudos to former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the fearless and energetic Democrat who led the charge to expand Medicaid in Virginia.
Foundations buy Ebony and JET photo archives for preservation at Smithsonian
The sale of the photo archive of Ebony and JET magazines chronicling African-American history is generating relief among some who worried the historic images may be lost.
