Tenn. inmate granted clemency credits church-affiliated program with changing her life
Each semester, the LIFE program at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., which is associated with Churches of Christ, pairs traditional students with inmates serving time in the Tennessee Prison for Women.
Kudos to Va. Congress members for protecting the environment
When we drill, we spill. And when we spill off our shores, it can spell disaster for the whales, dolphins and coral that live in our oceans.
Suggestion for King license plate
Re “Proposed King license plate shelved until next year,” Free Press Jan. 10-12 edition: I read where the commemorative license plate plan honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was postponed until next year because only 100 signatures were collected.
Support for NAACP 1st Thursday Town Hall series
The modern-day NAACP is to be applauded for its creativity in developing the NAACP 1st Thursday Town Hall Meeting Series which began in October. The events are scheduled on the first Thursday of every month throughout 2019 and are held at 6:30 p.m. at Third Street Bethel AME Church in Downtown.
Shame, shade in Birmingham
If anyone deserves a civil rights award, Angela Davis certainly does. The activist and scholar has been on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement all of her life. She has been especially active in prison reform matters and other civil and human rights issues.
Trump civil rights assault continues
When new U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was asked on “60 Minutes” whether she thinks President Trump is a racist, she responded with the candor that makes her a compelling force in Washington: “Yeah, yeah, no question.”
27 years young
The Richmond Free Press turned 27 this week. We are proud to highlight this accomplishment as we remain one of the few independent newspapers still publishing in Virginia.
True Hero
We hope our readers will pause within the coming days to reflect on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an authentic advocate for human rights, justice and peace. His work on behalf of African-Americans, the poor, everyday workers, the neglected and the ignored pricked the conscience of the nation and helped America to start to live up to the ideals of freedom and equality as written in the U.S. Constitution.
Thomas ‘T.C.’ Harrell, co-founder and former owner of Carolina Bar-B-Que, dies at 86
Thomas Christopher Harrell was the barbecue man of Church Hill for 44 years. Known to customers and friends as “T.C.,” the no-nonsense, though kindly Army veteran served up his own creations and family recipes for tangy, vinegar-based pork barbecue, ribs, cole slaw and greens at Carolina Bar-B-Que, the restaurant he started with his brother, Paul, in 1970 at 3015 Nine Mile Road near the Creighton Court public housing community in the East End.
Personality: Dr. Michael L.W. Moore
Spotlight on chair of Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker Educational Foundation
Legendary civil rights leader Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker wanted his legacy to center on educational opportunities for generations to come. The Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker Educational Foundation is the vehicle to perpetuate his lasting dream and provides scholarships for underserved youths to attend college.
Dr. Clara S. McCreary, longtime math professor at VUU, dies at 99
Dr. Clara Novella Sutton McCreary loved mathematics, and for nearly 42 years she shared that love with students at Virginia Union University. “My mother taught all the upper level math courses and also coordinated the pre-engineering courses.” said her daughter, Edwina Richmond, who followed in her mother’s footsteps in teaching math at VUU.
Agelasto responds
City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto addresses latest effort to remove him from office through his lawyer, former Va. Attorney General Anthony Troy
Last-ditch efforts to remove Parker C. Agelasto from Richmond City Council appear to be failing — virtually ensuring the 5th District representative will be able to serve out the final two years of his term despite moving his family to a home in the 1st District.
Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
New apartments are taking shape on the hilltop in Fulton in the city’s East End.
Remove or keep a statue? South Africa also debates painful legacy
A hulking statue of a late 19th century white leader, with a cane and top hat, has been a flashpoint for cultural conflict in South Africa for years. Black protesters threw paint on it. White supporters rallied around it. Authorities surrounded the statue with barbed wire and then ringed it with a more permanent fence.
Pottery, films premiere at Pine Camp Jan. 11
A new exhibit opening at Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center on Friday, Jan. 11, will feature two student-made movies and new pottery created at the community arts center at 4901 Old Brook Road.
Former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell files for divorce
Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has filed for divorce from his wife of 42 years. Mr. McDonnell confirmed earlier this week that he filed the paperwork. He declined to comment further.
‘Green Book’ snags top awards at Golden Globes
“Green Book,” the film about the segregation-era concert tour of a black jazz pianist and his white chauffeur to the South, took top honors Sunday night at the annual Golden Globe Awards show.
Stray bullet narrowly misses pastor during New Year’s Eve service
A bullet that was fired into the air as the new year neared fell through a Texas church roof and narrowly missed a pastor, who said he then turned the service into a celebration of life.
Muslim firefighter settles lawsuit
A Muslim firefighter who said he was subjected to firehouse harassment over his faith and race, including being fed pork in violation of his religious beliefs, has settled his lawsuit against New York City.
Why Andy Warhol’s Brillo pads and other things are kosher
When pop artist Andy Warhol set out to turn ordinary consumer goods into art, he got all the details right.
