
Lawmakers hope Virginia will push ERA over finish line
A bipartisan group of five legislators will try again to get the Virginia General Assembly to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in the next legislative session.

Love lights
Richmond often is called a city of lights. One reason is the “Love Lights” program in which a myriad of Downtown buildings are outlined in lights during the Christmas season.

Richmond Public Library to take over equipment, programming for city’s public access cable TV station
The Richmond Public Library is poised to add a new element to its offerings — a TV studio that will allow residents to continue to air live shows on a Comcast public access channel.

‘I am My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper’ Day program Nov. 23
A new Richmond event to promote kindness and love of neighbors will take place from 10 am. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, it has been announced.

Dr. Danny Avula to now run city and Henrico health districts
Public health programs in Richmond and Henrico County are expected to work more closely together now that they have the same director, Dr. Danny Avula.

Groundbreaking for 3 new city schools slated for Dec.19
Groundbreaking on three new Richmond school buildings will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 19, it has been announced.

Thanksgiving holiday schedule
In observance of Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 22, please note the following closings:

3 RPS teachers win 2018 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence
Three Richmond teachers are among 16 public school teachers being recognized with the 2018 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Personality: Michelle Evans-Oliver
Spotlight on AARP Virginia’s 2018 Rookie of the Year Award winner
“I was shocked. I was humbled. I said, ‘Wow! I didn’t think I had done anything out of the ordinary.” That was the reaction of Michelle Evans-Oliver, a volunteer AARP community ambassador, when she learned she had been selected as AARP Virginia’s 2018 Rookie of the Year.

“What are you most thankful for?”
This week, the Free Press hit the streets and asked Richmond area residents:

Summit shares resources to boost health, food equity
Volunteers planted fruit trees and raspberries and blackberries last week on part of the lawn at Faith Community Baptist Church on Cool Lane in the East End.

Rev. Roaf leaving St. Philip’s Episcopal to be ordained bishop of Western Tennessee
The Rev. Phoebe A. Roaf soon will be leaving the pulpit at historic St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in North Side to become bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee in Memphis.

Civil rights advocate and adviser to Dr. King recommended for Congressional Gold Medal
The Rev. James Lawson, a United Methodist minister known for his advocacy of nonviolence in the civil rights era and beyond, has been recommended for a Congressional Gold Medal.

Churches fight predatory payday lending with political pressure, small loans
Anyra Cano Valencia was having dinner with her husband, Carlos, and their family when an urgent knock came at their door. The Valencias, pastors at Iglesia Bautista Victoria en Cristo in Fort Worth, Texas, opened the door to a desperate, overwhelmed congregant.

4 area teams heading to LA for Snoop Youth Football League Nationals
Four area youth football teams are heading to Los Angeles for the Snoop Youth Football League Nationals Dec. 14 through 16. The Snoop League was founded by rapper and entertainer Snoop Dogg in 2005 in Southern California. The league now has about 20 teams throughout California.

Bowie State wins first round in NCAA playoffs
Bowie State University football is still going strong. The CIAA champion Bulldogs kept their season going with a 41-35 home victory last Saturday over the University of West Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Division II, Region 2 playoffs.

Ohioans looking to take it to the hoop at VSU
Jahmere Howze and Jalen Jackson took far different routes while reaching the same basketball destination.

Radford University stuns Notre Dame in basketball upset
A coaching staff with Richmond ties has pulled off the upset of the season in college basketball. Clearly falling under the “shocking” column, Radford University stunned the University of Notre Dame — and the world of college hoops — Nov. 14 in South Bend, Ind.

Coach Mike London leaves Howard for W&M
Coach Mike London, with deep roots in Richmond, is leaving Howard University to become the new football coach at The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg.

Richmond Jazz Society to feature ‘The Jazz Side of Aretha Franklin’ Dec.11
The Richmond Jazz Society is featuring “The Jazz Side of Aretha Franklin,” the late “Queen of Soul,” on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall, 623 E. Main St.