VCU university-wide commencement back on; no venue announced
Facing a backlash from students, Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao has reversed course on eliminating the traditional university-wide graduation ceremony next spring.
CARE van drivers approve new contract
The third time worked. After rejecting two previous offers, union drivers with GRTC’s CARE paratransit service voted to approve the latest offer from the service’s operator, Cincinnati-based First Transit Inc.
Veterans ride free on GRTC Sunday, Nov. 11
GRTC will provide free rides to current and former members of the military on Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, the transit company has announced.
Veterans Day observance
In observance of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12, please note the following:
Veterans Day ceremony and Armistice Day Festival Nov.11 at the Carillon
Gov. Ralph S. Northam will help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I as the speaker at the annual Commonwealth of Virginia Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at Dogwood Dell Amphitheater in Byrd Park, 600 S. Boulevard.
Medicaid expansion enrollment continues
Enrollment for Virginia’s Medicaid expansion program, Cover Virginia, is now open and will continue through Saturday, Dec. 15.
Mayor Stoney pushes $1.4B plan to revitalize Downtown
The grand plan to overhaul a big chunk of Downtown — including replacing the Richmond Coliseum with a new, larger arena — with a combination of taxpayer dollars and private investment funds is now headed to Richmond City Council for review.
President Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was fired on Wednesday after receiving unrelenting criticism from President Trump for recusing himself from an investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential race.
Hopes for an African-American governor dashed at the ballot box in 2 states
Highly energized contests in Florida, Georgia and Maryland in which African-Americans were candidates for governor drew thousands of voters to the polls, but not enough votes for any of the three to claim victory.
Dems take the House
Voter enthusiasm, coupled with rejection of Trump policies, results in Democrats regaining the U.S. House of Representatives in midterm election
Voters brought an end to one-party Republican rule in the nation’s capital in Tuesday’s election. Propelled by a surge of rank-and-file enthusiasm and widespread urban and suburban dissatisfaction with President Trump, Democrats took control of the House of Representatives for the first time since 2011.
Cheryl Burke wins Richmond School Board seat
Cheryl L. Burke, who was appointed in 2017 as the interim 7th District representative to the Richmond School Board, was elected Tuesday night to fill the seat for the rest of the term through 2020.
Sen. Tim Kaine glides to big re-election victory
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine declared that Virginia rejected the “the politics of hatred and division … the politics of peddling lies to get ahead” after handily winning re-election to his second six-year term.
Newcomer Abigail Spanberger claims narrow win over GOP incumbent
Democratic newcomer Abigail Spanberger of Henrico defied conventional wisdom and upset U.S. Rep. Dave Brat to win Virginia’s 7th Congressional District seat in her first run for public office.
Grieving with Pittsburgh
Families of the 11 people killed in the synagogue massacre Saturday begin to bury the dead amid a national outpouring of support
Pittsburgh’s Jewish community began burying its dead following Saturday’s synagogue massacre. Funeral services were held Tuesday for a beloved family doctor, a pillar of the congregation, and two middle-aged brothers known as the Rosenthal “boys.”
New delivery service starts in Richmond
For a flat delivery fee of $1.95 and the cost of the goods, Richmonders can get diapers, toilet paper, beverages and snacks delivered to their home between noon and 4 a.m. seven days a week.
Richmond, segregation and paternalistic white supremacy
Segregation is no stranger to Richmond. Intentional measures to provoke racial animosity have been in place in Virginia since the early days of American settlement. Such measures include racial slavery, slave codes, racial terrorism, “racial purity” laws, Jim Crow laws,
‘Traitors to logic’
While some may intentionally disregard logic in making claims that the Civil War was not precipitated on the desire to maintain enslavement and subjugation of people of color, whom were referred to as the inferior race, the truth is there actually weren’t many reasons for secession.
Republican Party ‘has embraced racist policies’
In his letter to the Free Press, James Quash, former Portsmouth GOP chairman, labels the Democratic Party as racist with his erroneous arguments while trolling for votes for Republicans.
Kudos to Free Press, community volunteers
I would like to thank the Richmond Free Press profusely for its photos and story recognizing the actions of two generous individuals in our community who helped remedy a dangerous situation at George Washington Carver Elementary School.
Vote on Nov. 6
Last night, I finished reading “The Blood of Emmett Till” by Timothy B. Tyson. The 14-year-old was killed in 1955 because of who he was and where he was. On Saturday, it happened again in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Eleven Jewish parishioners were killed because of who they were and where they were.
