
Nerves on edge as smoking ban takes effect in RRHA housing
Gwendolyn Harris doesn’t smoke. But the 54-year-old Creighton Court resident is concerned that friends in the East End public housing community who do soon may have to choose between their nicotine habit or facing fines and potential eviction.

Personality: giovanni singleton
Spotlight on winner of the 2018 Stephen E. Henderson Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry
Inspired by African-American spirit writing, jazz and gospel music and the support of family, a locally grown poet’s discovery and love of writing and the arts led to a prestigious national literary award.

Morman Church teams up with NAACP
The Mormon Church is teaming up with the national NAACP on a new education and employment program on the East Coast, an outgrowth from the first official meeting between the groups in May.

Nominees sought for 2018 Manny Awards
My Brother’s Keeper of Greater Richmond is accepting nominations for the 2018 Manny Awards honoring unsung heroes in the region who are making their communities better.

James Meredith on mission from God
James Meredith is a civil rights legend who resists neatly defined narratives.

Chesterfield reader offers payment to Morning Star Baptist guest preacher
The Rev. Ernest Blue Jr. finally has been paid for delivering a guest sermon July 1 at Morning Star Baptist Church in South Side.

‘America has never been immune to fascism’
To be sure, the increasing use of the “browning” of America slogan by commentators and its juxtaposition to “Taking Back America” is not an aberration.

New CEO named to lead Richmond Community Hospital, other Bon Secours facilities
Leigh Sewell is the new chief executive officer for Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital in the city’s East End and for two other Bon Secours operations.

Seeing the light
Kudos to Cora Hayes, the longtime public housing activist, who was instrumental in bringing a class action suit against the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority for overcharging public housing residents for electricity for more than four years.

Roderyck I. Bullock, former high school coach, community worker and advocate for disabled, dies at 44
Roderyck Irone “Big Shot” Bullock lost both feet to diabetes and had to learn to slowly and painfully maneuver with a walker and prostheses. But that didn’t keep Mr. Bullock from coming to Richmond City Council meetings to speak out against the poor, door-to-door CARE van service he and other disabled and elderly people were receiving.

New prescription disposal unit set up at Justice Center
Need to safely dispose of prescription drugs you no longer need or want in your medicine chest? Richmond Sheriff Antionette V. Irving is prepared to help.

‘T for treason’
It is very clear that 45 is not capable to lead this country. Every time he opens his mouth or tweets, he speaks or writes foolish things that are no longer believable. What we have is shame and embarrassment for our country around the world.

Trump and chaos
In trying to understand President Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy on immigration, one has to know the president’s background for his past 72 years.

Smithfield Foods closing last smokehouse
Smithfield Foods is closing the last smokehouse that creates the genuine Smithfield ham — the signature product of a Virginia town of 8,300 people.

Nomination puts rights in jeopardy
Senate Republicans hope to get Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, confirmed before Oct. 1. Senate Democrats hope to hold off any vote until after the November elections, when Democrats have the possibility of taking a majority in the U.S. Senate and giving Republicans a dose of their own medicine.

It is very clear that 45 is not capable to lead this country. Every time he opens his mouth or tweets, he speaks or writes foolish things that are no longer believable. What we have is shame and embar
Russian President Vladimir Putin came late to the Helsinki summit with President Trump last week and spoke first at the news conference afterward.

Economic injustice?
Report shows city spending with minority-owned businesses has dropped nearly 48 percent since 2014
From the mayor’s office to key positions at City Hall, African-Americans continue to play big roles in Richmond’s government. But the issue of city spending with black businesses and the promotion of black inclusion, inexplicably, appears to be taking a backseat to other priorities, with Mayor Levar M. Stoney having publicly spoken little about inclusion and economic justice during his 18-month tenure.

Veterans group wheels out new gift for single mother
While living in Richmond’s Fairfield Court public housing community for nine years, Kiocia Wilkerson spent much of the time riding buses back and forth to work each day. She also relied on bus transportation to take her two children, one of whom is autistic, to and from school and to doctors’ appointments.

Settlement to give current, former RRHA tenants refunds or credits
Cora Hayes is celebrating a big win in a legal case challenging the oversized electricity bills that the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has imposed on its low-income tenants since 2012.