
Muslim travel ban upheld by U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday handed President Trump one of the biggest victories of his presidency, upholding his travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries and rejecting the argument that it represented unconstitutional religious discrimination.

Justice Kennedy’s retirement sets up political showdown
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced Wednesday that he will retire from the court next month, providing President Trump the opportunity to ensure a conservative majority on the nation’s highest court.

Poor People’s Campaign vows to continue push to end poverty, racism, militarism
A multiracial, intergenerational crowd of thousands of social justice activists, union workers and people of faith prayed, cheered and listened intently last Saturday as speakers on the National Mall called for a re-energized approach to fighting poverty and other social ills they say are plaguing the country.

Black Business Alliance calls for inclusion in city-supported projects
A. Hugo “Al” Bowers Sr. is leading a fresh charge to ensure that black-owned businesses gain a significant share of work on construction projects that the city pays for or infuses with taxpayer support.

School funding questions remain as City Charter change takes effect July 1
“I believe we have six months from July 1 to respond to the charge embedded in the charter change. Rest assured, we will do so. When we have something definitive to say, we will say it.” That was the official administration response to a Free Press query as to how Mayor Levar M. Stoney would respond to a change to the City Charter regarding school improvement that goes into effect Sunday, July 1.

Federal court orders redrawing of state House districts by Oct. 30
African-American voters were illegally packed into 12 House of Delegate districts in Richmond and Hampton Roads, a panel of federal judges ruled Tuesday.

Area police encrypt scanner broadcasts
Richmond area residents — including news reporters working on stories — no longer will be able to monitor police scanners after this week.

City Council members file legislation to halt bike lanes in North Side
Two City Council members want to kill City Hall plans to turn one travel lane on both sides of Brook Road over to bicycles between Azalea Avenue and Charity Street.
Work to begin in Jackson Ward on Fay Towers replacement
Heavy machinery will soon start moving into a block of Jackson Ward where 154 apartments are to rise over the next year or so, according to Orlando C. Artze, interim director of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Jehovah's Witnesses convene in Downtown
As national and world events cause polarization and despair, there’s a need for individuals to have a source of release and a positive outlook for the future. The Jehovah’s Witnesses plan to address the issues in a series of weekend conventions through August in Richmond.

City Council approves church site for new school
Calvary United Methodist Church in Fulton has won approval to become the new home of a nonprofit Montessori preschool.

Churches, nonprofits to be hit with taxes under new federal code
Republicans have quietly imposed a new, but limited tax on churches, synagogues and other nonprofits, a little-noticed and surprising change that could cost some groups tens of thousands of dollars.

Jackson family patriarch dies
Joseph “Joe” Jackson, the patriarch who launched the musical Jackson family dynasty, died Wednesday morning, June 27, 2018, in a Las Vegas hospital.

Lydia M. Jiggetts, prayer warrior and activist, dies at 70
Dr. Lydia Mercedes Jiggetts sought to help people in multiple ways. In the 1970s, she was part of a team of activists that helped force Richmond area radio and television stations to end their whites-only employment policies and open their doors to African-American talent.

After changing his life, Neblett hopes to change others
Raymond Neblett, the former basketball standout who once took a costly wrong turn, continues to make up for lost time.

Trinity Episcopal's Bacot helps national team win gold
Armando Bacot has lifted his basketball game to the international level.

NBA draft roundup
The NBA draft has come and gone and only time will tell who will rise to stardom and who will sink.

VCU’s Justin Tillman still working toward NBA contract
Former Virginia Commonwealth University standout Justin Tillman has one foot in the NBA door.

Pulse of the city
Ridership, confusion up as GRTC’s new bus rapid transit line starts
Mayor Levar M. Stoney calls it “progress” and “one of the most exciting and progressive public transportation projects in Richmond history.”