Work nearly complete on RRHA heating systems
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is near the finish line when it comes to repairing or replacing hundreds of apartment radiators that failed to work last winter in public housing units.

Jamie Nolan wins city Democratic Committee leadership post
The rising political influence of women is being felt in Richmond. In an unprecedented move, the reorganized Richmond City Democratic Committee elected five women to the top six leadership positions Saturday in undergoing a major shakeup.

Backpack giveaway, tax holiday this weekend
This is a big weekend for back-to-school supplies in the Richmond area. The Northside Coalition for Children will hold its 10th Annual Back-to-School Rally 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4., at Richmond Raceway, 600 E. Laburnum Ave.

New city shelter for the homeless?
For the past four winters, men and women who lack shelter have streamed into the shabby and increasingly vacant Public Safety Building near City Hall to spend the night when temperatures fall below 40 degrees.

35th Annual National Night Out Tuesday, Aug. 7
The Richmond Police Department is gearing up for the 35th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 7. The event, which is observed across the country, is designed to promote safe neighborhoods while building police-community partnerships and relationships among neighbors.

Richmond Police Department takes up #LipSyncChallenge
The Richmond Police Department wants to “see how big your brave is,” they say — or rather, sing — in a new video racking up views on social media. The “Richmond Police Lip Sync Challenge” is inspired by an online trend in which police officers, firefighters and ambulance workers dance as they lip sync to popular tunes.

Lone African-American food vendor at Washington training camp
Richmond businessman Herman Baskerville, owner of Big Herm’s Kitchen on 2nd Street in Jackson Ward, again is on hand, offering a tasty Richmond welcome to NFL fans as they gather for the Washington team’s training days at the Bon Secours facility on West Leigh Street.

Personality: Bunny Sumner Young
Bunny Sumner Young’s journey with service animals started when she was a teenager. “I was 14 years old when I was diagnosed with a heart condition. And at 17, I had a doctor that recommended that I get a service animal because I was on eight to 11 medications for my heart,” she recalls.
Russia’s sabotage of U.S. elections
We don’t yet know — and perhaps may never fully know — to what extent Russian efforts to sabotage American elections succeeded. What we do know is that, in addition to waging a massive disinformation campaign on social media, Kremlin-backed hackers:
Sister power making a difference
I cannot count the times I have heard that black women don’t support each other. ... Black women know that all anybody has to do is tell us what we can’t do and the game is on!

Use tax dollars for ‘a just cause, not to aid in injustice’
Re “Evicted,” Free Press April 12-14 edition The many evil aspects of having to be tenants of greedy landlords come out daily. The Free Press article showed the extent to which landlords are willing to go to make life a living hell for their tenants while profiting greatly from doing so.

Great-granddaughter of Maggie L. Walker succumbs in Calif.
A great-granddaughter of noted Richmond businesswoman and banking great Maggie L. Walker has died in California.

Bernetta M. Williams, longtime math, science teacher, dies at 72
Richmond educator Bernetta Marie Williams ... is being remembered following her death on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. She was 72.

Former Congressman Ron Dellums, who pushed U.S. sanctions against apartheid South Africa, dies at 82
Ronald Vernie “Ron” Dellums was a fiery anti-war activist who championed social justice in his community and in Congress. The first African-American Democratic congressman from Northern California and a former mayor of his native Oakland, Calif., died from cancer at his Washington residence on Monday, July 30, 2018, according to his family. He was 82.

Two NSU players with area ties make preseason All-MEAC team
Norfolk State University football will have a strong Richmond influence this fall. Two NSU athletes with area ties have made the preseason All-MEAC team.

New players to give VUU new look during basketball season
Virginia Union University basketball will have a distinctly different look this season.

Dwight Howard, Washington Wizards looking for a championship
The Washington Wizards as a team, and Dwight Howard as a player, are long overdue for an NBA championship.

Dynamo Chris Thompson looking for healthy season with Washington
Chris Thompson stands just 5-foot-8, but don’t sell him short. The diminutive dynamo spells double trouble as a ball carrier and receiver for the Washington NFL team, but not necessarily in that order.

Partisanship drives religious attitudes and not the other way around
Which comes first — religion or politics? On the one hand, political scientists have long held that people’s political choices are formed by their childhood faith, which, for the most part, sticks with them. On the other, 81 percent of white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump, a thrice-married adulterer who rarely attends church.

Rare Bible that went to moon up for sale
For the collector who has almost everything, there’s still a chance to own a Bible that literally was out of this world.