Olympic speedskater credits success to God’s blessings
U.S. speedskater Maame Biney, 18, has a smile that can light up any room, a giggle that has charmed Olympic audiences and a joy that her coaches say has carried her so far in her athletic career at such a young age.
Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker remembered at service
The life and impact of Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker was remembered Saturday during a memorial service for the noted civil rights leader and minister held at Petersburg’s Gillfield Baptist Church.
James Woolfolk, retired owner of Woolfolk & Sons Seafood, dies at 95
The longtime owner and operator of a popular seafood restaurant in Church Hill has died. James W. Woolfolk Jr. ran Woolfolk & Sons Seafood for decades with his wife, Theresa, and their children in the 1600 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike.
Lerone Bennett Jr., noted historian of black America, dies at 89
Perhaps no other voice — or pen — captured the real life of Africans and African-Americans like Lerone Bennett Jr., the former editor of Ebony and JET magazines.
Personality: Tim Seibles
Spotlight on Virginia’s poet laureate
Tim Seibles’ love affair with writing began at an early age. As he grew up in Philadelphia, his mother, Barbara Seibles, didn’t believe he was wildly talented, but encouraged him to write because it would be a good talent to have. She thought the more he wrote, the better his writing would become, he recalls.
Taxpayers on hook for $11.25M for NFL training camp
Richmond taxpayers are being handed an $11.25 million bill for the Washington pro football team’s summer training camp on Leigh Street.
School Board approves $303.3M budget plan
Richmond schools Superintendent Jason Kamras and the Richmond School Board are seeking $11 million more from the city to operate schools in the next budget year that will begin July 1.
Ora Lomax matched with new dialysis center
The saga of Ora Lomax and her search for a new dialysis center has a happy ending after weeks of drama. The 86-year-old NAACP activist has been reassigned to a new center after being booted from the West End Dialysis Center after 12 years.
City receives only one proposal for Coliseum replacement
That remains the unanswered question as City Hall moves to review the one and only proposal submitted to replace the 46-year-old Richmond Coliseum with a modern $200 million arena and tackle other development in a 10-block area around the building, including a new hotel and housing.
Medicaid expansion moves ahead in House of Delegates
Efforts to expand Medicaid to about 300,000 low-income adults in Virginia continue to gain momentum, as Republican House leaders on Sunday publicly embraced a form of expansion that includes work requirements and copays.
Fla. school shooting survivors hoping to be catalyst for tougher gun laws
Bodies of the dead were still inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., when the teenage survivors of the Valentine’s Day massacre began speaking out about gun violence.
Federal appeals court rules Trump travel ban unconstitutional
President Trump’s latest travel ban on travelers from six largely Muslim countries is “unconstitutionally tainted with animus toward Islam,” a federal appeals court ruled last week, delivering another blow to the policy. In a 9-4 vote, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond said on Feb. 15 that it examined statements made by President Trump and other administration officials, as well as the presidential proclamation imposing the ban, and concluded that it “second-guesses our nations dedication to religious freedom and tolerance.”
Divine sounds: Foote family celebrates gospel radio station's first anniversary
Foote family celebrates gospel radio station’s first anniversary
Richmond radio station WQCN is marking its first anniversary of delivering gospel to fans in the area on 105.3 FM. Better known as “The Choice,” the station is the growing broadcast arm of the 150-member Faith & Love Fellowship Church based on South Side.
Councilwoman seeks to expand bulk trash pickup service
Richmond City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray wants the city to include mattresses and upholstered furniture among the items routinely picked up without charge as part of the new biweekly bulk-and-brush collection program.
Police officers, city settle overtime lawsuit
City Hall has agreed to pay a bit more than $27,000 to four police officers who claimed they were denied overtime pay while assigned to former Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ security detail.
Richmond Ambulance Authority again receives accreditation
The Richmond Ambulance Authority continues to rank as one of the top emergency service agencies in the nation. The national Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services made that finding in renewing the Richmond authority’s accreditation for another three years.
Unveil the camouflage to combat bullying
Bullying is plantational authoritarianism. Someone posted on social media an adolescent male sobbing because of bullying incidents. Bullies are not those actually committing the conflicts, but those who have the authority to resolve the discords and don’t — or won’t — because of the camaraderie affiliation, causing continuing hostilities.
Dr. Lucas’ record should have been scrutinized
Re “VUU president accused of fraud,” Free Press Feb. 1-3 edition: I am a Virginia Union University alumnus and your article is not only embarrassing, but again indicative of extremely negligent administrative oversight on the part of the VUU Board of Trustees.
Dr. King’s legacy exploited
It is incredibly sad to watch how the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose life and legacy inspired and changed the lives of millions, is being used to hawk trucks. The ad during the recent Super Bowl for Dodge Ram Trucks used words from one of his most inspiring speeches, “The Drum Major Instinct,” which he delivered on Feb. 4, 1968.
Hustling backward in Richmond
Richmond City Council voted 7-2 on Monday night to increase the meals tax 1.5 percent, expecting annual revenue of $9 million. This will be leveraged to borrow $150 million over five years and earmarked for renovating and building new schools for Richmond Public Schools.
