Rita J.T. Williams, former teacher, Head Start instructor, dies at 66
Carver Elementary School is mourning the loss of one of staff members, Rita Jane Taylor Williams, who succumbed to illness on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. She was 66.
Personality: Christopher J. Woody Sr.
Spotlight on founder of The Woody Foundation
Christopher J. Woody Sr. is a very happy man with an enormous giving heart.
No more money for school maintenance
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras is alarmed. He just found out that, as of March 31, RPS has only $881,143 left through June 30 to spend on school maintenance needs.
Pulse to start service June 24
That’s the day GRTC will launch the biggest overhaul of bus service in generations, one the company hopes that regular riders will cheer and that will bring new people to use public transit.
City developing policy, procedure for admissions tax
The director of the Richmond Finance Department will not seek legislation to reform the assessment and collection of admissions taxes.
Henrico School Board member Roscoe D. Cooper III arrested for misdemeanor assault
Henrico School Board member Roscoe D. Cooper III is once again the subject of a criminal court action, but this time the county police are on his side.
Community forum on gun safety and violence set for May 5
Richmond Delegate Delores L. McQuinn will host a town hall meeting on school and community safety 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, 1000 Mosby St. in the East End.
RPS to host Healthy Family Expo this Saturday
Get a child registered for preschool. Sign up for summer school. Get the booster vaccination needed to enter sixth grade. And enjoy some entertainment.
Henrico schools to host workshop series
Henrico County Public Schools’ Department of Family and Community Engagement continues its Family Learning Series with a series of free workshops around the county during May.
Public hearings set to rename school named for a Confederate
The Richmond School Board wants public input in changing the name of J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School, the only school in the city named for a Confederate.
GPA miscalculations impact RPS students
Richmond Public Schools officials acknowledged Monday that four years of miscalculating students’ grade point averages have led to errors on students’ transcripts.
Life likely to change for Bill Cosby after conviction
Bill Cosby, used to the high life as one of America’s biggest stars, likely will see his entourage of aides replaced by an inmate paid pennies to help the legally blind comedian navigate life behind bars after he is sentenced for sexual assault.
Video shows former NFL player manhandled by Georgia police
A lawyer for Desmond Marrow said this week the charges against the former NFL player should be dropped, as police and prosecutors in Georgia said they are reviewing the arrest in which officers allegedly used excessive force.
Warning: Smoking may cause eviction
New smoke-free policy takes effect Aug.1 for all RRHA properties, including 4,000 public housing units in city
Residents of public housing in Richmond are facing a ban on smoking in three months.
City doesn’t publicize exemption from trash fees for elderly, disabled renters
City Hall is quietly blocking elderly and disabled renters from receiving free trash and recycling services, the Free Press has learned — a benefit the city has offered for nearly 14 years and which currently is worth $23.79 a month or $285.48 a year.
Herring’s new policy seeks to eliminate cash bond system
Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring is stepping up his efforts to eliminate the cash bond system that forces people to stay in jail while awaiting trial because they cannot afford to put up the money or property for bail or to pay the fee of a bail bonding company willing to do it.
Mixed feelings about Winnie Mandela
Re “ ‘Mother of South Africa’ dies at 81,” an obituary on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Free Press April 5-7 edition:
‘The choice is ours’
I believe God is the spirit of love and compassion. The devil is the spirit of evil, with no compassion. I believe God wants all of us to love people more than money.
Medicaid expansion is ‘designed to plunder from taxpayers’
Re Letter to the Editor, “Medicaid expansion is a moral imperative,” Free Press April 19-21 edition:
Problems with protecting consumers
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is supposed to “protect” consumers from fraud and predatory lending. But since 45 has ruled the roost, he has empowered exploiters to extract too much money from consumers.
