School Board approves $224.7M for school buildings
The Richmond School Board once again is challenging the mayor and City Council to find money to start replacing or renovating the decrepit public school buildings a majority of students attend.
Creighton Court redevelopment project seeks $4.9M city bailout
The project to transform the poverty-stricken Creighton Court public housing area in the East End into a mixed-income development has run into a glitch — the master developer can’t raise all the money needed to construct the first 105 apartments.
Saint Paul’s College property sold
The former Saint Paul’s College might one day welcome students again to its campus in Brunswick County — but possibly under a different name. Xinhua Education Investment Corp., a Chinese-backed group, purchased the remaining property of the historically black college on Nov. 27, according to county court records.
Task force: Charlottesville officials failed to act on intelligence that rally would be violent
Virginia Public Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Brian J. Moran said last week that state officials had intelligence indicating that the rally of neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville would become violent, and shared that information with local officials in advance of the Aug. 12 event. But Charlottesville officials failed to heed recommendations made by state authorities that may have stemmed the violence and bloodshed that resulted in the death of one person and injuries to dozens more.
Delegate Loupassi seeks recount in 336-vote defeat
With the GOP clinging to a one-seat majority in the 100-member House of Delegates, Richmond Delegate Manoli Loupassi, a Republican who represents the 68th House District, filed last week for a recount in the district that includes parts of Richmond and Chesterfield and Henrico counties. The recount is to take place Wednesday, Dec. 20, according to a Dec. 6 order.
Harmon named chairman of McGuireWoods
McGuireWoods, the state’s largest law firm and one of the biggest in the nation, has chosen Jonathan Harmon as its new chairman. His selection was announced Monday following a vote by the firm’s board of partners.
City employees expected to receive 2.5% bonus
City employees are about to be awarded a 2.5 percent Christmas bonus. Richmond City Council is expected to unanimously vote Monday, Dec. 11, to approve the bonus payments. Mayor Levar M. Stoney and his administration also support the bonuses to be paid Friday, Dec.15.
Former Trump official pleads guilty in special prosecutor’s probe
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty last Friday to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia, and he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors delving into the actions of President Trump’s inner circle before he took office.
Rep. Conyers resigns amid allegations of sexual misconduct
Democratic Rep. John Conyers resigned from Congress on Tuesday after a nearly 53-year career, becoming the first Capitol Hill politician to lose his job in the torrent of sexual misconduct allegations sweeping through the nation’s workplaces.
Recognizing Va. women
Hundreds attend groundbreaking ceremony for new monument in Capitol Square
Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe was joined by Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Susan Allen, two former first ladies, for Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony for “Voices from the Garden,” Virginia Women’s Monument. On the sunny and brisk day, state officials, special guests, donors and hundreds of visitors from across the commonwealth attended the ceremony at Capitol Square.
Dozens of inmates may be released by new interpretation of old policy
Dozens of aging inmates who have served decades in state prisons could become eligible for release as a result of the Virginia Parole Board’s decision to change the interpretation of a now defunct version of the state’s three-strikes law.
GOP holds 51-49 edge over Dems in House after election certification
Democrat Joshua Cole fell just 82 votes short of becoming the first African-American delegate to represent Stafford County and end outright Republican control of the House of Delegates, according to the state Board of Elections.
Larus Park water sale on track for approval
A controversial City Hall plan to sell more water to Chesterfield County appears to be on track to win Richmond City Council approval now that a key member is supportive.
Deadline to sign up for health insurance through ACA is Dec.15
Roughly two weeks are left to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. People also may re-enroll or change their insurance plan through the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace by the Dec. 15 deadline. Coverage will start on Jan. 1, once premiums are paid.
VCU offers chance for jail inmates to ‘write way out’
Instead of spending time behind bars, a few inmates soon could serve their sentence in a college classroom. That’s the idea behind a new program that Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring and Virginia Commonwealth University are creating. It is dubbed “Writing Your Way Out.”
#MeToo and the dilemma of a black woman
The #MeToo movement illuminating instances of sexual harassment has caught the wave with many white women. The world is watching and we are all applauding them for their courage. But this got me to thinking: When will we hear from black women? I know we have a story. Sadly, since the first slave ships docked in Jamestown in the early 1600s, black women have been demoralized and our bodies have been fair game for the taking.
Keeping hope alive
As you may have heard, I have hard news to share. After a battery of tests, my physicians have informed me that I am suffering from Parkinson’s disease, the very disease that bested my father.
No blind eye
The 2016 film “Birth of a Nation” was released in a storm of controversy unrelated to the film itself. Whatever your opinion of the film or its maker, one cannot deny the relevance of the film as a medium of historical instruction and a study of human behavior.
Why vote? Here’s why
What difference will my vote make? We’ve heard that question plenty of times.
No cakewalk
We are impressed by the résumé and remarks of Jason Kamras, the 43-year-old Washington public schools administrator and 2005 National Teacher of the Year who received the unanimous backing of the Richmond School Board to become Richmond’s next public schools superintendent.
