Trump’s budget plan raises hackles, skepticism with deep cuts to social programs
Angry Democrats and skeptical Republicans are fighting back against attempts by administrative officials to defend President Trump’s proposed $4.1 trillion budget that slashes safety net programs for the poor, targeting food stamps, Medicaid and student loan forgiveness, while relying on rosy projections about the nation’s economic growth to balance the budget within 10 years.
School choice to be expanded by feds
The Trump administration is proposing “the most ambitious expansion” of school choice in American history, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Monday while giving few details on how the program would work.
Hometown welcome
Basketball star Frank Mason III returns to Petersburg, fan honors
Frank Mason III left Petersburg High School in 2012 with stars in his eyes but with no guarantees of success. What has followed since for the young basketball player is anything but typical. The 23-year-old son of Sharon Harrison and Frank Mason Jr. returned home last weekend, having dramatically reached the stars — even dancing among them.
GRTC announces new rewards program for riders
People who ride the bus now can get discounts on the price of a meal at area restaurants, as well as savings at other merchants and attractions.
Richmond schools receive federal art grant
Three Richmond schools will be beneficiaries of the Turnaround Arts Program, a national program the provides equitable access to arts education.
Slavery was a choice
Isaac Winston lived in the Greenwood section of Hanover County in the early part of the 18th century. After his parents died, he was willed a great deal of land and black people who were being forced to do slave work. He disagreed with the repugnant “institution” and decided to free his captured minions. He also gave them up to 160 acres of land each.
‘Afraid of the wolf in the closet’
It should not be surprising to decent, honest, thinking people what we hear in the news from the White House. We have a president who does not regard the truth, does not respect other people, does not know his business sense does not
Kudos to Bethune-Cookman grads
I could not be more proud of the students at Bethune-Cookman University than if I had raised them myself. Responding to the university’s very late selection of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos (hereafter referred to as DeVoid, as she is devoid of good sense, history, literacy and even courtesy) for the commencement speaker, graduating seniors chose to turn their back on a woman who described HBCUs as “pioneers of school choice.”
Voter suppression is the real culprit
After President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey because of, as the president admitted, the “Russian thing,” he struck a new blow to American democracy. The president created a commission on “election integrity,” stemming from his fantastical claims of voter fraud in the 2016 election.
Get ready to vote
On Tuesday, June 13, Virginia voters will go to the polls to choose a candidate to run on the Democratic or Republican tickets for governor and lieutenant governor.
Grave equity
We praise Gov. Terry McAuliffe for righting a longstanding disparity in the state that had Virginia taxpayer dollars going to support the maintenance of Confederate gravesites, while those of African-Americans from that era are ignored. On Wednesday, Gov. McAuliffe signed into law a bill that will help change that.
Let the questions begin
The nation moved one step closer to learning the truth about President Trump and his connections to the Russians with the appointment Wednesday of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special prosecutor in the unfolding investigation. Truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is what we need right now following a week of bombshells involving the man in the White House.
‘Know who you are rolling with,’ VSU graduates are told
Virginia State University graduates were told in no uncertain terms during commencement last Saturday to “Get Out.” These words came from a fired up Jeff Johnson, a media and messaging strategist who delivered the keynote address at the ceremony held in the university’s Multi-Purpose Center.
‘We all fail. The key is what you do that next day,’ Gov. McAuliffe tells VUU grads
Gov. Terry McAuliffe stressed the importance of taking chances and embracing setbacks as he addressed Virginia Union University’s Class of 2017 during commencement on Saturday.
‘People just want to be listened to,’ Sen. Kaine tells VCU grads
The graduating class of Virginia Commonwealth University received a message aimed at the head as well as the heart during Saturday’s commencement exercises.
‘Cause other people to want to learn,’ Hampton U grads told
Love learning, help others and do your best.
Virginia Beach woman wins Miss USA crown, stirs controversy
Miss District of Columbia USA Kara McCullough was named Miss USA 2017 during the annual pageant held Sunday in Las Vegas. Little did the 25-year-old scientist from Virginia Beach know that after triumphing over 50 other contestants, her crown would come with controversy. Her first days as Miss USA have been spent trying to put out the flames that her words ignited.
Age has no hold on Roughriders’ Herb Jones
Don’t let the high mileage fool you. Herb Jones has plenty of tread left. Jones is a top reason the Richmond Roughriders have run roughshod over the competition during the team’s first season in the Arena Pro Football league.
Huguenot to get new basketball coach
Ksaan Brown, activities director at Richmond’s Armstrong High School, has accepted the position of head boys basketball coach at Huguenot High School, starting with the 2017-18 season.
VUU golf team finishes 4th in Florida championship
Led by sophomore Allan Day, the Virginia Union University golf team finished fourth in the 31st Annual PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championships in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
