Trump vows to end political limits on churches
Declaring that religious freedom is “under threat,” President Trump vowed to repeal a rarely enforced IRS rule that says pastors who endorse candidates from the pulpit risk losing their tax-exempt status. “I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution,” President Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast, a high-profile event earlier this month that brought together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries. President Trump’s pledge was a nod to his evangelical Christian supporters, who helped power his White House win. So far, he has not detailed his plans for doing away with the rule, which he previously promised to rescind.
Personality: Lakeshia X. Allen
Spotlight on winner of Sports Backers’ first Raymond D. Patterson Award
Empowering students and their families is more than a job for Lakeshia Allen — it’s a life mission.
Grammy Award-winning singer Al Jarreau dies
LOS ANGELES Alwin Lopez “Al” Jarreau delighted music fans for nearly 50 years with his eclectic soulful, genre-blending style.
Contractor hopes vacant RPS building can teach students new lessons
When Kenneth Williams takes over the former REAL School building at Chamberlayne and Azalea avenues, he won’t be teaching students the typical reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, the 68-year-old contractor and owner of Williams Builders Plus will use the vacant building to teach young adults skills in construction.
Shake-up at City Hall leads to 4 dismissals
Six weeks after taking office, Mayor Levar M. Stoney has begun shaking up the administration at City Hall.
Advocates charge transit plan ignores needs of regular riders
Despite an outpouring of concern that regular bus riders, largely African-Americans, are being ignored and overlooked, Richmond City Council voted 9-0 Monday to endorse a proposed overhaul of current GRTC routes aimed at speeding up regular service and connecting riders with the east-west Pulse bus rapid transit system now under construction.
Détente reached after Oakley-Dolan showdown at The Garden
Former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley has a reputation of being a powerful man who doesn’t back down.
Virginia judge grants injunction against Trump travel ban
A federal judge on Monday granted a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from implementing its travel ban in Virginia, adding another judicial ruling to those already in place challenging the ban’s constitutionality.
Out like Flynn
Concerns grow amid reports that Trump campaign aides were in frequent contact with Russian officials before Nov. 8 election
President Trump is facing a deepening crisis over the relationship between his aides and Russia, with senior Republicans vowing on Wednesday to get to the bottom of the matter and Democrats demanding an independent probe.
President Obama deserves a lot of credit
I cannot help but reflect on the insulting treatment President Obama received during his eight years. He came into office when the country was losing jobs. The banks were making all kinds of reckless and illegal decisions, and the auto industry was falling apart. He cleaned up all this mess and got the Affordable Care Act passed. Currently, there are more people with health insurance who never had it before.
‘Keep your eyes on the prize’
In these trying times of change and challenge, my thoughts shifted to the award-winning documentary, “Keep Your Eyes On The Prize.” The documentary was about the challenges and success of the Civil Rights Movement. The prize was not the struggles they endured nor the protest marches, but the end goal of changing laws and hearts, which in many cases was accomplished.
Name Frederick Douglass Free Press ‘Personality’ of the week
Would the Richmond Free Press please name Frederick Douglass as its next “Personality” of the week after having been named Abolitionist of the Year 2017 by President Donald Trump?
Making our own black history
“There are (Black people) who are willing to worship the pyramids of 4,000 years ago but will not build pyramids in the present so their children may see what they left behind as well. We have a leadership who rallies the people to look at past glories but leave their children neglected ...” - Dr. Amos N. Wilson in “Afrikan Centered Consciousness Versus the New World Order: Garveyism in the Age of Globalism.”
What’s at stake
Our spirits are heavy with the Trump victories this week that put Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Betsy DeVos in the critical roles of U.S. attorney general and U.S. secretary of education, respectively. The fight for civil rights, voting rights, gay rights, immigration and equity in education just got tougher, but we knew what was coming and are ready for the battles ahead.
Local director adds ‘punch’ to Richmond film festival
“The Last Punch,” a feature film by Emmy Award-winning director and Richmond native Jesse Vaughan, will open the Richmond International Film Festival at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Byrd Theater in Carytown.
Free showing of documentary ‘Liberty & Slavery’ Feb. 16
A public showing of the documentary “Liberty & Slavery” will be presented 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Virginia Historical Society, it has been announced. The screening is part of VHS’ 4th Annual Created Equal Film Series in honor of the Rev. Grady W. Powell.
Author Bert Ashe to speak at Chesterfield County library
Bert Ashe, author of “Twisted: My Dreadlock Chronicles” and a finalist for the Library of Virginia’s annual literary award for nonfiction, will discuss his book 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the LaPrade Branch of the Chesterfield County Public Library, 9000 Hull Street Road in Chesterfield.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' event set for April 8
The Petersburg Sheriff’s Office and the Petersburg Task Force on Domestic Violence want to bring attention to the causes, effects and remediation to men’s sexualized violence against women.
