
Dr. Frank S. Royal steps down as chair of Meharry Medical College
For decades, Dr. Frank S. Royal regularly flew to Nashville to lead board meetings at historic Meharry Medical College. But at 77, the retired Richmond physician has decided “it is time to let someone else take over.”

Personality: Ginna Cullen
Spotlight on VAEA 2016-17 Art Educator of the Year
When Ginna Cullen was an art teacher in Louisa County Public Schools, she noticed one student’s ability to beautifully cornrow hair and challenged her student’s skill for a final exam.

3 more Richmond schools accredited; total now 17
The Virginia Department of Education revised its accreditation list for Richmond Public Schools, adding three more to the list for a total of 17.

Free dental care Feb. 3 for uninsured youngsters
Free dental care will be offered to Richmond children who do not have insurance through Medicaid or other government or private programs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Pediatric Dentistry Clinic, 521 N. 11th St. in Downtown.

Petersburg recall case to be heard Feb. 6
The battle over the removal of two Petersburg City Council members will feature two veteran attorneys. Chesterfield County Commonwealth’s Attorney William Davenport has been named to represent the voters seeking to recall Mayor Samuel Parham, 3rd Ward, and Councilman W. Howard Myers, 5th Ward, the former mayor.

Town hall meeting Feb. 7 to address Trump policies
A town hall meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 7, for individuals and groups seeking to develop strategies to address new policies the Trump administration is ushering in, it has been announced.

Budget dispute may slow plans to redevelop Boulevard
A little noticed budget dispute in the General Assembly could slow Richmond’s rush to transform 61 acres of largely vacant city property on North Boulevard into retail stores, a hotel, offices and apartments. The House of Delegates and the Senate appear to be split over approving Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s proposal to authorize the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to spend up to $105 million to buy land and develop a new headquarters and warehouse complex.

Sheriff sanctioned over loss of videotape in jail inmate’s death
Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. describes the 500 video cameras that record inside the Richmond Justice Center “as a sort of a truth serum,” a way to show “what really happened” when inmates complain or there is a disagreement about events. Those words have come back to haunt him as he seeks to defend himself and the jail against a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the death of Erin Jenkins, 29, just five days after the new jail opened in 2014.

Serena, 35, wins title 23, pursuing 24
Serena Williams reigned supreme in tennis’ great sibling rivalry, edging an emotion-charged clash with sister Venus to claim her seventh Australian Open last Saturday.

Game time!
Super Bowl 51 is Sunday
Get out the wings and chips and dip. It’s Super Bowl 51 on Sunday. Here’s a preview of the big football game that is known as much for the halftime show and creative commercials as the action on the field.

Backlash supreme
Demonstrations around the country continue as President Trump names U.S. Supreme Court nominee, bans Muslims from U.S.
Just two weeks have passed since his inauguration, and despite a torrent of action, disruption, protests and lawsuits, President Trump has been on a tear to keep campaign promises, uplifting his legions of supporters and dismaying his legions of opponents.

Bank branch to close in Highland Park
The last Bank of America branch located in a majority African-American neighborhood of Richmond is scheduled to close in two months, according to the bank’s website.

4 named to Mayor Stoney’s staff
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney has added four new people to his staff at City Hall, including three policy advisers and a senior assistant, as he seek to put his stamp on the city government.

Broad Street lane closures for GRTC Pulse construction
Broad Street is about to become more congested between 1st and Harrison streets because of construction of stations for the GRTC Pulse, the bus rapid transit system, GRTC has announced.

VUU to host Honda Campus All-Star Challenge qualifiers
Ten historically black colleges and universities will compete next month at Virginia Union University for a spot in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge.
The world today and Jesus
I believe thousands of years ago people who believed in only one God thought the best way to worship this God was to build houses of worship.
Circus folding its tent will impact the city
Now with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus coming to a close, Richmond will be without: 1 – A major circus coming to town.
How things change
Being an old Army vet now at the age of 75, I find it hard to understand the world of 2017.
Congratulations to Richmond Free Press
Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of the Richmond Free Press!

‘Hope for best; plan for worst’
The economic philosophies of Democrats and Republicans are drastically different. While neither party is interested in dismantling the predatory capitalism that extracts surplus value from workers, Republicans are more interested in reinforcing predatory capitalism and “free markets,” while Democrats are more interested in ameliorating the effects of predatory capitalism and regulating markets in ways that produce somewhat more equitable results than so-called free markets.