
Commonwealth Links donate shoes to shelter at luncheon
On a recent Saturday at a Downtown hotel, groups of women — some wearing snazzy hats and 5-inch heels — headed to a luncheon, all the while carrying another pair of shoes. Why?

Lighted boat parade, carriage rides, holiday open houses on tap in Richmond
Boats lighted and decorated for the holidays will cruise down the James River this weekend at the 24th Annual James River Parade of Lights.

National Urban League CEO to keynote VUU Community Leaders Breakfast
Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, will keynote Virginia Union University’s 39th Annual Community Leaders Breakfast.

Va. Center for Inclusive Communities holds support rally at Jackson Ward church
More than 400 people poured into Belle Hall at Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church in Jackson Ward on Sunday afternoon to show support for religious tolerance.

Company helps churches, nonprofits start websites — for free
Religion News Service Members of Trueworship Tabernacle used to walk their Corpus Christi, Texas, neighborhood handing out fliers about upcoming events.

Religious leaders celebrate denial of easement for Dakota Access pipeline
Native American and other religious leaders called the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision on Sunday to deny an easement for the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline an answer to prayer.

Educators worry science will be casualty of Trump administration
Science and education professionals are increasingly alarmed about the impact President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks — many of them evangelical Christians — could have on science standards in public schools.

Thompson resigns as football coach at John Marshall High
Damon “Redd” Thompson, admitting “the fire came out of me,” has stepped down as John Marshall High School’s football coach following three disappointing seasons.

Varner wins big
Harold Varner III won the Australian PGA Championship on Sunday, becoming the first African-American to win a professional golf tournament since Tiger Woods.

VUU track coach moves to VSU
Track and field/cross- country Coach Wilbert Johnson is changing schools without changing conferences, or even area codes.

VCU to take on ODU Saturday in Norfolk
Football has come between Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion University, except for one night a year. In one of the state’s oldest basketball rivalries dating to 1948, the VCU Rams will travel by bus to Norfolk on Saturday, Dec. 10, to meet the ODU Monarchs at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

Mitchell crafting his own future at VUU
It was a long and rocky road — cluttered with pitfalls — that led John Mitchell to Virginia Union University. The VUU senior tells of a heartbreaking ordeal of youth survival. But here’s the good news: The “John Mitchell Story” appears headed to a smiley-face ending.

Granberry taking it to another level at VSU
If any element was missing from last season’s Virginia State University basketball success, it was a dominant, under-the-basket post player.

Personality: Kathey B. Stone
As parents around Richmond prepare for the holidays by purchasing gifts, scheduling mall visits, tapping into savings and sharing holiday cheer, Henrico County resident Kathey Bacon Stone will be in Whitehouse, Jamaica, giving the best gifts of all — time, opportunity and love.

Mayor-elect Stoney appoints 2 to key positions
On the campaign trail, Levar Stoney promised to be a “visionary, forward-thinking” leader who would restore confidence in Richmond City Hall.

School Board chairman eyes run for House of Delegates
Jeff M. Bourne just won a second term on the Richmond School Board. But his tenure might turn out to be far shorter than four years.

Herring, Woody signal plans to run for re-election
Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring and city Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. already are gearing up to run for re-election next year.

Federal judge finds no ADA violation in Sheriff’s Office hiring decision
A federal judge has found that Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act when he declined to reassign a disabled deputy to a vacant payroll position and instead hired someone else to fill the job.

Prosecutor vows to retry S.C. ex-officer after mistrial in death of motorist
A South Carolina prosecutor said she would retry the former South Carolina police officer, a white man, who shot and killed a black motorist as he ran during an April 2015 traffic stop.