Former NFL player from Newport News among 11 to be inducted into VIA Hall of Fame
Former NFL player from Newport News among 11 to be inducted into VIA Hall of Fame
NFL to start fall 2017 season with 8 head coaches of color
The Rooney Rule seems to be working, albeit slowly. It seems likely the NFL will start the fall 2017 season with eight minority head coaches, seven of whom are African-American.
7 to be honored as 2017 Strong Men & Women
Seven civic-minded professionals announced as the 2017 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History include scientists, a judge, a news anchor and a state lawmaker.
Storytelling festival this weekend at First Baptist Church
Nationally renowned storyteller Sheila Arnold Jones of Hampton will be among three performers at the Hearts Afire Storytelling Festival this weekend at First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Ave.
Area Black History Month events
History, art, culture and the triumphs of African-American people will mark area programs and celebrations during Black History Month. Activities including art exhibits, films, musical performances and more will highlight the festivities, which are scheduled from Jan. 27 through Feb. 26. All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.
Personality: Coach Shawn Stiffler
Spotlight on the 2017 Paul Keyes RBI Award winner
The love of baseball was almost inevitable for Shawn Stiffler, head baseball coach at Virginia Commonwealth University for the past five years.
Heat, water problems plague residents in new Highland Park apartment building
Ernest L. Fox has stopped showering since moving into the new Highland Park Senior Apartments, a former school building being converted into 77 residential apartments at East Brookland Park Boulevard and Second Avenue.
Petersburg group petitions court to boot mayor, councilman
Furious over the financial crisis that grips Petersburg, a faction of city voters has taken the rare step of asking a judge to remove two members of Petersburg City Council they blame for the city’s condition, Mayor Samuel Parham, 3rd Ward, and his predecessor, Councilman and former Mayor W. Howard Myers, 5th Ward.
3 candidates vying for House seat in Feb. 7 special election
Jeff M. Bourne appeared to be on a glide path to win the Tuesday, Feb. 7, special election for the Richmond seat in the House of Delegates that became vacant when Jennifer L. McClellan won a special election and moved up to the state Senate earlier this month.
16 to graduate from police academy
The Richmond Police Department is gaining some badly needed reinforcements. Sixteen recruits are to graduate from the training academy this week and immediately join the ranks of the department. They are the first of more than 70 new officers who are expected to join the city police force in the next nine months. “When these recruits entered training July 1, I said that graduation day couldn’t come fast enough. Well, that day has finally arrived, ” Chief Alfred Durham told the Free Press.
Trump inaugurated amid hail of protests
Republican Donald J. Trump launched his presidency with a blunt inaugural address, a fist pump and promises to give power to the people and put “America first.”
Trump inaugural address
Text of President Trump’s inaugural address Friday, Jan. 20, as prepared for delivery.
President Obama commutes sentences of more than 500 nonviolent federal offenders
President Obama used some of his final hours in the White House making good on his promises to help imprisoned nonviolent federal offenders get a second chance. He commuted the sentences of more than 500 federal prisoners. More than a dozen Virginians, including two from Richmond, were among those covered by one of two commutation packages issued by President Obama last week as he and his White House team were packing their bags after eight years of national leadership.
More payouts
3 City Council aides receive $97,000 total in severance, vacation pay
Richmond City Council quietly approved severance packages totaling more than $97,000 for three departing council employees even as council members expressed shock and dismay over similar payments to four departing employees of former Mayor Dwight C. Jones.
Receptions, other events mark Mayor Stoney’s public inauguration
Congratulations and handshakes were the hallmarks of Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s ceremonial public installation into the city’s chief executive post.
Police chief: We can’t do it alone
Crime is on the rise in Richmond, according to 2016 figures. And city Police Chief Alfred Durham reiterated his call for more citizen involvement to reverse that trend. “We are doing everything we can as your police department, but we can’t do it alone,” Chief Durham said during a year-end presentation last week at police headquarters in Downtown.
Personality: LaShara Smith
Spotlight on president of Richmond Professionals Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers
The engineering profession needs more African-Americans, including women. That’s the word from LaShara Smith, president of the Richmond Professionals Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.
Trump’s photo op mocks Dr. King’s legacy, work
President-elect Donald Trump’s political photo op with Martin Luther King III on Monday spread a distorted image around the globe to manipulate the 24-hour news cycle about Rep. John Lewis of Georgia questioning the legitimacy of his election.
Prayer for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Lord God, who is the champion of kindness, justice and equity in our world, As we gather this morning to remember and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., help us to understand and rededicate ourselves to the demands that Dr. King’s legacy continues to make of us.
