
‘Clara’s Christmas Gift’
Nearly 500 people attended The Dance Candle Academy of Performing and Sacred Arts performance, “Clara’s Christmas Gift,” last Saturday at Virginia Union University.

Operation Santa Claus provides Christmas cheer for area families
The holiday season is a time of celebration for many people. But for families struggling to make ends meet, a bountiful Christmas can be out of reach.

Community dinner, dialogue Dec. 20
Coming to the Table RVA, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping communities “heal from our country’s traumatic past of enslavement,” is hosting its monthly community dinner and dialogue 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, 3601 Seminary Ave., in North Side.

Black female entrepreneur, freedom fighter to be put on Canada’s $10 bill
Special to Trice Edney News Wire from NorthStarNewsToday.com Nine years before Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus to a standing white person, a black Canadian woman, Viola Desmond, was dragged to jail by police for sitting in the whites-only section of a movie theater.

N.C. Central plays Grambling in Saturday’s Celebration Bowl
College football’s overall champion won’t be decided until Jan. 9 in Tampa with the University of Alabama, Clemson University, the University of Washington and Ohio State University the contenders. The crowning of an HBCU football champ comes much sooner.

JeQuan Lewis pushing VCU Rams to the win
Whether the distance is 15 feet or 21 feet, JeQuan Lewis is the player Virginia Commonwealth University wants taking the shots.

Tall men help John Marshall open season with wins
Surprisingly, the Richmond area’s tallest basketball team might represent a high school rather than a college. John Marshall High School’s front line just may have an inch or two over the likes of Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond and Virginia Union University.

Aron Stewart’s retired number not really retired at UR
Insisting “I’ve been discriminated against for 42 years,” Aron Stewart remains bitter toward his alma mater, the University of Richmond.

Delta House property returned to church
The dreams have evaporated for turning a former Church Hill church sanctuary into the home of the Richmond Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Church collecting basic necessities for incarcerated people
A Church Hill congregation is seeking to dramatically expand its efforts to provide care packages of toiletries and underwear to people who are incarcerated, it has been announced.

As president of the Old Dominion Medical Society, Dr. Sonja Johns is looking to use the organization’s lobbying power to ensure that all Virginians have access to quality health care.
First Shiloh Baptist Church’s music and arts ministries are hosting “It’s All About the Baby,” a Christmas worship celebration, 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at the church, 8150 Walnut Grove Road in Mechanicsville.

Personality: Dr. Sonja Johns
Spotlight on president of the Old Dominion Medical Society
As president of the Old Dominion Medical Society, Dr. Sonja Johns is looking to use the organization’s lobbying power to ensure that all Virginians have access to quality health care.

Council approves $1.7M for new police hires
During the next eight months, Richmond expects to add 75 new police officers to beef up its declining force. That includes two classes of recruits at the Training Academy and two additional classes of recruits to begin the six to seven months of training within two months, according to Police Chief Alfred Durham.

Petersburg meltdown averted with short-term loan
Petersburg’s once bleak financial situation is starting to brighten. Banking giant Wells Fargo provided a $6.5 million, short-term loan to the city last week that has eased the city’s financial crunch, enabled it to meet payroll through the end of the budget year on June 30 and ensured payment of current bills.

Richmond Kickers given 40-year lease to operate City Stadium
Wrapping up its four-year term, Richmond City Council rushed Monday to give the Richmond Kickers, the area’s professional soccer team, control of the 20,000-seat City Stadium in the West End.

Trump blows off intelligence briefings, reports of Russian hacking
Former CIA director Leon Panetta said Wednesday that President-elect Donald Trump risks being blamed after any potential attack on the United States if he refuses to receive more regular intelligence briefings. U.S. officials told Reuters that Mr. Trump is receiving an average of one presidential intelligence briefing a week — far fewer than most of his recent predecessors. However, officials said Vice President-elect Mike Pence gets briefings around six days a week.

Painful testimony from 72-year-old survivor of S.C. church massacre
A 72-year-old retired nurse recounted for jurors on Wednesday how she cowered under a table while Dylann Roof killed nine of her fellow worshippers at a historic black church but spared her so she could tell the story of what he had done.

Attorney general: Hate crimes tear at the fabric of our communities
Hate crimes tear at the fabric of American communities and represent a stain on the country’s soul, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said at a mosque and Muslim community center on Monday.

Angie’s wings
Purple angel wings worn on helmet by Highland Springs player to honor his late mother guide team to second championship
The Highland Springs High School football team may have had help from above last Saturday in clinching its second straight Division 5 state football championship.