Richmond Public schools seeking volunteers for cleanup projects
Volunteers are being sought to carry out projects to beautify city schools next week.
Baton Rouge works to heal after shootings
BATON ROUGE, LA. On the affluent south side of Baton Rouge, a clutch of plastic balloons bobs in front of the gas station where a former Marine shot and killed three police officers last Sunday. On the impoverished north
Police killings – and killings of police – a major issue at NAACP convention
An estimated 10,000 delegates from throughout the country converged on Cincinnati for the national NAACP’s 107th annual convention here that began last Saturday.
Hayden is new Librarian of Congress
The U. S. Senate has confirmed Dr. Carla D. Hayden as the 14th Librarian of Congress. The 74-18 vote for the nominee of President Obama for the key position came on July 13. Dr. Hayden is the first African-American and first woman to hold the position. Her appointment at the Library of Congress is for 10 years.
Say what?
Donald J. Trump wins Republican nomination after wife steals speech from Michelle Obama
CLEVELAND Donald J. Trump crossed the threshold of history the way he ran the Republican race: Soaked in drama, surrounded by back-stabbing, jeered by well-heeled critics as a no-hope ama- teur, cheered by a die-hard base and embraced at the finish line by his family.
City seeking developers for the Boulevard project
City Hall finally is ready to seek developers for its biggest economic development project — the redo of the 60-acre city property on North Boulevard where The Diamond baseball stadium and Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center now stand. Two months behind schedule, Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration expects to issue its request for qualifications (RFQ) this week seeking deep-pocket bidders interested in transforming the property over 20 years into apartments, condos, retail outlets and office space.
Hunt elected president in letter carriers union re-vote
Thelma J. Hunt is officially the first woman to lead one of the oldest union organizations in Richmond — the Old Dominion Branch 496 of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
Gooden new state secretary of agriculture and forestry
Dr. Basil I. Gooden is well suited for his new job as Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry. Dr. Gooden grew up raising beef cattle on his family’s farm in Buckingham County. He also was appointed by President Obama as Virginia director of rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in May 2014. In announcing Dr. Gooden’s appointment to the state cabinet position July 7, Gov. Terry McAuliffe praised him for his leadership and vision.
Va. Legislative Black Caucus member wins Dem nomination for state Senate
Chesapeake Delegate Lionell Spruill Sr. appears to be on his way to the state Senate. The 22-year General Assembly veteran easily won the Democratic Party nomination Saturday in a “firehouse” primary that was called to find a replacement for Sen. Kenneth C. Alexander, who left the General Assembly after winning the May election for mayor of Norfolk. He assumed the office July 1.
Maggie Walker statue is 80 years overdue
I write with renewed disquiet over what appears to be the stalling of the Maggie Walker statue at the corner of Broad and Adams streets in Downtown.
‘This is more than a gut check; it’s a soul check’
We look upon the tragic deaths in Minnesota, in Louisiana and in Dallas in recent days with sadness, anger, grief, confusion and certainly compassion, but it’s not nearly enough. This is more than a gut check; it’s a soul check. Our souls are being tested by the sobbing young man whose dad was shot and killed at point-blank range by one of two police officers who had him pinned to the ground.
‘Our anthem is tinged by a troubled history’
On July Fourth, I rose, removed my hat and placed my hand over my heart as the band played the national anthem in Dogwood Dell at the beginning of the annual patriotic celebration.
‘It should not come as a complete shock’
In the aftermath of the Dallas shooting tragedy, television pundits are attempting to make sense of it all. That a black man would set upon police officers with a high-powered weapon and voice desire to kill white people, especially white officers, is astonishing to many.
‘Nobody wins with this deep racial hatred and daily murder’
Let us all pray for the Dallas officers who were shot by a sniper, five of whom are now dead. Let us pray for their families and the families of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, who were shot dead by terrorist police who must be brought to justice and not let off.
Williams a rising activist
“The burden of the brutalized is not to comfort the bystander. That’s not our job, alright, stop with all that. If you have a critique for the resistance, for our resistance, then you better have an established record of critique of our oppression. If you have no interest in equal rights for black people then do not make suggestions to those who do. Sit down.” — Jesse Williams
Requiem for black people
Lorenzo Collins, Michael Carpenter, Roger Owensby Jr., Timothy Thomas, Amadou Diallo, Patrick Dorismond, Kenneth Walker, Sean Bell,
One recipe for change
Last week, we called in this space for an end to the epidemic of deadly violence by police against African-Americans and people of color in this nation.
Stories to inspire a better community being told
The Hippodrome Theater in Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward was buzzing Saturday evening as 400 people of all ages and races — from young adult hipsters to older city dwellers — mingled with drinks in hand while a DJ rocked the turntables. They were there for “Secret Stories of Self-Determined Change,” a sold-out event organized by UnMonumental in collaboration with Untold RVA and Secretly Y’all.
Students learn leadership through Maggie L. Walker summer institute
Eight area high school students participating in the Maggie L. Walker Summer Youth Leadership Institute spent a recent morning learning about Richmond’s slave-trading past in Shockoe Bottom.
Sisters reign at Wimbledon
Serena Williams proved her star power and tennis mastery once again when she won both the single’s title and, with her sister, Venus, also claimed the doubles title Saturday at Wimbledon.
