RPS to pay consultants $1,692 for each temporary teacher hired
Richmond Public Schools has an emergency shortage of 119 teachers, and the administration hopes a Staunton consult- ing firm will help fill the void by placing temporary teachers in classrooms. Although the school district continues to offer contracts to new hires daily, teachers continue to resign less than two weeks before the start of the new school year, Tamica Epps, executive director of human resources for RPS, told the Richmond School Board during its Aug. 15 meeting.
Education advocate back in Chesterfield court
Education advocate Kandise Lucas is once again headed back to Chesterfield County General District Court to face a charge of trespassing on school property — just two weeks after Chesterfield Schools Superintendent James F. Lane promised to lift a ban against her under an agreement with the federal government.
Crusading journalist George E. Curry dies at 69
George E. Curry, a pioneering journalist and publisher whose civil rights advocacy helped free a Henrico County woman from federal prison while calling national attention to the disparity in federal drug sentences for African-Americans, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at a Takoma Park, Md., hospital.
Family dispute over Dr. King’s Bible, Nobel Prize medal ends
A Fulton County, Ga., judge has signed an order ending an ownership dispute over Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s traveling Bible and Nobel Peace Prize medal that had pitted the slain civil rights leader’s two sons against their sister. The consent order signed Aug. 15 by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney says the items are to be released to Martin Luther King III as chairman of the board of his father’s estate, but does not indicate what will happen to them after that.
Undeterred
Not to be blocked by court, Gov. McAuliffe restores voting rights of 13,000 felons; creates system to help thousands more
Just a month after the Virginia Supreme Court blocked his attempt to restore the voting rights of more than 200,000 felons, Gov. Terry McAuliffe is once again charging ahead on this “issue of basic justice.”
Plans for Church Hill grocery move foward
Plans to bring a new grocery store to Church Hill are moving forward.
Maggie Walker statue clears final hurdles
The plan to create a statue of Richmond great Maggie L. Walker in Downtown has cleared its final hurdle. Now the work can begin on the project to honor Mrs. Walker, best known as the first African-American woman to charter and serve as the president of a bank, an accomplishment in 1903 when Mrs. Walker was leading the Independent Order of St. Luke, a benevolent society.
‘We love our animals to death — literally’
Today’s 10 highest grossing box office releases are about animals. They include “Finding Dory,” “The Jungle Book,” “Zootopia,” “The Secret Life of Pets” and “Kung Fu Panda.” Nearly half of our households include a dog and nearly 40 percent have a cat. Two-thirds of us view them as family members and cherish them accordingly. We love our animals to death — literally.
‘We are one election away from becoming Nazi America’
We are one presidential election away from becoming Nazi America. The Republicans in Congress are not only willing to support Donald Trump. They are working diligently to destroy Hillary Clinton.
How far we’ve come; how far yet to go
With a woman heading the Democratic Party’s presidential ticket, it may be challenging for us to remember that women have had the right to vote for less than a century — and black folks less than that.
Lethal disregard for black lives continues
Protestations regarding the value of black lives have become increasingly common in the public dialogue. The simple phrase “Black Lives Matter” has generated praise from that segment of society that has suffered countless race-based indignities and been condemned by those who, in my opinion, are too blind or obstinate to see the realities of the black experience in the United States.
A true freedom fighter
Say the name Jack Gravely, and people even in the farthest corners of Virginia are likely to know who you’re talking about. Mr. Gravely, the un-bought, un-bossed two-time head of the state NAACP, died Monday, bringing to a close a life dedicated to ensuring the freedoms as outlined by the founding fathers were equally applied to people of color. He fought for equal rights in voting, fairness in housing and equality in job opportunities, education and pay. And no matter what far-flung part of the state people experiencing problems lived in, Mr. Gravely was there.
Simone Manuel swims into history, Olympic record
It has taken 31 Olympiads and 120 years, but finally an African-American woman has won an individual gold medal in swimming.
Usain Bolt dashes off with medal
Jamaica, homeland of the incomparable Usain Bolt, ranks 139th in the world in population but it’s No. 1 in terms of speed. The Caribbean island of some 2.95 million people deserves the title “World’s Fastest Country” based on its domination in 100-meter dash Olympic competition.
Biles ties record with 4 golds
Simone Biles showed off her sassy moves and explosive tumbles on the floor exercise to win a record-equaling fourth gold at the Olympics on Tuesday.
Michelle Carter uses ‘diva’ touch in shot put
With crimson lipstick, eyeliner, mascara and a beaming smile, Michelle Carter won a stunning Olympic shot put gold last Friday to sprinkle a little glitz on an event often cruelly ridiculed for the shape of its women athletes.
VIA Heritage Association meeting Aug. 20
The Virginia Interscholastic Association Heritage Association will hold its next meeting 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at Azurest South Alumni House at Virginia State University.
Fight for $15
Low-wage workers bring message, movement
Laura Clark is a home care worker, yet she has no income. The 53-year-old Caroline County resident cares for her 83-year-old mother, who suffers from dementia and COPD, but doesn’t qualify to receive pay as a family caregiver because her mother has life insurance. She said her daily struggle to keep things going in her own household makes her understand the plight of others working for minimum wage — $7.25 an hour.
Rev. Gregory King named pastor of South Side church
Richmond has long been home to ministers and religious leaders who combine their roles in the church with civic and social action.
