Farmville church to commemorate historic 1951 student walkout with Johns-Griffin Day
The Moton Museum and First Baptist Church of Farmville are presenting a Johns-Griffin Day commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the strike by students at R.R. Moton School in 1951.
Library of Virginia to open exhibit on religious freedom
The Library of Virginia will open its “First Freedom: Virginia’s Statute for Religious Freedom” exhibit Monday, April 18. The exhibit examines questions such as “What do we mean by religious freedom?” “What is separation of church and state?” “How do you balance one person’s beliefs with the common good?” and “How have our ideas about religious freedom changed since the founding of our nation?” according to a news release.
Flying Squirrels to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day Friday
April 15, 1947, is a red-letter day in sports history and American history. That is the date when Jackie Robinson, son of a family of Georgia sharecroppers, broke the color line in modern major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Frantz, Traynor win Monument Ave. 10K
One step forward for the celebration of local athletes. One step backward for diversity. That sums up the 17th running of the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K last Saturday with nearly 30,000 participants and streets lined with excited but chilled fans.
Ed Davis, former Benedictine standout, looks toward NBA playoffs
Ed Davis’ reputation for rugged play under the backboards has earned him the nickname “Phys Ed” with the NBA Portland Trail Blazers. The 240-pound southpaw has developed into an elite rebounder —and short-range scorer — coming off the bench. “It’s not pretty,” he said of his ready-to-rumble style. “But someone has to set the hard screens, hit the offensive boards, do the dirty work.”
Former VCU Rams in NBA playoffs
Virginia Commonwealth University basketball fans will have two former Rams to follow in the upcoming NBA playoffs. Troy Daniels of the Class of 2013 is in his second year with the Charlotte Hornets, while Briante Weber, Class of 2015, was recently signed by the Miami Heat.
VSU coach looking to move from interim to permanent
As an athlete, Justin Harper was best known for his ability to catch a football. It was a skill that carried him all the way to the NFL.
Cannon lowers ‘Boom’ on VSU’s opponents
Successful college football recruiting is all about organization, forming contacts, perseverance and hard work. It also helps having a bit of luck.
Oliver Singleton, president of the MBL, dies
For more than 13 years, Oliver Rodney “Rod” Hunt Singleton played a critical role in providing more opportunities to minority-owned businesses as the president and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Business League in Jackson Ward.
Unsold food is ‘a godsend’
Boxes of tomatoes, peppers and other fruits and vegetables fill four tables in the basement social hall at Zion Baptist Church on South Side, creating the look of a small grocery store. “This is a pretty small load,” said John Thombs, who had brought the cornucopia to the church at 2006 Decatur St., where his wife, Betty, set it up with a few helpers.
Petersburg works to filter water meter debacle
Petersburg failed to upgrade its billing system so it could accept and use the data collected from the new digital water meters, despite Mayor W. Howard Myers and the Petersburg City Council making that a condition in approving the switch to the new meters.
Free Press wins big
The Richmond Free Press continues its 24-year tradition of award-winning excellence. The newspaper was recognized with 10 awards — including five first-place awards and runner-up for the Journalistic Integrity and Community Service Award — at the annual Virginia Press Association competition in writing, photography, news presentation and advertising.
Verizon strike could impact local service
Members of Henrico County-based Local 2201 of the Communications Workers of America walked off the job early Wednesday in a strike against Verizon.
Candidate forum draws 12 seeking to become mayor
Richmond City Council President Michelle R. Mosby pledged “to renew a sense of trust in government.” Jack Berry, former director of Downtown booster group Venture Richmond, said, “I will make sure that the first dollar goes to the schools, not the last dollar.”
Transgender law tweaked in N.C. after backlash
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory slightly altered a new state law denounced as discriminatory with an executive order Tuesday, but the Republican stood firm on a controversial provision restricting transgender bathroom access. The governor’s order expands protections against discrimination for state employees to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Gov. McCrory also asked lawmakers to restore the right to sue in state court for discrimination, an option taken away by the measure passed last month.
Marching for dollars
City Council takes first steps to give more to RPS
Before dozens of students, parents and teachers began pleading, berating and challenging Richmond City Council to beef up funding for city schools, the nine members of the governing body had already taken the first step. In a 9-0 vote Monday night, in front of a packed council chamber of school supporters, the council approved an ordinance requiring the city administration to give to the schools real estate tax money collected from surplus property previously owned by the school system.
Henrico names new police chief
Henrico County’s choice of a new police chief reflects the growing influence of the Latino community in the Richmond area. The choice is Maj. Humberto “Hum” Cardounel Jr.
Council to CAO: Create plan to aid businesses impacted by BRT
Restaurants and other businesses along Broad Street could receive financial help to survive the expected 15 months of construction of the GRTC’s Bus Rapid Transit system.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects conservative challenge in voting rights case
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the method all states use to draw their legislative districts, rejecting a conservative challenge that could have given more clout to white, rural voters.
‘Friendly fire’ an excuse to explain away black man’s death
I find it troubling that another young black man has been shot and killed by the police and so little attention has been given to it by the news media. In Maryland, a plain clothes black police officer was killed March 13 by what was reported to be “friendly fire.”
