Leaf collection scaled back for residents
Soon after taking office in 2009, Mayor Dwight C. Jones reversed the action of his predecessor, L. Douglas Wilder, who reduced the vacuuming of leaves to once a year to save $300,000. Mayor Jones restored the traditional two cycle collection of leaves in city neighborhoods.
RRHA residents in ‘buy or move’ spot
Charlene C. Harris hoped to live out her years at 1600 Colorado Ave., the single-family brick cottage that she and her family have called home for 47 years. But now the retired 68-year-old state employee is being told she must either purchase the two-bedroom home from her landlord, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, or face moving. “It’s a terrible situation,” she said. “RRHA has told me I have to put up $500 to begin the process and to get a mortgage by December. Otherwise, I would have to accept relocation.”
‘Ambassador of Compassion’ dies at 62
Even in the final few days before she succumbed to heart failure, Alicia C. Rasin found the time and energy to assist others in need.
Justice Or Else
Million Man March 20th Anniversary draws throngs calling for justice, equity
Twenty years ago, 1.2 million African-American men assembled in a blanket of humanity that spread across the National Mall from the U.S. Capitol to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to attend the first Million Man March. There, they declared “their right to justice to atone for their failure as men and to accept responsibility as the family’s head.”
Panthers roaring back
There was a time when Virginia Union University dominated CIAA football and ranked among the most successful programs in NCAA Division II.
American people treated like road kill
The Republicans have the gall to call themselves road kill. Under the Republicans, the American people have been repeatedly run down and run over by these hit-and-run politicians.
Support needed for caregivers
A debilitating disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, takes a devastating toll on the people who suffer from it as they lose their ability to walk, dress, write, speak, swallow and breathe. But the disease, as well as brain injury and other conditions that render someone unable to care for themselves, also wreaks havoc on the sufferers’ families.
Potential is not power
Have you ever heard someone say, “Black people have the potential to be a force to be reckoned with?” How about this one? “Black folks have all of the potential in the world to become, to achieve, to affect and to change.” Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Alabama’s Jim Crow far from subtle
In Alabama, 50 years after Selma, voting rights are once more under assault. Even as Alabama finally took down its Confederate flags this year, it has raised new obstacles to voting. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder to gut the Voting Rights Act, supported by the five conservative justices alone, opened the floodgates to legislation in more than 21 states erecting new obstacles to make voting more difficult. These obstacles have included limiting the days for early voting, eliminating Sunday voting, requiring various forms of ID, shutting down voting sites and more. Alabama — the home of Selma and the Bloody Sunday police riot that spurred the passage of the original federal Voting Rights Act 50 years ago — is one of the leaders in the new forms of voter suppression.
Gun control for cops
Last week, we used this space to advocate for tougher gun control laws and increased data collection to protect the safety and health of the people.
Round 1
Tuesday night’s Democratic debate offered an interesting opening look at the five candidates vying to win voter support to become the nation’s next chief executive. As expected, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont posted the strongest showings, with former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee trailing.
Music by the river
An estimated 200,000 people gathered under mostly sunny autumn skies last weekend to enjoy crowd-pleasing music and dances performed by more than 40 artists at the 11th Annual Richmond Folk Festival.
Virginia Randolph school to mark 100th anniversary on Saturday
The Academy at Virginia Randolph will celebrate its centennial Saturday, Oct. 17, marking a century since the Henrico County school was dedicated in honor of Ms. Randolph, the pioneering African-American educator.
VUU and VSU homecomings this weekend
It’s time for joyful reunions, parties, tailgating and football as Virginia Union University and Virginia State University celebrate their homecomings this weekend.
Casting call Oct.17 for play
A casting call will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Thirty-First Street Baptist Church, 823 N. 31st St., for the play, “Abolitionists Museum.”
VSU’s new power player: Cannon
The most appreciated gifts are often those you never saw coming. Trenton Cannon has been Virginia State University’s surprise package this football season. A sophomore transfer from Shepherd University in West Virginia, Cannon didn’t create so much as a ripple in the Trojans’ preseason prospective.
VUU men win cross-country meet
Virginia Union University’s Franck Charles remains undefeated this season after winning the Panther Classic cross-country meet last weekend at Richmond’s Bryan Park.
Petersburg to host memorial for hometown basketball legend Moses Malone
Petersburg is planning a tribute service for its most celebrated hometown sports hero, the late basketball great Moses Malone. The memorial program will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Petersburg High School’s gymnasium, 3101 Johnson Road. Mr. Malone, 60, died Sept. 13 of heart failure in Norfolk. His funeral was held Sept. 19 in Houston, where he lived at the time of his death.
Gilbert L. Carter succumbs at 70
NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier recalls Gilbert Lino Carter as “a wonderful human being.” Robert Rooks says Mr. Carter was “a fun-loving guy, who also was serious, … someone dedicated to community service.” The three men were childhood friends growing up in Richmond and star players on the Maggie Walker High School football team that won the state championship in 1962 under Coach Cannonball Cooper. They also played together at Morgan State University under Coach Earl Banks, where they won the Orange Blossom Classic, the unofficial “black college football championship game,” over Florida A&M in 1965. Mr. Carter and Mr. Lanier were college roommates for three years. Mr. Rooks recalls that Mr. Carter “had a rifle for an arm” as the heady quarterback for both high school and college teams. Mr. Carter went on to earn a law degree, taught law and worked in city and state positions in Richmond for more than 25 years.
Robert Moore, former VUU coach, dies
Former Virginia Union University basketball Coach Robert D. Moore died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at his home in Charlotte, N.C.
