CIAA teams face tough competition in NCAA play
The CIAA men’s and women’s basketball champions have drawn daunting assignments for their NCAA Division II first round games in the Atlantic Region. Virginia State University’s women’s basketball team is seeded eighth — and last — and will play at first seed California University of Pennsylvania on Friday, March 13. Livingstone College’s men’s basketball team, also seeded eighth, will play Saturday, March 14, at top seed West Liberty University in Wheeling, W.Va.
Churches battling Selma’s ongoing problem — poverty
The world’s eyes were again on this small Alabama city, the epicenter of the voting rights battle 50 years ago. However, the crippling poverty that faith and community leaders grapple with daily was largely overlooked amid the commemoration of the long ago fight to end the exclusion of black people from the ballot box. For those who live here, the big march and the powerful words of President Obama were a passing moment with little impact on conditions. As Pastor Reginald Wells put it in considering the spotlight that Selma has been in, “We’re not benefiting. Oprah (Winfrey) was just here. They just filmed the movie ‘Selma’ here and the world is enjoying Selma” this weekend.
Concert kicks off church’s centennial
Founded in 1915, Thirty-first Street Baptist Church is kicking off its centennial celebration with a “Living Legends Concert.” The evening of music is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the church at 823 N. 31st St. in the East End, the church’s pastor, Dr. Morris Henderson, has announced.
Male choruses perform this weekend
Soul-stirring gospel music will fill the air at Hood Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Jackson Ward this weekend. The church, led by the Rev. Tony D. Henderson, will celebrate the 57th anniversary of the Hood Temple Male Chorus 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, with performances by the church’s and other visiting choruses.
Varina church hosts men’s conference
A Virginia state senator, a former field director for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition and a former executive director at the Virginia State Conference NAACP are among a diverse array of speakers slated for Antioch Baptist Church’s men’s conference this weekend. The conference is free. Sessions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 13; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14; and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15.
NCCU favored in MEAC tourney
North Carolina Central University is the heavy favorite to repeat as the MEAC basketball champion Saturday at the Norfolk Scope. The final game of the 13-school event is set for 1 p.m., with live ESPN2 coverage.
VCU opens March 12 in Atlantic 10 Tournament
The chase is on as Virginia Commonwealth University heads to Brooklyn, N.Y. VCU is trying to run down its first Atlantic 10 basketball title, while Rams senior Treveon Graham remains in pursuit of the university’s all-time scoring record. The more the Rams win, the greater Graham’s chances. VCU, 22-9, opens A-10 tournament play 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, against the play-in survivor between George Mason and Fordham universities.
Morrissey to endorse ex-mayor for delegate
Delegate Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey is once again a free man, and he’s busy with political plans. The first Virginia legislator to serve while in jail, he turned in his ankle bracelet and ended his term at the Henrico County Jail-East in New Kent County at 6 a.m. Tuesday, according to Sheriff Michael Wade. He had been serving a six-month sentence on his misdemeanor conviction of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, but jail rules cut that to 90 days. He spent his nights in jails, but was able to serve at the General Assembly and practice law during the day while on work release.
3 receive scholarships in Jail-VCU program
Three current and former inmates at the Richmond Justice Center have won the first scholarships awarded through the city jail’s unique college programs. Christian Brackett, Pinetta Fleming and William “Billy” Scruggs were awarded scholarships for a class at Virginia Commonwealth University, which partners with the jail in a college-level program called Open Minds.
RRHA reviewing new sites to relocate Fay Towers
The Frederic A. Fay Towers once again seem to be upholding the city housing authority’s reputation for slow-moving development projects. Instead of breaking ground last summer as promised, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is still struggling to determine the site where it will build a replacement for the aging high-rise in Gilpin Court, just north of Downtown.
$3M plus to former inmate
Stefan Woodson nearly died from a heat stroke in July 2012 while serving time in the old Richmond City Jail. Left mentally and physically disabled, the former Marine has agreed to accept more than $3 million from the City of Richmond and Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. to settle his federal lawsuit that charged the damage he suffered resulted from inadequate care that amounted to “cruel and unusual punishment.” The settlement disclosed by Mr. Woodson’s attorneys ranks among the largest ever in a Virginia case involving inmate health issues. The city has not issued any comment, nor has the Sheriff’s Office.
FOIA request filed, possibly leading to Elkhardt suit
Did Richmond Public Schools officials ignore potential health dangers from mold at Elkhardt Middle School long before the South Side school was shut down and the students transferred to the former Clark Springs Elementary School? That’s what attorneys for a group of parents, teachers and staff members want to find out in laying the groundwork for a possible lawsuit.
Bagby to seek 74th House seat
Lamont Bagby is giving up his seat on the Henrico School Board to run for the Virginia House of Delegates. Mr. Bagby, 38, announced Wednesday he will again seek the Democratic nomination for the 74th House District, the district that Delegate Joe Morrissey now represents. The district includes a sliver of Richmond, the eastern part of Henrico County and all of Charles City County.
Hicks to become city judge July 1
It’s official. David M. Hicks, Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ senior policy adviser, is going to be a judge in Richmond. The General Assembly elected him Feb. 25 to the Richmond General District Court bench, effective July 1, for a six-year term.
Bedden to stay in Richmond
“Everyone should check your emails,” Richmond School Board member Jeffrey M. Bourne eagerly alerted his colleagues late Tuesday afternoon prior to a hastily called board budget meeting. The six other board members in attendance then quickly turned to their hand-held electronic devices and scrolled to an email sent to them by Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden at 5:07 p.m.
Home sweet home?
Trailer park under pressure for repairs
Is the city on a code enforcement witch hunt to force vulnerable Latino citizens and other poor people to move from their mobile homes, which are for many a residence of last resort? Or are code enforcement officers merely fulfilling their duties by issuing a plethora of violations to residents at selected mobile home parks they deem hazardous to ensure they upgrade their homes for safe habitation? The answer depends on whom you ask. This week, officers from the city’s Bureau of Permits and Inspections began trailer-by-trailer inspections at the 106-unit Mobile Towne Mobile Home Park off Old Midlothian Turnpike. Mobile Towne, like many of the city’s eight other mobile home parks, has a large Latino population.
Ferguson police created ‘toxic environment’
Federal probe reveals racial bias, injustices aimed at African-Americans; cop cleared in death of Michael Brown
WASHINGTON A U.S. Justice Department investigation found sweeping patterns of racial bias within the Ferguson, Mo., police department that targeted African-Americans and created a “toxic environment,” with officers routinely using excessive force, issuing petty citations and making baseless traffic stops against them. But even in the face of a plethora of problems, the federal probe cleared a former white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager there, Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday.
VSU women bring home CIAA crown
Virginia State University’s women’s basketball team picked the right time and right place for its best basketball of the season. The Trojans not only won their first CIAA tournament since 2002, they won in a blowout, routing Lincoln University 73-49 at Charlotte’s Time Warner Cable Arena. In the semifinals, VSU drubbed Shaw University 69-47, denying the Bears a shot at a fifth consecutive crown. Now VSU will carry an overall 20-9 record into the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament. Pairings will be announced March 8.
Crutcher hailed as new UR president
The historic nature of the appointment of Dr.Ronald A. Crutcher as the next president of the University of Richmond was not lost on people attending last Friday’s public ceremony at the Robins Center to welcome him to campus. Dr. Crutcher, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Betty Neal Crutcher, and their adult daughter, Sara, received a standing ovation from the audience of about 1,500. The Cincinnati native, renowned classical cellist and president emeritus of Wheaton College in Massachusetts is the 10th president and the first African-American selected to lead the private, liberal arts university, which was founded in 1830. He will succeed current President Edward L. Ayers on July 1.
City betting millions on brewery
In its California hometown, Stone Brewery is a standout in San Diego’s burgeoning craft beer market, with Stone’s two beer gardens ranking as important tourist lures. The company boasts that only the renowned San Diego Zoo and the LEGOLAND amusement park attract more visitors to the Navy port city with 4 million people in the metropolitan area or four times the population of metro Richmond.
