Kazoos, chants drown out church’s message of hate
Anti-gay demonstrators from the controversial Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas were met by Randy Blythe of Richmond’s heavy metal band Lamb of God at the Virginia State Capitol on Monday with an unlikely weapon — kazoos.
Rep. Omar, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
A Muslim civil rights organization has called on Fox News to fire host Jeanine Pirro for questioning Rep. Ilhan Omar’s loyalty to the United States in a monologue on her weekend show “Justice with Judge Jeanine” and suggesting the Minnesota …
Devotional guide marks 400 years since the arrival of Africans in Virginia
A Christian anti-hunger group has released a devotional guide to mark the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in Jamestown.
United Methodist Church keeps ban on gay clergy, same-sex marriage
“We’re in this to the end,” sang LGBTQ United Methodists and their allies.
NFL team owner, human trafficking and faith-based communities
The news that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been charged with soliciting sex and prostitution in a spa as part of a monthslong investigation into a massive human trafficking ring is dominating headlines for its shocking revelation about …
$6.3M raised for synagogue massacre families, survivors
A fund established in the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre has raised $6.3 million that will be split primarily among the families of the dead and survivors of the worst attack on Jews in U.S. history.
City’s first African-American fire chief Ronald C. Lewis dies at 84
Ronald Charles “Ron” Lewis led the modernization of Richmond’s Fire Department after being installed as the city’s first African-American fire chief in 1978.
Local chef-caterer turns empty church kitchen into a busy business
On weekdays, the kitchen at Faith Community Baptist Church in Richmond’s East End is a beehive of activity six hours a day.
Pitching legend Don Newcombe dies at 92
In the late 1940s, the Brooklyn Dodgers rattled baseball’s foundation by boldly breaking the color line. It was to be a major turning point in all professional sports.
Pope calls for ‘all-out battle’ against sexual child abuse
In his final address to nearly 190 bishops attending last week’s Vatican summit on sex abuse, Pope Francis called for the eradication of abuse both inside and outside the Roman Catholic Church.
Clifton D. Townes, retired city recreation district superintendent, dies at 79
Clifton David Townes helped create vibrant sports and educational programs for city youths during a storied career with the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.
Rev. Franklin, 47, dies after preaching sermon
The Rev. Charles M. Franklin Jr. preached a sermon, finished serving communion and had gone into his office at Ray of Hope Baptist Church in Northeast Baltimore on Sunday, Feb. 10, when he lapsed into a seizure.
Catholic dioceses release list of 58 clergy accused of sexually abusing children
Virginia’s two Roman Catholic dioceses on Wednesday published lists of 58 priests credibly accused of sexually abusing minors, joining other dioceses around the country in answering calls to make public the names of abusive clergy.
Community organizer and strategist Lillie A. Estes succumbs at 59
Lillie Ann Estes set the standard for community organizing in Richmond.
Grammy winner James Ingram dies at 66
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter James Ingram, who launched multiple hits on the R&B and pop charts and earned two Oscar nominations for his songwriting, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2018, at his Los Angeles home from brain cancer. He was 66.
