All results / Stories / Jeremy M. Lazarus
African-American mayors elected in 3 cities
Voters in Norfolk and Roanoke elected African-American mayors in Tuesday’s municipal elections. And in Hampton, Mayor George Wallace lost his re-election bid to another African-American.
New deal helps pave way for Soulidifly's new work
Richmond’s largest African-American film and media company now has access to financial support for its efforts to make films showcasing events and stories involving women and people of color.
RRHA residents in 117 units still having heating problems
Keeping all public housing residents warm remains a constant struggle, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority acknowledged Monday in an email to the Richmond Free Press.
New regulations to help people with sickle cell anemia
It’s official. Sickle cell anemia sufferers now can get high doses of potentially addictive pain medications without any limitations in Virginia. The treatment exemption for people who live with the pain from the genetic blood disorder — mostly African-Americans — became effective when the state Board of Medicine’s new regulations governing physician use of opioids were published in the Virginia Administrative Code earlier this month.
City tax amnesty program to reap nearly $2.8M
Richmond expects to collect nearly $2.8 million in delinquent taxes as a result of a tax amnesty program, Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced this week.
Primary victories put several Black candidates in position to win
Black influence in Virginia politics appears to be growing.
Linwood D. Ross, scoutmaster and deacon, dies at 91
Linwood Dixon Ross taught hundreds of Richmond boys to be prepared while building their confidence and helping to shaping their character.
Councilwoman Trammell takes steps toward 2nd referendum on city casino
Richmond’s plans to allow a private company to create a gambling mecca in South Side collapsed in November when voters opposed to a casino narrowly defeated it by just under 1,500 votes. Now one of the biggest supporters of the project, 8th District City Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell, wants a do-over.
Too close to call
Casino outcome hinges on voter turnout
Will Richmond voters approve a resort and casino project? That’s the biggest question on the city ballot —– a repeat of 2021 when the proposal narrowly lost.
Armed guards in the Richmond Public Library?
Frightening incidents spark the possibility
Are armed security guards needed in Richmond’s public libraries? Two recent unsettling incidents at the North Avenue Branch have convinced Richmond City Councilman Chris A. Hilbert that having an unarmed security guard is not enough at that branch to ensure that people “have a sense of safety and are safe.” On Oct. 28, a man with a rifle slung over his shoulder and a long knife strapped to his leg walked into the library as little children were engaged in a storytelling program, setting off alarms among the staff.
Primed for November
Primary winners Northam, Gillespie will carry Dem and GOP banners into gov. election
Virginia’s next governor will either be Democrat Ralph S. Northam or Republican Edward W. “Ed” Gillespie. The choice of the competitors was made by 900,000 voters who trooped to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in the primary elections for both political parties.
Virginia Supreme Court halts most evictions through Sept. 7
Thousands of families in Richmond and across the state are heaving a sigh of relief after a sharply divided Virginia Supreme Court temporarily halted local general district courts from issuing a writ of eviction for failure to pay rent — though not for other reasons like property damage.
Joe Morrissey disbarred for violating State Bar rules
“Fighting Joe” has been hit with a knockout blow. For the second time in his career, Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey, a savvy attorney and former Richmond prosecutor who built a reputation as a courtroom battler, has lost his license to practice law.
Punked
Unrealistic assumptions and overly rosy income forecasts. Those were among the shaky financial footings on which the Leigh Street training camp for the Washington NFL team was built, according a new report from the office of City Auditor Louis G. Lassiter.
Mayor Stoney highlights new eviction prevention program
Good things are happening in Richmond, Mayor Levar M. Stoney said as he used his State of the City speech last week to tout the city’s progress during his first two years.
State NAACP president muddies group’s stance against Dominion Energy pipeline project
The Virginia State NAACP is reaffirming its opposition to Dominion Energy’s $6.5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline because it believes a key element of the pipeline — a natural gas compressor station —poses a pollution risk to a historically African-American community in Buckingham County, 75 miles west of Richmond.
New city protocol irritates City Council members
The days of council members speaking directly to department directors and other City Hall staff to resolve a problem are over.
Spotty CARE van service leaves riders in limbo
Roderyck Bullock has somewhere to go almost every day, but he doesn’t always make it. His ride sometimes arrives late. Occasionally, it doesn’t show up at all.
State watchdog report finds significant flaws in state’s special education efforts
Every year, more than 2,300 special education students — 20 percent — are awarded essentially worthless diplomas when they graduate.
City jail deputy shortages continue
“This feels like an emergency situation. It feels like we are in a crisis.”
