Kings Dominion changes name of roller coaster
Kings Dominion amusement park is changing the name of a roller coaster named after the war whoop of a Confederate soldier.
Florida votes to replace Confederate statue in Congress with one of Mary McLeod Bethune
Florida could soon help diversify the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall by replacing a Confederate general’s likeness with the hall’s first statue honoring an African-American woman.
Renewed Poor People’s Campaign starts first of several national actions
The renewed version of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign to lift poor people held its first national mobilization, with actions and events Monday in 32 states and the nation’s capital.
6 Virginia tribes win federal recognition
Six Indian tribes in Virginia have secured federal recognition after nearly 20 years. The recognition became official Monday when President Trump signed legislation that recently passed Congress.
Omarosa to join ‘Celebrity Big Brother’
Former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault, who exited the Trump administration last year, was unveiled as one of the contestants for the CBS reality show “Celebrity Big Brother” in a promo aired by the network Sunday during the Grammy Awards.
AME Bishop John Hurst Adams succumbs at 90
Bishop John Hurst Adams, a nationwide religious and civil rights leader who was a strong voice for removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House dome, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. He was 90.
Hugh Masekela, South African jazz musician instrumental in anti-apartheid fight, dies at 78
Trumpeter and singer Hugh Masekela, known as the “father of South African jazz” who used his music in the fight against apartheid, has died after a decade-long fight with prostate cancer, his family said on Tuesday. He was 78.
Gospel star Edwin Hawkins dies at 74
Edwin Hawkins, the gospel star best known for the crossover hit “Oh Happy Day” and as a major force for contemporary inspirational music, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, at age 74.
49th Annual NAACP Image Awards slated for Jan.15
Final preparations are underway for the 49th NAACP Image Awards, which will air in a live, two-hour television special on Monday, Jan. 15, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Oprah sells majority control of her OWN network
Oprah Winfrey has sold control of her 6-year-old cable network for $70 million.
Civil rights groups decry tax bill impact
President Trump and Republicans are heralding their new tax legislation as a major help to middle class Americans and as a certain way of boosting the economy by cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent
Rep. Conyers resigns amid allegations of sexual misconduct
Democratic Rep. John Conyers resigned from Congress on Tuesday after a nearly 53-year career, becoming the first Capitol Hill politician to lose his job in the torrent of sexual misconduct allegations sweeping through the nation’s workplaces.
Della Reese, star of TV show ‘Touched by an Angel,’ dies at 86
Actress and singer Della Reese, best known for her role as Tess, the wise angel in the long-running television drama “Touched by an Angel,” has died at her California home.
‘Cosby Show’ actor dies at 91
Earle Hyman, a veteran actor of stage and screen who was widely known for playing the father of Bill Cosby’s character on “The Cosby Show,” has died.
Pioneering jazz singer Jon Hendricks succumbs at 96
Jon Hendricks, the pioneering jazz singer and lyricist who, with the trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, popularized the “vocalese” singing style in which words were added to instrumental songs, has died. He was 96.
Priest aids in Mugabe relinquishing power
Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe knew it was “the end of the road” days before he quit, and appeared relieved when he signed his resignation letter after 37 years in power, said a Catholic priest who mediated talks leading to his removal from office.
More than 50% of African-Americans have high blood pressure under new guidelines
Well over half of all African-American adults will be classified as having high blood pressure under new streamlined diagnostic guidelines released this week, illuminating the heavy burden of cardiovascular disease in the population. Anyone with blood pressure higher than 130/80 will be considered to have hypertension, or high blood pressure, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology stated Monday in releasing their new joint guidelines.
Nonprofits to provide eye screenings, eyeglasses to RPS students
Students at Redd Elementary School in Richmond are the first to benefit from a new effort to ensure every city student who needs glasses has them.
Robert Guillaume, stage, screen, Emmy TV star, dies at 89
Robert Guillaume rose from squalid beginnings in St. Louis slums to become a star in stage musicals and win Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the sharp-tongued butler in the TV sitcoms “Soap” and “Benson.”
Eminem slams Trump in profane video, calls him racist
Eminem unleashed a profane lyrical tirade against President Donald Trump — saying he “came to stump” and taking aim at the president’s Twitter habits, policy, appearance and supporters.
Obamacare survives — again
Good news: Millions of people will be able to keep their health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Nuns rock like no others
Eleven nuns take the stage wearing traditional black-and-white habits but are anything but old school as they belt out songs to the ringing of an electric guitar and a rock ‘n’ roll beat.
Northam, Gillespie square off in Northern Virginia debate
The two major party candidates in Virginia’s closely watched race for governor argued in mostly cordial tones Tuesday over taxes, President Trump and what Virginia should do with its numerous monuments to the Confederacy.
GOP takes another swipe at Obamacare
Jay Stout considers himself lucky that he was on the health insurance plan that his mother purchased through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace.
Racial bias in hiring still hurts African-Americans, study shows
Racial bias in hiring African-Americans has not declined from 1990 to 2015. That was the finding of the largest and most comprehensive meta analysis of its kind published Sept. 12 in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Megapastor tries to defend himself after Hurricane Harvey
Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston is helping Texans cope in the wake of Hurricane Harvey — and trying to counter a flood of comments on social media accusing the church of turning its back on storm victims. The church took in about 400 people from the overflow at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, a Red Cross shelter, church spokesman Don Iloff said last week.
It’s a girl for Serena!
Serena Williams has given birth to a baby girl, the first child for the former world No. 1 tennis player and her fiancé, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
Comedian, activist Dick Gregory dies at 84
Comedian, civil rights activist and healthy living advocate Dick Gregory, who used his humor to spread messages of social justice and good nutrition, died late Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, in Washington.He was 84.
Mormon church denounces white supremacy, angering some members
The Mormon church is specifically condemning white supremacist attitudes in its strongest statement since a Virginia rally over a Confederate monument descended into deadly violence.
Homegrown terror
The nation reacts to violence and murder in Charlottesville driven by white supremacists’ attempts to protect Confederate statues
Was the horror show in Charlottesville fresh evidence that overt racism remains an issue for our country? Or is it a terrible, but ultimately small blip in a nation where the issue of race has dominated the past and remains a key issue today?
$2.9M
Family of Philando Castile settles in his fatal shooting by police officer
The city of St. Anthony, Minn., has agreed to pay nearly $3 million to the mother of Philando Castile, a registered gun owner who was shot to death by a police officer during a routine traffic stop although he was complying with the cop’s orders.
Ramadan ends with celebrations in area, around the globe
Saturday, June 24, marked the end of the monthlong fasting that began in late May for Ramadan, a sacred observance for Muslims.
It’s a boy and a girl for Beyoncé, Jay Z
Leave it to a proud grandpa to spill the beans about the birth of his grandchildren. That’s what happened Sunday when Mathew Knowles turned to Twitter to say his celebrity superstar daughter Beyoncé now was the mother of twins.
Effects of Israeli-Arab 1967 Six-Day War still felt 50 years later
Ron Kronish was an American college student when Israel defeated the Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian armies during the 1967 Six-Day War.
Federal court blocks Trump’s travel ban
The fate of President Trump’s order to ban travelers from six predominantly Muslim nations, blocked by federal courts, soon may be in the hands of the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court, where the president’s appointee, Justice Neil Gorsuch, could help settle the matter.
Jordan Peele’s film success continues
Jordan Peele, the comedian turned filmmaker who wrote, produced and directed the blockbuster film, “Get Out,” is following up with a provocative original thriller set for release in March 2019.
Trump’s views on Islam ‘continue to evolve’
President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia this week has begun to soften his attitudes about Islam, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Monday after a two-day summit in which the president was treated to extraordinary Arab hospitality. “I think the president’s views — like, we hope, the American people’s views — are going to continue to evolve,” Mr. Tillerson said on the flight from Riyadh to Tel Aviv.
Callista Gingrich to be nominated as ambassador to the Vatican
Callista Gingrich, the wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, is expected to be nominated by President Trump as the next ambassador to the Vatican.
‘Cause other people to want to learn,’ Hampton U grads told
Love learning, help others and do your best.
Charlottesville roils with protests over Confederate statue
Protests reminiscent of Ku Klux Klan rallies are rattling Charlottesville over the city’s plans to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a park in downtown.
U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeal of N.C. laws targeting African-American voters
In a victory for African-American and other nonwhite voters in North Carolina, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to lift the racist label that a federal appeals court in Richmond pinned on the state.
Federal appeals court hears arguments in Richmond on Trump’s Muslim ban
The challenge to President Trump’s revised travel ban moved to Richmond on Monday, where nearly 200 protesters opposed to the U.S. ban on travelers from six Muslim-majority nations held signs, chanted and listened to an array of religious leaders outside the federal courthouse in Downtown as legal arguments started inside.
Cuba Gooding Sr., former lead singer of The Main Ingredient, dies at 72
Cuba Gooding Sr., who sang the 1972 hit “Everybody Plays the Fool,” has died.
tear those
A monument to a deadly white supremacist uprising in 1874 was removed under cover of darkness by workers in masks and bulletproof vests Monday as New Orleans joined the movement to take down symbols of the Confederacy and the Jim Crow South.
Serena’s pregnant!
Tennis superstar Serena Williams is pregnant and taking maternity leave through the rest of 2017, with the baby due this fall, her spokeswoman announced last week.
Mother Emanuel shooter gets 9 life sentences in S.C. state court
With Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof getting nine life sentences in state court on top of a federal death sentence, his prosecutions are finally over — and some relatives of the nine parishioners he killed at a historically black church say they can finally begin to heal.
Patrick Ewing returns to Georgetown
Patrick Ewing is returning to Georgetown University, and boy are the Hoyas happy! On Monday, university officials announced that Ewing, who as a player helped build the school into a national powerhouse in the 1980s, would be back on campus.
