Friday, May 29
National Black Farmers accepting scholarship applications
The National Black Farmers Association is seeking applicants for its first ever college scholarships to support students in agriculture-related study. The scholarships are being funded with a $100,000 grant from FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of the former Chrysler Group, now FCA US LLC.
Mechanicsville pastor, church receive $50,000 renewal grant
Dr. R. Neal Siler, pastor of First Shiloh Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, is taking a leave of absence from his congregation beginning this month for some recreation, relaxation and spiritual renewal. The 63-year-old pastor, who has led First Shiloh for 27 years, is scheduled to spend time in Italy, France, Chicago and New Mexico before returning to the pulpit in mid-August.
GRTC adding unlimited rides
Pay one fare and get unlimited bus rides for a day, a week or a month. That’s an option that cash-strapped GRTC expects to begin offering by the fall in a bid to pump up ridership. GRTC won a 9-0 vote Tuesday from Richmond City Council to inaugurate what is regarded as the biggest change in fare pricing since the start of public transit in the city.
Franklin P. Hall, former Richmond delegate, succumbs at 76
He was considered the “happy warrior” of Richmond politics. Franklin Perkins “Frank” Hall, a silver-haired man with a ready smile and warm handshake, made friends with everyone he met — a trait that stood him in good stead during his 33 years in the Virginia General Assembly.
New Wythe football coach brings NFL skills
When heavy lifting is required, you call on a strong person. George Wythe High School has high hopes it has found that individual in broad-shouldered Dion Foxx. Foxx is the new football coach at the South Side school.
Global warming has major impact on Richmond community
While global warming is sometimes portrayed as something to be handled far into the future and that does not affect the daily lives of ordinary people, nothing could be further from the truth.
A ‘thank you’ from library director
Re “$1M upgrade adds computers to Main Library in Downtown,” May 21-23 edition:
Kudos to Jay Z and Beyoncé
Re “Jay Z, Beyoncé bailed out Baltimore protesters,” May 21-23 edition: Many stars and entertainers talk the talk but do not walk the walk.
Cure the real problem hurting schools, not symptoms
Re: Editorial “Take back our schools,” May 21-23 edition: The first rule in problem solving is to identify the problem by separating it from its symptoms.
Restore justice, peace
The frequent and serious fights which in recent years have broken out among middle and high school students present a cause for alarm and distress. In some cases, absolute cruelty has been displayed. One wonders why so many young people are angry enough to inflict such harm upon another person.
Million Man March 20 years later
On Oct. 16, we will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March. In the subsequent two decades black Americans have experienced great triumphs, tragedies and tribulations.
Our children, our own
Lisa Delpit’s book “Other People’s Children” made a splash at publication in 2006 when it revealed how children of color are shortchanged in the classroom because white teachers do not identify with them, or their concerns, and view them as “other people’s children.”
Working for justice
We congratulate the Old Dominion Bar Association as its members gather in Richmond this weekend to celebrate the organization’s 75th anniversary.
Community book discussion on “The New Jim Crow”
The Lambda Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is hosting a community book discussion on “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by author Michelle Alexander. The discussion will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 31, in the Kitzinger Community Room at the James City County Library, 7770 Croaker Road in Norge.
Community meeting Saturday on VCU well project
Virginia Commonwealth University and the East Marshall Street Well Project Planning Committee will hold a fourth community meeting as part of the study, memorialization and reburial of human remains uncovered 20 years ago during construction on the VCU Medical Center campus.
Tuskegee Airmen Motorcycle Club to host benefit ride Saturday
The Tuskegee Airmen Motorcycle Club of Richmond will hit the road for a good cause this weekend. The group is hosting the 5th Annual Ride for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond on Saturday, May 30, with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Summer Learning Program.
Gay marriage: A civil right or sin?
Is gay marriage a civil right like black equality? Or is it a sin African-Americans should condemn? That’s the question at the heart of “The New Black,” a documentary by filmmaker Yoruba Richen that examined African-American attitudes toward LGBT people leading up to Maryland’s public referendum on gay marriage in 2012.
Mountain of Blessings ends bid for Richmond Christian Center property
The fight over ownership of the bankrupt Richmond Christian Center in South Side has ended, at least for the time being. An Eastern Henrico Church, Mountain of Blessings Christian Center (MBCC), led by married co-pastors Dimitri and Nicole Bradley, has dropped its suit asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to allow MBCC to proceed in purchasing the RCC’s property in the 200 block of Cowardin Avenue.
Percy G. Dennis, 68, owner of Hull St. men’s clothing shop
Percy G. Dennis was known for his deep, abiding faith. He was a gentle soul, always eager to share his love for the Lord with others or to pass along a word of encouragement. Known to his family and friends as the “Best Dressed Man of God,” he had a keen eye for fashion and was endowed with the consummate entrepreneur’s spirit.
Personality: Helivi L. Holland
Spotlight on president of Old Dominion Bar Association at its 75th anniversary
Helivi L. Holland knew at a young age that advocating for justice was her passion. “I was willing to verbally challenge others, including the teachers, when I felt someone was being unfairly treated. That started around second grade,” she said.
NBA draft procedures changed the luck of the teams
Long before the NBA draft was determined by dancing Ping Pong balls, a.k.a. the weighted lottery, it was based on something less dicey — U.S. geography. Between 1949 and 1966, the “territorial draft” was imposed as a way of ushering elite talent to pro clubs nearest their college fan bases — or in one special case, their hometown.
John Marshall athletes headed to VUU and NSU
Two John Marshall High School seniors will continue their athletic careers at historically black universities. Basketball guard Everett “Tre” Patterson has signed with Virginia Union University while Justices football star D.J. Cook has signed with Norfolk State University.
Wythe soccer standout Ladasia Harris conference player of the year
As a young girl in elementary and middle school, Ladasia Harris had precious few athletic opportunities. She wasn’t signed up for many activities because of transportation issues and responsibilities babysitting her siblings. At George Wythe High School, she’s making up for lost time.
Officials launch probe into B.B. King’s death
Nevada officials said Monday they would conduct a homicide investigation into the death earlier this month of legendary musician B.B. King, after two of his daughters leveled accusations that the blues great was murdered. The Clark County, Nev., coroner’s office said in a post on Twitter that it had taken jurisdiction over Mr. King’s body, and autopsy results would take a minimum of six to eight weeks.
Justice Dept. forces Cleveland police reform
Can a police officer fire 15 shots into a car with two unarmed people inside and then be acquitted of criminal charges after their deaths? The answer is yes. Can another police officer get out of his vehicle and, two seconds later, fatally shoot a 12-year-old boy who has a pellet gun in his waistband — and not face swift arrest and prosecution? The answer again is yes.
Petersburg sheriff works with company to give drug testing kits to families
Petersburg Sheriff Vanessa Crawford is taking a new tack to help parents learn whether their children are experimenting with drugs.
City to step up efforts against blighted housing
More than 1,000 abandoned, decaying houses blight Richmond neighborhoods. And with the owners no longer paying property taxes, such properties add nothing to city revenue. Instead, such properties pile up delinquent taxes on the city’s books.
Two Richmond properties being eyed for redevelopment
GRTC is shopping for a buyer for its former headquarters in the Fan District — five years after the bus company moved to South Side.
Martin ends historic tenure as U.Va. rector
As George Keith Martin nears the end of his historic tenure as rector of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, he is reflecting on his efforts and those of the board to broaden diversity at the Charlottesville school.
Children’s hospital plan evaporates
Richmond will not be gaining an independent, free-standing children’s hospital — at least not in the near future. Two of the area’s largest hospital systems, Bon Secours and VCU, have pulled out of the huge project — just seven months after signing an agreement to participate in creating the projected $600 million children’s health center. The participation of the two systems, which handle about 75 percent of all pediatric hospitalizations in the region, was seen as key.
Tuesday, May 26
Baker School building eyed for conversion into apartments
A vacant school building at 100 W. Baker St. in Gilpin Court is being eyed for conversion into 55 one-bedroom apartments for the elderly and disabled.
Gospel singer, songwriter plans nonprofit to help women returning from incarceration
Rhonda Aiden knows the obstacles many women experience when they are released from incarceration back into society. “It’s an overwhelming feeling,” said Ms. Aiden. The 44-year-old South Side resident said she spent a total of five years behind bars in three separate stints for writing bad checks, beginning in 2003. Her last time was from 2011 to 2012 at Deerfield Correctional Center in Southampton County.
20 Richmond Public Schools students chosen as Altria College Opportunity Fund scholars
Twenty Richmond Public Schools students will receive scholarships totaling up to $800,000 from Altria during a program Thursday, May 21, at the historic Hippodrome Theater in Jackson Ward.
Foster care project gets $100,000 boost
Two Richmond-based nonprofits just got a huge boost in their efforts to provide support for young people who are mandated to leave the foster care system in Virginia at age 18. The Children’s Home Society of Virginia, led by president and CEO Nadine Marsh-Carter, learned May 13 it had been selected to receive a $100,000 grant from Impact 100 Richmond to aid the “Possibilities Project,” an initiative first featured in the May 14-16 edition of the Free Press.
Friday, May 22
City Council approves 2016 budget, cuts funds for 379 vacant positions
Call it the big shrink at City Hall. Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Richmond City Council have combined to eliminate funding for at least 379 vacant jobs, essentially positions funded by taxes paid into city coffers
Huguenot soccer team has a world of talent
It is fitting Huso Hasanovic teaches world geography at Huguenot High School. His global awareness ties in nicely with his other Huguenot duty — coaching Falcons soccer. With an international cast of athletes, Hasanovic, a native of Bosnia, has guided his fledgling program to championship caliber in just two seasons.
Felony record shouldn’t be red flag forever
I was released from prison approximately three years ago, but my past has stifled any and all progress. I have served my time, but I feel as if I am still being punished.
Immigrants or invaders?
Do we have an immigration problem? Immigrants come here legally. They come here to benefit from the advantages of living in a nation of freedom and opportunity. They are eager to learn the language and American customs and become productive American citizens. The problem we have is an invasion. True, the invaders aren’t coming here militarily. If they were, they would be summarily repelled. Rather, they are allowed to walk in with impunity.
City officials lost their way on housing
Re “Mobile home residents allege city’s actions discriminatory in HUD complaint,” May 7-9 edition: The saga of Rudd’s trailer park off Jeff-Davis Highway is the tip of the iceberg of failed building maintenance inspection that goes back long before I began tracking it 25 years ago. In 1990, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated there were 20,000 substandard houses in Richmond.
Legalized torture of prisoners
Freddie Gray is neither the first nor will he be the last person to die in police custody. According to a 2011 report from the U.S. Department of Justice, 4,813 people died in police custody between 2003 and 2009 (the most recent data, reported in 2011). However, not every state reports their data, so the number is probably higher. A new report is scheduled to be released this year or next.
Take back our schools
Take back our schools We applaud Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s initial response to a startling national report by the Center for Public Integrity. That report found that Virginia’s public schools refer students to police and courts more often than other states.
Texas thugs
What color is a thug? The Wild West shootout last Sunday in Waco, Texas, by five rival motorcycle gangs proves what we’ve known all along — thugs come in all colors, ages, shapes and sizes.
Students win state, national awards
Students from Richmond-based schools have won awards in state and national competitions. High school and middle school students from the city scored in the annual Technology Student Association competition in Hampton earlier this month.
Teaching healthy eating at Woodville Elementary
Free Press executive Raymond H. Boone Jr. talks up healthy foods Monday at Woodville Elementary School to an audience of students, and has plenty on display for them to see and taste.
Delver Woman’s Club hosts 70th luncheon
The Delver Woman’s Club hosted its 70th annual luncheon May 16 at Ebenezer Baptist Church’s Fellowship Hall. The theme: Entrepreneurship: Overcoming Obstacles.j
Golf tournament benefits MetroCare program to help families with heating bills
Al Scott is by his own admission a golf addict. “I golf religiously,” Mr. Scott, the new deputy director of the Richmond Department of Public Utilities, told the Free Press Tuesday.
Golden State Warriors may be the team to beat in NBA finals
No Spurs. No Heat. No Lakers. No Celtics. No one can say “same ol’ same ol’” about this year’s NBA Conference Finals. The surviving Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets have more recently represented the league’s have-nots than haves. None of the teams has won an NBA title since Houston in 1995, when current league MVP Stephen Curry was just 7 years old.
New VCU basketball recruit played for Egypt’s national team
Virginia Commonwealth University’s latest basketball signee hails from Alexandria. No, not Alexandria, Va., but Alexandria, Egypt. Ahmed Hamby Mohamed, who turns 22 in August, is a 6-foot-9, 245-pound transfer from Lee College in Baytown, Texas. He averaged 16.2 points and 10.7 rebounds for the junior college team this past winter. Before that, he signed with the University of Houston but never played there.
VUU golf team plans to come out swinging in 2016 season
Virginia Union University once dominated CIAA golf. E. Lee Coble is optimistic the Panthers will roar and soar again on the links. After arriving on the Lombardy Street campus last year with impeccable credentials, Coach Coble is beginning his second full season as head of VUU golf.
Garland Avenue Baptist honors 5 women
Five Richmond area women have received Living Legacy awards from Garland Avenue Baptist Church on North Side. The women were singled out for their impact on education, health and civic affairs in the city at the church’s Living Legacy Colloquium on May 16 with the theme “Women of Conscience: Acts of Faith.” NBC12 news anchor Sabrina Squire served as mistress of ceremonies at the program. The honorees are:
Blues legend B.B. King succumbs at 89
B.B. King believed that anyone could play the blues, and that “as long as people have problems, the blues can never die.” But no one could play the blues like this guitar master, who died Thursday, May 14, 2015, in this Nevada tourism and gambling center where he had long made his home and where he had been in hospice care. The music legend was 89.
Personality: Amory M. James
Spotlight on chef, manager of FeedMore Community Kitchen
Chef Amory M. James, food production manager of the FeedMore Community Kitchen, his staff and volunteers cooked up something extra special this week.
Jay Z, Beyoncé bailed out Baltimore protesters
Power couple Jay Z and Beyoncé have privately donated tens of thousands of dollars to help bail out of jail demonstrators arrested while protesting police brutality in Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo., according to the hip-hop mogul’s ghost writer. Activist Dream Hampton, who worked with Jay Z on his 2010 autobiography “Decoded,” also said the couple wrote a “huge check” to the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
GRTC seasonal service to Kings Dominion starts May 23
GRTC is again providing seasonal express services from Downtown and South Side to the Kings Dominion amusement park in Doswell. The daily service is scheduled to start Saturday, May 23, and will continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, according to GRTC officials.
$1M upgrade at Main Library in Downtown
Every day, dozens of people flood into the Main Library in Downtown to use public computers. They come to check emails, seek employment, do research and handle other activities in the online world, including paying bills and applying for visas.
CARE van drivers frustrated by poor scheduling, changing contracts
Frustrated riders who rely on GRTC’s CARE van service often blame the drivers for the spotty service that can make them miss or arrive late for doctors’ appointments, therapy, dialysis or other crucial appointments. But it turns out that the drivers of the CARE vans are just as frustrated.
Memorial Day holiday schedule
A list of closings and schedule changes for Memorial Day, Monday, May 25:
Walmart to cut greeters
Walmart “greeters” soon will be losing their jobs. After 35 years, the retail giant is eliminating the part-time positions reserved largely for retirees and disabled people. Greeters at Richmond area stores have been told their positions will end June 19.
Richmond NFL Hall of Famer donates $500,000 to Morgan State University
Morgan State University was good to Willie Lanier. Now Mr. Lanier is being good to Morgan State. The historically black university in Baltimore announced that Mr. Lanier has given a $500,000 gift to establish the Willie E. Lanier Sr. Endowed Lectureship in Business Ethics.
Attention deficit?
Busy school superintendent wants to teach college course
Busy school superintendent wants to teach college course
Tuesday, May 19
Richmonder recalls meeting legendary pitcher Satchel Paige
Thanks to Richmond Free Press reader Joe Brown for alerting and informing us that Satchel Paige’s legendary baseball career included an historic trip to Virginia’s capital city. In fact, the last time Paige hurled a horsehide in a competitive game just may have been at the old Parker Field, then home of the Richmond Braves — the AAA International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The Diamond, home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, was built on the site.
Federal appeals court gives workers greater protection against racial harassment
A Maryland waitress who was fired after reporting that a manager twice called her “a porch monkey” has become a key figure in bolstering protections for workers who face racial harassment and abuse on the job. A federal appeals court in Richmond is using the civil rights lawsuit that Reya C. Boyer-Liberto filed against the resort hotel where she worked in 2010 to bolster efforts of workers who seek legal redress for a hostile workplace — even when their complaint involves only one or two incidents.
Henrico hires Petersburg deputies
Henrico County Sheriff Michael L. Wade spotted a personnel opportunity when he learned that Petersburg was closing its jail.
5th Street traffic detour expected through mid-August
A portion of North 5th Street was closed Wednesday to start the second phase of work on the bridges beside the Richmond Coliseum.
Friday, May 15
Kaine, McClenney speaking at Sunday services
A U.S. senator and a newly elected Richmond General District Court judge are scheduled to speak at separate Richmond church services Sunday, May 17.
Not just another hip-hop show
The crowd at Jackson Ward’s Gallery 5 was treated to more than a hip-hop concert last Friday as The Cheats Movement presented “Lights, Camera, Action: A Celebration of Hip-Hop Film and Music.” It was an evening for the senses, starting with local artists Goldin, O_Bey and others performing their own independently produced music as clips from classic hip-hop movies streamed along a gallery wall. Later, a panel of experts, including hip-hop legend Queen Lisa Lee of the Zulu Nation, who starred in the classic hip-hop films “Wild Style” and “Beat Street” in the early 1980s, and Emmy Award-winning director Jesse Vaughan, talked about the current state of the hip-hop film industry and the opportunities available for aspiring hip-hop artists to produce independent films.
New city CAO gets $5,700 raise before job start
Selena Cuffee-Glenn just received a $5,700 salary bump — from $203,000 a year to $208,700 — though she will not start work as the city’s top administrator until Monday, May 18.
VCU’s Graham invited to NBA’s pre-draft event
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Treveon Graham is under the spotlight this week. The 6-foot-6, All-Atlantic 10 forward from Temple Hills, Md., was invited to participate in the NBA’s Pre-Draft Combine May 14 through16 in Chicago.
Mobile homes must meet city code
Re “Mobile home residents allege city’s actions discriminatory in HUD complaint,” May 7-9 edition:
Fallen Angels event remembered loved ones in Highland Park
Celebrating with joy and not grief, the neighborhood of Highland Park remembered the untimely deaths of loved ones in the local community. The Fallen Angels event included area residents and friends gathered at Ann Hardy Plaza on First Avenue in North Side.
GRTC should change provider of CARE van service
Re “Spotty CARE van service leaves riders in limbo,” April 30-May 2 edition:
The criminalization of poverty
The recent U.S. Department of Justice report on police and court practices in Ferguson, Mo., put a much needed spotlight on how a predatory system of enforcement of minor misdemeanors and compounding fines can trap low-income people in a never-ending cycle of debt, poverty and jail. This included outrageous fines for minor infractions, such as failing to show proof of insurance and letting grass and weeds in a yard get too high. In one case, a woman who parked her car illegally in 2007 and couldn’t pay the initial $151 fee has since been arrested twice, spent six days in jail, paid $550 to a city court and, as of 2014, still owed the city $541 in fines, all as a result of the unpaid parking ticket. The Department of Justice found each year Ferguson set targets for the police and courts to generate more and more money from municipal fines. And Ferguson isn’t alone. The criminalization of poverty is a growing trend in states and localities across the country.
First Lady tells Tuskegee to ‘rise above’
I hope people who attended Tuskegee University’s commencement May 9 got First Lady Michelle Obama’s message. I hope they paid more attention to what she said than how some news media organizations portrayed the First Lady’s speech to graduates of the historically black Alabama school. I don’t want them to think People magazine got it right when it ran as the headline her dismay over being pictured as a fist-pumping Black Panther on a cover of The New Yorker in 2008. It didn’t. And neither did CNN, which put this headline on its report of that speech: “Michelle Obama says she was held to different standard in ’08 campaign due to her race.” What she told Tuskegee’s graduates was much more profound.
First Lady connects
First Lady Michelle Obama delivered an authentic, unfeigned and inspiring message to graduates at Tuskegee University’s commencement on May 9. Here are excerpts:
Four students in RRHA housing win $2,000 scholarships
Four college-bound students from Richmond’s public housing communities have won $2,000 scholarships from the Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials, it has been announced.
Gov. tells VCU grads to go for the gusto
Gov. Terry McAuliffe delivered a three-pronged recipe for success to the more than 5,000 graduates at Virginia Commonwealth University’s commencement Saturday at the Richmond Coliseum. “Think big. Always take chances and never be afraid to fail,” the governor said in his address. He cited his failed attempt to win the Virginia governorship in 2009 as an example. “I said (to the voters), ‘If you don’t like my big ideas, don’t vote for me,’ ’’ he recalled. “And you didn’t,” he said to laughter and applause.
Judge Spencer to VUU grads: Don’t let others deter you
“Make your haters your motivators.” That was the message Judge James R. Spencer delivered to 320 graduates at Virginia Union University’s commencement Saturday at Hovey Field. Judge Spencer, a senior U.S. District Court judge who presided over the recent corruption trials of former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, spoke of his own tribulations of overcoming low expectations from others to reach his position on the bench.
Black people have stronger ties to religion than white people
Several studies and surveys reveal black Americans retain remarkably strong levels of religious beliefs and practices. And that spiritual core has an impact on community life in areas from health to economic empowerment. That’s according to a study measuring racial differences on moral behaviors.
Henrico Ministers Conference to host community service Saturday, May 16
The Henrico Ministers Conference is holding a community worship and appreciation service to “recognize the faithful service of the pastors and to appreciate the service of several past presidents,” it has announced.
President calls on religious groups to speak out on poverty
The African-American boy who grew up with an absent father, who started his work life as a community organizer on the payroll of a Catholic agency and who later became U.S. president had plenty to say about poverty in our “winner-take-all” economy. President Obama spoke Tuesday of “ladders of opportunity” once denied to black people and now being dismantled for poor white people as their difficult lives get that much more difficult: “It’s hard being poor. It’s time-consuming. It’s stressful.”
Lewis Hamilton has right formula to win
Lewis Hamilton stands out among the ranks of Formula One drivers. He’s the lone black driver in the sport, and his talent and success have propelled him into the ranks of the greats of F1 — the top class of world single-seat auto racing.
VUU’s Hamilton slugs her way to All-CIAA
Taylor Hamilton swings a powerful bat in the middle of Virginia Union University’s softball lineup. The junior infielder/outfielder from Willingboro, N.J., slugged 10 homers, drove in 40 runs and batted .435 this past spring, leading VUU to a 16-11 record. Her slugging percentage was a robust .848. Hamilton made All-CIAA and the All-CIAA Tournament Team.
Personality: Sixto M. Cancel
Spotlight on White House ‘Champion of Change’ honoree
Virginia Commonwealth University senior Sixto Martin Cancel is headed to the White House next week, where he will be recognized for making a difference in the community. He is one of 12 former foster youths from around the nation who will be saluted Tuesday, May 19, as a “Champion of Change.”
No charges filed against Wisconsin police officer in teen’s death
A Wisconsin police officer who fatally shot an unarmed biracial teenager in March, prompting several days of peaceful protests, will not be charged, a prosecutor said Tuesday. Officer Matt Kenny used justified lethal force in the March 6 shooting of Tony Robinson, 19, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said.
Girl Scouts executive stepping down
Viola O. Baskerville is ending her tenure as chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia (GSCV). Mrs. Baskerville, 63, who formerly served as state secretary of administration, a member of the House of Delegates and on Richmond City Council, is retiring Friday from the regional Girl Scouts post after three years.
Dominion plans investment in new building, upgrades in Downtown
Call it good news for construction workers and Richmond. Energy giant Dominion Resources is planning to make what company officials say will be a “significant investment” in modernizing and updating its aging buildings in Downtown. While the amount of the investment has yet to be disclosed, company officials said this week that the spending would result in at least one new building in the heart of Richmond.
Advocacy groups plan housing, services safety net for foster youths
Janeva Smith has seen many of her friends in foster care suddenly become homeless when they turn 18. They have nowhere to go, few life skills and little hope for the future. “I’ve had many friends who tried to commit suicide,” said Ms. Smith, who was 18 months old when she initially was placed in foster care in Plainfield, N.J. She was 14 when she entered foster care in Virginia, moving between foster families, group homes and shelters.
Volunteers build playground in memory of Marty Cobb
Martin “Marty” Cobb, 8, loved to play with his family and other friends in the South Richmond community where he lived. So it’s only fitting that community members teamed up to build a new playground at Elizabeth D. Redd Elementary — the school he attended as a first-grader— in his honor May 7.
Stop the violence
Community leaders, residents march in Mosby Court for peace
Community leaders, residents march in Mosby Court for peace
Tuesday, May 12
Mobile home residents allege city’s actions discriminatory in HUD complaint
The City of Richmond is engaging in a discriminatory campaign to force some of its most vulnerable Latino residents from their homes through an aggressive code enforcement campaign in the mobile home parks where they live. That’s what nearly 40 current or former residents at two South Side mobile home parks are alleging.
Giles hopes to boost services to troubled teens
Shunda T. Giles has been preparing for her transition from lawyer for the Richmond Department of Social Services to its top manager. On Monday, the 41-year-old attorney took over the leadership role of the department of more than 400 staffers and a $74.5 million annual budget, all aimed at strengthening families and providing services to meet essential human needs.
Plenty of jobs, not enough workers
Commission recommends aligning training with opportunities
Talk about a huge surprise: Four job openings exist in Richmond for every job seeker in the city, according to government data. In fact, more jobs in the city go begging for qualified workers than anywhere else in the Richmond region, which overall has 1.5 job openings for every job seeker, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stated in its December report.
Friday, May 8
N. Purcelle Brown, 77, president of Chiles’ Funeral Home
When N. Purcelle Brown was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1960, he hoped to find work in air conditioning and refrigeration using the training he received in the military. He also had worked as a mechanic on B-52 bombers.
Flying Squirrels return home Friday
While the Richmond Flying Squirrels promise wholesome, family oriented entertainment on The Boulevard, the team management doesn’t promise victories. That’s a good thing because the local baseball pros, the Class AA Eastern League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, have been losing like never before.
VSU commencement
Building a better world is more than a motto
Virginia State University ended a tumultuous school year with a victorious exclamation mark at commencement Saturday at the Richmond Coliseum. More than 10,000 proud and beaming parents, friends and university members saluted as a record number of students — 764 — graduated.
School Board votes to merge Elkhardt, Thompson
With full backing from the Richmond School Board, Superintendent Dana T. Bedden pulled a rabbit out of his hat this week with a move that closes one old and decrepit middle school and changes the accreditation status at two academically struggling middle schools.
Free Press deserves kudos
The Richmond Association of Black Social Workers congratulates Bonnie Winston, managing editor, and the Richmond Free Press staff on your recent awards from the Virginia Press Association.
Violence sometimes only voice of the violated
I am confused. Years ago I learned about a large group of people who felt disenfranchised by the people governing them and they started a riot that grew into a revolution. These folks felt their “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” were being taken away by a distant power intent on exploiting them for monetary gains. That’s what I was taught in a small South Carolina classroom many years ago.
‘Who are the thugs?’
Who are the “thugs” in Baltimore and other cities in America? I have watched with deepest regret the aftermath that has followed the death of Freddie Gray, who was in Baltimore police custody at the time of suffering severe spinal cord damage that resulted in his death. Even worse, why did it take so long to get a police report on what took place? It is strange how long it takes to get police reports on certain incidents when black men are killed by police? That alone raises a red flag. Do these people have a conscience that tells them right from wrong?
Police reform needed now
“There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.” – Charles de Montesquieu, “The Spirit of the Laws,” 1748 A tragic déjà vu is playing out in communities all across America, particularly in the growingly skeptical streets of black and brown neighborhoods.
No better time to end racial profiling
Freddie Gray, 25, was racially profiled and then chased down by Baltimore police officers. He subsequently died as result of police action taken after what the mayor called an unjust arrest. But the Gray tragedy is not an isolated case. It is symptomatic of a criminal justice system gone mad with racism and bigotry.
Get serious
We listened with interest and some amusement this week as retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Silicon Valley technology executive Carly Fiorina announced they are seeking the Republican nomination for president. Without a doubt, both Dr. Carson and Ms. Fiorina have excelled in their fields.
Let there be justice
Let there be justice The Freddie Gray case has put a spotlight on police practices in Baltimore. His death in police custody seems to have been the last straw for many residents. An indication of why residents are so distressed can be found in the investigations the city’s daily newspaper, The Baltimore Sun, has conducted on police brutality.
Mayweather seals legacy; rematch possible
Floyd Mayweather Jr. cemented his place among the pantheon of boxing greats, improving to 48-0 with a unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao last Saturday in a fight some believed didn’t live up to its immense hype and price tag.
VCU’s Alie-Cox hit with assault charge
Virginia Commonwealth University basketball standout Mo Alie-Cox faces a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from an April 3 altercation involving a woman at a nightclub. Alie-Cox is to appear in Richmond General District Court at 9 a.m. May 20.
VUU lands new recruit for basketball team
Newly appointed Virginia Union University basketball Coach Jay Butler has landed his first recruit, and he didn’t have to go far to find him.
Henrico High’s Williams headed to VSU
After helping Henrico High School to a state championship earlier this year, Walter Williams will continue his basketball career at Virginia State University.
Armstrong tennis team ramps up for winning season
George Banks has a powerful hunch there is a potential tennis phenom somewhere within Richmond’s city limits. And if his instincts are correct, Banks is determined to discover him or her, outfit the prospect with a racquet and sneakers and swing open the door of opportunity.
R&B singer Ben E. King, 76
Soul and R&B singer Ben E. King, famous for his deep, velvety baritone voice and the classic hit song “Stand by Me,” died of natural causes in New Jersey at 76. He died Thursday, April 30, 2015, his publicist, Phil Brown, said. Mr. King was born Benjamin Earl Nelson in Henderson, N.C., and moved to Harlem, N.Y., at age 9 with his family. He began his career in the doo-wop group The Five Crowns, which later became The Drifters, before branching out as a solo artist.
History-making golfers die days apart
Two of professional golf’s successful African-American golfers have died — Calvin Peete and Pete Brown. Mr. Peete, the most successful African-American professional golfer on the PGA Tour prior to Tiger Woods, died Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in Atlanta.
Stroke education dinner slated for May 14
“Jazz Up Your Health.” That’s the invitation from the American Stroke Association and Bon Secours Neuroscience Institute. They are hosting a “Power to End Stroke Jazz Night.”
Former HUD secretary to keynote housing coalition event May 21
For 25 years, the Better Housing Coalition has been transforming lives and communities in the Richmond-Petersburg area by providing affordable housing with ongoing support services for residents. Those services include GED and computer training for adults, helping senior citizens apply for medical benefits and Social Security and programs for teens.
Thursday, May 7
Harriet’s Place tea ministry opens in Washington Park
More than 100 colorful teapots of all shapes and sizes fill the idyllic home in the historic Washington Park community on North Side. They will serve as the centerpiece for Scripture Tea Fellowship Ministries, whose mission is to “provide spiritual, social, educational and economic empowerment in a safe place of refuge and relaxation over a cup of tea and the word of God,” according to the Rev. Jeanette Brown, the ministry’s founder.
Personality: Thomas L. Johnson Jr.
Spotlight on local chapter president of National Negro Golf Association
Fore! Be on the lookout for golf, fun and fellowship. That’s what organizers of the National Negro Golf Association (NNGA) are aiming for next weekend when the organization kicks off its 50th anniversary celebration with golf, get-togethers and commemorations in the Richmond area.
Michael Brown family files lawsuit against Ferguson
The family of Michael Brown has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Ferguson, Mo., seeking unspecified damages and police reforms after the black teen’s killing by a white policeman prompted a national debate on law enforcement and race. The civil lawsuit filed April 23 in St. Louis County, Mo., names the city of Ferguson, former Police Chief Thomas Jackson and former police officer Darren Wilson as defendants.
Protests in Israel over police brutality against Ethiopian Jews
At a protest on April 30, demonstrators blocked one of the city’s main traffic arteries and the light rails service. They marched toward the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before being stopped by police with water cannons.
Reparations OK’d for Chicago’s police torture victims
For decades, a police unit in Chicago used torture to induce confessions from black suspects. This week, the Chicago City Council approved a unique $5.5 million reparation fund to benefit dozens of surviving victims who were shocked, burned and beaten into admitting — often falsely — to crimes by the unit led by Jon Burge, a former police commander.
Slavery memorial to gain in capital budget plan
The battle over the ballpark in Shockoe Bottom apparently is over. At the same time, hopes are fading for Richmond Public Schools to gain funding to develop essential new schools on South Side to relieve overcrowding.
Justice Dept. opens investigation into Gray’s death; officers charged
There’s an uneasy quiet in Baltimore after six police officers were charged last week in the mysterious death of Freddie Gray while he was in their custody. Underneath the calm simmers apprehension and anger in the African-American community — ready to erupt again at any moment — if there’s another incident of police brutality against a black man in the town known as “Charm City.” That grim reality was clear Monday afternoon when angry community members and officers in riot gear quickly converged in West Baltimore after an erroneous TV report stated police had shot and perhaps fatally injured a young African-American man who was seen running away from pursuing officers.
Services sacrificed in council’s $ plan
Richmond Public Schools is on track to gain an extra $9 million to help meet critical needs in the coming year. Police officers and firefighters also are on track to gain bigger raises of roughly 2.5 percent to help reduce turnover in public safety.
Rayvon Owen hometown ‘Idol’
He sang for Richmond Boys Choir, took talent to national stage
Rayvon Owen’s eyes sparkled with delight. When the limousine carrying Rayvon and his mother, Patrice Fitzgerald, pulled up to the James Center in Downtown last Friday, about 1,000 cheering fans were waiting for him in the rain.
Tuesday, May 5
$1 City selling home sites for low, moderate income families
Vacant property for $1. That’s the price that City Hall is setting to clear out its inventory of home sites and to help cut the future purchase price of the houses to be built on them. This effort also will help finish partially completed developments that have been on hold since the economic recession began in 2008. In a first step, at least 16 lots are being prepared for sale, primarily in Southern Barton Heights. A few lots in Swansboro on South Side and in Newtowne West near Virginia Union University also are part of the sale. The board of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the properties’ nominal owner, helped clear the way by approving the transfer of the properties to the city at its meeting last week.
Richmond schools to get boost from state
Higher than expected enrollment is helping Richmond Public Schools avoid falling into a deficit. Richmond reported 128 more students than expected on March 31, boosting total enrollment to 21,973 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, according to a report to the School Board. The extra students should result in a $1.6 million boost in the state’s contribution, according to the report from Ralph L. Westbay, assistant superintendent for financial services. The state contribution previously had been projected at $121.7 million.
Pinkney Eppes reinstated to committee service
Tichi Pinkney Eppes is once again a full member of the Richmond School Board. The 9th District representative was one of five members who voted to end the ban on allowing her to serve on board committees.
VSU, NSU still facing cutbacks
Cutbacks. That’s what Norfolk State and Virginia State universities are facing because of surprisingly steep enrollment drops. Enrollment at both of the state-funded, historically black institutions peaked in 2012 and then began a sharp decline. Based on current projections, both schools expect to enroll at least 25 percent fewer students in the fall than in 2012. That means less income and more need to reduce spending on staff and programs.
Study: Teachers quicker to label black students as ‘troublemakers’
A new study suggests that racial stereotyping by teachers could be a root cause for harsher discipline imposed on black students. Two Stanford University psychologists, Dr. Jennifer L. Eberhardt and doctoral candidate Jason Okonofua, conducted the study to determine if hidden bias could explain government data showing that misbehaving black students are three times more likely to be suspended or expelled from public schools than their misbehaving white peers. The psychologists’ research found that teachers are quicker to label black students as troublemakers and to consider more severe penalties for them, compared with white students who misbehave.
Friday, May 1
Saint Paul’s Baptist hosts community forums
Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in Henrico County is hosting a series of forums in May designed to bring citizens, law enforcement officials and faith leaders together. The theme: “Everybody Matters: A Community Discussion about Race, Justice and the Church.” The purpose: “For all persons and leaders to understand the criminal justice system and better engage with one another,” according to event organizer and church member Antoinette Irving, president of the AVI Foundation Inc., a Richmond-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide programs for youths in disadvantaged communities.
Butler officially named basketball coach at VUU
Jay Butler has proven to be an exceptional college basketball coach for women’s teams. Now he’s out to achieve similar success coaching a men’s team. Butler is the new Virginia Union University men’s basketball coach after spending the past 13 seasons — 11 as head coach — directing the women’s program at the University of the District of Columbia.
Judge Conyers to speak at VSU commencement
Virginia State University will launch graduation season for colleges and universities in the commonwealth. The historically black institution will mark its 133rd year by awarding 750 degrees during ceremonies 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Richmond Coliseum.
Re “From R&B to gospel, Barky’s has changed with the times,” April 23-25 edition: I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Free Press for the article on Barksdale Haggins and Barky’s Spiritu
Re “From R&B to gospel, Barky’s has changed with the times,” April 23-25 edition: I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Free Press for the article on Barksdale Haggins and Barky’s Spiritual Store.
Federal act requires reporting of deaths while in police custody
Re “Help from high court,” April 23-25 edition: While your editorial was enlightening and informative, it did not really do justice to the point of the editorial — unnecessary deaths while in law enforcement custody. Yes, the traumatic death of Freddie Gray at the hands of Baltimore police was dismal and emotionally bruising. It also was, at first glance, totally undeserving.
When Freedom Came series ‘educational and inspirational’
Re “When Freedom Came” series, March 26-28, April 2-4 and April 9-11 editions:
An unexpected partnership
When Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake stepped before a bank of microphones last Saturday for a hastily called news conference, she was surrounded by people she credited with helping keep this city calm during a weeklong protest over the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died after suffering a spinal injury while in police custody.
Black women’s lives matter, too
You know their names — Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Tamir Rice — because these African-American men were unarmed and killed by law enforcement officers. Their names have been part of a litany invoked when police shootings are discussed. Their deaths have been part of the impetus for the Black Lives Matter movement, especially because the police officers that killed these men — and a little boy — have paid no price for their murders.
Transparency, accountability
As Richmond City Council wrestles with the critical task of completing a budget for the city for 2015-16, we call on Mayor Dwight C. Jones to address unsettling issues regarding the expensive outsourcing of city work to outside companies.
Inflamed
The fires that burned Monday and Tuesday night in Baltimore have pushed the nation toward the crucial, but much avoided introspection necessary to address critical issues of race and justice in America.
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.
Eruption
Baltimore wracked by outrage as protesters turn violent. City, nation look for answers about race, police brutality.
Just hours after Loretta Lynch’s historic swearing in as the new U.S. attorney general and the first African-American woman to lead the Justice Department, mayhem erupted Monday in the streets of Baltimore following the funeral for Freddie Gray. The 25-year-old Mr. Gray died of severe injuries on April 19, a week after being arrested, handcuffed and tossed into a police van. His spine was nearly severed and his larynx was crushed while in police custody, authorities have reported.
Foundation honors 8 Richmond schools alumni
Eight outstanding alumni of Richmond Public Schools were honored at the fourth annual Pride of RPS: Living Legacies Breakfast. The event, sponsored by the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation and held April 24 at a Downtown hotel, recognizes former Richmond schools students who have made significant accomplishments in their professional and personal lives and correlate their success to their formative years in public schools.
Dr. Boykin Sanders honored for distinguished career, service
Dr. Boykin Sanders wore a huge smile as he walked into the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center on the campus of Virginia Union University Saturday night, where about 200 people were gathered for a reception and banquet in his honor. Attendees broke into applause as he strode in holding his 3-year-old granddaughter, Sage, in his arms. Many were his former students at VUU, where Dr. Sanders has served as a professor and mentor for the last 32 years. The event also was a celebration of Dr. Sanders’ 70th birthday.
Karen Clark Sheard, Grammy Award winner, to speak at local church
Grammy Award-winning singer, musician and songwriter Karen Clark Sheard is scheduled to speak at Cedar Street Baptist Church of God in the East End at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, the church has announced. She is one of three women scheduled to lead weekly Women’s Month services at the church at 2301 Cedar St. that is led by Dr. Anthony M. Chandler Sr.
VUU concludes its 150th celebration
Virginia Union University honored its past and celebrated its future with the unveiling Wednesday of a monument symbolizing 150 years of academic excellence at the institution. The monument was designed by renowned sculptor Ed Dwight of Denver, and is displayed on the Lombardy Street campus between the Belgian Building and Ellison Hall.
Jenner’s confession stirs up memories of tennis star Renée Richards
In a highly anticipated TV interview last week, Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner told ABC’s Diane Sawyer that “for all intents and purposes, I am a woman.” Jenner’s revelation he is transitioning from male to female stirs recollections of another sports-related, transgender shocker — the case of Dr. Richard Raskind becoming Renée Richards.
Wallace places 12th at RIR
Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. is hopeful that Talladega, Ala., will provide more racing satisfaction than he found in Richmond. Wallace finished 12th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Toyota Care 250 on April 24 at Richmond International Raceway. The event was won by local favorite Denny Hamlin, a graduate of Manchester High School.
‘Money’ Mayweather versus ‘Pac-Man’ Pacquiao
Public interest in boxing is firing up ahead of the scheduled fight between two of the sport’s greatest fighters: Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao.
Rams rebuild team under Wade
The process of restocking Virginia Commonwealth University’s basketball roster is an ongoing task. New Rams Coach Will Wade has added Korey Billbury, a 6-foot-3 transfer from Oral Roberts University, and 6-foot-7 Gerron Scissum, a high school senior from Huntsville, Ala., to VCU’s roster for 2015-16.
Dr. Wilburn M. Cameron Jr., 88, Richmond dentist
Dr. Wilburn Macio Cameron Jr. was known as a man of few words. But he would greet you with a warm smile. He was affectionately known to family and friends as “Little Wee,” but also was nicknamed “Wee” and “Doc.” When people asked him where he got his nicknames, he just smiled, according to his family.
Personality: Dr. Phillip B. Duncan
Spotlight on cardiologist, leader of ‘Spirit of the Heart’
Dr. Phillip Benteley Duncan will go to any lengths — or to be more specific, any heights — to raise awareness about heart failure. The Chester cardiologist plans to climb the 19,340-foot Uhuru Peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro — the highest point on the African continent — in August. He’s undertaking the heart-pumping ascent in Tanzania with his daughter, Erica, and two other people to raise funds for the Association of Black Cardiologists’ (ABC) Heart Failure Awareness Project. Dr. Duncan plans to begin the climb at Mt. Kilimanjaro on Aug. 23 with guides and other support team members and hopes to complete it by Aug. 29.
Tea and testimony draws over 100
Author Casey Curry was the guest speaker at Second Baptist Church’s annual Signature Tea and Testimony event last Saturday at a Downtown hotel. More than 100 people, including many women adorned with colorful hats, attended the event that focused on celebrating women, the roles they play and the challenges they have survived.
Fight over Richmond Christian Center property on South Side continues
Henrico County-based Mountain of Blessings Christian Center still wants to acquire the property of the bankrupt Richmond Christian Center in South Richmond. In a suit filed this month, Mountain of Blessings is requesting that U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Keith L. Phillips either enforce an order he signed in December authorizing Mountain of Blessing’s purchase of the RCC property in the 200 block of Cowardin Avenue or order RCC to pay Mountain of Blessings at least $2.7 million in damages.
Samuels to run for mayor?
Is Charles R. Samuels adding his name to the list of City Council members and others eyeing a run for mayor in 2016? While the six-year council representative insists that’s not the case, others are less certain about his intentions as potential candidates begin to line up. That includes council members Jonathan T. Baliles and Chris A. Hilbert, who both have indicated they are making plans to run. There also is talk that Council President Michelle Mosby also is interested. Richmond Delegate Delores L. McQuinn and state Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar M. Stoney also are being mentioned as potential candidates.
Henrico to replace voting machines
Henrico County is joining Richmond in replacing its voting machines to comply with new state requirements. Ahead of the June 9 primary, the county inked a deal this week to pay $1.2 million to buy new optical scan machines, Voter Registrar Mark J. Coakley announced.
City Council green lights projects for 2nd Street, North Side, East End
New apartments finally could rise on the site of the former Eggleston Hotel at 2nd and Leigh streets in Jackson Ward. City Council gave a thumbs up Monday by voting 9-0 to allow the long-stalled project to receive a grant of $250,544 over seven years through the city’s Economic Development Authority. Developer Kelvin Hanson, who initially proposed Eggleston Plaza five years ago, said he hopes to have the $5.8 million project underway this summer.
Lawyer contends no justification for U.Va. student’s arrest
State ABC agents charged University of Virginia honor student Martese Johnson with public intoxication even though the agents did not believe he was drunk, according to their statements. Instead, they believed he might be using a false ID.
Schools chief calls for $ to change students’ futures
In his first “State of the Schools” address, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden told an audience of about 300 people Tuesday night that education was “my ticket out of poverty.” “Part of my childhood was spent growing up in the low-income housing of Jordan Park in St. Petersburg, Florida,” he said in an address delivered at the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center on the Virginia Union University campus.
Crusade for Voters to hold candidates forum Sunday
The Richmond Crusade for Voters is hosting a public forum for candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination in four area state House and Senate districts. The forum will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Hobson Lodge, 801 Prince Hall Drive.
