Friday, April 26
Agelasto out, but not soon enough for critics
Parker C. Agelasto is ready to leave his seat on Richmond City Council nine months after he and his family moved their residence outside the 5th District he was first elected to serve in 2012.
Northam, appeasement, atonement and black voters
In recent days, some Democrats in Virginia have seemingly adopted the principal that electoral expediency trumps zero tolerance for racism. Unfortunately, they received an eye-opening reminder that this strategy will be met by resistance from many of the very people whose votes will be essential for any Democratic victory in November.
Trump and death of democracy
Democracy is defined as government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Who are the people who support our contemporary status quo? And how, in marginalizing the will of the people, is democracy destroyed?
Barr, truth and the Mueller report
The much-anticipated and long-awaited Mueller report has been handled in an unbelievable way. We first received four pages about a 22-month study that told us nothing truthfully. U.S. Attorney General William Barr led us to believe everybody had been “picking on the poor innocent president.”
Thank you and goodbye
City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto has done the right thing by announcing he is stepping down from his seat representing the 5th District.
Congratulations, Mr. Robinson
Congratulations to Richmond’s own Rodney A. Robinson, who was named 2019 National Teacher of the Year! We believe Mr. Robinson, who successfully teaches students at the Virgie Binford Education Center in the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, has a story to tell and tips to share with teachers across this nation.
Tribute to Al Drummond, first African-American basketball player at University of Virginia
There was something missing from the University of Virginia’s recent basketball celebration. Sadly, Al Drummond wasn’t present to enjoy the Cavaliers’ first NCAA basketball championship.
VUU golf team clinches CIAA title
After a lengthy snooze, the Virginia Union University golf team has emerged from hibernation. The Panthers displayed considerable talent and depth April 18 and 19 in winning its first CIAA golf championship since 1971. That was four years before Tiger Woods was born and at a time when African-Americans were barred from playing on many private courses.
NFL draft may hold some surprises
Kyler Murray was barely a blip on the draft radar starting the 2018 season. Now he’s a favorite to be picked No. 1 overall by the Arizona Cardinals. Few athletes have shifted gears so dramatically as the multitalented Oklahoma Sooners quarterback.
Flying Squirrels second baseman Jalen Miller, 22, already in Baseball Hall of Fame
Jalen Miller achieved one of baseball’s rarest feats a season ago when he hit for the cycle — a single, double, triple and homer in the same game. It was a shining neon sign of coming attractions for the now 22-year-old second baseman with the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
Baltimore cemetery offers Easter sunrise dramatization of the resurrection
Just before he started practicing his exit from a replica of Jesus’ tomb, Andre Roberson admitted that, at first, playing the key role in a cemetery’s dramatization of the resurrection was just “something to do.”
Fund drive for 3 burned African-American churches tops goal
A crowdfunding drive to help rebuild three African-American churches gutted by arsons in Louisiana has surpassed its original $1.8 million goal.
Barbara McDaniel Wolfe-Harris, longtime educator, dies at 90
L. Barbara McDaniel Wolfe-Harris was a creative force in the classroom during her 29 years as a Richmond elementary schoolteacher. Her son, Troy G. Wolfe, said his mother used photography, art, dance and visual aids to boost learning among the second- and third-graders she taught.
VUU hosts ‘Jazz on the Lawn Concert’ April 27
Virginia Union University is hosting a “Jazz on the Lawn Concert” at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27, on the lawn by the Belgian Building on the campus, 1500 N. Lombardy St.
48th Annual Arts in the Park next weekend
Richmond’s 48th Annual “Arts in the Park” arts and craft show will be held next weekend at the Carillon in Byrd Park. More than 450 artists will feature their work at the event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5.
Fitness Warriors application deadline May 4
Applications are being accepted through May 4 for the eighth class of Fitness Warriors, a program designed to train group fitness instructors who will then lead free weekly fitness courses in the community.
Ezibu Muntu to host 4th annual fundraising gala May 4
Richmond’s longest running African dance company is shortening its name as it prepares to mark its 46th year with its fourth annual fundraising dinner-dance on Saturday, May 4, it has been announced.
The end of Easter on Parade?
Sunday might have been the final edition of Easter on Parade — at least as an organized event. Thousands of people turned out to stroll along four blocks of Monument Avenue on Easter afternoon, some in holiday finery and others with costumed pets. It’s a tradition that dates back at least 50 years and has been under the aegis of city-supported groups for at least 30 years.
Tim Reid to debut new clothing line
Actor, director and film producer Tim Reid is expanding into fashion design. The talented Norfolk native and Richmond resident will feature a limited look at his men’s clothing collection at the 4th Annual Legacy Media Institute Spring Fashion Showcase 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at RVA Event Space, 1 E. 4th St. in Manchester in South Side.
Personality: Brian Palmer
Spotlight on 2019 Peabody Award-winning journalist
Richmond-based journalist Brian Palmer, whose career has taken him around the globe, has won a prestigious Peabody Award, which recognizes and honors the most enlightening and powerful stories, documentaries, radio and television shows and podcasts about pressing social issues of the day.
Honoring Barbara Johns
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, second from left, speaks during a civil rights panel discussion last Saturday honoring the legacy of Barbara Johns, the 16-year-old who led a student walkout to protest the dilapidated conditions at all-black Moton High School in Prince Edward County in 1951.
FasMart agrees to comply with ADA under settlement
FasMart, a Richmond-based convenience store chain, no longer will bar disabled people accompanied by a service animal.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday
Looking for a place to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications? Places throughout Metro Richmond are participating as drop-off points 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
City Council committee again closes door on private ambulance service
Richmond City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted to kill legislation that would give Fire Chief Melvin Carter greater decision-making authority over permits for the operation of private ambulance service within the city.
Richmond sheriff’s deputies lost?
Richmond Sheriff Antionette V. Irving has declined to explain why deputies serving legal papers in a lawsuit naming the City of Richmond as a defendant could not locate the City Attorney’s Office at City Hall.
Sources name 10th RPS principal targeted for replacement
Regina Farr has been identified as the 10th Richmond Public Schools principal being replaced when the school year ends in the latest leadership shake-up.
Richmond man acquitted in Henrico rental car threat
Arthur H. Majola has his life back. The Richmond man walked out of Henrico County Circuit Court April 16 a free man after a jury acquitted him of making a bomb threat against Enterprise Car Rental nine months ago.
Ora Lomax, longtime NAACP leader, civil rights advocate, dies at 86
For decades, black women could only work behind the scenes at white-owned retail stores in Richmond during the harsh era of segregation. Ora Mae Perry Lomax helped change all that.
The Market @ 25th opens Monday with fanfare and high expectations
A new grocery store reflecting Church Hill’s history and contribution to Richmond is set to open next week in the East End’s food desert.
Budget blowup splits mayor, City Council
Relations between Mayor Levar M. Stoney and City Council disintegrated Wednesday as council poised to make a modest cut in departmental spending and reject his proposed 9-cent increase in the property tax rate.
Head of the class!
Richmond Public Schools teacher Rodney A. Robinson, who mentors and inspires students at the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, wins 2019 National Teacher of the Year
Rodney A. Robinson, the 40-year-old history and social studies teacher who inspires students each and every day inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, where he has worked at the Virgie Binford Education Center since 2015, has been named 2019 National Teacher of the Year.
Friday, April 19
Plans gain steam to rehab old Fulton Gas Works
A four-year-old plan to turn the now vacant Fulton Gas Works in the East End into a modern hub of the city’s gas utility is quietly gaining momentum, although a separate project by Stone Brewing to create a restaurant to complement the company’s beer factory appears to have stalled.
Medical marijuana dispensaries to open in Va.
Virginians with a doctor’s recommendation soon will have access to medical marijuana through CBD and THC-A oil dispensaries throughout the state. The Virginia Board of Pharmacy has approved five companies to open the dispensaries — one in each of the commonwealth’s five health service areas.
Shake-up
10 RPS principals out, 7 others on warning, sources report
Ten Richmond schools will have new principals next fall as part of a leadership shake-up that Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras is undertaking as part of his schools improvement plan, the Free Press has learned.
Parent’s FOIA request shows more to RPS 2018 toilet paper debacle
Richmond Public Schools expects to finish the current school year with plenty of toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies at each of its buildings, according to Michelle Hudacsko, chief of staff to RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras.
Efforts grow to preserve history of Saint Paul’s College
“Challenge by choice” was the motto of Saint Paul’s College, which closed in 2013 because of financial problems and declining student enrollment. Now the citizens of Lawrenceville are living up to that motto — by taking up the challenge of collecting and preserving artifacts documenting the 125-year history of the historically black college.
Tiger Woods roars back to win Masters Tournament
Tiger’s back! The fallen hero and crippled star is now a Masters champion again. The 43-year-old Tiger Woods thrilled viewers — and himself — as he rallied to win the Masters Tournament for the fifth time on Sunday in a comeback that goes well beyond the two-shot deficit he erased before a delirious audience that watched memories turn into reality at Augusta National.
Personality: Vanessa Myers Mason
Spotlight on founder and president of MOMS Inc.
She was grief-stricken when her mother passed away two years ago. Now Vanessa Dale Myers Mason has wiped away her tears and come up with a positive way to honor her mother.
Local couple in Paris bears witness to Notre Dame fire
George K. Martin of Mechanicsville and his wife, Anita, arrived in Paris on Sunday night and made a sightseeing list that included some of the top tourist spots in the City of Lights, including Notre Dame Cathedral.
Clem Daniels, AFL’s leading rusher, dies at 83
Clem C. Daniels Jr., the leading rusher in American Football League history, died Saturday, March 23, in Oakland, Calif. He was 83. Mr. Daniels rushed for 5,138 yards — the most ever by an AFL back — while also catching passes for 3,314 yards and scoring 54 touchdowns.
Family Easter at Maymont and Easter on Parade highlight season this weekend
Two of Richmond’s most popular seasonal events are being held this weekend — the Dominion Energy Family Easter at Maymont on Saturday, April 20, and Easter on Parade on Monument Avenue on Sunday, April 21.
Community Easter egg hunt April 22 in Highland Park
An Easter egg hunt and other activities will offered for children age 12 and under 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 22, in Highland Park, it has been announced.
Hip-Hop Poetry Slam on April 24
A Hip-Hop Poetry Slam will be held next week to allow Richmond area youths to speak out on preventing substance abuse, it has been announced.
Questions raised about charity status of Navy Hill entities
Now stumping for tax increases that he claims will go to pave streets and repair aging schools, Mayor Levar M. Stoney has clearly put a proposal to build a new, larger Richmond Coliseum on the backburner.
Mayor Stoney ruffles council members with remarks
Mayor Levar M. Stoney, frustrated by City Council opposition to his plan to raise the city property tax rate and impose a new cigarette tax to raise new revenue, is taking verbal shots at council foes, riling them.
Small City of Richmond Radio Shop produces big results
• Interior car temperatures monitored by a cellphone application. • Lights and sirens that shut off automatically when the vehicle is put into park. • Windows that come down when the interior gets too hot.
Agelasto facing 3rd suit for his removal from office
Parker C. Agelasto is facing the threat of a third lawsuit seeking his removal from the 5th District City Council seat for moving to the 1st District. Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring told the Free Press that he would file his own lawsuit to remove Mr. Agelasto if the City Council member fails to notify Richmond City Council soon that he will resign his office by the end of the year.
Chesterfield to stay in recycling program through Dec.
The Richmond region’s recycling program will remain intact at least through December. Chesterfield County is still mulling its future with the program and has agreed to participate for the rest of the year in the 10-year-old operation run by the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority.
Arthur Ashe Blvd. dedication June 22
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22. That’s the date of the official dedication of the new Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond. Richmond City Council voted Feb. 11 to rename The Boulevard for Richmond native Mr. Ashe, the late, great tennis champion and humanitarian.
RRHA gets heat to all apartments in time for spring temps
Every public housing unit in the city finally had working heat as of April 12, although three still only had partial heat, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is reporting.
Hate crime charges filed in Louisiana church fire
The white man suspected in the burnings of three African-American churches in Louisiana will remain in jail, denied bond Monday by a judge, as state prosecutors added new charges declaring the arsons a hate crime.
Pope Francis’ symbolic gesture raises hope for peace in South Sudan
Pope Francis knelt and kissed the feet of South Sudan’s rival leaders last week, in an unprecedented act of humbleness to encourage them to strengthen the African country’s faltering peace process.
$140M Deal makes Russell Wilson highest paid in NFL
The Richmond native posted a video on social media early Tuesday saying, “Seattle, we got a deal,” shortly after agreeing to a $140 million, four-year extension with the Seahawks, his agent Mark Rodgers told The Associated Press. Wilson’s new deal runs through the 2023 season and includes a $65 million signing bonus, a no-trade clause and $107 million in guaranteed money.
Brown wins ‘Dash for Cash’ at Monument Avenue 10K
In foot-racing lingo, it’s called a “finishing kick” — that ability to grit the teeth, ignore the pain and crank up the speed as the victory tape nears. Brian Brown used just such a “kick” last Saturday to win the Monument Avenue 10K “Dash for Cash.” The kick earned him a $2,500 take-home reward.
High schooler named MVP
Jada Walker’s first basketball season playing away from home couldn’t have gone more smoothly.
VUU golf team heading into CIAA tourney with wins
Three down and one to go. The Virginia Union University golf team is nearing a clean sweep of CIAA tournaments. Coach E. Lee Coble’s Panthers have won three straight events heading into the CIAA Golf Championship on Thursday, April 18, and Friday, April 19, at The Club at Viniterra in New Kent County.
Panthers 2019-20 football schedule announced
Virginia Union University and Hampton University have agreed to renew their ancient football rivalry.
Milwaukee looking to Antetokounmpo for NBA playoff victory
Based on regular season play, the NBA’s best team and arguably best player represent a city perhaps known more for beer and brats than basketball.
Malevolence of Section 8 housing laws
The Black Holocaust denies are constantly among us. This is because the Black Holocaust is still going on. It didn’t end with slavery or early Jim Crow days. The Section 8 rental law was meant to keep black people from being homeowners. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers voted for this “help people” law knowing its true purpose.
Use bank fines to help communities they hurt
As Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California convened a recent House Financial Services Committee hearing featuring the CEOs of Wall Street’s biggest banks, the financial watchdog group Better Markets released a stunning report on the banks’ criminal records: “Wall Street’s Six Biggest Bailed-Out Banks: Their RAP Sheets and Their Ongoing Crime Spree.”
Standing up for a sister
My good friend Dick Gregory often talked about the power of the black woman. He said the two strongest forces in the nation are the black church and the black woman. Despite all of our hardships, discrimination and disrespect by gangsta rappers and others, black women have shown the strength and the know-how to overcome whatever gets in our way.
Friday, April 12
New legal effort launched to remove Agelasto from office
Parker C. Agelasto is facing a new legal attack seeking to remove him from his 5th District City Council seat since he moved his residence outside the district. Just two months after former City Councilman Henry W. “Chuck” Richardson filed a lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court seeking Mr. Agelasto’s ouster, another former City Council member, Sa’ad El-Amin, is seeking a separate removal action in the same court.
Free Press wins 13 awards in annual VPA contest
The Richmond Free Press was recognized with 13 awards, including six first-place awards, at the annual Virginia Press Association competition in writing, photography, news presentation and advertising.
Hooray for the Hoos!
The University of Virginia Cavaliers beat Texas Tech in a nail-biting overtime game to clinch the first NCAA title in school’s history
The University of Virginia’s dream season could turn into dream seasons —plural. U.Va. won its first NCAA basketball title Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, defeating Texas Tech 85-77 in overtime.
Community Easter egg hunt Saturday in South Side
Youngsters will have a chance to win prizes, visit with the Easter Bunny and have fun this weekend at the 7th Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Celebration sponsored by Putting Communities Together Inc.
Brian Brown strategizing for Monument Ave. 10K ‘Dash for Cash’ contest
If Brian Brown appears a bit on edge this week, it’s understandable. He’s stretching his muscles and plotting strategy for what figures to be the footrace of his life — and certainly the most observed race in his 53 years.
Film producer talks about his ‘Breakthrough’ and more
Christian movie producer DeVon Franklin is preparing for his third film to hit theaters just before Easter weekend. (The film opens in Richmond area movie theaters Wednesday, April 17.)
Personality: Evette Roots
Spotlight on chair of Sister Fund philanthropic group
Three years ago, a small group of philanthropic-minded women wanted to make a significant impact in the lives of black women and girls. That was the beginning of SisterFund, created with a spirited responsibility, coupled with dollars, to change and enhance the future for African-American females.
Rain cancellations don’t dampen Flying Squirrels’ opening spirit
The speed limit on Arthur Ashe Boulevard, formerly known as The Boulevard, varies between 25 mph and 35 mph. But at The Diamond, located on the thoroughfare, there is no speed limit.
Baylor women win NCAA Tournament crown
At the end of Chloe Jackson’s college basketball journey, she found a pot of gold. The 5-foot-8 guard was named tournament MVP after leading Baylor University of Waco, Texas, to the NCAA Tournament’s women’s championship Sunday in Tampa, Fla.
Chesterfield’s Megan Walker added to UConn’s basketball success
Megan Walker doubled up on success in her sophomore basketball season at the University of Connecticut. The 6-foot-1 former Monacan High School megastar from Chesterfield County transformed from substitute status to prime-time star for Coach Geno Auriemma’s Huskies.
Olympians visit Richmond
Olympic swimmers Simone Manuel, right, and Maritza McClendon inspire youngsters, including 7-year-old Valerie Lewis, left, during Tuesday’s Splash Day at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club.
VUU raises $7.4M at annual Legacy Awards & Scholarship Gala
Virginia Union University raised $7.4 million during its 7th Annual Legacy Awards & Scholarship Gala, university officials have announced. Students, faculty and staff pledged $1.6 million over 20 years, while VUU executives and administrators pledged $5.7 million, officials stated Monday, noting that the pledge by students, faculty and staff is the largest in the university’s 154-year history.
Kanye taking ‘church’ to Coachella this Easter
Since the beginning of the year, Kanye West has been hosting a mysterious variety show of celebrity performances featuring both new and old music, complete with a gospel choir, that he calls “Sunday Service.”
Investigators probing cause of fires at 3 black churches in La.
About 100 investigators are working to find out who is behind a series of church fires that have struck rural areas of Louisiana in recent weeks. The fires, which have prompted calls for prayer by the state’s governor, destroyed three predominantly African-American churches in St. Landry Parish, around Opelousas, in late March and early April and caused minor damage to a mostly white Pentecostal church in Vivian, about 200 miles north in Caddo Parish.
New D.C. archbishop poised to become first African-American cardinal
Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta has been tapped to head the influential Archdiocese of Washington, filling a slot left vacant in October after its previous archbishop, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, was accused of mishandling cases of sexual abuse by priests during his time in Pittsburgh.
School Board mounts effort to contain school construction costs
The Richmond School Board is taking a series of steps in seeking to get a handle on the soaring cost of school construction. The ballooning cost is undermining any hope of modernizing city schools for $800 million over 20 years — the amount the city has promised to provide.
Rental car scene blows up to jail time for city man
Arthur H. Majola went to pick up a rental car his insurance company was providing after his vehicle, which had been damaged in an accident, went into a repair shop. But he wound up spending 54 days in jail where he became celebrated for engaging in a hunger strike that nearly killed him but forced his release.
RRHA negotiating plan to turn over 11 properties to private company
The city’s housing authority is on the verge of giving a New Jersey-based company control of 11 smaller apartment complexes that house families and the elderly as part of its larger plan to modernize public housing by turning over ownership to private companies.
History marker dedicated to Charles City County lynching victim
Virginia’s first history marker to a lynching victim now stands near the historic courthouse in Charles City County. The new marker recalling the brutal hanging of Isaac Brandon was dedicated Sunday, April 7, 127 years almost to the day when it happened.
MBL hosts tour of Small Business Grant contest winners
Get ready for the big reveal. On Thursday, April 11, three African-American-owned Richmond businesses will show off improvements they have made, thanks to grants the Metropolitan Business League and Wells Fargo Bank provided.
‘Put our children first’ when it comes to education
As a native of Prince Edward County, I think the number of folks using the Brown v. Board of Education decision to perpetuate their respective narratives regarding the state of our public schools, specifically Richmond Public Schools, is appalling.
Awareness of sarcoidosis is critical in African-American community
April is National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month and Saturday, April 13, is “Shine a Light Day” on this rare disease. From VCU Health Systems in Richmond to Niagara Falls in Canada to the One Trade Center in New York City to some Mayo Clinics to bridges and buildings across America — all will be illuminated in purple.
Taking potshots at vaccines
Measles cases have cropped up across 12 states over the last 10 weeks, nearly two decades since the highly contagious disease was said to be eradicated in the United States. Temple University in Philadelphia has reported more than 100 cases of mumps in an outbreak, and more cases are spreading across the Philadelphia region.
The biggest victory
Congratulations to the new national basketball champions, the University of Virginia Cavaliers. After a series of heart-pounding, nail-biting games — including a tense, overtime victory in Monday night’s final — the Wahoos have brought home the NCAA men’s basketball trophy, flooding all Virginians with pride.
Dr. Allia L. Carter promoted to No. 2 role at VUU
Dr. Allia Lakenya Carter, a 22-year veteran of higher education, has been promoted to the No. 2 executive position at Virginia Union University, the historic North Side school announced this week.
Friday, April 5
17th Street Farmers’ Market
Who should Richmond residents see about a partial refund of the $3.6 million in taxpayers’ dollars spent on what was supposed to be a rehab of the 17th Street Farmers’ Market?
Va. NAACP to be run by Tenn. official
The longtime president of the Tennessee NAACP has been handed control of the Virginia State Conference NAACP. Gloria Jean Sweet-Love, who has earned credit for turning around NAACP operations in her state during her 24-year tenure at the helm, was named administrator for the Virginia operations and given sweeping powers over state NAACP policies, programs and expenditures.
Taxation not solution for Richmond Public Schools
Re Column “We must invest in ourselves,” Free Press March 28-30 edition: While I can agree with Dr. Ravi K. Perry’s assertion that the state of Richmond Public Schools reflects years of racist policies, I do not agree with his solution.
Gov. Wilder as mentor
I believe God places particular persons in my life to help me navigate through my journey. One of those persons is former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder.
The ghosts of truth
The allegations of sexual assault lodged against Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax seem to follow him like unwelcomed ghosts. The latest appearance of these apparitions arose earlier this week in television interviews with Oprah’s bestie, Gayle King, that were broadcast over three days by CBS News.
‘Once On This Island’ to be performed April 17 and 18
Students from Armstrong and Richmond Community High Schools are putting on a play, “Once On This Island,” about a peasant girl who uses the power of love to bring together people from different social classes.
Another Trump lie: Health care
Donald Trump’s madcap presidency is now seeking to strip 20 million Americans of their health care coverage. He has instructed the U.S. Justice Department to join the lawsuit seeking to declare the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. He then proclaimed that Republicans would offer a far better alternative, tweeting they’ll become the “Party of Great Health Care.”
Raising the minimum wage
It is unfathomable that the federal minimum wage has not been increased in more than a decade, since 2007. It is also unfathomable that the minimum wage, at $7.25 per hour, has remained flat through recession and recovery, through extremely high unemployment rates and much lower ones.
UR and Armstrong High students present ‘Civil Rights Richmond: Then and Now’
University of Richmond students will team with students from Armstrong High School’s Leadership Program in a performance next week to highlight the university’s exhibition, “Growing Up in Civil Rights Richmond.”
Inaugural Richmond Night Market kicks off April 13 at 17th Street Farmers’ Market
The Richmond Night Market, a new monthly gathering celebrating the city’s food, art and culture, will be held 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market in Shockoe Bottom and will take place the second Saturday of each month through December.
VUU Legacy Awards this Friday, April 5
Virginia Union University’s 7th Annual Legacy Awards and Scholarship Gala will be held Friday, April 5, at The Shed at Main Street Station, 1500 E. Main St. in Shockoe Bottom. It opens with a VIP reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and dancing to the music of the VUU Jazz Ensemble and the Legacy Band.
Beyoncé, Jay-Z and ‘Black Panther’ win big at 50th Annual NAACP Image Awards
Queen Bey still reigns supreme. Beyoncé was named Entertainer of the Year at the 50th Annual NAACP Image Awards that highlighted works by entertainers and writers of color.
VUU golf team swinging for victory
Winning championships has become par for the course for the Virginia Union University golf team. Coach E. Lee Coble’s Panthers traveled to North Carolina twice last month and both times returned to Richmond with the tallest trophy.
HU’s Jermaine Marrow winning eye-popping stats
Basketball players like Rick Mahorn and Jermaine Marrow don’t come along very often. Mahorn was undeniably Hampton University’s premier talent of the 20th century. Now it’s Marrow’s turn to take a shot at HU “man of the century” accolades, albeit with many decades to go.
Chesterfield’s Jaaber named to All-State team
Mikael “Mick” Jaaber, who led Carver College and Career Academy in Chesterfield County to a 21-6 basketball record and the state quarterfinals, has been named to the Class I All-State team.
Richmond Flying Squirrels ready for Thursday night opener
One needs to look no further than the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ roster to discover baseball is a global sport.
Wahoo fever!
U.Va. reaches NCAA Final Four for first time since 1984
The University of Virginia has one of the nation’s best all-round athletic programs, but there is something missing: A national basketball title. The Cavaliers, with 25 NCAA crowns to their credit in a wide variety of sports, will try and check the elusive hoops box in the next few days when the team heads to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four in Minneapolis.
McReynolds wins eight trophies at Stellar Gospel Music Awards
Jonathan McReynolds was the top winner at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, taking home eight trophies during a ceremony March 29 in Las Vegas that included a posthumous tribute to the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin.
Richmond barber helping rebuild lives, homes in Haiti
Kenneth Barney makes his living cutting hair. But in his spare time, the longtime Richmond barber is on a mission to build solid, safe houses in a community in Haiti where thousands make their homes in tiny ramshackle spaces.
Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle remembered for his music, community efforts
Tributes continue to pour in for Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was fatally shot outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles on Sunday, March 31.
Chicago makes history in mayoral race
Lori Lightfoot’s victory in the Chicago mayor’s race signaled hope among voters that the nation’s third-largest city may someday move beyond long-entrenched divides, racial and otherwise, that have left large parts of the metropolis feeling ignored by people in power.
Retired educator, florist Sylvia Richardson dies at 76
Sylvia D. Richardson loved the color purple. And the bubbly woman who brimmed with enthusiasm infused that color into her dual roles as an educator and a florist.
Personality: Shelly McKee-Sutton
Spotlight on volunteer chair of The Compassionate Friends RVA’s ‘Walk to Remember’
The loss of a child is one of the most horrific times for parents and their families who suffer grief, sorrow and, sometimes, guilt.
Officials want to attract grocery stores to Virginia’s ‘food deserts’
Reflecting national concerns over “food deserts,” federal and state lawmakers Monday called for legislation to help people in low-income neighborhoods get better access to fresh vegetables and other healthy foods.
RRHA still working to resolve heating problems
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is moving closer to having working heat in every apartment.
Charges dismissed against Petersburg School Board member
A Petersburg court on Monday dismissed a 15-month-old charge of marijuana possession against Petersburg School Board member Atiba H. Muse.
St. Luke Building to begin leasing in June
Two years after it was first announced, the renovation of the historic, but long-vacant St. Luke Building in Gilpin Court into upscale apartments is coming together.
Morrissey announces primary challenge to Sen. Rosalyn Dance
State Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance of Petersburg is facing a fight to keep her legislative seat for a second four-year term. Former Delegate Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey of Richmond announced Wednesday that he is challenging Sen. Dance in the June 11 Democratic primary for the 16th Senate District seat.
MathScience Innovation Center to be hampered by cuts
No matter how you do the math, one MathScience Innovation Center, minus four school systems, equals downsizing.
Regional recycling program at risk with Chesterfield, others pulling out
Chesterfield County is poised to pull out of a regional curbside recycling program, which could require Richmond and Henrico County to boost their subsidies to maintain the program.
Fairfax releases polygraph results as accusers hit airwaves
After two women appeared on national television this week accusing him of sexual assault, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax released results of polygraph examinations that he says exonerate him.
What’s in a kiss? Wilder accused of sexual impropriety by VCU student
Aging political lion L. Douglas Wilder allegedly propositioned a Virginia Commonwealth University student who was young enough to be his great-granddaughter and has ended up receiving what amounts to an embarrassing and highly public slap from the young woman.
ABC’s of costs
The administration of Mayor Levar M. Stoney insists that the contracts awarded to build three new city schools “are reflective of the best possible prices given the scope of the work and the current market conditions.”
