Friday, August 30
Sister Helen Prejean, activist nun, talks about getting Jesus 'right'
Sister Helen Prejean wants to get religion “right.”
Free Press SOL article 'does a tremendous disservice' to RPS students
Letters to the Editor
Re “Down again: Student achievement drops again for Richmond Public Schools, according to 2018-19 SOL test results,” Free Press Aug.15-17 edition: The article published in the Free Press will likely lead many readers to believe that Richmond Public Schools’ Standards of Learning test scores decreased across the board last year.
Jay-Z buys in — sells out
“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Recovering from Ferguson
“The city’s personal-responsibility refrain ... reflects many of the same racial stereotypes found in the emails between police and court supervisors. This evidence of bias and stereotyping, together with evidence that Ferguson has long recognized but failed to correct the consistent racial disparities caused by its police and court practices, demonstrates that the discriminatory effects of Ferguson’s conduct are driven at least in part by discriminatory intent in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.” – U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Investigation of the Ferguson Police Department, March 2015
Missy Elliott honored at MTV Awards
Missy Elliott, the rapper-singer-songwriter-producer-dancer and Portsmouth native whose music videos have moved the needle over the last two decades, was honored at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, where Taylor Swift also took center stage with her gay pride anthem, “You Need to Calm Down.”
Alzheimer's Association to hold annual conference Sept. 19
The Greater Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will host its annual conference on dementia, Live Well with De- mentia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at Mt. Gilead Full Gospel International Ministries, 2501 Mt. Gilead Blvd. in Chesterfield County.
Benefit basketball game Saturday at Hermitage High School
The nonprofit Assist Student Athletes Foundation will host a showcase for Richmond area high school basketball players ahead of the start of classes, it has been announced.
2019 AfroFest RVA Aug. 31 at Pine Camp
AfroFest RVA, which celebrates the culture and diversity of area immigrants from African nations, will be held noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at Pine Camp Cultural Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road.
VUU hosts panel discussion of 400th anniversary of the first Africans
Virginia Union University is observing the 400th anniversary of the first Africans being brought to English North America with a series of panel and roundtable discussions this week that are free and open to the public.
Happily Natural Day set for Saturday in South Side
The 17th Annual Happily Natural Day returns this weekend with workshops on hemp growing, Kemetic Yoga and colorful head wraps and a celebration of breastfeeding babies, according to organizer Duron Chavis.
Curacao team puts Caribbean island on the map despire loss
Baseball is helping put Curaçao on the map.
Hampton opens Saturday against Elizabeth City State
It’s official. Deondre Francois is Hampton University’s starting quarterback.
Much of NSU Spartans' talent comes from Richmond area
Football recruiters have worn a path between Norfolk State University and Richmond area high schools.
Souza brings 'futbol' skills to VUU football
Jefferson Souza has transitioned nicely from kicking a round ball to kicking one that’s oblong.
Cityscape:Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
A line of people marches along a portion of the Richmond Slave Trail beside the James River on their way from the Old Manchester docks to Downtown.
Trump steadily fulfills goals on religious right’s wish list
When Donald Trump assumed the presidency, conservative religious leaders drew up “wish lists” of steps they hoped he’d take to oppose abortion and rein in the LGBTQ rights movement. With a flurry of recent actions, the Trump administration is winning their praise for aggressively fulfilling many of their goals.
Court rules denomination can be sued over child sexual abuse by church employee
One of the nation’s largest Pentecostal denominations can be sued for failing to protect one of its child members from a pedophile who worked closely with the children in a member church, the Virginia Supreme Court has ruled.
Personality: Sarah Brockwell
Spotlight on board president for Housing Families First
“Every family is precious. They should be nurtured and supported. We address not only homelessness but address the family holistically.”
Federal judge upholds city ambulance monopoly
Richmond has won its legal fight to maintain a monopoly over providing emergency and non-emergency ambulance service after Richmond City Council forced Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration to mount a vigorous defense.
Dominion Energy announces recycling incentive for old refrigerators, freezers
Customers hanging on to old, energy-guzzling but still-working refrigerators and freezers are being offered a new incentive to have them recycled.
Eastern Henrico schools town hall slated for Sept. 1
Henrico School Board member, the Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III, who represents the county’s Fairfield District, is hosting a town hall to discuss improving support for schools and families in Eastern Henrico.
Crusade for Voters to host 5th District candidates forum
The Richmond Crusade for Voters is hosting a forum for the candidates seeking to replace Parker C. Agelasto as representative for the 5th District on the Richmond City Council.
Labor Day holiday schedule
In observance of the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 2, please note the following closings.
Big back-to-school shoe giveaway on Monday
Many Richmond students will be well-heeled and ready with school supplies when classes start next week, thanks to donations by the community.
AG opines that gun-toting militia groups can face arrest under certain circumstances
Openly carrying weapons is not illegal, even on the grounds of the State Capitol. But members of privately organized militias who assume law enforcement duties without permission can be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor “of falsely assuming or pretending to be” a sworn officer of the law.
KKK targets Henrico neighborhoods, hits Hanover again
Henrico County Branch NAACP officials and top county officials urged residents to push back against white supremacy as the Ku Klux Klan targeted Glen Allen neighborhoods to distribute recruitment fliers in the dead of night last weekend.
Yes, no and maybe: Coliseum vote likely would fail if vote was taken today
The Navy Hill District Corp. plan to replace the Richmond Coliseum and bring more than $1 billion in new development nearby has yet to gain the backing of City Council.
Obamas rock out with summer song playlist
Barack Obama may be the former president, but he’s still got it going on.
Surviving the journey: Thousands of people gather in a weekend of reflection and healing in Hampton to remember, honor the first Africans brought as captives to English North America 400 years ago
As day broke last Saturday, tides of people of all ages and colors flowed down the promenade at Hampton’s Buckroe Beach.
New school year, new principals at 14 Richmond schools
Fourteen new principals will lead public schools in Richmond when the school year starts next week.
Media responsible for racial tensions
Letters to the Editor
The continual negative reporting of the Ferguson, Mo., killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown by former police Officer Darren Wilson is a prime reason for racial tensions to increase on the part of white people.
Changing Hanover school names ‘won’t change a thing’
Letters to the Editor
Re “Hanover County NAACP files federal lawsuit over schools’ Confederate names,” Free Press Aug. 22-24 edition: The Hanover County Branch NAACP’s federal lawsuit over Hanover schools with Confederate names is on specious grounds.
Friday, August 23
Obama’s old high school basketball jersey sells for $120,000
A basketball jersey believed to have been worn by former President Barack Obama while he was at an elite Honolulu prep school has sold at auction for $120,000.
Cityscape:Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
Dominic Baah is one of thousands of Virginia Commonwealth University students who spent Saturday moving into campus dorm rooms.
Toward more precise language
Letters to the Editor
Re “University health services bracing for ripple effect from mass shootings,” Free Press Aug. 15-17 edition: Your article quotes Dr. Darylnet Lyttle, director of the student health center at Virginia State University, saying, “We are at work to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues.”
Invest in Richmond’s schoolchildren, not Coliseum
Letters to the Editor
Re “Moving on up or out? Mayor Stoney submits to City Council $1.5B Coliseum replacement and Downtown development plan,” Free Press Aug. 8-10 edition: Richmond is in the process of approving spending $1.5 billion for city infrastructure development, including a new Coliseum and the area around it.
Getting to root cause of racism
Columnists
It’s amazing how often the news media give big play to an academic report that tells us something black mothers already knew.
Get serious about white extremists and domestic terrorism
Columnists
Just over a decade ago, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI produced a report titled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.”
400 years
We pay tribute here to the “20 And odd Negroes” who, 400 years ago in late August 1619, ended up on Virginia’s shores at Point Comfort in what is now Hampton.
Jay-Z defends move to partner with NFL
A day after Jay-Z announced that his Roc Nation company was partnering with the NFL, the rap icon explained that he still supports protesting, kneeling and NFL player Colin Kaepernick, but he’s also interested in working with the league to make substantial changes.
Foundation to host summit for student athletes Aug. 23
A foundation that seeks to aid Richmond high school student athletes to consider their futures after they graduate will host its third annual summit for boys in sports this weekend.
First 400 years
Reflecting on past, realizing the present starts Aug. 22
In August 1619, more than 20 Africans landed at Point Comfort, the present-day Fort Monroe in Hampton.
Serena getting ready for U.S. Open
Tennis champion Serena Williams is getting ready for the U.S. Open, which gets underway Aug. 26 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Washington Nationals fuel ahead with diverse roster
Any Washington Nationals victory sets off celebration throughout North and South America, the Caribbean and far off as Oceania.
City finishes fiscal year with surplus
By the numbers
If Richmond City Council approves, retired city employees such as Elmer Seay and Daisy Weaver might receive a 1 percent increase in their city pensions — the first cost-of-living increase since 2008.
Richmond Flying Squirrels lead EL in stolen bases
The Richmond Flying Squirrels are having a rough season in the standings but a banner year on the base paths.
Norfolk State University football games to be broadcast
Norfolk State University football fans won’t have to leave the comfort of home to follow the Spartans this season.
VUU coaches earn honors
Virginia Union University women’s basketball Coach AnnMarie Gilbert has been named HBCU Coach of the Year by HBCU Digest.
VUU Panthers gearing up for a successful season
Football Coach Alvin Parker’s maiden season at Virginia Union University was a rousing success. The Panthers went 8-2, outscored the opposition 452-189, and narrowly missed the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Democratic hopefuls seek support from young black faith leaders
Three Democratic presidential hopefuls fielded questions from black church leaders last week, bouncing between politics and prayer as they vied for support from an audience of about 5,000 black millennials.
Dr. Martha C. Cook, longtime educator and former first lady of Ebenezer Baptist Church, dies at 82
Dr. Martha Louise Charles Cook combined a love of science and education with her faith. Dr. Cook taught the basics of biology to students in Richmond Public Schools and other school districts in a teaching career that spanned more than 35 years.
William M. ‘Bill’ Jones Jr., former Richmond corporate executive, dies at 88
William M. “Bill” Jones Jr., who was the first African-American corporate manager and personnel development manager at Thalhimers in Richmond, died Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Dallas, where he and his family have lived for many years. He was 88.
Acclaimed writer Paule Marshall, professor emeritus at VCU, dies at 90
Writer Paule Marshall, an exuberant and sharpened storyteller who in books such as “Daughters” and “Brown Girl, Brownstones” drew upon classic and vernacular literature and her mother’s kitchen conversations to narrate the divides between African-Americans and Caucasians, men and women, and modern and traditional cultures, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2019, in Richmond.
Personality: Vilma T. Seymour
Spotlight on president of Richmond Region League of United Latin American Citizens
Strength is the key to Vilma Seymour’s life.
Carver Elementary gets new laundry center
Homelessness has been a continuous problem in Richmond, and it also impacts city school students.
City Council shoots down advisory referendum on $1.5B Coliseum project
One week after the Richmond City Council voted to kill a proposed advisory referendum asking Richmond voters whether they support using tax dollars to pay for a new Richmond Coliseum, the referendum’s chief proponent is still tense over the decision.
Goldman has until Aug. 30 to show signatures on Coliseum referendum were wrongly rejected
Paul Goldman is refusing to give up on his effort to allow Richmond voters to weigh in on the huge and costly plan to replace the Richmond Coliseum.
School Board votes to demolish school building
A historic Richmond elementary school building that dates to the 1880s and was the first built to serve African-American children in Church Hill appears to be headed for demolition.
State NAACP president dismissed, listening tour stopped in shake-up
The president of the Virginia State Conference NAACP was abruptly dismissed and the civil rights group’s statewide “Listening Tour” has been halted in changes announced last weekend by the state administrator.
‘Rey’ of hope
Cristo Rey Richmond High School opens to high expectations by students, officials
When the bell rang at 7:45 a.m. Monday, 96 ninth-grade students began the inaugural school year at Cristo Rey Richmond High School, a private school that promises opportunities for some of the area’s poorest youths through a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum combined with an unconventional work component that seeks to give them a boost in the job market.
2 area apartment complexes being revitalized
Two major apartment complexes, one in Richmond and one in Henrico County that largely house lower-income families, are being revitalized.
8 candidates vying for Agelasto’s City Council seat
And the race is on. Eight people successfully qualified to compete for the 5th District seat on Richmond City Council from which Councilman Parker C. Agelasto plans to resign on Nov. 30.
Hanover County NAACP files federal lawsuit over schools’ Confederate names
In a novel approach, the Hanover County Branch NAACP is alleging that the county and its School Board are violating the constitutional rights of African-American residents by having schools named for military and political leaders of the slavery-defending Confederate States.
HBCU president ousted after accusations of plagiarism, nepotism
Officials at an historically black college in Tennessee have voted out the school’s president, who has been accused of plagiarism, nepotism and not handling mold or rodent issues in residence halls.
Friday, August 16
Muslim initiative raises thousands to release detained migrant parents
Led by two of the country’s most prominent imams, hundreds of U.S. Muslims have raised more than $81,000 to bail out detained migrant parents.
City Council spars over voter advisory referendum on $1.5B Coliseum plan
Richmond residents were lining up Wednesday to speak their minds on Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s $1.5 billion Coliseum replacement and development plan for Downtown at the second of two special City Council meetings in two days.
Down again: Student achievement drops again for Richmond Public Schools, according to 2018-19 SOL test results
Richmond Public Schools student achievement continues to decline, according to state Standards of Learning test results released this week by the Virginia Department of Education.
Hampton University turns to eSports for creating entrepreneurs
Students at Hampton University soon will be playing video games as part of their studies. The university is building an eSports lab, thanks to a $340,658 technology grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Commentary: Virginia voters can be certain their votes count
The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee concluded in late July that election systems in all 50 states were targeted by Russia in the 2016 presidential election. While the report concluded that no votes were changed in voting machines at the time, the committee’s report warned that the United States remains vulnerable to attack in upcoming elections. In the wake of the report, the Richmond Free Press invited Christopher E. “Chris” Piper, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections, to address the question of just how secure is Virginia’s election apparatus. Here is his response, penned with Michael Watson, chief information security officer with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.
University health services bracing for ripple effect from mass shootings
The back-to-school shopping spree in El Paso, Texas, was hundreds of miles from the Richmond area. So were the calm summer bar scene in Dayton, Ohio and the fun-filled garlic fair in Northern California. Yet, the impact of the dramatic turn of events at those gatherings rippled across Virginia in every neighborhood and home.
Colette McEachin wins Dem nomination for city commonwealth's attorney
Colette W. McEachin secured the Democratic nomination for Richmond commonwealth’s attorney in last week’s firehouse primary, defeating Alexander L. “Alex” Taylor Jr. by winning more than 83 percent of the votes cast, according to the Richmond City Democratic Committee. In the balloting, which was conducted by the committee at set times and locations on two days, Mrs. McEachin won 2,115 votes, while Mr. Taylor received 429 votes.
Judge dismisses Richardson's suit to unseat Councilman Agelasto
A legal effort to immediately remove Richmond City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto from office was dismissed last week by a Richmond Circuit Court judge.
James River Park System now part of the Old Growth Forest Network
One of the Richmond region’s favorite parks has become part of an exclusive club, the Old Growth Forest Network, it has been announced.
City Police Capt. Bender named LGBTQ community liaison
Richmond Police Capt. Michael Bender has been named the department’s new liaison to the LGBTQ community.
Gold Award in history
Deja Williams, left, of Midlothian Girl Scout Troop 635 accepts congratulatory flowers from her longtime friend, Jane McConville, after seeing her idea for a state historical highway marker acknowledging the history of the former Midlothian Elementary School come to fruition last Saturday in Chesterfield County.
VSU to host AgFest Field Day on Aug. 28
Virginia State University is hosting AgFest Field Day 2019 for anyone interested in agriculture, fish farming, hydroponics, farming, urban gardening, and learning about agriculture production in Virginia.
Henrico sets up timeline, hearings for 2021-22 school redistricting
The Henrico County Public Schools has set up a timeline and schedule of public hearings for redrawing attendance zones for the county’s elementary, middle and high schools.
Personality: Gabrielle E. Wilks
Spotlight on Miss Black Virginia USA 2020
The 2020 Miss Black Virginia crown goes to Gabrielle E. Wilks.
Eugene A. Mason Jr., who served on the Richmond School Board and City Council, dies at 78
From the roof of J.L. Francis Elementary School to City Council chambers at City Hall, Eugene A. Mason Jr. was a constant force in improving public education in Richmond.
Churches mobilize to help families impacted by immigration raids
The children of Sacred Heart Catholic Church streamed out into Mississippi’s blistering heat last Sunday afternoon, carrying what they said was a message of opposition against immigration raids their parents could not.
Montgomery's churches part of city's 200-year history of slavery, civil rights
Connections between Christianity, Confederacy and civil rights — and the history of slavery — are in plain sight in Alabama’s capital.
Simone Biles wins record-tying sixth national gymnastics title
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles reasserted her position as the world’s unrivaled No. 1 gymnast with an amazing winning performance Sunday at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Mo.
Tournament baseball field in the city?
The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League’s recent Inner City Classic held in Metro Richmond was a smashing success. It had tremendous talent, exciting games and tip-top organization. But here’s the problem: The showcase tournament wasn’t held anywhere near the hustle and bustle of Richmond’s inner city.
Ronald Acuna hopes to bat his way into Hall of Fame
Hank Aaron debuted with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954 and embarked on arguably one of the most illustrious careers in baseball lore. Ronald Acuna Jr., who broke in with the Atlanta Braves last season, shows signs of following a similarly star-lit course.
Hampton University gets new quarterback
Hampton University’s football prospects have just become brighter. Quarterback Deondre Francois is the latest addition to the Pirates’ Big South Conference roster.
Washington NFL training camp ends
Seven down and one to go. The Washington NFL team concluded its preseason workouts last Sunday at the Bon Secours Training Center in Richmond.
Former HBCU athlete hoping to remain on roster
Athletes from historically black colleges and universities are getting harder and harder to find on NFL rosters. The Washington NFL team has just one player from an HBCU, and he’s not sure he’ll make it to opening day.
Down Home Family Reunion this Saturday
Richmond native Jerome “Bigfoot” Brailey’s Funk Allstars is headlining the 29th Annual Down Home Family Reunion this weekend. The free event, hosted by the Elegba Folklore Society, will run from 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Abner Clay Park, Leigh Street and Brook Road in Jackson Ward.
A clearer vision needed
Editorials
We are not convinced of the need or the benefits of the costly plan to replace the Richmond Coliseum and divert millions of tax dollars that ordinarily would go to the city’s general fund to pay for the project.
Calling for a groundswell
Columnists
How, in a span of only 24 hours, could two cities in different states and regions suffer mass shootings — one in El Paso, Texas, a city only a few miles from the nation’s southern border, and the other in Dayton, Ohio, a former midwestern manufacturing hub?
A tribute to Toni Morrison
Columnists
“Oppressive language does more than represent violence; it is violence; does more than represent the limits of knowledge; it limits knowledge. Whether it is obscuring state language or the faux-language of mindless media; whether it is the proud but calcified language of the academy or the commodity driven language of science; whether it is the malign language of law-without-ethics, or language designed for the estrangement of minorities, hiding its racist plunder in its literary cheek –it must be rejected, altered and exposed. It is the language that drinks blood, laps vulnerabilities, tucks its fascist boots under crinolines of respectability and patriotism as it moves relentlessly toward the bottom line and the bottomed-out mind.” — Toni Morrison, Nobel Lecture, 1993
Why I visited the border
Letter to the Editor
As I ventured to the southern border near Laredo, Texas, I could not help but think about the tragic shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, which are stark reminders of the dangers that plague our communities under the resurgence of white nationalism, domestic terrorism, intolerance and racial hatred germinating from the White House.
Cityscape: Slice of life and scenes in Richmond
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
A sign posted in Richmond’s Byrd Park offers motorists a friendly reminder: “Love It? Then Lock It! Or Lose It!”
Friday, August 9
New Virginia Majority to host People's Congress 2019 on Saturday
The New Virginia Majority is hosting its fifth annual People’s Congress to discuss issues and strategize for progressive policies in 2019 and 2020.
Preseason poll has NSU Spartans football team finishing in middle of MEAC
Norfolk State University football seems to be stuck in the middle of the MEAC pack.
Jaaber to hold free training session for youths
Leadersport, under the direction of former Virginia Union University basketball standout and later Panthers head Coach Luqman Jaaber, is holding a free training session 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Meadowbrook High School in Chesterfield County.
Henrico Stars win MJBL Inner City Classic's U-14 division championship
The U-14 Henrico Stars are the undefeated and undisputed champions of the annual Metropolitan Junior Baseball League’s Inner City Classic.
Huguenot wins RPS Alumni Basketball Showdown
There’s still plenty of twinkle left in Huguenot High School’s former basketball stars. The Falcons rule the roost today as champion of the inaugural Richmond Public Schools Alumni Basketball Showdown.
Jamestown interpreter tells the story of 'Angela,' one of the first Africans in Virginia; her faith is a mystery
Wearing a yellow head wrap, gray skirt and soiled apron, a woman who says she is “called by the name of Angela” stood by the James River and told her story, one of faith and courage, darkness and hope.
Nearly 1,000 good reasons
Editorials
Some people claim there is no reason to enact tougher gun laws in the United States. We wholeheartedly disagree.
3-day Valuing Black Lives Global Summit slated for Aug. 20-22 at VUU
The 2019 Valuing Black Lives Global Summit, a three-day event designed to pro- vide psychological and emotional healing for African-Americans because of the legacy of slavery, will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20, through Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center at Virginia Union University, 1500 N. Lombardy St.
Toni Morrison, who transformed American literature to win Nobel and Pulitzer prizes, dies at 88
Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, a pioneer and reigning giant of modern literature whose imaginative power in “Beloved,” “Song of Solomon” and other works transformed American letters by dramatizing the pursuit of freedom within the boundaries of race, has died at age 88.
Personality: Ayana Obika
Spotlight on co-host of Le Diner en Blanc-Richmond
The city’s diversity and elegance will shine again with the third annual Le Diner en Blanc-Richmond, a chic, pop- up dinner where diners wear all white, bring their own white tables, chairs, tablecloths and dishes — no plastic or paper allowed — and nosh on picnic fare they bring or pre-purchase and then pack up and go home, taking everything, including all leftovers and trash, with them. Ayana Obika, along with Christine Wansleben and Enjoli Moon, set Le Diner en Blanc- Richmond in motion in the River City two years ago.
Chesterfield apartment complex to change rental policy under discrimination settlement
An apartment complex in Chesterfield County has agreed to change its blanket ban on renting to people with criminal records after being hit on June 4 with a federal lawsuit challenging the policy as a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.
Historian works to humanize the enslaved who built Monroe
A trove of historical re- cords tells that Fort Monroe in Hampton was built on the backs of thousands of enslaved Africans.
Gov. Northam praises removal of Confederate honor at Fort Monroe
Gov. Ralph S. Northam praised the state’s removal of Confederate president Jefferson Davis’ name from an archway at the site where the first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia 400 years ago.
Local organization part of federal suit challenging EPA's new lead standards
A Richmond woman who has fought to end lead contamination in homes and drinking water in the metro area is taking on the Trump administration for allegedly undermining the regulation of the health-damaging metal.
Coliseum referendum hearing slated for Aug. 15
Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Jeter Taylor will determine next week if Richmond voters will have a say on the proposed $1.5 billion Coliseum project that Mayor Levar M. Stoney is asking Richmond City Council to approve.
$6M: Richmond spending much more than Chesterfield on new schools
Richmond apparently will spend at least $6 million more on building two new elementary schools than Chesterfield County is having to pay, according an update report the Joint Construction Team provided to the city School Board Monday night.
School Board member Jonathan Young springs open enrollment attendance plan on colleagues
Richmond School Board members were blindsided Monday night when board member Jonathan Young, who represents the 4th District, proposed that Richmond Public Schools allow students to choose which school they want to attend, with a lottery ultimately deciding where students would enroll.
Trump seeks to roll back federal Fair Housing provision
The Trump administration is working to dilute the federal Fair Housing Act in an effort to make it more difficult to bring housing discrimination lawsuits, according to housing advocates.
Protesters call for tougher gun laws; blame Trump for deaths of 31 in latest mass shootings
Protesters greeted President Trump’s arrival in Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday, blaming his incendiary rhetoric for inflaming political and racial tensions in the country, as he visited survivors of last weekend’s mass shootings and saluted first responders.
Moving on up or out? Mayor Stoney submits to City Council $1.5B Coliseum replacement and Downtown development plan
Five months ago, Mayor Levar M. Stoney was singing the revenue blues as he introduced his latest budget. He told city residents that revenue was growing too slowly to keep up with the overwhelming demand for resources, and without a major increase in the property tax, the city couldn’t adequately address major challenges ranging from fixing city streets to funding public education and replacing worn-out police cars and fire trucks. Mayor Stoney now has changed his tune as he introduces his long-awaited grand development plan for Downtown.
Some Richmonders on edge following national tragedies
Like many Americans, people around the Richmond area are dazed and distracted, saddened and angered after two mass shootings last weekend in Texas and Ohio left 31 dead and dozens of other wounded.
Cityscape: Slice of life and scenes in Richmond
Dragon boat racing marked its 10th year in Richmond with a festive event Saturday highlighted by the paddle-powered competition on the James River.
Say it ain't so
Letters to the Editor
Re “Big Herm’s again only black-owned food vendor at Washington NFL team training camp,” Free Press Aug. 1-3 edition: Big Herm’s Kitchen is the only black-owned vendor at the Washington NFL team training camp. This has occurred three years straight. How can the city continue to let this happen?
Righting old wrongs
Columnists
“The U.S. ‘war on drugs’ — a decades-long policy of racial and class suppression hidden behind cannabis criminality — has resulted in the arrest, interdiction and incarceration of a high percentage of Americans of color. The legal cannabis industry represents a great opportunity to help balance the detrimental effects of the war on drugs by creating an equal playing field for all people to benefit from the changing legal landscape.” — Minority Cannabis Business Association
Richmond’s next commonwealth’s attorney
Columnists
On Thursday, Aug. 8, and Saturday, Aug. 10, Richmond Democrats will vote to decide who will be the Democrats’ nominee for Richmond commonwealth’s attorney.
Cliff Branch, former NFL receiver, dies at 71
Cliff Branch, one of the premier deep receiver threats in NFL history, died Saturday, Aug. 3, at age 71.
Daniel 'Sonny Strong' Gordon Jr., karate instructor at YMCA, dies at 79
Karate Grandmaster Daniel Gordon Jr., nicknamed “Sonny Strong,” died Thursday, July 11, in Richmond. Mr. Gordon was 79 and had taught martial arts at the Downtown YMCA for more than 40 years. His pupils over the decades ranged in age from toddlers to senior citizens.
Friday, August 2
Perry Miller chosen to lead Richmond International Airport
The Richmond International Airport will get its first African- American president and chief executive officer on Aug. 19.
National Night Out Tuesday, Aug. 6
Community groups across the city are gearing up for the 36th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
NAACP, SCLC kick off statewide ‘Listening Tour’ Aug.1
The Virginia State Conference NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference are kicking off a “Listening Tour” across the state with a session on Thursday, Aug. 1, in Richmond.
State sales tax holiday this weekend
With the new school year on the horizon and hurricane season already here, consumers in Richmond and across the state will automati- cally save 5.3 percent on back-to-school and hurricane supplies this weekend.
Winner of next week's Democratic primary likely shoo-in for city commonwealth's attorney
Next week, Richmond residents can take part in deciding who should be the city’s next commonwealth’s attorney — Colette W. McEachin, who currently holds the office, or her challenger, Alexander L. “Alex” Taylor Jr., a former member of the office.
Sources: Mayor Stoney to advance Coliseum project for Downtown
The grand, but still stalled $1.4 billion plan to replace the now-closed Richmond Coliseum and potentially create thousands of new jobs is supposed to include development of nearly 3,000 affordable and market- rate apartments.
Personality: Kennedi Scales
Spotlight on KLM Scholarship Foundation award honoree
An unexpected email brought a surprise, hope and support for one of many Virginia college students. Kennedi Scales is among 52 state students awarded a $1,000 book scholarship for the upcoming school year.
Hanover supervisors get earful over weak KKK response
Hanover County residents brought their concerns about growing Ku Klux Klan activity in the area to the streets last week — and to their local elected officials during a meeting of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors.
Cityscape: Slice of life and scenes in Richmond
17th Street Market in Shockoe Bottom. (The name recently was changed from the 17th Street Farmers’ Market.)
Timothy Christian, right, waits on Ralph Lee in continuing a 50-year family tradition of selling fruits and vegetables at the 17th Street Market in Shockoe Bottom. (The name recently was changed from the 17th Street Farmers’ Market.)
Loss, civility and compassion
Letters to the editor
A couple of days ago, my 95-year-old mother passed away suddenly. She was doing well one day, and a day or two later, she was gone. The one good thing was that she didn’t suffer.
Kudos to state Dems for rejecting Jamestown event with Trump
Letters to the editor
Re “Virginia lawmakers spar on reported Trump visit to Jamestown,” Free Press July 25-27 edition:
‘Red Summer’: Lessons for today
Columnists
On July 27, 1919, and for 13 days after, Chicago was engulfed in violence. White mobs wantonly attacked black people and black people fought back.
And wise...
Editorials
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus wisely offered alternative events Tuesday in Richmond remembering the Africans who were brought to Virginia 400 years ago in 1619.
Healthy...
Editorials
Kudos to former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the fearless and energetic Democrat who led the charge to expand Medicaid in Virginia.
Foundations buy Ebony and JET photo archives for preservation at Smithsonian
The sale of the photo archive of Ebony and JET magazines chronicling African-American history is generating relief among some who worried the historic images may be lost.
REAL LIFE opens women's home for recovering addicts released from jail
Three single women now have a stable place to stay as they continue their recovery from the addictions that sent them to jail and left them homeless. The women are the first tenants of a group home opened this week by the nonprofit organization REAL LIFE.
VIA Heritage Association inducts 4th Hall of Fame class
The Virginia Interscholastic Association held its fourth annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony June 28 in Charlottesville.
Blue Sox win MJBL Tournament; players welcome Inner City Classic
Aspiring ballplayers from through- out the United States and the Caribbean are converging on the Richmond area this week for the National Metropolitan Junior Baseball League Inner City Classic.
RPS basketball alumni showdown Saturday at Ashe Center
Richmond Public Schools is turning back the clock on basketball. Players from bygone decades will be dusting off their jump shots in the inaugural RPS Alumni Showdown on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.
Peterson rushing to get Washington NFL team into playoffs
How far Washington goes in the NFL East may rely on how much fuel Adrian Peterson has left in his tank. Recent statistics indicate he’s nowhere near empty.
Big Herm's again only black-owned food vendor at Washington NFL team training camp
As football players gather in Richmond this month to test their stuff and compete for a role on the Washington NFL team before thousands of fans, some of Richmond’s small business enterprises are showcasing their best sides, too.
Jury finds Katy Perry stole Christian rapper’s beat
A jury on Monday found that Katy Perry’s 2013 hit, “Dark Horse,” improperly copied a 2009 Christian rap song. The unanimous decision represented a rare takedown of a pop superstar and her elite producer by a relatively unknown artist.
Church merger leads to new roles for Rev. Whitehead, Dr. Cardwell
After 25 years at the helm of New Canaan International Church that he founded in Eastern Henrico County, minister and educator Dr. Owen C. Cardwell, 72, has passed the pastoral baton to a younger protégé, the Rev. Dwayne E. Whitehead.
Joan B. Winston, executive director of the former Gold Bowl, dies at 88
Joan Loretta Banks Winston was often considered the “glue” that held organizations together.
Dr. Harrison B. Wilson Jr., longtime president of NSU, dies at 94
Dr. Harrison B. Wilson Jr., who served as president of Nor- folk State University for 22 years and whose grandson, Russell Wilson, is the superstar quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, died Sunday, July 28, 2019. He was 94.
Paradox of history: Enslaved commemoration
As Trump speaks at Jamestown commemoration for 400th anniversary of representative government, Va. Legislative Black Caucus boycotts with commemoration of the enslaved
Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus gathered Tuesday morning at the site of the former Lumpkin’s Jail in Shockoe Bottom, where enslaved people were bought and sold, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Africans arriving in Virginia in 1619.
Paradox of history: Jamestown commemoration
As Trump speaks at Jamestown commemoration for 400th anniversary of representative government, Va. Legislative Black Caucus boycotts with commemoration of the enslaved
President Trump marked the 400th anni- versary of American democracy Tuesday, but Virginia’s African-American lawmakers boycotted his celebration of the initial experiment in self-government in this country to protest his continued disparagement of a veteran black congressman and the majority-black Baltimore district he represents.
Va. ranks 10th nationally in cost of dog bites
A dog may be man or woman’s best friend, but that pet’s bite could prove very costly for the owner. In 2018, insurance settlements for 359 dog bites in Virginia totaled $14.38 million, or $40,060 per bite, a new study of insurance companies payments has found. That ranked Virginia No. 10 on the list of the 50 states when its comes to the price tag
Habitat for Humanity accepting applications for home repair assistance
A nonprofit group known for building affordable houses also will repair dwellings for lower-income elderly and disabled homeowners and others in difficult circumstances.
4 more candidates announce for 5th District City Council race
Four more candidates have jumped into the race to replace 5th District City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, who has announced he will resign Nov. 30 as a result of moving out of the district.
Randolph Pool, splash pad at Ann Hardy Plaza reopened
The Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Com-munity Facilities is making some needed fixes.
8th District Focus Group to meet Aug. 3
Drainage ditches that are clogged with trash and vegetation, stray cats and dogs, sidewalks in disrepair that are difficult to navigate and playgrounds that lack equipment. That’s part of a long to-do list that the new 8th District Focus Group in South Side plans to bring to the attention of elected officials at a public meeting 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Broad Rock Branch of the Richmond Public Library, 4820 Old Warwick Road.
Hearing set for Aug. 8 on Agelasto removal
Former 5th District City Councilman Henry W. “Chuck” Richardson finally may get a hearing on his motion to oust the district’s current council representative, Parker C. Agelasto, from office because Mr. Agelasto lives outside the district.
