Thursday, April 25
Personality: Rhonda Keyes Pleasants
Spotlight on chair of Family Representative Council of East Marshall Street Well Project
Rhonda Keyes Pleasants entered the funeral industry in 1996 and became a fully licensed funeral director and embalmer in December 2000.
City Council postpones budget adoption
Despite calls to increase funding for Richmond Public Schools and address capital improvement issues, Richmond City Council delayed adopting its proposed $2.9 billion 2025 budget until May 6.
School Board reviews conduct proposal for members
At its April 22 meeting, the RPS School Board discussed policy changes to School Board procedures and board member conduct.
VUU Golfers win CIAA tourney
The Virginia Union University golf team has earned the right to point to the sky and shout: “We’re No. 1.”
2 RPS high schools celebrate top honors
Two Richmond Public Schools high schools, Open High School and Richmond Community High School, recently garnered significant recognition. U.S. News & World Report has acknowledged them as standout institutions among Virginia’s educational community.
Mayor Stoney drops Va. governor bid, will run for lieutenant governor
Mayor Levar Stoney announced Tuesday he is dropping his bid for Virginia governor in 2025, avoiding a nomination contest with U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, and will run for lieutenant governor instead.
A historic HBCU first
Virginia State University lands presidential debate
When the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees enter the Multi-Purpose Center on the campus of Virginia State University on Oct. 1, history will be made. VSU will become the first HBCU to host a U.S. presidential debate.
President Biden signs $95B bill for war aid in Ukraine
Funds include $26B in aid for Israel, $1B in for Palestinians in Gaza
President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he was immediately rushing badly needed weaponry to Ukraine as he signed into law a $95 billion war aid measure that also included assistance for Israel, Taiwan and other global hotspots.
Hospital Chaplain J.S. Park’s new book explores grief
“The biggest myth I see is that grief is a poison to get past”
“Everything happens for a reason” might be one of the least helpful things you can say to someone who just lost a loved one, according to veteran hospital Chaplain J.S. Park.
Delegate McQuinn to host annual Community Resource Day
Delegate Delores McQuinn of the 81st District will host her free annual Community Resource Day event on Saturday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Bridge Baptist Church, 5807 Nine Mile Road.
Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and ‘American Idol’ alum, dies at 47
Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album “Overcomer,” has died. She was 47.
Palpable relief doesn’t ease the pain
For anyone who owns a home or land, it has become common to receive a text or letter from a persistent real estate agent or investor offering to purchase their property. In most Black communities, where homeowners have labored long and hard to acquire a home for themselves or family members, the response to such predators is a polite — or not so polite — “no.”
Earth Day: A sense of wonder, by Bobby Whitescarver
My wife and I are cattle farmers in Virginia’s legendary Shenandoah Valley. Early in our marriage, Jeanne gave me a nickname: “Walk Slow, Stand Around.” Yep, that’s me. Sure, it’s funny. And it’s true. But I’m not lazy; I just wonder a lot.
Setting the stage
Virginia State University not only will host October’s presidential debate, but also will serve as a polling location during the general election.
Jackson Ward preservationist steeled by cultural bearings and designs
By tackling design and restoration projects no one else would touch, Zarina Fazaldin brings her love of art and historic preservation to the arts community in Richmond.
Embiid raises Uncle Sam’s hopes
Joel Embiid sports the colors red, white and blue for his NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers. So it’s fitting he’ll wear red, white and blue for the United States for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
Summer Academy offers students lessons in leadership, public service
Richmond high school and college students can gain political skills and knowledge during the upcoming Summer Academy for Policy Leadership and Public Service. The academy runs from Sunday, June 23, to Saturday, July 6, and is organized by Policy Pathways Inc. The program will be hosted in partnership with the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
Virginia universities announce graduation dates, speakers
College graduations start throughout Virginia in the next two weeks, with thousands of students receiving their diplomas and taking their hard-earned knowledge out into the world.
An American lament, by Dwight Cunningham
t’s tough being an American. It’s hard to know your worth when you’re Black, or Latino, Native American or Asian, Muslim, gay or whatever. Seems today’s patriotic ideal American isn’t any of “those people,” as the powerful spend considerable time and nefarious energy to exert dominance by any means possible.
Google fires more workers who protested its deal with Israel
Google recently fired at least 20 more workers in the aftermath of protests over technology the company is supplying the Israeli government amid the Gaza war, bringing the total number of terminated staff to more than 50, a group representing the workers said.
Who will be D.C.’s next QB?
Watch your step. Few revolving doors have spun as fast as the door leading to the Washington Commanders’ quarterback room.
Dale Farino appointed CEO of state ABC
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has appointed Dale Farino as the new CEO of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC), effective April 29.
USDA updates rules for school meals that limit sugars
The nation’s school meals will get a makeover under new nutrition standards that limit added sugars for the first time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture an- nounced Wednesday. The final rule also trims sodium in students’ meals, although not by the 30% first proposed in 2023. And it con- tinues to allow flavored milks — such as chocolate milk — with less sugar, rather than adopting an option that would have offered only unflavored milk to the youngest kids. The aim is to improve nutrition and align with U.S. dietary guidelines in the program that provides breakfasts to more than 15 million students and lunches to nearly 30 million students every day at a cost of about $22.6 billion per year. “All of this is designed to ensure that students have quality meals and that we meet parents’ expectations,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters. The limits on added sugars would be required in the 2025-2026 school year, starting with high-sugar foods such as cereal, yogurt and flavored milk. By the fall of 2027, added sugars in school meals would be limited to no more than 10% of the total calories per week for breakfasts and lunches, in addition to limits on sugar in specific products. New WIC rules include more money for fruits and veggies. They also expand food choices Officials had proposed to reduce sodium in school meals by as much as 30% over the next several years. But after receiving mixed public comments and a directive from Congress included in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill approved in March, the agency will reduce sodium levels allowed in breakfasts by 10% and in lunches by 15% by the 2027-2028 school year.
Herbs Galore descends on Maymont
Maymont’s Herbs Galore plant sale event on Saturday promises that herb lovers will find everything they need to freshen up their gardens. The fun occurs between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the Carriage House Lawn, 1700 Hampton St.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden plans $31M expansion
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is breaking ground on a two-year expansion project. Called “Thrive,” the $31 million project will nearly double the size of the existing Conservatory, add 7.5 acres of new gardens, and incorporate an additional lake into the Garden experience.
State employees get free admission to VMFA’s ‘Samurai Armor’ exhibit
Commonwealth of Virginia employees and preschool and K–12 teachers (public and private schools) will receive free admission to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ new exhibition “Samurai Armor from the Collection of Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller.” Active duty military personnel and their immediate families also will receive free admission to special exhibitions through the museum’s year-round participation in the Blue Star Museums program.
Loss of support from Republican evangelicals suits MAGA crowd just fine, by Clarence Page
Black voters traditionally have been pivotal to the fortunes of the Democratic Party, but some recent polls have suggested that they are proving less bankable for President Biden than in the past. Whether or not as many as 20% of Black voters have in fact deserted the Democrats, as some recent polls suggest, is a contested matter. But it’s probably fair to say that Democrats currently are in more of a defensive than a growth mode with that portion of the electorate.
Chicago is feeling Sky high
With the third and seventh picks of the WNBA draft, the skies brightened over Chicago.
Price is right for HBCUs
Morgan Price has made gymnastics history – just like her coach did decades earlier.
50 years of service and sisterhood
Women who attended Virginia Commonwealth University and were initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Theta Rho Chapter celebrated their 50th Chartering Anniversary April 20 at the university with a commemorative bench dedication on the university’s main campus.
Thursday, April 18
Journette stands out at NSU
Only one college offered Justin Journette a baseball scholarship while he was in high school. As it turned out, that one was enough.
Lots of baseball talent used to flow through HBCUs
Fans don’t often see them now in Major League baseball, but HBCU players have left a star-shaped mark on the sport. The illustrious list of long-ago standouts includes numerous Major League Hall of Famers and several others with local connections.
Convenience stores shut down Virginia Lottery sales in protest for skill games
Organizers say hundreds of stores participate
At Krunal Patel’s convenience store outside Richmond, a row of Queen of Virginia skill games has been powered off and turned around against a wall.
Discriminatory laws have driven Black voters from the polls, by Marc H. Morial
“If the United States wants to make good on its foundational claims of a democratic system of governance open to all citizens, it must find ways to close the racial turnout gap. Wider now than at any point in at least the past 16 years, the gap costs millions of votes from Americans of color all around the country. Perhaps most worrisome of all, the gap is growing most quickly in parts of the country that were previously covered under the pre-clearance regime of the 1965 Voting Rights Act until the disastrous Shelby County ruling.” – Brennan Center For Justice
Better public understanding of domestic violence was the one silver lining from O.J. Simpson’s fall, by Clarence Page
Has the search for Nicole Simpson’s “real killer” officially ended? Not that I expected to find out more than we already know. The leading suspect in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman continued to be nobody else but O.J., up to his dying day.
VUU works to retain accreditation status
Virginia Union University is continuing to address financial issues months after receiving probation that, if not resolved, could lead to the loss of its accreditation.
Jonathan Young resigns from RPS School Board
Jonathan Young resigned from the Richmond Public School Board April 12 after it was revealed that a December 2023 incident between him and a 15-year-old female student resulted in the student filing a harassment complaint against him.
Uber helps investigate Ohio driver’s shooting death
Uber is helping investigators look into the account that sent a driver to the Ohio home where an 81-year-old man allegedly shot a woman to death because he erroneously believed she was part of a scam, the ride-hailing company said Wednesday.
Personality: Sheri Shannon
Spotlight on Southside ReLeaf cofounder
Sheri Shannon has long believed that focused community-action work can battle climate change head on.
Faith Ringgold, pioneering Black quilt artist and author, dies at 93
Faith Ringgold, an award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling, has died at 93.
Fashion forward
Former banker now balances her life as a business owner and new mom
Chanel Nelson-Green is the owner of Liznel, a Richmond-based fashion boutique that has showcased designs in Hampton, New York and Washington, D.C.
Robinson Day means so much to many
Jackie Robinson Day honors the courageous and wondrously talented man who broke baseball’s color barrier.
Virginia lawmakers agree to extend timeline of budget negotiations
Leaders of the Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly said Wednesday that they reached an 11th-hour compromise with Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to extend negotiations over the state budget in an attempt to avert gridlock.
O.J. Simpson has been cremated, estate attorney in Las Vegas says
No public memorial planned
Former football star and celebrity criminal defendant O.J. Simpson was cremated Wednesday, the lawyer handling his estate said following his death last week at home in Las Vegas at age 76.
Students to compete in History Day at VMHC
Virginia students in grades 4-12 are preparing to compete at the 50th annual Virginia History Day competition at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture April 27-28.
Curfew
City leaders respond to recent violence
The City of Richmond has instituted an 11 p.m. curfew for all juveniles as part of an early start to its Operation Safe Summer initiative.
More baseball players are foreign-born, says Forbes
Baseball, “The National Pastime,” is getting more and more international.
Virginia NAACP files lawsuit against governor
The NAACP Virginia State Conference filed a lawsuit with the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond on Monday against Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Office for violating the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
VUU updates plan for historic Richmond Community Hospital
New plans appear to be underway for the former Richmond Community Hospital, following weeks of questions and changes over recent decisions surrounding the site and its place in the city. The hospital is owned by Virginia Union University.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
Hampton University’s sailing team boasts winning record
The Hampton University sailing team won its third straight regatta, capturing the Grant Trophy on April 13-14 at Strawberry Banks in Hampton.
To close racial gap in maternal health, Virginia, other states target implicit bias
Black, Hispanic and Indigenous pregnant patients often report facing unfair treatment at hospitals and clinics
Countless times, Kenda Sutton-El, a Virginia doula, has witnessed her Black pregnant clients being dismissed or ignored by clinicians.
The White House and Black Maternal Health Week
Black Maternal Health Week was recognized this year from April 11-17 throughout the United States and by the White House.
Fashion, fun and more
Richmond Fashion Week will celebrate the region’s thriving fashion and creative industries starting April 22-28.
The confounding case of O.J. Simpson
There are a lot of things in this country that can make some people reach their boiling point.
Thursday, April 11
Danny Avula, who coordinated state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, is running for mayor
Dr. Danny Avula, a longtime public health leader who coordinated vaccination efforts under Gov. Ralph Northam and also served as former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services, has announced his bid to become mayor of Richmond.
A new deal
City pitches special bonds for stadium project
The Richmond city government is pushing the idea of using special revenue bonds to finance the new Diamond Stadium and the first phase of infrastructure work in the Diamond District.
After swearing off politics, Georgia activist now recruits people who seldom vote
Davante Jennings cast his first ballot for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race. Republican Donald Trump’s election that year, he says, turned him from an idealistic college student to a jaded cynic overnight.
Personality: Earl Reid
Spotlight on the Military Retirees Club president
Earl Reid always knew he wanted to serve in the military, prompted in part by walking past the Military Retirees Club, which was not far from the Gilpin Court neighborhood in which he grew up.
William DuBois ‘Duke’ Smither leaves a legacy of powerful storytelling
Red Smith, the prominent sportswriter, once said that “writing is easy. Just sit in front of a typewriter, open up a vein and bleed it out, drop by drop.”
Undefeated, unforgettable
Dawn Staley’s South Carolina dynasty rolls and repeats as NCAA champions
The University of South Carolina women’s basketball ended its season with the same number of losses it started with – zero.
Review: ‘Quiet’ causes whispers for network TV
Disturbing claims by former Nickelodeon cast, crew
There have been plenty of retrospective documentary exposés about entertainment’s dark side; “Surviving R. Kelly” and “We Need to Talk About Cosby” are just two examples.
RPS school board member Jonathan Young responds to student allegations
The Richmond School Board plans to revise its standards of conduct policy following an independent attorney’s investigation into School Board Member Jonathan Young’s behavior toward a 15-year-old student, according to a WTVR-CBS 6 news report.
Gov. Youngkin amends Virginia ‘skill games’ legislation, acts on other final bills
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has proposed a rewrite of legislation intended to legalize and tax skill games, adding stiff new restrictions that industry supporters argued would still amount to a de facto ban of the slots-like gambling machines hosted by small businesses.
State NAACP serves governor’s office with intent to sue for violation of FOIA
The Virginia State Conference of the NAACP served Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office with a notice of intent to sue for violation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (“VFOIA”), Va. Code §§ 2.2-3700 et seq. The notice was accompanied by a copy of the lawsuit the Virginia NAACP intends to file detailing the governor’s failure to produce any records responsive to the group’s request for public information sent on August 31, 2023.
Chesterfield superintendent announces retirement
Superintendent Mervin B. Daugherty announced April 9 that he is retiring. June 30 will be his last day on the job. Dr. Daugherty has spent nearly 50 years in education.
Pharrell Williams project to film in Virginia
An untitled Pharrell Williams feature film from Universal Pictures will film throughout Central and Coastal Virginia this spring and summer, according to Virginia’s governor’s office.
Children of Light to announce writing contest winners
In partnership with the Richmond Crusade for Voters and Antoinette V. Irving Foundation, Children of Light will announce the winners of its second annual Game Changer Citywide Writing Competition on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at Armstrong High School in Richmond’s East End.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
Save Richmond Community Hospital Work Group hosts second rally
About four dozen Richmonders gathered last Sunday at the original Community Hospital Building on Overbrook Road for a First Sunday “Communion” rally in a continuing effort to save the historic building, which is owned by Virginia Union University.
Top rookie: Is it Wemby or Holmgren?
Much was expected of Victor Wembanyama in his NBA rookie season and the 7-foot-4 Frenchman hasn’t disappointed.
VMHC to offer free citizenship classes
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s “Becoming Citizens” program returns this spring, offering 100% free citizenship preparation classes to help prepare people for taking their citizenship test.
Wyche signs with VUU
Kennard “KJ” Wyche Jr., among the most successful high school guards in Richmond-area history, will be continuing his education and basketball at Virginian Union University.
Total solar eclipse wows North America
Clouds part just in time for most
A chilly, midday darkness fell across North America on Monday as a total solar eclipse raced across the continent, thrilling those lucky enough to behold the spectacle through clear skies.
Let’s show up and show out
Members and supporters of the Save Community Hospital Work Group remain vigilant in their quest to have Virginia Union University officials publicly declare that the historically Black university will not demolish the former hospital on Overbrook Road.
Deriding DEI is the right’s attempt at a polite way to attack civil rights, by Clarence Page
“DEI mayor.” That’s how a troll on X, formerly Twitter, labeled a news clip of Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott delivering an update on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it was struck by a massive cargo ship. “It’s going to be so, so much worse,” the tweet concluded. “Prepare accordingly.”
In April, honor memories and seek reforms, by Thomas P. Kapsidelis
Spring ought to be a time of relief and promise. The days are longer and seemingly a bit sunnier, and the end of the school year is around the corner — and with it, the hopes of graduation days ahead.
Two years after historic win, a divided Amazon Labor Union lurches toward a leadership election
Two years after clinching a historic victory at a warehouse in New York City, the first labor union for Amazon workers in the United States is divided, running out of money and fighting over an election that could determine who will lead the group in the near future.
What to know about Biden’s latest attempt at student loan cancellation
President Joe Biden is taking another shot at student loan cancellation, hoping to deliver on a key campaign promise that he has so far failed to fulfill.
UConn beats Purdue to score 6th NCAA championship
For decades, UCLA represented the gold standard of college basketball. But now, the Bruins have become yesterday’s news. Connecticut has taken their place. The balance of power has shifted from Los Angeles to Storrs, Conn.
Cheyney women made NCAA ‘herstory’
Cheyney (Pa.) State University is far removed from the brightest stage of women’s college basketball now, but that was far from the case in 1982.
Giancarlo Esposito always had leading man credentials, ‘Parish’ just makes it official
Giancarlo Esposito has long been lauded as a charismatic, scene-stealing thespian and commander of roles who’s worthy of leading man stature. But it might be surprising that for first the time, it’s actually official.
VisArts hosts Richmond Poetry Fest
Richmond Poetry Fest, hosted by the Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts), will return for its second year April 12-13. The free two-day event will include workshops, vendors, readings and activities for poets and artists of all ages.
Devin George races with ambition, talent
While he’s far, far from the finish line, Devin George has high hopes of following in the tire tracks of Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace.
LeBron James shows support for Duquesne’s new coach
When Virginia Commnwealth University plays Duquesne next season, it’s likely LeBron James will be paying close attention.
Thursday, April 4
Award-winning Norfolk journalist Marvin 'M.L.' Lake remembered
As a career journalist, Marvin Leon Lake’s interests dated back to junior high school when he was a business manager for the Jacox Journal in 1959.
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar, dies at age 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 87.
Newest anti-homelessness project builds on strong efforts statewide, by Roger Chesley
Nonprofit officials in Roanoke recently refurbished a former motel, transforming the units into permanent housing for the homeless.
Census forms are changing again — because we are, by Clarence Page
On his HBO show “Real Time,” comedian Bill Maher recently went after Democrats for “pandering” to minority groups for votes.
Former VUU presidents ensured buildings’ preservation
I write as an alumna of Virginia Union University to encourage the preservation and reuse of the former Richmond Community Hospital.
From youthful harmonies to senior sounds
Melvin Short's love for community never misses a beat
Melvin Short Sr. might be the first person to say he is surprised to have founded and led multiple youth and senior singing groups over the years.
Schools prepare for partial solar eclipse in Richmond
It all happens Monday, April 8 when a total solar eclipse will span across the U.S., Mexico and Canada as the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking sunlight.
Collapse of NBA, NHL arena deal prompts recriminations, allegations of impropriety in Va.
The majority owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, Ted Leonsis, told a crowd in December that he had “goosebumps” at the thought of moving his NBA and NHL teams from Washington to Virginia, “if all goes as planned.”
Group hosts free pre-law conference for high school students
Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization will sponsor the iLead Law & Leadership Conference, a free pre-law workshop for high school students on Wednesday, April 10 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Moot Court Room at the University of Richmond School of Law.
Music Review: Beyoncé's epic 'Act II: Cowboy Carter' defies categorization, redefines American style
“Nothin’ really ends / For things to stay the same they have to change again,” Beyoncé sings on “Act ll: Cowboy Carter,” the opening lines of the opening track, “Ameriican Requiem.” “Them big ideas, yeah, are buried here / Amen.”
VSU hosts high school robotics championships
Virginia State University’s College of Engineering and Technology will host the 2024 FIRST Chesapeake District Robotics Competition Championship April 4-6.
Virginia Lawmakers decry USPS Inspector report on region's processing center
An audit conducted by the Postal Service’s inspector general found significant problems at a new regional processing facility in Virginia, including water-damaged mail left unprocessed for months and a worker asleep at a forklift.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
From Krispy Kreme to SunChips, companies roll out total solar eclipse promotions
More and more businesses are taking advantage of the total solar eclipse set to dim skies across North America on Monday, April 8.
Decades of foresight enable Virginia to process cargo diverted from maryland after bridge collapse
The Port of Virginia is taking on additional cargo shipments diverted from Baltimore, Md. after a massive ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month.
Mail delays leave Richmonders in the dark
In some Richmond-area neighborhoods, residents have grown accustomed to having their mail delivered around 10 p.m. or later.
Personality: Viola Baskerville
Spotlight on co-founder of Save Richmond Community Hospital Work Group
In just over a month, Viola Baskerville has become front and center in an important aspect of Richmond’s Black history.
Biased test kept thousands of Black people from getting a kidney transplant, but it's finally changing
Jazmin Evans had been waiting for a new kidney for four years when her hospital revealed shocking news: She should have been put on the transplant list in 2015 instead of 2019 — and a racially biased organ test was to blame.
Conservancy acquires land for Richmond Slave Trail
A partnership between the City of Richmond and the Capital Region Land Conservancy has led to the acquisition of 4.5 acres of land along the James River to continue the Richmond Slave Trail.
Transfer portal complicates next season for Rams
With the calendar spinning toward the 2024-25 season, what now for VCU hoops?
NSU ends season with CIT championship
There was no place like home this basketball season for Norfolk State University.
Getting the party started
It’s time for baseball fans to start humming, “Take me out to the ball game.”
NCAA drama moves to the desert
In the coming days, the University of Connecticut hopes to join the select “Back-to-Back Fraternity.”
Real emotion also defines March Madness
Baylor’s Jada Walker heard all the cheers along the way. Then, in the end, came the tears.
Mayoral candidates' platforms include equity, mental health and safe neighborhoods (Updated)
The list of candidates who hope to become Richmond’s next mayor continues to grow.
