Petersburg’s yes, Richmond’s no
This week, job seekers will line up at a Downtown Richmond hotel for work tied to a casino that will not be built in Richmond.
Capital City Kwanzaa Festival returns Dec. 27
The Elegba Folklore Society will present the 2025 Capital City Kwanzaa Festival on Saturday, Dec. 27 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center’s Exhibit Hall B.
Holiday events
Dec. 18 Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings at The Byrd Theatre, 8:45 p.m. Seasonal string-quartet concert of Christmas classics performed by candlelight.
Lego partners with Children’s Museum for holiday charity campaign
Community members built more than 150 Lego brick hearts in Chesterfield County on Dec. 12, part of the toy company’s campaign to encourage people to share their creations online and help children in need.
High school star Timani Harris to host basketball clinic, toy drive
Richmond native and ESPN Top 100 nationally ranked athlete Timani Harris, who currently plays high school basketball for DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, will host a free basketball clinic and toy drive in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond on Saturday, Dec. 20.
VUU’s Allen, SCSU’s Lunz named HBCU GO Football Players of the Year
Curtis Allen of Virginia Union University and Michael Lunz II of South Carolina State University were named the 2025 HBCU GO Football Players of the Year, recognizing the top offensive and defensive performers in historically Black college and university football.
Woodfin to sponsor fan area at CarMax Park
Woodfin-Your Home Team and the Richmond Flying Squirrels will continue their partnership as the local HVAC and plumbing company has been announced as a founding partner of CarMax Park, according to the teams.
Seminary partnership receives $10M for leadership program
Union Presbyterian Seminary has received a $10 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to launch Seminary Extended: Strengthening Pastoral Leadership, a collaborative initiative with Eastern Mennonite Seminary and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
NY pastor pleads guilty to tax evasion in church embezzlement case
Paul Mitchell, 60, the lead pastor of a Brooklyn church and president of an affiliated daycare, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to tax evasion in federal court.
Casino holding job fair downtown
Live! Casino Virginia will hold a job fair Thursday, Dec. 18 in downtown Richmond as it prepares for the opening of its temporary gaming facility in Petersburg.
Lauretta Crawley remembered for compassion and innovation
Whether breaking barriers in health care, building family businesses or gathering loved ones around her table, Lauretta Crawley moved through life with uncommon skill and boundless heart, according to those who knew and loved her.
Jones secures Democratic nomination for Hashmi’s Senate seat
Michael Jones, a former Richmond City Council member and state delegate, won the Democratic firehouse primary Sunday and will fill the Senate seat being vacated by Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi.
After two years of probation, Virginia Union regains accreditation
Decision ends threat to federal aid eligibility and degree validity
Virginia Union University has regained full accreditation after spending two years on probation, closing a period marked by scrutiny of its financial and operational practices.
Firehouse primary set to fill House District 77 seat
A firehouse primary is set for Sunday, Dec. 14, to fill the House of Delegates seat left vacant by Michael Jones’ election to the state Senate.
Rally calls for end to U.S. involvement in Venezuela
The sounds of anti-war chants and speeches echoed around Maggie Walker Memorial Plaza on Saturday afternoon as Richmond activists rallied against the U.S.’ military strikes on boats in Venezuela and any potential escalation into war.
Chamber outlines decadelong business strategy
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce unveiled its long-term economic strategy, Blueprint Virginia 2035, during the 2025 Virginia Economic Summit and Forum on International Trade, presenting the plan to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.
Mayor Avula and council launch collaborative budget process
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula and City Council members met for three hours Dec. 4 to open a new budget process where they work closer together, going over their priorities and sharing concerns about how to pay for them.
Getting schooled
It happens to the best of us. You’re led to believe that you have a say in how things might happen at your job or organization, but instead you realize that the solicitation of your opinion was an exercise in “performative consultation.”
Trump’s obsession with Somali immigrants takes a sinister turn by Clarence Page
Sometimes, one crisis seems to lead to another for President Donald Trump — and he’s got plenty of trouble brewing.
The illusion of the markdown by Julianne Malveaux
Consumers love a sale. We love the little red tag, the “limited time only,” the breathless “50% off!” that promises we’re getting over on somebody.
