John Lewis Act aims to reinvigorate Voting Rights Act, by Marc H. Morial
Last week in Chicago, the National Urban League joined with the Brennan Center and Democracy SENTRY for a conversation on voting rights.
EcoFest comes to James A. Buzzard River Education Center
The James River Association will host its first James River EcoFest on Sept. 7, offering a day of river-based activities and environ- mental education. The event, scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m., will take place at the recently opened James A. Buzzard River Education Center at 2528 Dock St. in Richmond. EcoFest will feature free paddle tours, trips aboard JRA’s education boat “Spirit of the James,” a rain barrel workshop, and tree giveaways. Several local nonprofit organiza- tions, including the Capital Trail Foundation and Peter Paul Development Center, will participate. The event will serve as an open house for the Buzzard River Education Center, which opened in July. The facility aims to provide environmental education for students in the Greater Richmond area and improved river access for visitors. According to the JRA, the event is a celebra- tion of the James River Watershed, inviting the community to learn about local ecology and discover sustainable practices they can apply in their own backyards. Parking and shuttle transportation will be available at Stone Brewing, located at 4300 Williamsburg Ave. The EcoFest is sponsored by the Robins Foundation, ReMax, Troutman Pepper and Whitten Brothers Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Richmond. Organizers encourage attendees to register in advance for special activities through the JRA website at jamesriver.org.
Back to protest
VCU students walk out, assemble
More than 100 Virginia Commonwealth University students walked out of their classrooms and assembled in the Park Plaza Amphitheater behind the Cabell Library on Wednesday afternoon. There, they protested against the war in Gaza, its impact on Palestinian life and decried the school’s new policies that have made similar gatherings more difficult.
The Black church has moved from essential to voluntary, says author
Jason Shelton has made a deep scholarly dive into the world of the Black church. But not everything in his new book, “The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion,” was learned at the University of Texas at Arlington, where Shelton is a sociologist. He drew as well from his experience growing up in Black churches, in his familial home in Ohio and in Los Angeles — at United Methodist, Church of God in Christ, African Methodist Episcopal and non-denominational churches — and searching as an adult for the right spiritual space for his family.
Flying Squirrels to nest in CarMax Park
CoStar Stadium? Dominion Energy Field? Capital One Yards? If those were your guesses for which Richmond-based company will snag the naming rights for Richmond’s next stadium, we hope you didn’t place a hefty wager on it. The Richmond Flying Squirrels and their longtime partner announced Wednesday that the new Richmond ballpark and entertainment venue will be called — CarMax Park.
Long COVID’s lasting impact on Richmond residents
Leslie Mento was working as a front line health worker and physical therapist in New York when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. He was among the first in the country to help patients suffering from long-term effects of the virus, a condition then known as post-COVID. Now based in Richmond, Mento continues his work with Long COVID patients at Sheltering Arms’ Bon Air clinic. His experience reflects how the lives of many have been reshaped by this persistent illness and the ongoing efforts to address its impact.
Virginia War Memorial honors 9/11 victims with Patriot Day event
The Virginia War Memorial will hold its annual Commonwealth’s Patriot Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending Saturday, Aug. 31, confirmed hospital admissions for COVID-19 in Virginia rose 4% from the previous week, and new admissions remain low. One death associated with COVID-19 was reported within the same timeframe. Updated data on COVID-19 wastewater levels in the Greater Richmond area showed plateaued levels starting the week of Aug. 25.
Women make history with leadership roles
Two new hires are making history in Henrico and Chesterfield counties.
Folk Festival drops performance schedule for 20th anniversary
The Richmond Folk Festival returns for its 20th anniversary Sept. 27 through 29, with a weekend packed with performances, cultural displays and community engagement. The festival, one of Virginia’s largest events, is expected to draw more than 200,000 attendees to Downtown Richmond’s riverfront.
Unbalanced
It needs to be said – the Republican nominee isn’t being treated fairly by the mainstream media. I think he might agree with that notion, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to predict what the 78-year-old convicted felon might say. There’s been a noticeable dip in the former president’s ability to speak coherently in the last few months. He’s embraced conspiracy theories, made them up on the spot, changed positions on major issues without notice or explanation and lied all over the place. If another candidate had done some of these things, their mental condition would be a news story. Remember our friend Joe Biden? His debate missteps became a national news story that led him to step down from his campaign. But much of the media is silent when Donald Trump appears to be mentally unraveling on stages and in interviews. His latest rant was against schools that he said provide sex change operations to students. “Think of it; your kid goes to school, and he comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what’s going to happen with your child,” he said. Of course, these schools don’t exist anywhere, but that’s not the point. The gatekeepers of the mainstream media are under the assumption that the former president is good for business and continue to allow their producers and reporters to pretend these comments are part of the normal political discourse. This is a dangerous narrative that can’t be allowed to continue. There’s only one way to cancel this frightening reality show the media has helped create – vote.
Standing firm: Protecting reproductive rights in Richmond, by Harrison Roday
The race for mayor will be filled with critical discussions on many topics: our public schools, neighborhood safety, economic opportunity, the functioning of City Hall and transportation, to name a few. But those issues will be accompanied by some new ones. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the growing threat to reproductive rights is a national issue, a state issue, and it’s a local issue. It’s a values issue.
Flying Squirrels’ final homestand against Akron
The Richmond Flying Squirrels began their final homestand of the season Tuesday night with a game against the Akron Rub- berDucks at The Diamond. Left-hander John Michael Bertrand (6-8, 4.50 ERA) started for Richmond, while Akron sent right- hander Tommy Mace (8-5, 3.75 ERA) to the mound. The Flying Squirrels will continue their series against Akron on Friday, Sept. 6, at 6:35 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 7, at 6:05 p.m. Friday’s game will feature a Groundbreaking Day Fan Fest celebrat- ing the future construction of the team’s new stadium. Festivities will start at 5 p.m. and include a commemorative baseball card giveaway, live DJ, photo booth, food and player autographs.
Roadrunners fall to DC Cyclones, but make playoffs
The Richmond Roadrunners closed out their 2024 regular season with a tough 100-58 loss to the DC Cyclones on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Henrico High School. Despite battling numerous injuries and personnel challenges, the Roadrunners finished the season with a 4-4 record and have qualified for the first round of the playoffs.
Virginia State stuns Benedict College 23-7
Virginia State University upset Benedict College 23-7 in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday, ending the Tigers’ 20-game regular season winning streak.
VMHC hosts history symposium
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture hosts the Conrad M. Hall Symposium for Virginia History 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 7. The event, designed for historians and the public, will offer a full day of presentations centered on the theme of Creation/Creating.
Richmond Kickers unveil massive new video board at City Stadium
City Stadium is about to get a serious upgrade. The Richmond Kickers, in partnership with Ivy Soccer Clubs and the RVA Sports Foundation, have announced the installation of a new, cutting-edge video scoreboard that promises to transform the match-day experience.
Gregg, first Black lieutenant general, remembered for legacy of leadership
Military trailblazer Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg, who paved the way for African Americans in the armed forces, passed away Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, at the age of 96 after decades of distinguished service.
Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival sets the stage for unity
Luis “Sweet Lou” Hidalgo is known on Richmond’s radio airwaves as “The Voice of Latin Jazz.” He’s the founder of the Richmond Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival and the owner of Master and Sons Plumbing company. Hidalgo also is a man on a mission: to harness the unifying power of the music he loves.
Mayor acknowledges Finance lapses, pledges accountability
Mayor Levar M. Stoney said “under 30 checks” were found by officials in the Department of Finance on the desks of employees during audits in early August, during a press conference held in the lobby of City Hall on Tuesday afternoon.
