No sitting zone
Sometime last week, the chair was pulled out from beneath Confederate sympathizers. A bench that was placed, at taxpayers expense, in front of a stone marker in the 2400 block of Wise Street in South Side, is gone now. As it should be.
Russian trolls back to disrupt U.S. elections, by Marc H. Morial
“Russia remains the most active foreign threat to our elections. The Russian governments goals in such influence operations tend to include eroding trust in U.S. democratic institutions, exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the United States, and degrading Western support to Ukraine. Russia relies on a vast multimedia influence apparatus, which consists of its intelligence services, cyber actors, state media, proxies, and social media trolls. Moscow most likely views such operations as a means to tear down the United States as its perceived primary adversary, enabling Russia to promote itself as a great power.” — U.S. Director of National Intelligence
Juicy fun awaits at Watermelon Festival
The 42nd Annual Carytown Watermelon Festival, presented by Publix, returns to Richmond on Sunday, Aug. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Middlesex church to dedicate state historical marker
Antioch Baptist Church of Saluda will dedicate a state historical highway marker on Saturday, August 3, at noon. The ceremony will take place at the church, 159 Oakes Landing Road in Saluda.
SAU retains accreditation as football program suspended for 2024-25
Saint Augustine’s University, the nation’s oldest historically Black Episcopal university, will retain its accreditation following a unanimous decision by an arbitration panel to reverse a previous ruling, school officials announced recently.
VUU track stars Hinton, Jones earn VaSID All-State honors
In a testament to their outstanding perfor- mances this season, Virginia Union University’s track and field program has seen two of its athletes named to the 2024 VaSID All-State Indoor Track & Field Team. Junior sprinter and hurdler Jalen Hinton, hailing from Chesapeake, secured a spot on the First Team, showcasing his exceptional speed and technique. Freshman Zachary Jones from Chester, made his mark in the throws category, earning a place on the Second Team. VUU Track & Field Coach Franck Charles expressed his pride in the athletes’ achievements. “I am very proud of both guys for getting rec- ognition,” Charles stated. “They truly deserve it, as they have worked very hard and overcome a lot this past season.” The Virginia Sports Information Directors selects these prestigious teams annually, rec- ognizing top performers across 44 All-State teams in 23 sports. The organization, open to media relations professionals from universi- ties and conferences throughout Virginia, also names an Academic All-State squad and crowns All-Sports champions in both University and College Divisions. Hinton and Jones’ selections not only high- light their individual talents but also underscore the strength of VUU’s track and field program. All eyes will be on these rising stars to see how they build on this recognition in future competitions.
Florida A&M tops Preseason HBCU FCS Coaches Poll
The Florida A&M Rattlers, the defending HBCU national champions, will enter the 2024 season as the top-ranked team in the Preseason HBCU FCS Coaches Poll, released Thursday by Boxtorow.
Coco Gauff, LeBron James flag bearers for team USA at Olympics ceremony
Tennis star Coco Gauff will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic team at Friday’s opening ceremony.
Congressional symposium precedes MJBL Baseball Classic
The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League will host its 33rd Annual Inner City Classic and Black World Series on July 30 in Washington, D.C. The event starts 6 p.m. at Maury Wills Field, following the 20th Annual Bobby Bonds Memorial Symposium at the Congressional Auditorium on Capitol Hill.
CIAA unveils 2024 football broadcast schedule
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announces its broadcast lineup for the upcoming 2024 football season, featuring games on HBCU GO, a streaming service dedicated to Historically black colleges and universities, and the conference’s own CIAA Sports Network.
Council sells site to Planned Parenthood, sounds off on noise policy
A wide range of changes to health care, business, eviction prevention and noise control in Richmond are in the works following the latest City Council meeting Monday evening.
New book explores the Black Appalachian experience
Author Christopher A. Brooks has spent his career spotlighting often overlooked stories from the African continental and Diaspora experience.
Health officials warn of rising COVID-19 cases as summer heats up
With the summer season in full swing, local and state health officials are urging the public to take steps to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection, as cases recently have risen across the United States.
Midwifery provides safe haven for Black families
A birthing center in Midlothian offers families an alternative approach to pregnancy care and childbirth.
‘We are not playing around’
Harris asks for support at address to Zeta Phi Beta
Vice President Kamala Harris told members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority on Wednesday that “we are not playing around” and asked for their help in electing her president in November.
Woodville Elementary joins extended school year program
Woodville Elementary School in Richmond’s East End welcomed students back to class earlier than usual this week, marking its first year as part of the city’s RPS200 initiative. The program, now in its second year, extends the school year by 20 days to boost student achievement.
Personality: Jeremy Scott Hoffman, Ph.D.
Spotlight on chair of Livability Committee for The Greater Scott’s Addition Association
Jeremy Scott Hoffman is a forceful climate justice advocate for Scott’s Addition and the city of Richmond. He credits his father with sparking his interest in conservationism, although he says the notion of creating better spaces has been in the background of every aspect of his life.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, trailblazing Texas Democrat, dies at 74
Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, one of the longest-serving members of the Texas delegation died at the age of 74 on Friday, July 19, 2024. In June, Jackson Lee announced her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, yet she showed little indication of letting it interfere with her plans to run for a 16th term this November.
Mississippi’s new Episcopal bishop is first woman, first Black person in role
The new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi was formally installed Saturday, and she is the first woman and first Black person to hold the post.
Richmond procurement department wins national award
The City of Richmond’s Department of Procurement Services has received the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute, officials announced Sunday.
