President must be wise enough to move on, by Michael A. Grant
I have admired Joe Biden since 1988. I did not think the plagiarism charge should have caused him to abort his presidential aspirations back then. I was ecstatic when the seasoned, scrappy senator from Scranton joined — and added heft to — Barack Obama’s run for the White House.
Colliding causes can defeat each other, by Clarence Page
When does political protest seem to become an end in itself?
Bus riders reap benefits of zero fares and new services
GRTC hits high ridership numbers with expansion
On a recent Friday, Joshua Webb and several of his landscaping co-workers were doing their best to escape the late-afternoon sun and humidity as they waited for the bus on Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County to take them home.
Research shows heat exposure disproportionately affects Black Richmonders
Data indicates about 50% of heat-related illnesses happen within walking distance of a cooling center
Michael, a resident of Richmond’s Southside who declined to share his last name, sat on Forest Hill Avenue waiting for a bus Tuesday just before 2 p.m., when a car thermometer recorded the temperature at 94 degrees.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending on Saturday, July 6, confirmed hospital admissions for COVID-19 in Virginia rose 20 percent from the previous week, though new admissions remain low. No deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported statewide during that time frame. COVID-19 wastewater levels in the Greater Richmond area remain, on average, below detection.
Virginia joins other states with effort to restrict cellphones in schools
Virginia on Tuesday joined a growing number of states that are pushing for cellphone restrictions in public schools, citing concerns over students’ academic achievement and mental health. Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order to establish state guidance and model policies for local school systems to adopt by January. “Studies indicate that students who use their phones during class learn less and achieve lower grades,” Youngkin’s order stated. It also cited an “alarming mental health crisis” among adolescents, which is partly driven by cellphones and social media. Last year, Florida became the first state to crack down on phones in school with a new law. Indiana and Ohio passed their own laws this year, while several other states have recently introduced what is becoming known as “phone-free schools” legislation. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that 76% of public schools prohibited “non-academic cell phone use” during the 2021-2022 school year. In Virginia, school districts have been increasingly banning or severely restricting students’ phone use. For example, Lou- doun County Public Schools, passed a new policy last month that generally bans elementary school students from using phones during the school day. Middle school students are allowed to use their phones before or after school but otherwise are expected to store their phones in their lockers. In high school, students are expected to silence their phones and place them in a classroom cubby or storage location during instructional time. Dan Adams, a spokesman for Loudoun County Public Schools, said the school system will have to wait and see what specific directives come from the state. But he said the school system is “confident that our policy is age-appropriate and addresses electronics-free instructional time.” The school board for Hanover County Public Schools, has been focused the issue at length in recent months. And it planned to discuss it at a Tuesday board meeting, assistant superintendent Chris Whitley said. In Richmond, Youngkin’s order had the full support of the superintendent of public schools. “We piloted a cellphone ban last year in some of our high schools and middle schools, and we saw more student engagement in class and fewer distractions throughout the day,” Jason Kamras said. “On top of that, students reported spending more time talking with their peers.” James Fedderman, president of the Virginia Education Association, called on the state “to approach this issue with a nuanced perspective.” “Our priority remains ensuring that policies are practical, enforceable and in the best interest of our educators, students and families,” he said in a statement. Youngkin’s order calls for gathering public input through listening sessions, while other steps include establishing a detailed definition of “cell phone free education.” Todd Reid, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Education, said in an email that school divisions will need to adopt policies by Jan. 1. “In the legal sense, think of ‘guidance’ as a synonym for ‘regulations,’” he wrote. “We will be going through the of- ficial regulatory process.” But executive orders over local education policy can be difficult to enforce. Last year, the Youngkin administration finalized regula- tions outlining policies for transgender students, including a rule that banned transgender girls from participating on girls’ sports teams. Some local school systems refused to adopt the regulations, criticizing them as discriminatory.
Families celebrate implementation of law allowing early release for some inmates
Santia Nance and Quadaire Patterson’s love story is entering a new chapter. A law took effect last week that allowed certain incarcerated people to be released from prison for acquiring earned sentence credits.
Four-day Black Pride RVA celebration returns
The seventh annual Black Pride RVA, a four-day celebration of Richmond’s LGBTQIA+ community of color, is set for July 18-21.
Sexual assault allegations prompt museums to reconsider Wiley exhibits
Three prominent museums have recently canceled or postponed exhibitions by artist Kehinde Wiley following sexual assault accusations. The Pèrez Art Museum Miami, Minneapolis Institute of Art and Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Neb. made these decisions in the past month.
Personality: Cynthia J. Buckler
Spotlight on Board President of Richmond Triangle Players
Women in technology and the executive ranks are not uncommon today, but that wasn’t the case in the early 1980s when Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Buckler began her finance career. That didn’t stop her from rising from branch manager to executive vice president and chief information officer for the Wealth Management Division at Wells Fargo Bank.
Henrico completes its first section of the much- anticipated Fall Line Trail
Henrico County officials cut the ribbon Tuesday of the Spring Park section of the 43-mile Fall Line Trail. The 1,400-foot section is the first to be completed in Henrico County.
RIC recognized for excellence in airport management
Richmond International Airport recently won the Change Management Program Award from Airports Council International-North America.
University of Richmond professor receives fellowship for Black history research
Jillean McCommons, a University of Richmond assistant professor of history and Africana studies, has been awarded the Wilma Dykeman “Faces of Appalachia” Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship by the Appalachian Studies Association.
The Price of Persistence
An important thing to know if you’re a performer, is when it’s time to leave the stage. You don’t want to do it too early, as your audience might feel short-changed if you haven’t sung that song, reached that high note or made that move before walking off with a wave. You also don’t want to stay in the spotlight too long, because as much as they say they love you, it’s vital that you leave the audience wanting more. Otherwise, you might overstay your welcome.
Richmond schools deserve better leadership
As the Richmond Free Press states, there are nine seats up for grabs on the Richmond School Board. It seems to me that we need better guidance and direction on how to steer our youth into the future.
Alvin Parker named Black College Football Hall of Fame National Coach of the Year
Alvin Parker, head football coach at Virginia Union University, has been named the Black College Football Hall of Fame National Coach of the Year.
Flying Squirrels honor local history with upcoming games
The Richmond Flying Squirrels have unveiled an array of promotions for their ongoing home stand against the Harrisburg Senators, running through Sunday, July 14, at The Diamond.
Local First Tee participants to attend Game Changers Academy in Minneapolis
Two teenagers from First Tee — Greater Richmond were recently selected to attend a national leadership academy focused on social justice and community building.
Trojans ready to roar: VSU men’s hoops unveils 2024-25 schedule
Head Coach Lonnie Blow, Jr. and his Virginia State University Men’s Basketball squad face a hard-hitting 25-game slate for the 2024-2025 campaign. The Trojans are set to battle through a schedule packed with thrilling matchups, kicking off with the much-anticipated Trojan Tip-Off Classic.
Richmond entrepreneur advances in Black Ambition Prize competition
A Richmond-based food company has been named a semifinalist in the Black Ambition Prize, an entrepreneurial competition founded by Virginia native and music icon Pharrell Williams.
