Month of madness
For years, I was immune to the siren sound of rubber soles on plywood, bouncing balls and the screams of underclassmen that permeate this time of year, dubbed “March Madness.” I gracefully bowed out of sports discussions that turned to the collegiate variety. But now I might be hooked.
If it walks like a tax, it’s a tax, by Marc H. Morial
“You can’t really run a campaign where you’re like: I want to cut taxes for rich people and raise them on the poor. So instead, it’s all of this smoke-and-mirrors distraction about how foreigners are tak- ing advantage of us ... It’s a story that, if you don’t know any economics and you haven’t stopped to think about it, sounds appealing. And the more people who buy that story, the more he can do this fiscal switch and have an excuse for the tax cuts.” — Kimberly Clausing
Henrico to host 2025 wheelchair basketball national championships
In April, the Henrico Sports & Event Center will be the center of intense competition as the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Adult and Junior Division National Championships return for a second year. With 104 teams and more than 1,200 athletes ready to battle for supremacy, the tournament promises high-energy action and unforgettable moments on the court.
Softball program receives support from Virginia Union
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The Virginia Union University softball team will host a clinic for Richmond Public Schools’ co-ed middle school program on March 25 at 2:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. More than 80 students from all eight RPS middle schools are expected to attend, according to Dr. Stefanie Ramsey, RPS coordinator for K-12 athletics and activities, who helped launch the program.
Lounge to anchor year-round events at CarMax Park
The Richmond Flying Squirrels announced on Friday an expanded partnership with Atlantic Union Bank, which will become the first Founding Partner at CarMax Park, the team’s new ballpark scheduled to open in 2026.
Virtual book talk explores slave trade in Civil War South
The Library of Virginia will host a free virtual talk by historian Robert K.D. Colby on his debut book “An Unholy Traffic: Slave Trading in the Civil War South” on Tuesday, March 25, from noon to 1 p.m. .
UR to host inaugural Richmond Italian Film Festival
The University of Richmond will host the inaugural Richmond Italian Film Festival March 21-24, featuring acclaimed contemporary Italian cinema and a restored classic.
Protesters decry anti-trans policies at Capitol Square demonstration
Speakers highlight the growing risks for transgender youth and families
On Saturday, Capitol Square was lined with tombstones, each bearing the name of a murdered transgender person. Activists, lying still on the lawn, symbolized the growing threat of violence and hatred against transgender individuals.
D.C. begins removing Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House
Starlette Thomas remembers coming down almost daily to the intersection of 16th and H streets, to protest police brutality and systemic racial iniquities during the summer of 2020. On Monday, the 45-year old Bowie, Md., resident returned to the site of those protests to mourn the end of Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Carlton T. Brooks, Richmond funeral director for seven decades, dies at 98
For decades, Carlton T. Brooks was a trusted figure in Richmond, serving both the living and the departed. The founder and owner of Carlton T. Brooks Funeral Home died Monday, March 3, 2025, at 98, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
Patriots make history with dominant A-10 title win
George Mason University women’s basketball reached a historic milestone Sunday, securing its first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship with a 73-58 victory over Saint Joseph’s.
Adjusting to a new rhythm in Ghana
Time moves differently in Ghana. Conversations stretch, schedules shift and community takes precedence over the clock. For African Americans moving there, adjusting to this cultural rhythm can be one of the biggest challenges.
Public mobility leads way in People’s Budget submissions for city
Richmond residents are calling for improved public spaces, enhanced pedestrian safety, and better access to healthy foods, based on submissions from a pilot program that allows the public to decide how $3 million in city funding is allocated.
Mayor Avula announces permanent appointments for city leaders
Richmond officials have permanently appointed five department directors, a move they say will strengthen leadership and improve city operations. The appointees, who previously served in interim or deputy roles, bring experience in public policy, communications, housing, utilities and general services.
State officials highlight flood dangers, urge preparedness
As Virginians prepare for the upcoming spring downpours and hurricane season, state officials are urging residents to assess their flood risk and consider flood insurance during Virginia Flood Safety Awareness Week, which runs March 9-15.
Charges against VCU encampment protesters dismissed
All charges have been dropped for 13 individuals arrested and charged with unlawful assembly and trespassing during a protest and encampment against the war in Gaza at Virginia Commonwealth University nearly a year ago.
New amphitheater must answer to climate and culture
A few weeks ago, a Richmond Free Press letter writer questioned the need for a new amphitheater in the city. In case you weren’t aware, the Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront is a 7,500-capacity outdoor Downtown concert venue set to open in June.
How Bloody Sunday shocked America into action, by Marc H. Morial
“At times history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point that is man’s unending search for freedom. So it was at Lexington and Concord. So it was a century ago at Appomattox. So it was last week in Selma, Ala.” — President Lyndon Johnson
When grandstanding falls flat, by Clarence Page
My advice to congressional Democrats: If you’re going to embrace performative politics, be sure you give a good performance.
Pentagon purge targets Tuskegee Airmen photos in DEI crackdown, by Ben Jealous
My grandfather’s first cousin was Lt. Col. Howard Lee Baugh. Cousin Howard was part of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, the first unit of the Tuskegee Airmen. This month marks the 84th anniversary of the activation of the squadron at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Ill., about 120 miles southwest of Chicago.
