From South Side to CEO, Taylor returns for VCU graduation speech
When Everette Taylor takes the stage at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on May 10, it will be a homecoming. The Richmond native and CEO of Kickstarter has been named keynote speaker for Virginia Commonwealth University’s spring commencement ceremony.
NSU offers 1st course on gaming management at university this fall
Norfolk State University will offer Virginia’s first college course on gaming management this fall. The course, Introduction to Gaming Management, will be available entirely online through the Business School’s Tourism and Hospitality Management program.
Parayo to oversee opening of Live! Casino Virginia in Petersburg
Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies recently appointed Penny Parayo as senior vice president of operations and general manager for Live! Casino Virginia, the gaming facility scheduled to open in Petersburg by the end of the year.
Chesterfield Schools adds 6 to Education Hall of Fame
Six former educators were inducted into the Chesterfield County Public Schools Hall of Fame during a May 1 ceremony, bringing the total membership to 30 since the program began in 2022.
Warnock to speak at Virginia Union’s 2025 commencement
Virginia Union University recently announced U.S. Sen. Raphael G. Warnock will deliver the keynote address at its 2025 commencement ceremony. The event will take place 9 a.m., Saturday, May 10, at Hovey Field on the university’s campus. In addition to his address, Warnock will be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree in recognition of his leadership in public service, advocacy for social justice, and commitment to education and equity.
Free concert series returns to Main Street Station
Live music is back at Main Street Station this month with the return of the Music at Main Street Station Concert Series. The free outdoor concert series continues Thursday, May 8, and each Thursday through May 22. Concerts will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the patio at Main Street Station, located at 1500 E. Main St.
Hanover County appoints new director of information technology
Hanover County appointed Steve Rodriguez as its new director of information technology, effective July 1.
English appointed to National PAL Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Council
Henrico County Police Department Col. Eric D. English has been selected as a founding member of the National Police Activities/Athletic League’s (PAL) Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Council. English took his place on the council during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., last month.
VUU honors Greene, Rosales with top athletic awards
Virginia Union University recognized two standout student-athletes with its highest athletic honor during the 2025 VUU Athletic Banquet, held Thursday, April 24, at Hovey Field.
Concert to feature young musicians and VCU Health Orchestra
Music Orchard Richmond (MOR) will host its first Side-by-Side Concert in collaboration with the VCU Health Orchestra on Friday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m.
Henrico awards grants to support environmental projects
Henrico County has awarded grants to eight local organizations for environmental initiatives as part of the first round of its new Community Impact Grants program.
Flying Squirrels split doubleheader but fall in series finale
The Richmond Flying Squirrels snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader against the Akron RubberDucks on Saturday night at Canal Park, before falling, 2-1, in extra innings in the second game.
Golf classic in Petersburg to benefit hunger relief, youth programs
The green at Dogwood Trace Golf Course in Petersburg will be more than just a place to tee off May 15 — it will be a space to honor the legacy of retired Col. Porcher L. Taylor Jr. and support several critical community initiatives. The Colonel Porcher L. Taylor Jr. Legacy Golf Classic, hosted by the Petersburg Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, is an annual event that brings together golfers, sponsors and community leaders for a day of charity and camaraderie.
Stories, culture and community take center stage at Black Book Expo
Books will line the tables, rhythms will fill the air and stories — both written and spoken — will take center stage as the Elegba Folklore Society presents the 2025 Black Book Expo: A Conscious Literary Festival, May 10 and 11 at the Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center.
Women’s conference offers spiritual growth, networking
A two-day women’s conference focused on worship, personal growth and spiritual empowerment will be held May 2 and 3 at New Life Outreach Church, 1005 Turner Road.
City cuts back on p-cards, overhauls purchasing program
The City of Richmond is making major changes to its purchasing card (p-card) program, reducing the number of cards in circulation by more than 80% and tightening restrictions on what they can be used to buy.
¿Qué Pasa? Festival returns with a celebration of Hispanic heritage
The ¿Qué Pasa? Festival returns to Brown’s Island in Downtown Richmond on May 3, for a day of cultural celebration and community connection.
Women gather at Hilton Short Pump for day of financial empowerment
More than 350 women gathered April 15 at the Hilton Short Pump for Virginia Credit Union’s Financial Success for Women Summit, a daylong event focused on personal finance, wealth-building and career development.
Black Men Vote names Michael Bland as executive director
Black Men Vote has appointed Michael Bland as its new executive director, the organization announced last week. Bland brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and political strategy, with a focus on equity-centered policy, coalition-building and advocacy.
Flying Squirrels blank Baysox, 10-0, for first home win of season
The Richmond Flying Squirrels broke out of a slump in dominant fashion Friday night, shutting out the Bowie Baysox 10-0 at The Diamond to earn their first home win of the 2025 season.
Marita Golden to share insights from new book at main branch library
Award-winning author and literary activist Marita Golden will visit Richmond on Friday, May 2, for a reading and book signing of her latest work, “How to Become a Black Writer: Creating and Honoring Black Stories That Matter.”
Richmond juvenile court to host annual Oliver Hill Day
The Atrium of the Oliver Hill Courts Building will be filled with reflection and celebration Friday, April 25, as the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court hosts its 28th Annual Oliver Hill Day. The event, honoring the legacy of civil rights icon Oliver White Hill, Sr., will mark a day of remembrance and recognition in close proximity to Hill’s birthday and the American Bar Association’s National Law Day.
Richmond students compete in inclusive Big Feet Meet at Huguenot High
Students from across Richmond gathered April 16 at Huguenot High School for the annual Big Feet Meet, a day of track and field events celebrating inclusion and athleticism for Unified Athletes and partners.
Gloucester woman receives Chancellor’s Award for philanthropy
Carolyn A. Lemon of Gloucester recently received the 19th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.
UR’s Chloe Goode makes good as Truman Scholar
University of Richmond junior Chloe Goode was recently named a 2025 Truman Scholar. The Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders in the United States.
SBA opens business recovery centers in Richmond, Henrico to aid storm-affected businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened two Business Recovery Centers in Richmond and Henrico to assist businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by severe storms that occurred Jan. 5 through 11. The centers aim to provide support with disaster loan applications and other recovery resources.
Vick makes debut as Norfolk State football coach at spring game
Norfolk State fans got their first look at Coach Michael Vick in action Saturday as he led the Spartans through their annual spring football game at William “Dick” Price Stadium.
Gooden 1st Black recipient of prestigious Dwight Waldo Award in public administration
Susan T. Gooden, a leader in public administration and social equity, was awarded the prestigious 2025 Dwight Waldo Award from the American Society for Public Administration, this month. The award, given for sustained and impactful scholarship, recognizes Gooden’s decades of work advancing equity in government.
Iverson Classic returns to Hampton, featuring top NBA prospects
The next generation of basketball royalty arrives in Allen Iverson’s hometown May 1-3 as the Iverson Classic showcases the nation’s top high school prospects at Bethel High School’s Allen Iverson Gymnasium.
Richmond Free Press staff earns honors in statewide journalism contest
The Richmond Free Press has added to its long tradition of excellence, with multiple staff members recognized in the 2024 Virginia Press Association News & Advertising Contest.
Kickstarter CEO, Richmond Fed president to speak at local commencements
Two prominent business leaders will deliver commencement addresses at Richmond-area universities in May.
Ashland Train Day rolls into town with family fun and rail-themed festivities
Ashland Train Day returns to Downtown Ashland on Saturday, April 26, offering a day of family-friendly fun, food and entertainment from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Big dill: Regency Mall to host first Pickleball Festival
Pickleball takes center stage next month as the first Pickleball Festival comes to Regency Mall on Saturday, May 3, offering a full day of competition, community and fun.
Annual prayer breakfast brings Christian leaders together May 1
The 32nd Annual Christian Leadership Prayer Breakfast is set for Thursday, May 1, bringing together more than 300 Christian leaders from across the Richmond area for worship, fellowship and reflection.
Winston-Salem State wins first CIAA women’s flag football championship
Winston-Salem State University made history Saturday by winning the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s inaugural Women’s Flag Football Championship, defeating Fayetteville State University 9-6 in a defensive battle at Johnson C. Smith University’s Irwin Belk Complex.
VSU music chair receives grant for HBCU band research
The syncopated rhythms of marching bands have long been a hallmark of HBCU. Now, a Virginia State University professor is digging into that legacy with support from one of academia’s most competitive grants.
Hanover County names Binokhar Harris as new deputy fire chief
Hanover County has named Binokhar “Bino” Harris as the new deputy chief of Hanover County Fire-EMS, with the appointment set to take effect May 1.
Restaurants, salons top recipients of small business grants
Last week, the Metropolitan Business League (MBL) selected 117 Richmond small businesses to receive grant disbursements from the Small Business Recovery Grant Fund, which provides financial support to businesses impacted by the January water outage.
VCUarts and VSU exhibitions spotlight emerging artists’ voices
Two exhibitions are showcasing the dynamic work of emerging artists in the area. The VCUarts MFA Thesis Exhibition at the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) and Virginia State University’s (VSU) “Seeing Red” at the Petersburg Area Art League (PAAL) are offering a platform for students to present their research-driven, socially engaged work.
Squirrels drop back-and-forth game to close road trip
Victor Bericoto launched two home runs, but the Richmond Flying Squirrels fell to the Harrisburg Senators, 8-6, in a back-and-forth contest Sunday afternoon at FNB Field.
Documentary screening to honor culinary pioneer Edna Lewis at Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia will host a free screening of “Finding Edna Lewis,” followed by a panel discussion onThursday, April 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event celebrates the Virginia-born chef during what would have been her 109th birthday week.
Torian succeeds Bagby as leader of Virginia Legislative Black Caucus
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus elected Delegate Luke Torian as its new chair last week, succeeding Sen. Lamont Bagby, who led the group for seven years.
Top basketball talent honored at Spring Maxie Awards
NOAH (Natives of African Heritage) Sports presented the annual Spring Maxie Awards on Saturday night, celebrating Richmond’s top high school basketball players, coaches and teams. The event was held at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia and emceed by NOAH Sports founder Clarence Kenney.
Virginia State’s Coach Blow earns spot on national coaching honor roll
Virginia State University head men’s basketball coach Lonnie Blow Jr. has been selected for the 2025 Achieving Coaching Excellence Honor Roll, recognizing his outstanding leadership this season.
Flying Squirrels stumble late, swept by RubberDucks in season-opener
The Richmond Flying Squirrels learned a hard lesson Sunday afternoon: no lead is safe against Akron’s red-hot Jorge Burgos. After building a comfortable 4-0 advantage behind rookie Sabin Ceballos’ first Double-A homer and Adrian Sugastey’s two RBIs, the Squirrels watched their early dominance evaporate in a crushing 5-4 loss to complete a franchise-first season-opening sweep at The Diamond.
Richmond Poetry Fest celebrates community through verse
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will host its second annual Poetry Fest this weekend, April 11 and 12, featuring free workshops, readings and performances. The event showcases Richmond’s literary community with former City Poet Laureate Roscoe Burnems hosting Saturday’s poetry slam.
Faith, business leaders gather for final T.D. Jakes leadership conference
T.D. Jakes’ International Leadership Summit, presented by Wells Fargo, will hold its final gathering April 10-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, bringing together faith and business leaders for a last time under its current format.
Flying Squirrels introduce new GM ahead of last season at Diamond
Anthony Oppermann is the general manager of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the team announced Monday.
Kickers fall to Forward Madison in Henny Derby opener
The Richmond Kickers (2-2-0, 6 points) fell 2-1 to Forward Madison (1-1-0, 3 points) in a hard-fought first leg of the Henny Derby on Saturday.
Richmond grapples with second data mishap in weeks after erroneous mailings
City of Richmond officials announced Tuesday that 226 debt collection letters were mailed to incorrect addresses last month, marking the second time in weeks Richmond has disclosed errors in sensitive mailings.
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