DPU director resigns following water woes
Wednesday in a media release that also announced Anthony Morris, a professional engineer and director of water for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, as interim DPU director.
Bingham was appointed to the role in 2021 by former Mayor Levar M. Stoney. She assumed the role after previous work with the Washington Gas Light Company and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
The City of Richmond announced Bingham’s resignation
“As someone with a history of working in local and state water service roles, including a previous tenure with the City of Richmond as a wastewater plant chief operator, I am excited to return to Richmond to lead the Department of Public Utilities,” Morris said in the release. “As the City continues to recover from
Council dives into water crisis, housing
By George Copeland Jr.
The long-term effects of Richmond’s recent water crisis dominated discussion at Monday evening’s Richmond City Council meeting, as city officials promised accountability and residents urged action on issues worsened due to the crisis.
The meeting began with a presentation from Mayor Danny Avula, who detailed the timeline of the weeklong water issues that concluded last Saturday and reaffirmed plans for an after-action report and an independent investigation into the outage.
Mayor Avula also announced plans to reactivate the regional
School Board curbs free speech — their own
By Paula Phounsavath
Richmond School Board members unanimously updated their rulebook on meeting durations, limiting the time members can spend speaking on issues during Monday evening’s meeting.
School Board meetings are disreputably known to extend into the evenings, with some public meetings averaging more than three and a half hours. Richmond Public Schools administration pointed out that the long meetings are not only ineffective practices but also unfair to the public and staff members, who are present throughout the meetings.
“I think it’s also extremely important that we stand with what’s at stake if we rush through items,” said Chair Shavonda Fernandez, 9th
By Najib Jobain, Samy Magdy and Josef Federman
The Associated Press
Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.
The three-phase ceasefire deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and it will allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It would also flood desperately needed humanitarian aid into the territory ravaged by 15 months of war, mediators say.
The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said the ceasefire would go into effect on Sunday and that its success would depend on Israel and Hamas “acting in good faith in order to ensure that this agreement does not collapse.”
District. “I think it’ll be amazing and a great experience for not just us, but for the administration who stays all day and all night.”
The new protocol will limit each board member to three minutes to discuss issues per agenda, a fiveminute limit for administration presentations and reserve last-minute agenda changes for emergencies. To increase meeting efficiency, board members will now be able to submit all questions in advance for the RPS administration to address.
Meetings also will be divided into work sessions on the first Monday of each month and a regular meeting on the following day.
The only exception to this time-limit protocol is discussing Dreams4RPS, RPS’s long-term
He spoke in the Qatari capital of Doha, the site of weeks of painstaking negotiations.
President Biden touted the deal from Washington, saying the ceasefire will stay in place as long as Israel and Hamas remain at the negotiating table over a long-term truce. Biden credited months of “dogged and painstaking American diplomacy” for landing the deal, noting that his administration and President-elect Trump’s team had been “speaking as one” in the latest negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement with Hamas is still not complete and final details are being worked out.
An Israeli official familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity said those details center on confirming the list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed. Any agreement must be approved by Netanyahu’s Cabinet.
Netanyahu thanked Trump and Biden for “advancing” the ceasefire agreement, but did not explicitly say whether he has ac-
cepted it, saying he would issue a formal response only “after the final details of the agreement, which are currently being worked on, are completed.”
His measured reaction may reflect domestic politics. Netanyahu’s governing coalition
strategic plan.
Superintendent Jason Kamras also presented the finalized strategic plan during the meeting.
“It’s really going to be about continuing to remain focused, disciplined on the things that we said we’re going to do, and continuing to find the resources to invest to make sure that we’re able to do,” Kamras said.
While the school division has reported significant gains over the past few months, some School Board members expressed concern that the recent implementation of the Virginia Department of Education’s new accountability system — known as the Student Support and Performance Framework — may
depends on the support of two hard-line factions whose leaders have threatened to leave the government over the planned release of Palestinian prisoners. Although opposition leaders have vowed to support the ceasefire deal, the loss of
impact RPS’ long-term strategies with schools’ accreditation status due to the framework not being fully defined.
“There are pieces in [the Student Support and Performance Framework] that I appreciate, but I’m concerned about the accountability system being implemented at a time where there’s no framework for the new standards that have been pushed out,” said Shonda Harris-Muhammed, 6th District.
RPS currently has 24 accredited schools but with the new accountability system, the school division would have nine “On track” and five “Distinguished” schools. The administration is aiming for 34 schools to be “On Track” or “Distinguished” by 2030.
his hard-line allies could lead to the collapse of the coalition and trigger early elections.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on Netanyahu’s government to approve the
By Paula Phounsavath
A cold quiet Tuesday afternoon was interrupted by rumbles and a boom felt across western Henrico County. The United States Geological Survey reported a 2.8-magnitude earthquake at around 5:30 p.m. in the Wyndham area and again at 2:50 a.m. with a 2.3-magnitude.
The earthquake’s aftershock
have been reported. Virginia Commonwealth Quake rocks Western Henrico, followed by aftershock
Jason Kamras
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Bingham, former director of the Department of Public Utilities, speaks at a news
Jan. 8, at City Hall.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Activist Portnoy Johnson shares concerns about the city’s housing issues to
crowd outside City Hall on Jan. 13, ahead of Monday’s City Council meeting.
By George Copeland Jr.
than a week after an outage that left Richmond residents without water for days, April Bingham resigned as director of the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities.
King holiday schedule
In observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 20, please note the following:
Government Federal offices: Closed State offices: Closed Richmond City and Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover County offices: Closed Public schools
Richmond and Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield County public schools will be closed.
Courts State, federal, city and county courts will be closed.
Libraries City and county libraries, with the exception of Hanover County, will be closed.
Banks, credit unions and other financial
institutions: Closed
U.S. Postal Service: No delivery
Trash and recycling pickup: Regular trash and recycling schedule on Monday, Jan. 20 for most of Central Virginia. Collections are delayed by one day in Richmond and Henrico and Hanover County.
Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers: Closed Virginia ABC stores: Normal hours.
GRTC: Buses will operate on a Saturday schedule with no Express service on Monday, Jan. 20. Richmond Free Press offices: Closed
Finn honored for community service
Free Press staff report
The Richmond Association of Realtors has named John S. Finn Jr. the recipient of the 2024 Civic Leader of the Year Award. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to their community and honors those who improve the well-being of those in need.
“John has focused his community service on seeking to meet the needs of those often marginalized by society—people who are homeless, who suffer from addiction, and who have not been the beneficiaries of generational wealth,” said Laura Lafayette, CEO of the Richmond Association of Realtors and Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service. “He is richly deserving of this award.”
Finn has served on the board of Virginia Supportive Housing and currently serves on the board of Caritas. As a former chair of the board of the McShin Foundation, he helped grow the recovery organization. His work with these organizations has provided support to individuals and families seeking a better future.
As a mentor and board member of the Beta Gamma Lambda Education Foundation, Finn has been an advocate for African American youths, helping to raise funds for scholarships that provide opportunities for higher education and leadership development.
“In September, I was inducted into the Virginia Realtors Hall of Fame, and now named ‘Civic Leader of the Year’ by the Richmond Association of Realtors. These honors are not mine alone but a reflection of the incredible work done alongside so many others—whether it’s supporting the homeless, providing scholarships for underserved youths, or helping those recovering from substance abuse. I’m deeply grateful to be part of a community that makes a difference.”
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending Saturday, Jan. 11, COVID-19 accounted for 1.2% of all emergency department visits in Virginia, with overall respiratory illness moderate and trending down compared to previous data. No deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported within that period at press time. COVID-19 wastewater levels for Richmond and Henrico County were below detection as of the most recent sample collection week on Sunday, Jan. 5.
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
• Thursday, Jan. 16, 2 to 4:30 p.m. - Calvary United Methodist Church, 1637 Williamsburg Road.
• Friday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Southside Woman, Infants and Children Office, 509 E. Southside Plaza
• Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2 to 4:30 p.m. - St. Luke’s Apartments, 117 Engleside Drive.
RHHD’s Resource Centers are providing free at-home tests for pickup at select locations:
• Creighton Court at 2150 Creighton Road, call 804-371-0433.
• Fairfield Court at 2311 N. 25th St., call 804-786-4099.
• Gilpin Court at 436 Calhoun St., call 804-786-1960.
• Hillside Court at 1615 Glenfield Ave., call 804-230-7740.
• Mosby Court at 1536 Coalter St., call 804-786-0204.
• Southwood Court at 1754 Clarkson Road. Unit #B, call 804230-2077.
• Whitcomb Court at 2106 Deforrest St., call 804-786-0555. For Virginia Department of Health testing locations, visit vdh. virginia.gov. Additional testing site information can be found at vax.rchd.com. Residents also can order four free at-home COVID test kits at covidtest.gov, while supplies last.
Want a COVID-19 vaccine?
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
Virginia lawmakers push for reforms following death of Rolin Hill
Free Press staff report
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus (VLBC) is demanding urgent reforms after the death of Rolin Hill, a man who died in the custody of three former Virginia Beach sheriff’s deputies. The deputies, now charged with second-degree murder, were granted $5,000 unconditional bonds last week.
The concerns of the caucus, led by Del. Lamont Bagby, intensified after partial body camera footage of the incident was shown during a bond hearing. The footage reportedly revealed a series of human rights violations during the hour and a half following Hill’s booking on June 4, 2024. Hill, who was denied bond and booked at 8:20 p.m., required medical attention by 8:45 p.m. According to reports, the deputies attempted to remove his clothing and
a body wrap restraint, a device they were not trained to handle. The footage showed Hill being denied water, struck repeatedly in the back and face, and restrained with knees on his neck and torso. It took six minutes for anyone to check his pulse after he appeared to lose consciousness.
In a press release, the VLBC described Hill’s treatment as “brutal” and criticized the deputies’ lack of training and the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department’s failure to uphold public trust.
“The role of deputized agents on behalf of the Commonwealth must be to prevent harm and maintain public safety. If we continue to fall short in legislating
significant reforms to our criminal justice processes, we will continue to fund and nurture conditions where our communities are subjected to traumatic, violent crimes by those charged to keep us safe,” the caucus stated in the release.
The VLBC commended Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb for firing the deputies and calling for an independent investigation but noted that the damage to Hill’s family and the community is permanent.
“What occurred in this situation is a crime which ended the life of a human being and we are relieved it is being treated as such now. It was also our duty to prevent it,” the statement read.
With the General Assembly’s legislative session underway, the VLBC announced plans to introduce proposals aimed at overhauling the state’s policing system.
The Richmond Association of Realtors recently named John S. Finn Jr. as the recipient of the 2024 Civic Leader of the Year Award. Recycling event rescheduled to Jan.18
Individuals interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can schedule an appointment with the Richmond and Henrico health districts by calling (804) 205-3501. Vaccines.gov provides a list of pharmacies and clinics offering the vaccine. Locations also can be found by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or calling 1-800-232-0233. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers a vaccine locator at vaccines.gov. The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older. PfizerBioNTech and Moderna vaccines are approved for everyone aged 6 months and up, while Novavax is for those aged 12 and older. Compiled by George Copeland Jr.
Spanberger and Earle-Sears tied in first 2025 gubernatorial poll
Survey also found that 22% of voters remain undecided, did not plan to vote or would back another candidate
By Markus Schmidt
A little over one year before the 2025 gubernatorial election, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Prince William, the two leading declared candidates for governor, are tied at 39% according to a new statewide poll by the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
The remaining 22% of respondents in the survey of 1,000 adult Virginians said they were undecided, did not plan to vote, would back another candidate or refused to answer.
The poll is in line with the results from another UMW survey that also found Vice President Kamala Harris and Presidentelect Trump locked in a tight contest in Virginia, with the Democrat edging her Republican opponent by 46% to 48%.
Spanberger, who has represented Virginia’s 7th Congressional District since 2019, was the first candidate to announce her gubernatorial bid in November 2023. Earle-Sears, the first Black woman in the commonwealth to hold statewide office, and the first woman to attain such a role since Mary Sue Terry’s tenure as attorney general in the 1990s, launched her campaign earlier this month.
Free Press staff report
If your Christmas tree is still taking up space in the corner of your living room or you’ve got other post-holiday items to recycle, the annual Bring One for the Chipper event is here to help — though it’s been rescheduled due to expected inclement weather. The event will now take place Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m.
Attorney General Jason Miyares, another potential Republican candidate for his party’s gubernatorial nomination, would be equally competitive in a general election, the poll found. In a possible matchup between Spanberger and Miyares, 40% of survey respondents backed Spanberger while 39% favored Miyares, well within the survey’s margin of error.
Miyares has not announced his intentions for 2025, but Virginia attorney generals often either run for re-election to the commonwealth’s top legal office or campaign to become governor.
Republican Glenn Youngkin, the current governor, cannot run for re-election next year because of Virginia’s one consecutive term limit for governors.
“Virginia elections are often close, and the look ahead to next year suggests more of the same in the campaign for governor,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
“The big challenge for these potential candidates is becoming better known across the commonwealth.”
Virginians were more negative about the direction of the nation than about the direction of the commonwealth, with 24% saying Virginia was headed in the right direction and 26% saying it was headed in the wrong direction. The rest offered mixed views.
For the nation overall, 51% of those surveyed said that things in the country were headed in the wrong direction, with only 16% saying the nation was on the right track.
Virginians in this new survey said they approved of Youngkin’s job performance by a 46 to 34% margin. As for President Biden’s job performance, 37% of survey respondents approved while 53% disapproved.
“Elections never stop in Virginia, and 2025 looks to be another very interesting electoral year in the commonwealth,” Farnsworth said.
The UMW poll was conducted by Research America Inc. between Sept. 3 and 9, 2024. The survey included a total of 1,000 Virginia residents, consisting of 870 registered voters and 774 likely voters. The margin of error is +/- 4.1%.
This story originally appeared on Virginia Mercury.com
to 2 p.m. at 1710 Robin Hood Road. City residents (commercial vendors are excluded) are invited to drop off their Christmas trees for recycling, along with a variety of other household items. The event will accept trees (free of charge, but all lights and decorations must be removed), paper shredding (no charge, staples and clips should be removed), electronics (some items may have fees), and mattresses/box springs (free of charge, clean or lightly soiled items only). For a list of acceptable items and any potential fees, visit rva.gov. The event is sponsored by the City’s Department of Public Works, the Clean City Commission and the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority. For more information, visit bit.ly/408wax or email AskPublicWorks@rva.gov.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Richmond Public Schools marked a milestone in rebuilding William Fox Elementary School on Jan. 10 with a ceremonial topping off of the building’s cupola. Superintendent Jason Kamras,
Chief Operations Officer Dana Fox, elected officials, students and families gathered to witness the dome placement, which began about 11 a.m. and concluded at 1 p.m. The school is scheduled to reopen this fall.
Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury, Earle-Sears photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury.
Candidates in Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial contest U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Prince William, (left) and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.
Lamont Bagby
DPU director resigns following water woes
the recent water service outage at the plant, I look forward to working with the team to support the delivery of essential utility services to Richmonders.”
The days leading up to Bingham’s resignation were filled with scrutiny of her work and awareness of long-term issues at the water treatment plant that contributed to the outage and crisis.
Bingham acknowledged the aging infrastructure of the water treatment plant but placed the sole blame for the crisis on the power outage caused by a snowstorm during a press conference last week.
However, reports have continued to highlight
issues with the plant and concerns raised by other agencies and inspection groups in the past.
Bingham was absent from city press conferences during the last days before the water crisis was resolved, with other officials answering questions and addressing her absence.
In an interview with the Richmond Free Press hours after Bingham’s exit, Avula praised her work during the crisis, describing her resignation as an “amicable” and voluntary one following ongoing conversations on the future of DPU leadership.
When asked if he would have fired Bingham if she hadn’t resigned, Avula opted to not speculate on the choices he would’ve made in that situation.
“I think the conversations, again, were re-
ally amicable and we both got to a point of mutual understanding of what we thought the next phase was going to be,” Avula said. “It worked out well, and we’re really grateful for the work that she’s done and looking forward to the next chapter of leadership.”
Avula added that the search for a permanent DPU director would begin after the investigation into the crisis enters its second phase, the water plant restoration process is underway for “a few months,” and a new Chief Administrative Officer is appointed.
Council dives into water crisis, housing
emergency response fund, created during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist those affected. He committed an initial $25,000 from the budget allocated for his canceled Inaugural Day of Service event.
The importance of collaboration between City Council and the Mayor’s Office in addressing the issues the crisis revealed or compounded was a recurring theme.
“There’s nothing like an all-out crisis in the first week of your job to just bring a team together,” Avula said. “There’s a lot of good precedent we can set together about how we’re going to serve the residents of this city.”
Other plans and proposals shared as part of a three-phase process included reassessing the city’s emergency preparedness culture, protocols and systems and establishing more water sources to help build resilience and redundancies for regional partners, reducing reliance on Richmond’s water plant.
A “water recovery week” is
School Board curbs free speech — their own
Since August, the new accountability reform has been a contentious debate among education advocates. The Student Support and Performance Framework categorizes K-12 schools across the commonwealth based on performance as “Distinguished,” “On track,” “Off Track” and “Needs Intensive Support.” While the new framework has received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Education, the Virginia Education Association deemed it as, “a misleading and rushed system.”
Board Member Cheryl Burke, 7th District, said the board needs to continue advocating for their teachers, who are placing these standards on students.
“The teachers are learning the curriculum and that’s hard,” she said. “I’m all in favor of taking a step and advocating on behalf of our teachers and our children.”
Quake rocks Western Henrico
Continued from A1
University Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Arif Sikder explained earthquakes are uncommon in Virginia due to the lack of active faults on the East Coast.
However, he believes the Quail Fault — a buried fault zone in Virginia identified after the 2011 earthquake — may be reactivating. He noted the epicenters of tremors in 2011, 2013 and Tuesday were all within a 5-mile radius. Sikder urged officials to remain vigilant.
“This appears to me that a reactivation is going on along that existing fault,” he said. “Obviously, if this is going on, there’s always a chance of having a bigger one.”
also in the works to encourage the public to patronize businesses affected by the outage and crisis, as well as assistance for small businesses and families through the Department of Economic Development, the Economic Development Authority and the Office of Children and Families.
Avula also announced a 10-day extension to water bills and other city payments, and promised Richmonders won’t be billed for water they didn’t use.
While Avula sought to assure City Council and the public his office would comprehensively address the water crisis impact, concerns remained for officials and residents. Reva Trammell, 8th District, interjected at the end of his presentation to raise questions about the timeline for the after-action report and how long issues at the water treatment plant have been present.
Housing advocates and residents, meanwhile, highlighted the effects of the water crisis on evictions before and during the meeting.
Dozens of residents, organizers, and others gathered in the
cold evening weather for a rally outside City Hall ahead of the meeting. Many carried signs reading “Stop Evictions Now - I deserve a place to live,” while others voiced their concerns about the state of housing in the city.
During the meeting’s public comment period, New Virginia Majority member Warren Campbell, speaking on behalf of the Richmond Housing Justice Collective, urged Avula and council members to call on
the General District Court to suspend evictions until at least April, and to allocate emergency funds for rental assistance.
“The eviction crisis already disproportionately impacts ... working class, minority and immigrant communities,” Campbell said. “This public health emergency is exacerbating the crisis.” Richmond’s ongoing issues with housing insecurity and its high eviction rate have earned the city national attention in the past. Now, with new city
leadership sworn into office following campaigns that included pledges to tackle this issue, advocates made clear that a swift response was needed.
“It is unrealistic to expect residents who are already experiencing historic housing insecurity to become current with their rents without assistance,” Campbell said. “It is time to take action.”
Housing and development continued to be a persistent topic throughout the meeting, as
council members approved ordinances that included multiple affordable housing developments along parts of Hull Street. City Council also approved a memorandum of understanding between the city and GRTC as part of the construction of a permanent transfer hub and mixed-use development at 500 N. 10th St., and supported the continued construction for the Diamond District redevelopment project.
The Governmental Operations Standing Committee will continue to review the impact of the water crisis and discuss potential next steps when they meet Wednesday, Jan. 22, with community discussions also in the works for the future. Hours after the meeting adjourned, the City reported a pump failure at the water treatment plant. The issue is expected to be a focal point in upcoming discussions, including Wednesday’s Governmental Operations Standing Committee meeting and future forums on improving the plant’s infrastructure and preventing similar crises.
Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire, hostages to be released
ceasefire in a nationally televised speech. Hamas said in a statement that the ceasefire was “the result of the legendary resilience of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip.”
Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. will meet in Cairo on Thursday for talks on implementing the deal, according to a senior U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Once the first phase of the deal takes effect, it is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting along with the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether.
Over those six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though it’s unclear if all are alive.
It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to their homes, and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza — key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives.
Many longer-term questions about postwar Gaza remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has destabilized the broader Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.
Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 in Israel and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed.
More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a weeklong truce in November 2023.
The U.S., along with Egypt and Qatar, have brokered months of indirect talks between the bitter enemies that finally culminated in this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, after more than a year of conflict linked to the war in Gaza.
U.N. and international relief organizations estimate that some 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. They say tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and hospitals are barely functioning. Experts have warned that famine may be underway in Northern Gaza.
Abed Radwan, a Palestinian father of three, called the ceasefire deal “the best day in my life and the life of the Gaza people. ... Thank God. Thank God.”
Radwan, who has been displaced from the town of Beit Lahiya for over a year and shelters in Gaza City, said he hopes to return and to rebuild his home. As he spoke to AP by phone, his voice was overshadowed by the celebrations of fellow Gazans.
“People are crying here. They don’t believe it’s true,” he said.
In Israel, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for a deal to be completed. Many held posters of hostages held by Hamas, others hoisted candles in the air.
As the deal was announced, some people were unaware that it had gone through. Sharone Lifschitz, whose father Oded is being held in Gaza, told the AP by phone she was stunned and grateful but won’t believe it until she sees all the hostages come home.
“I’m so desperate to see them, if by some miracle my father has survived,” she said.
The Hostage Families Forum, which has long pressed Israeli leaders to make a deal that would bring the captives home, said it welcomed Wednesday’s announcement with joy and relief.
“After 460 days of our family members being held in Hamas tunnels, we are closer than ever to reuniting with our loved ones,” the group said in a statement.
Biden, who has provided crucial military aid to Israel but expressed exasperation over civilian deaths in Gaza, announced the outline of the three-phase ceasefire agreement on May 31. The agreement eventually agreed to followed that framework.
He said the first phase would last for six weeks and include a “full and complete ceasefire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older adults and wounded people, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian assistance would surge, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day.
The second and most difficult phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war.
Hamas had been demanding assurances of a permanent end to the war and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not halt the war until it destroys Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.
With Biden’s days in office numbered and Trump set to take over, both sides had been under heavy pressure to agree to a deal.
Trump celebrated the agreement in a post on his Truth Social social media platform: “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”
Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, said Biden deserves praise for continuing to push the talks. But Trump’s threats to Hamas and his efforts to “cajole” Netanyahu deserve credit as well.
“The ironic reality is that at a time of heightened partisanship even over foreign policy, the deal represents how much more powerful and influential U.S. foreign policy can be when it’s bipartisan,” Panikoff said.
Hezbollah’s acceptance of a ceasefire in Lebanon
after it had suffered heavy blows, and the overthrow of President Bashar Assad in Syria, were both major setbacks for Iran and its allies across the region, including Hamas, which was left increasingly isolated. Israel has come under heavy international criticism, including from its closest ally, the United States, over the civilian toll in Gaza. Israel says it has killed around 17,000 militants — though it has not provided evidence to support the claim. It also blames Hamas for the civilian casualties, accusing the group of using schools, hospitals and residential areas for military purposes.
The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations brought by South Africa that Israel has committed genocide. The International Criminal Court, a separate body also based in The Hague, has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas commander for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war.
Israel and the United States have condemned the actions taken by both courts.
Netanyahu also faced great domestic pressure to bring home the hostages, whose plight has captured the nation’s attention. Their families have become a powerful lobbying group with wide public support backed by months of mass protests urging the government to reach a deal with Hamas.
Israeli authorities have already concluded that more than a third of the roughly 100 remaining people held captive are dead, and there are fears that others are no longer alive. A series of videos released by Hamas showing surviving hostages in distress, combined with news that a growing number of abducted Israelis have died, put added pressure on the Israeli leader.
Hamas, a militant group that does not accept Israel’s existence, has come under overwhelming pressure from Israeli military operations, including the invasion of Gaza’s largest cities and towns and the takeover of the border between Gaza and Egypt. Its top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who was believed to have helped mastermind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, have been killed.
But its fighters have regrouped in some of the hardest-hit areas after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, raising the prospect of a prolonged insurgency if the war continues.
Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are destroyed. But it has never been clear what that would entail or if it’s even possible, given the group’s deep roots in Palestinian society, its presence in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, and its exiled leadership. Both sides still face many difficult and unanswered questions.
As the war winds down, Netanyahu will face growing calls for postwar investigations that could find him at least partially responsible for the security failures of Oct. 7 — the worst in Israel’s history. His far-right governing partners, who opposed a ceasefire deal, could also bring down the coalition and push the country into early elections.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Mayor Danny Avula held a news conference Wednesday, Jan. 8, to provide an update on the City’s water treatment plant restoration efforts. He was joined by city officials, including April Bingham, far left, the now former director of the Department of Public Utilities.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Council President Cynthia I. Newbille speaks at the City Council meeting on Jan. 13.
Red Onion Prison inmate dies days after new oversight announced
By Dean Mirshahi VPM News
A man incarcerated at Red Onion State Prison died last month, a Virginia Department of Corrections spokesperson confirmed to VPM News.
The man died Dec. 19 of natural causes, according to the VADOC official, citing confirmation by its Office of Law Enforcement Services and the state medical examiner’s preliminary findings.
“The VADOC’s Office of Law Enforcement Services has conducted an investigation into this incident and there is no evidence of foul play,” spokesperson Carla Miles told VPM News in a Jan. 9 email. Miles did not share whether the individual was being held in solitary confinement, was provided care outside of the prison or had a history of medical issues.
The death was first noted in a post by the Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee, which claimed the man had severe health issues and was denied treatment while in solitary confinement.
His death came three days after Virginia’s new prison ombudsman announced she would prioritize an investigation into the Wise County facility, where incarcerated people reportedly burned themselves in protest of their conditions.
During a Dec. 16 Virginia House Public Safety Committee meeting, Andrea Sapone said her newly created office within the state inspector general’s office — which will offer independent prison oversight — “takes all allegations of abuse seriously.” She said they would examine Red Onion’s practices and the welfare of individuals
incarcerated there.
“OSIG and our Corrections Ombudsman were alerted to the death,” OSIG spokesperson Maggie Sotos told VPM News. “At this moment, we are prioritizing the investigation of the self-harm incidents at Red Onion and will be limiting the scope of the initial investigation to specifically those instances.”
Four of the five ombudsman specialist positions for Sapone’s unit have been filled since December, Sotos said.
“Additional crises, complaints, concerns, and issues will be examined separately with each specific facility inspection,” Sotos added.
After a recent visit, Delegate Michael Jones, D–Richmond, called for changes at the state prison, as well as an investigation into Red Onion’s practices and conditions.
Jones hinted at the death in a press release following his stop at Red Onion. He said he was told about the incident while there, but wasn’t made aware of the circumstances. The state legislator said Red Onion staff asked him
to hold off on sharing details about the death until VADOC sent a press release — which hasn’t been issued.
“The VADOC does not routinely send out press releases in reference to natural caused deaths,” Miles told VPM News in an email.
Jones called for Sapone to investigate the circumstances of the death, telling VPM News that VADOC can’t be allowed to police itself.
“What organization can do their own audit on themselves? It’s gonna be slanted. It just is,” he said, stressing the need to “deconstruct this idea of revenue generation” through incarceration.
He called Red Onion “an economic engine” for the area.
“We can’t be in the business of gaining profits and expecting revenue from incarcerating men and women,” Jones said.
Jones has drafted General Assembly legislation he hopes to introduce in 2026 to stop incarcerated Virginians from being housed 75 miles or more from their home locality, unless they do something “egregious
while incarcerated,” he said. He added that he wants to work with advocates on the legislative effort.
The Wise County facility has in the past faced lawsuits over its use of solitary confinement, including a case settled in 2021 with one man who was kept in solitary for more than 12 years.
Virginia’s top corrections official said the six recently confirmed self-harm cases were not tied to a protest over conditions at Red Onion, challenging claims of long-term solitary confinement and a lack of mental health resources at the facility.
“There’s no evidence whatsoever that there was any kind of a plot or any kind of a protest,” VADOC Director Chad Dotson told the House panel in December. He said “they did it because they wanted to get away from Red Onion,” adding that two of the six people have a history of “self-directed violence.”
don’t like repercussions for bad behavior would “continue to complain” about Red Onion.
As VPM News previously reported, an incarcerated correspondent with Prison Radio has been documenting conditions at the prison — and was being transferred from the facility as part of a settlement.
Earlier this week, The Appeal published internal emails showing Red Onion officials suggesting incarcerated people who burned themselves should be criminally charged for their actions and pay for their own treatment.
Dave Cantor contributed to this report.
Dotson said claims of “some kind of big plot” were “ginned” up online by an incarcerated individual and that those who
Deadline to enroll in state health exchange extended to Jan. 22
By Charlotte Renee Woods
Virginians have until the middle of next week to enroll in the state’s public health care exchange, the result of an extension announced Monday.
Keven Patchett, the director of Virgina’s marketplace, said the original Jan. 15 deadline felt “arbitrary,” considering the pattern of continued enrollment he was seeing occur and since January sign-ups don’t kick in until February anyway.
“We’ve looked at the enrollment numbers and enrollment trends, and people are still actively engaged in enrollments,” he said. “We want to make sure that we do everything we can to make it possible for people to get health insurance.”
Over 400,000 people enrolled in 2024, Patchett said. Last year was the first year Virginia offered open enrollment, after a state law from 2020 that allowed Virginia to set up its own health insurance market. Lawmakers gathered at the State Capitol for the restart of the 2025 legislative session Monday praised the progress.
“Virginia’s marketplace has been a resounding success, and these historic
enrollment numbers mean that fewer Virginians are a hospital bill away from bankruptcy,” said Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield.
With this year’s session underway wherein a slew of proposed health carefocused legislation will be debated, Hashmi said she also has set her sights on federal health insurance laws.
As chair of the Senate’s Education and Health committee, she plans to press the U.S. Congress to extend or make permanent some temporary tax credits that help with health care coverage costs that are set to expire at the end of this year.
Recently, Virginia’s federal Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner joined a proposal that could help make the credits permanent.
“Out-of-pocket costs are down and more people are covered (by insurance),” said Freddy Mejia, a policy director with The Commonwealth Institute.
With President-elect Trump set to enter the White House for a new term Jan. 20, Virginia lawmakers like Hashmi hope that the Affordable Care Act will remain intact.
The federal law was a hallmark of former President Obama’s administration,
which among other provisions, allowed states to set up their own exchanges. During Trump’s previous presidency, he celebrated congressional efforts to repeal the law that were ultimately unsuccessful, and has since promised changes without concrete details. Cuts to Medicaid, a federal program that helps states provide coverage to people with low incomes or disabilities, may be slashed under a Republican-controlled Congress.
In the meantime, restaurateur Lester Johnson, who owns Mama J’s soul food restaurant in Richmond, stressed the ACA made it easier for self-employed people and small business owners to get health insurance for themselves and their employees. He said in certain industries like his, health care benefits are not always a given when it comes to employer-provided coverage.
“This law has been a much-needed resource to me, as well as my employees,” he said. “Having access to good health care gives my employees and I the security we need to focus on the work we love.”
This story originally appeared at VirginiaMercury.com.
Courtesy Virginia Department of Correction Red Onion State Prison.
Richmond Free Press
Editorial Page
January 16-18, 2025
Born day
Today, The Richmond Free Press is 33 years old. In honor of this historic day, we reprint an editorial from January 1993 by our late founder, Raymond H. Boone. In it, he talks about the newspaper’s first year of existence, which defied the expectations of some and exposed the bias of many. Much of what he wrote is still relevant today, but we suspect that some of our readers may not be aware of a few of the specific issues he raises. We believe this speaks to how thorough the newspaper was in dismantling them.
Yes, we’re getting older. But with age comes wisdom, and the lessons we’ve learned over the years continue to guide our mission. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the values we were founded on — a commitment to truth, justice and providing a voice for those who have been silenced. The fight is far from over, and we stand ready to confront new challenges with the same courage and dedication that defined our early years.
Time really does fly. Believe it or not, this edition of the Richmond Free Press marks our first anniversary — and we are just as lively, excited and committed to our mission as we were on January 16, 1992, when the Free Press first hit the streets. We confess. We are proud.
We are proud of all the editions that we published. We are proud because we did what we knew we could do against what we were told were unbeatable odds.
Financial experts told us it was the wrong time— correctly reminding us that newspapers were hardly doing well anywhere. Further, there was the sour economy and the heavy baggage, that we were told, went along with being a Black business in Richmond. Then the most disturbing, slanderous observation came from a City Hall official. “What a ridiculous idea,” he said, greeting the Free Press publishing plans. “Richmonders don’t read.”
We never believed any of this — particularly the offensive statement about Richmonders, who have proven the Richmonders-don’t-read statement a big, fat you know what. The Free Press has proven during the last year that Richmonders — particularly African-Americans — not only read, but also act on news and information that appear in the Free Press.
Don’t believe it? Ask City Hall. Ask the Virginia National Guard. Ask those who are responsible in the fly ash controversy. Ask other media organizations. Ask politicians who were once allowed to gallop about without an inkling of regard for public accountability.
We never paid any attention to the advice offered about the negative newspaper trends, the black business baggage bit—or even the sour economy. We always felt that waiting for the perfect time made no sense to us. If we did, we never would get anything done.
But we did get it done. And equally remarkable is the fact that we did it on our own. Our communityspirited investors dug into their pockets and provided a shining example of black self-reliance to establish a newspaper that was desperately needed to help tell the complete Richmond story, thus contributing to the truth and the public good.
We are also ecstatic about the public reaction that greets the Free Press weekly. We listen. The most frequently heard reaction from African-American readers is: “You make me feel proud. I love the Free Press.” From our white readers: “The Free Press is different from what I expected. It doesn’t shut out anybody.”
We beat the odds. But it hasn’t been easy, although we are respected — and loved; and although we receive high marks for quality. The biggest challenge has stemmed from our running into, quite unexpectedly, advertisers with large African-American clienteles who still refuse to believe that our readers should be valued and, therefore, accorded respect through advertising in the Free Press. This kind of unfair treatment in advertising has consistently forced us to restrict our coverage — but we will overcome this too.
We now look to Year No. 2.
We are ready.
We have built a strong foundation during our first year. We are armed with our mission of empowering the people through information, news and opinion that is provided with accuracy and a high sense of fairness. In other words, we will continue our policy of even-handed treatment for everybody — with a strong commitment to quality and community service.
We continue to believe in the people — that they will make the right decision and stand on the side of truth and justice once they have the facts.
Urban League prepares for fight ahead
At the current rate of progress, it will take between 100 and 300 years for Black Americans to achieve parity with white Americans.
neighbors.”
President-elect Donald Trump and his allies are determined to make sure that it takes even longer.
First annually and now biannually, the National Urban League publishes the Equality Index, a calculation of the social and economic status of African Americans relative to white people. Rooted in the ThreeFifths Compromise of 1787, which counted enslaved African Americans as “three-fifths” of a person, the Index would be 100% under full equality. Currently 75.7%, the Index has moved less than 3% in 20 years, indicating a 180 year wait to achieve parity.
That squares with the findings of a McKinsey study showing it will take between 110 and 320 years for “Black Americans to reach a level of economic prosperity and quality of life that’s on par with that of their White
At the end of his first term, Trump issued an executive order banning policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion for federal agencies, contractors, and grant recipients. The National Urban League immediately filed a lawsuit; Trump lost re-election and President Biden overturned it
immediately upon taking office.
This time around, Trump isn’t waiting to start stamping out racial justice initiatives. He’s vowed to rescind President Biden’s Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity, issued on his first day in office.
Seizing on the widely-accepted myth that increasing diversity is synonymous with “anti-white discrimination,” the Trump administration plans to use civil rights laws to reinforce white privilege in every facet of society, public and private. Pete
Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary has promoted the racist fallacy that the longoverdue elevation of Black officers to senior leadership positions compromises military readiness.
In fact, Trump’s proposed cabinet includes only one Black member, a former NFL player whose only qualification to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development is his history of opposing affordable housing, protection for poor tenants and aid for the homeless.
Trump will eliminate federal funding for any school that promotes racial equity or confronts the reality of racism in the nation’s history. He has even vowed to direct the Department of Justice to pursue federal “civil rights cases” against them.
He plans to resurrect the failed 1776 Commission, which historians reviled as a plot to “elevate ignorance about the past to a civic virtue.
Hoping to avoid attacks from the incoming administration and its most fanatical defenders. Many private corporations are retreating from their commitment to DEI. The board of Costco, in contrast, recently rejected an anti-DEI shareholder proposal. While post-election surveys show that Trumps’ election was largely a misguided reaction to the cost of groceries, Trump and his allies have taken it as an endorsement of their every vicious and bigoted policies. Americans overwhelmingly support corporate diversity policies. President Biden’s administration — like most diverse institutions, was more innovative, adaptable, resilient and able to solve problems more quickly because of its diversity.
Carter’s funeral brings much-needed vision of peace
When he showed up at the Chicago Tribune one day in early 1976, James Earl Carter Jr., was announced by one of our young newsroom copy clerks as “that governor from Georgia who thinks he can run for president.”
Yes, as a young re porter in that newsroom, I remember Jimmy Carter as a former peanut farmer from Plains, Ga., and a former Navy nuclear submariner with a 100watt smile and high ambitions.
Carter was on his marathon quest for national recognition as he built a campaign that truly came from the grassroots at a time when a successful presidential run by a southerner had not succeeded since Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas Democrat.
Nearly a half-century on, at his funeral in Washington National Cathedral last Thursday, former President Carter, who died at age 100, was remembered by fellow Georgia Democrat Andrew Young as a man of “character” and “something of a miracle” with “prophetic” vision.
“He had the courage and strength to stick to his principles even when they were politically unpopular,” said Young, a veteran civil rights leader and congressman who Carter appointed ambassador to the United Nations. “As governor of Georgia half a century ago, he preached an end to racial discrimination and an end to mass incarceration. As president in the 1970s, as you’ve heard, he protected more land than any other president in history.”
And that’s just a pinch of Carter’s century-long life of achievements and, occasion -
ally, high-profile setbacks. It was a century that he filled with honors, achievement and controversies, which added up to what many — including me — call the best ex-presidency In this nation’s history.
I remember him most for advancing the causes of peace, civil rights and aid to the un-
derprivileged — to “the least of these,” as the Book of Matthew puts it.
Carter’s impulse to heal and seek peace was evident on his second day in office, when he pardoned all who had left the country to evade the Vietnam War draft. He went on to conclude the historic Camp David Accords and a later treaty bringing peace and establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Egypt.
He also concluded treaties transferring sovereignty of the Panama Canal and advanced the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with the USSR.
Yet Carter’s presidency was largely undone by the Iranian Revolution and its economic knock-on effects. Carter had continued the longstanding U.S. support of the Shah of Iran, which earned America the moniker “Great Satan” among the Islamist revolutionaries who overthrew the Shah in 1979. In November of that year, Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Teheran and held its personnel captive, not releasing them until minutes after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as Carter’s successor.
The hostage crisis severely weakened Carter, especially after a rescue effort by elite U.S. military forces failed, leading to the deaths of eight servicemen. The Iranian Revolution also led
e-mail letters@richmondfreepress.com.
to an oil crisis that caused long lines at gas stations in the U.S., spiked inflation and produced a record-high in the “misery index,” an economic measure that adds the inflation rate to the unemployment rate.
Hobbled by these events, Carter suffered a landslide defeat to the Republican ticket of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in 1980.
Not surprisingly, historians and the public generally rate Carter’s presidency below average. Yet Carter’s post-presidency — the longest in history — stands out for most Americans as a model of modest and selfless public service.
That reversal came without much fanfare as he mounted his own efforts including the Carter Center to promote human rights, fight diseases and provide election observers to promote democracy and peace negotiations in trouble spots around the world. His work through the Carter Center was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Three days after the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, no zip ties, bear spray or costume hats were to be seen. Instead, we saw all five living presidents happily seated together, while we observers speculated as to what Republican President-elect Trump and Democratic former President Obama were joking about with each other. Peace at last?
“Time and again, I saw in him the ability to achieve diversity by the personality and upbringing,” Young said of Carter. “He went out of his way to embrace those of us who grew up in all kinds of conflict.”
Perhaps that spirit of goodwill is contagious — even in Washington. We can only hope.
The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
If the incoming administration doesn’t realize the benefits of DEI early on, the National Urban League and our civil rights allies are on hand to hold it to account. The writer is president and CEO of the National Urban League.
Clarence Page
Marc H. Morial
I
Virginia Beach incident inspires fair housing initiative
In the new campaign, “Baxter shares her story and talks about the importance for everyone to use their voice to stand up for what’s right,” a spokesperson for NFHA told me by email. “The campaign is designed to educate people about their fair housing rights and encourage them to take action if they feel they have experienced discrimination.”
It’s badly needed, for buyers and sellers alike.
Discrimination in housing
has been illegal for decades for home sellers and their real estate agents under the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Initiatives like the alliance campaign are indicators of the prejudice and contempt that haven’t been eradicated in the housing market.
HUD bolstered the burgeoning campaign with a $1.3 million grant, a spokesperson for the federal agency confirmed to me by email. The money is part of a larger pool of funds to fight housing bias that HUD awarded in 2023.
consumers of their rights under federal law and what to do if they are victims of suspected housing discrimination.
Baxter, who goes by the moniker “Dr. Raven the Science Maven” online, had taken to social media to relay details of the case. She was unsure how to proceed. Comments from her followers – she has more than a quarter million –led her to file a discrimination claim with the Virginia Fair Housing Office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Baxter did connect with a civil rights lawyer, The Times reported, and eventually settled with Jane Walker, 84, the seller, and others connected with the case. Details of the settlement are confidential. Walker told her agent she didn’t want to sell the condo to a Black person.
Baxter told me in June, when I interviewed her after the saga first became public, that the incident was “kind of like an onion,” with many layers.
“Every time you think you’ve heard it all, there’s more.”
“Everyone deserves the right to own property,” she continued.
“It’s an American freedom.”
I even journeyed to the pricey neighborhood where the condo sits. Nearby amenities include a country club golf course and the sands of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. It’s a desirable community.
Initially, Baxter did not return my phone calls or Facebook and Instagram requests for an interview for this column. After it appeared online, she responded on Instagram: “I am very excited to work with the National Fair Housing Alliance in this campaign, and helping people get the help that they deserve in the times that they may need it the most.”
When I interviewed her last year, she was working remotely for a New York hospital and living in Northern Virginia with her partner, a theoretical astrophysicist.
NFHA told me 34,150 fair housing complaints were received by private, nonprofit fair housing organizations, HUD, the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies in 2023, compared to 33,007 in 2022. Discrimination based on disability accounted for a majority of the complaints.
HUD said it received nearly 2,500 complaints based on race or color in its latest Fair Housing annual report, which was issued in 2022.
The HUD spokesperson said individuals can file complaints at hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint.
The NFHA, its spokesperson said, reached out to Baxter about the campaign after learning of the Virginia Beach incident. She agreed to participate. Beginning the middle of this year, TV and radio stations will receive English and Spanish language public service announcements
about fair housing rights. Baxter will share her story.
The campaign also will include podcast episodes and PSAs in online and print publications.
News of the housing alliance initiative coincided with the sentencing of a Hampton landlord who harassed and evicted tenants based on race, federal authorities said.
David L. Merryman, 59, was sentenced recently to 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and race-based interference with housing and employment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a news release.
“David Merryman deliberately targeted families of color with limited means and housing options,” said Jessica D. Aber, a federal prosecutor.
The release said Merryman harassed his minority tenants with “slurs, comments about slavery, mocking comments, death threats, and assaultive conduct related to their race, all in violation of their right to occupy and lease a dwelling free from racially motivated harassment, threats and force.”
Cases like Merryman’s may be among the worst that exist. Yet we know questionable rejections of rental applications and disparate appraisals based on race continue to occur.
Baxter’s participation in the new campaign, then, is a positive outcome after a sordid incident. It will inform people of their rights and help reduce housing bias that continues to persist.
The writer is a columnist and editorial writer at the VirginiaMercury.com, where this article first appeared.
Richmond showed resilience, but accountability is needed
Kudos go out to the citizens of Richmond, some of whom were without water for several days. Many of us looked out for those who were not able to get out (ex. buying food, bottled water, etc.) Thanks to some of our partners in surrounding counties who stepped in as well to help.
Mayor Danny Avula and his associates were transparent in their press conferences during this challenging time. They kept us updated and informed on a regular basis. For this I give them an A. We need to find out what caused this catastrophe, and if anyone should be held accountable for this disaster.
Hopefully, we have learned from this episode and will be better prepared if this occurs again. If new equipment and pipes are needed to halt this from happening again, let’s get it.
ERNEST PARKER JR.
Richmond
Lessons in kindness from a mother’s care
I was touched by the lovely story by Hazel Trice Edney. (Free Press, Jan. 2-4 edition) Members of my generation at some point have faced decisions about parent care. Edney told of her decision and the results of taking care of her mother with such sweetness and kindness that she made me hope all of us seniors could be so blessed and, at the same time, learn the lesson she must have learned from her mother.
She wrote, “I’ve learned to speak words of love and kindness to her and exude patience even when I am tired and frustrated.” Obviously, Edney has a loving and kind mother who taught her the traits that help her now in her mother’s care.
A nice message for us all, whether we are receiving elder care or giving it.
NANCY FINCH Richmond
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Andrea Eaddy was one of the last customers to grab cases of water last week after Richmond issued a boil water advisory.
By Rob Maddi
The Associated Press
Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen face off for berth in AFC championship game
Lamar Jackson versus Josh Allen won’t decide the NFL MVP next week.
The stakes are higher with a spot in the AFC championship game on the line.
Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens (13-5) will visit Allen and the Buffalo Bills (14-4) in the divisional round while Patrick Mahomes and the twotime defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) will host C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans (11-7).
The winners face off Jan. 26 for a berth in the Super Bowl.
The Bills advanced with a 31-7 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday after the Ravens moved on with a 2814 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night. The Texans beat the Chargers 3212 in the opening game of the wild card weekend. The Chiefs have a bye after securing the
No. 1 seed. The AFC divisional matchups were set before the NFC games kicked off.
The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers 22-10 on Sunday to advance to the divisional round. They will play the L.A. Rams winner at home. Minnesota lost to Los Angeles on Monday night in Arizona.
Jackson edged Allen for The Associated Press All-Pro Team, receiving 30 of 50 first-place votes from a nationwide panel of media members. Allen got 18 first place votes to earn second team All-Pro honors. The most recent time a player was MVP without making first team All-Pro was in 2003 when Steve McNair and Peyton Manning shared the MVP award. Manning beat out McNair for All-Pro.
The only other time it happened was in 1987 when John Elway was the MVP and Joe Montana got All-Pro honors. Elway got 36 MVP votes to 18 for Montana with Jerry Rice receiving 30 votes to finish in second place. Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP, completed 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh. He also ran for 81 yards on 15 carries. Allen was 20 of 26 for 272 yards and two TDs against Denver. He ran for 46 yards. The teams met in Baltimore in Week 4 with the Ravens dominating the Bills 35-10. It’ll be the second time a conference’s final four teams are back two years in a row. Last year, the Chiefs defeated the Bills and the Ravens beat the Texans. It last happened in 2011-12 when the Texans, Patriots, Ravens and Broncos reached the divisional round in consecutive seasons.
Norfolk State names new football coaching staff under Vick
Norfolk State University has announced its new football coaching staff, led by Coach Michael Vick. The team of experienced coaches, including several former NFL players, reflects a commitment to building a competitive program on the field and fostering growth off it.
“They are going to put these guys in a position to win,” Vick said. “We all have the same mindset, and I felt it was only right to hire guys who thought like me and want to lead like me.”
Terence Garvin takes the role of defensive coordinator after serving as co-defensive coordinator at Florida Memorial University, where his defense led the SUN Conference in forced fumbles and ranked second in interceptions. Garvin, a six-year NFL veteran, brings professional and collegiate experience to Norfolk State.
Elton Brown, a former All-American at the University of Virginia and NFL player with the Arizona Cardinals, steps in as offensive line coach. Brown most recently coached at the Apprentice School, where his offense set a school record by averaging 37.8 points per game in 2022.
Jabo Smith joins as the defensive backs coach, having
worked with Garvin at Florida Memorial. There, he helped mentor standout cornerback Marcell Blocker, the 2024 SUN Conference Defensive Back of the Year.
Izaan Cross, who played for Georgia Tech and the Buffalo Bills, will bring his experience to the program, drawing from his time coaching at North Atlanta High School and leading youth development at TrueEdge Sports.
LaRoy Reynolds will oversee the linebackers, leveraging a nine-year NFL career and experience coaching through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys.
Darryl Bullock joins the staff as offensive line coach and run game coordinator, coming from Hampton University, where
When good money comes at the cost of Black athletes
To those of us with a conscience, not ALL money is GOOD money. For example, the money made from selling dope would be considered BAD money for many of us. Obviously, there are those who see drug money as GOOD money.
One’s conscience determines how one looks at the money.
Many of us have thought about how much money Primarily White Institutions, PWI, have made on the backs of Black
athletes. Furthermore, we’ve seen time and time again how coaches would recruit our children and then abandon them for a better coaching job.
Fed up with the totality of colleges, on July 1, 2021, the NCAA introduced the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy. Oh, this wasn’t done in the name of fairness, lawsuits helped bring about this change.
In addition to NIL, players had the Transfer Portal which started Oct.15, 2018. These two policy changes gave a sense of value to the Black athletes, which unapologetically is my focus here.
In 2024, Shedeur Sanders’ NIL deal was valued at $5.1 million. Heisman winner and teammate Travis Hunter’s NIL deal was valued at $3.1 million.
Just when it looked like things were coming into balance between the NCAA, PWIs and Black athletes, the aforementioned decided they needed MORE money.
The multibillion dollar TV deals, game tickets, parking, concessions, paraphernalia, etc.
ain’t enough! The conscienceless NCAA and PWIs are positioning themselves for MORE.
How?
They are now upping their Pimp-game by courting private equity and venture capital investors. Simply put, these investors are gonna OWN a piece of these PWIs and make even MORE money!
Pick a school … University of Georgia, Alabama, UCLA, USC, name one, and private equity firms wanna own a piece of them. Yes, college football is following in the footsteps of the NFL, Major League Baseball & Major League Soccer by allowing private equity firms to OWN a limited stake in their teams.
In case you ain’t considered this: Travis Hunter was the No. 1 high school football player in America, and on December 15, 2021, he signed with a HBCU, Jackson State University. Hunter became the first five star recruit evah to sign with a HBCU. I promise y’all this: Private equity, NCAA and PWIs are gonna make sure that don’t happen again. Furthermore, look for them to ramp up their presence in our communities as they seek to recruit our children at the jr. high and high school levels.
I doubt very seriously these PWIs are teaching our athletes financial management, i.e., taxes owed on these NIL deals, let alone Black history.
I for one shall nevah be convinced these entities care about the education of our Black athletes. Because they don’t have a conscience in regards to our children, ALL this money is Good money and our children will become nothing more than commodities … again!
The writer is the former president of the Seattle King County NAACP and former executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers.
his run game averaged nearly 200 yards per game last season. Bullock also has coached at several other historically Black colleges and universities.
Steve Adams continues his role as special teams coach and recruiting coordinator. Under his guidance last season, the Spartans recorded 21 turnovers, including 13 interceptions.
Rounding out the staff is DeMarcus McMillan, the new director of football operations, who brings experience in project management and youth sports development, including a stint with Virginia Tech’s football program.
With a mix of professional experience and proven leadership, Norfolk State’s coaching staff is set to help the program take strides forward in the seasons ahead.
Rams standout Gerardo Castillo heads home to join San Carlos
Free Press staff report
Former Virginia Commonwealth University men’s soccer standout Gerardo Castillo is set to begin his professional career with Asociación Deportiva San Carlos of Costa Rica’s Primera División, the country’s top professional soccer league. Castillo, a native of San José, Costa Rica, and a 2024 graduate of VCU, played three seasons with the Rams. A first team All-Atlantic 10 defender, he helped lead the team to a 2023 regular-season Atlantic 10 Championship and earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie team as a freshman in 2022.
As captain and a mainstay on the Rams’ back line, Castillo made 42 starts in 45 games,
logging 3,600 minutes. Over his collegiate career, he recorded 13 points, including three goals and seven assists. In his final season, he played a full 90 minutes in eight matches and completed 90 minutes in 31 games across his career.
In 2024, Castillo posted a careerbest two goals, one of which was a game winner in the Rams’ seasonopening victory against No. 15 Wake Forest. He also scored an olimpico goal late in a draw with High Point. Castillo will return to Costa Rica to join San Carlos for the Liga Promerica’s Clausura 2025 season. The team is set to open its campaign on Saturday, Jan. 11, against Deportivo Saprissa.
Colonial Downs reveals details for Virginia Derby weekend
Free Press staff report
The 2025 Virginia Derby, set for Saturday, March 15, will serve as a qualifying race for the 151st Kentucky Derby, offering the winner a spot at Churchill Downs on May 3. The event, a highlight of Colonial Downs’ March meet, will feature at least 10 races, with the Derby itself scheduled for the afternoon.
The Derby is part of a three-day racing stretch beginning Thursday, March 13, continuing through Saturday, March 15, which is expected to attract top-tier competition.
For fans seeking to attend, general admission tickets are available for $5. Additional options
include trackside seating, dining packages and exclusive experiences at the Colonial Downs Jockey Club.
“We’re excited to make this Virginia Derby a memorable event for race fans across the region,” said Frank Hopf, senior director of racing operations at Colonial Downs. The 2025 race season at Colonial Downs will span a record-breaking 44 days, up from 27 in 2024, with live racing starting in March and continuing through a summer and fall schedule that includes the Festival of Racing on Aug. 9. Tickets for the Virginia Derby and all other events can be purchased at ColonialDowns.com.
MJBL East-West All-Star Game returns to Daytona Beach
Weeks Sr. and manager Thomas Eaton. Players will compete using either wood or metal bats that meet National High School Federation standards. Ahead of the games, participants will gather for a meet-andgreet session on Friday evening, Jan. 17, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
as the league’s executive director. More information is available at.mjbl.org.
Carl B. Mack
Free Press staff report
Coach Vick
LaRoy Reynolds
Izaan Cross
Darryl Bullock
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson talks to reporters following an NFL wild card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 11, against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Baltimore.
Gerardo Castillo
Jabo Smith
Elton Brown
Terence Garvin
Personality: Dr. Lynda Hyatt
Spotlight on board president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Central Virginia
With over three decades in mental health, Dr. Lynda Hyatt has witnessed significant progress in reducing barriers to treatment and services. Yet, she remains steadfast in her fight against the societal stigma surrounding mental illness.
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness. The widespread impact of mental illness in the U.S. creates a strain on emergency room visits, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC found that Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and those who live in rural areas are disproportionately affected by the mental health crisis.
As the board president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Central Virginia (NAMI-VA), Hyatt’s mental health advocacy is a central part of her volunteer efforts. In this role, she has a platform to speak out against the stigma and challenge negative stereotypes. Her extensive mental health experience led her to NAMI-VA, where she believes she can continue to make progress for those with mental health challenges.
“I think people just don’t know enough about mental illness,” Hyatt said. “When you don’t know, it can be scary. The fact that celebrities are speaking out about it now helps with the stigma.”
NAMI-VA seeks to promote and improve the quality of life for Virginians living with serious mental illness through support, education and advocacy. The organization offers extensive resources to youths,
families and seniors for people in crisis.
“People are learning that it’s a treatable illness like high blood pressure or diabetes. I hope we’ll see a reduction in the price of mental health medication like we’ve seen for insulin,” Hyatt said.
As CEO of Gateway Homes, a nonprofit that provides mental health services in a residential setting, Hyatt’s focus is helping individuals get the mental health services they need. The organization addresses the gap in the continuum of housing and mental health care for people with serious mental illness and the adversity of extreme poverty.
“Over 90% of the people we help are indigent,” Hyatt said.
Hyatt lives on a farm in Charles City and commutes two hours daily to Richmond for work. She loves spending time with her rescue horses, four dogs, two cats and a pond full of goldfish.
Meet the strong mental health advocate with no plans to retire and this week’s Personality, Dr. Lynda Hyatt:
Occupation: CEO of Gateway
Homes, licensed clinical psychologist and licensed consultant for standards of excellence
Place of birth: Alabama.
Where I live now: Charles City.
Education: Ph.D. in counseling and psychological services
with a cognate in business.
Family: Married with two children and four grandchildren.
NAMI-VA’s mission: To provide advocacy, support and education to individuals and families who are experiencing challenges with mental health.
When and why I got involved: I want to eliminate the stigma of seeking help for mental health issues.
When elected board chair: September 2024.
Why I accepted the position: I have 18 years of experience in a leadership position and wanted to share my skill set with NAMI. No. 1 goal or project as board chair: Implement standards of excellence in all aspects of operations.
Strategy for achieving goal or project: Working directly with NAMI-VA Executive Director
Nick Macrini.
Our biggest challenge: Eliminating stigma.
Financial support: Various income streams, from grants to individual donors.
NAMI-VA partners: Other advocacy groups, our affiliates, our donors and our grantees.
Number of people we serve: Affiliates served 16,000 individuals across Virginia last year.
How I have seen NAMI-VA make a difference in Richmond: Advocating with the General Assembly, providing support to families with loved ones who have been diagnosed with mental illness and providing education to the community.
NAMI-VA services: Support, training, advocacy and education.
How to access the services: Call NAMI-VA, 1-888-4868264 Ext. 202 or 1-804-2858264 Ext. 202.
Communities we serve: We have affiliates across Virginia.
Volunteer opportunities with
NAMI-VA: Board member, support groups, facilitating training.
Upcoming events: Advocacy with the General Assembly and the NAMI- VA walk in October.
How I start the day: Being thankful.
Three words that best describe me: Competent, inclusive and approachable.
Dream dinner party guest: Richard Gere, because he is brilliant.
Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Dance, play tennis and skate.
A quote that inspires me:
“Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” — Calvin Coolidge.
Most influential person: My high school Latin teacher, Richard Baker.
Current read: “The Women” by Kristin Hannah.
Next goal: Impact NAMI-VA positively during my tenure as board president.
From South Central to center stage - Albright’s 40 year music journey
By Jennifer Robinson
Gerald Albright, a West Coast native, likes coming to the Virginia area. Over the years, he’s experienced some of his highest record and ticket sales here. And every time he performs here, he feels a “oneness” with the audience. For Albright, music is about more than just notes — it’s about the shared experience between the artist and the crowd.
“There are certain songs that people want to hear when I perform, but every concert we do is different because it’s a live performance,” Albright said. “The fact that it’s jazz makes it different every time. The individual and collective moods mean the music is different every time.
Known for his soulful, evocative musical style, Albright avoids the “smooth jazz” label. Instead, he describes his music as contemporary R&B/urban jazz — a sound designed to evoke emotion in listeners.
“Whenever I sit down to write or play, I want the music to be genuine. I don’t want to sound like someone else,” Albright said, emphasizing his dedication to his craft.
Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Albright started playing the saxophone as a child. By high school, he was already an accomplished musician, knowing that music would be his career. He began his formal education at the University of Redlands, majoring in business management with a minor in music.
After college, Albright hit the road with jazz pianist and R&B singer Patrice Rushen in the 1980s, playing saxophone and bass
guitar. His time on tour helped him establish a reputation as a skilled musician, leading to work as a studio musician with icons such as The Temptations, Ray Parker Jr., Maurice White and Anita Baker. He also toured with Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, and Teena Marie. In 1987, he recorded his debut solo album, “Just Between Us” which featured the hit single “Chill.”
“I got the record deal after touring with Anita Baker playing
the bass guitar. She didn’t even know I played the saxophone,” Albright said. “Even though I had recorded my first album, I still worked as a touring artist. One promoted the other, and I had a family to support.”
Albright and his wife have been married for 43 years and have raised two children. Their daughter occasionally collaborates with him, while their son is a professional golfer. Through the ups and downs, Albright’s wife has always been by his side.
“My wife used to collect the money at the front door when I used to play at the clubs. We still have that money box,” Albright said. “She has seen everything unfold and is such a support for me. It’s a rarity to have that kind of longevity.”
With a career spanning over 40 years, Albright has worked with some of the most notable figures in the music industry and released over 22 solo albums. He’s been nominated for nine Grammy Awards. In 2021, he received the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Biden. Known for his ability to blend contemporary R&B with urban jazz, Albright has continued to evolve with releases such as “G-Stream 3 – Full Throttle” (2024), the latest in his G-Stream series.
“I’m humbled by the life I’ve led. It’s the result of hard work,” Albright said. “Treating people right has been reciprocated. I pinch myself. I love what I do, and I’m still in the moment with the music.”
Albright performs for former Gov. Doug Wilder’s birthday (Jan. 17) on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, with jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler. Tickets are $94.50 For more information visit jsaffair.com or call 804-510-9999.
Sculptures inspired by Alvin Ailey to be featured at Lewis Ginter
staff report
Free Press
“My hope is that the figures will spring forth like spirits rising from the soil, to be recognized, revered and embraced,” Mays said. “May they push through while mingling and dancing among the flowers. Both plants and human beings come and go — reverberating within the cycles of life.”
Each sculpture is meticulously crafted from thousands of pieces of wire, hooked and looped together to form intricate
Kristine Mays’ sculptures appear to emerge from the ground, their wire frames evoking delicate yet resilient figures in motion. This striking juxtaposition of fragility and strength will be on display at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden when her acclaimed exhibition, “Rich Soil,” opens Jan. 18 and runs through March 9, 2025. The exhibition features 29 life-size sculptures, arranged in seven groupings across the Garden’s iconic spaces. Inspired by Alvin Ailey’s dance masterpiece “Revelations,” Mays’ work pays tribute to the ancestors who walked and tended the land, honoring both their lives and legacies. The exhibition is included with Garden admission and free for members.
gestures and expressions. The works explore themes of identity, resilience and the human connection, embodying what Mays describes as “a strong spirit shining forth in the dichotomy of what is revealed.”
A San Francisco native, Mays has been an exhibiting artist since 1993, gaining recognition for her unique medium and storytelling. Her work has appeared at national institutions such as the California African American Museum and the Museum of African Diaspora and has been featured in major media outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The Branch Museum of Design announces rebranding, new leader
Free Press staff report
The Branch Museum of Design and Architecture is marking its 10th anniversary with a new name and a new leader.
The museum will now be called The Branch Museum of Design, reflecting a broader focus on all aspects of design, including architecture. A comprehensive rebranding effort is set to debut this spring.
Kristen Cavallo, a celebrated advertising and design leader, has been appointed as the museum’s new executive director. Cavallo retired in 2024 after a 30-year career, most recently serving as the global head of MullenLowe Group, where she oversaw a network of 4,500 employees worldwide.
Company” list twice. She was named “Virginia Business Person of the Year” by Virginia Business in December 2023.
“[Cavallo’s] work at The Martin Agency and MullenLowe Global was transformative and reflected her passion for the power of creativity and culture as tools that can bring communities together, lift people up and drive positive change,”said Kelly O’Keefe, a member of the museum’s board of trustees.
“Our new name better captures the reality that design is everywhere — spanning architecture, fashion, interiors and art,” said Walter M. Dotts, chair of the museum’s Board of Trustees. “We are beyond thrilled to welcome Kristen to lead our organization as we further our vision of achieving a world where innovative, equitable and beautiful design is valued as essential to improving lives and ensuring a sustainable future.”
Cavallo’s career includes six years as CEO of The Martin Agency, where she led the company to multiple “Agency of the Year” honors and earned a spot on Fast Company’s “Most Innovative
Under Cavallo’s leadership, The Martin Agency produced acclaimed campaigns for clients such as Geico, Oreo, CarMax and UPS. Her tenure at MullenLowe saw six agencies named “Agency of the Year” in 2023. She also prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout her career and expressed a desire to focus on societal change upon retiring from advertising.
“The Branch Museum of Design captivates me,” Cavallo said. “I’ve seen firsthand how creativity can broaden minds and grow businesses. Design fosters curiosity, which is the root of growth – personally and professionally. In addition, Richmond has a reputation for design and is deserving of a museum to celebrate it.”
Cavallo succeeds Heather Ernst, who is stepping down to relocate closer to family.
For more information about The Branch Museum of Design visit branchmuseum.org.
Local artists organize to raise funds for Hurricane Helene relief
Free Press staff report
Local artists are teaming up to raise funds for the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) through an online auction and an in-person art exhibition. RVA4CERF+, set to take place from Jan. 21-24, will feature artwork donated by over 50 Virginia artists to support the relief efforts for craft artists impacted by Hurricane Helene. The exhibition will be free and open to the public, hosted at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s True F. Luck Gallery. Exhibition hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. In addition to the in-person exhibition, all artwork will be available for online bidding during the same period. The online auction will begin 10 a.m. Jan. 21 and close 8 p.m. Jan. 24. Proceeds from the auction will directly benefit CERF+’s relief fund for artists who have lost studios, supplies,
and irreplaceable work due to the hurricane.
“In the wake of HurricaneHelene’s devastation, over 50 local artists have united to help fellow creatives who’ve lost studios, supplies, irreplaceable artwork, and even their entire livelihoods,” said Debra Reid, an artist and organizer of the event. “We hope to inspire art lovers everywhere to support our efforts by bidding on the incredible donated artwork.” The exhibition will feature a variety of media from Virginia artists, including Susie Ganch, Leigh Suggs, Daniel Rickey, Curtis Newkir and Jeff Vick. The auction will be hosted online, and details can be found at visarts.org/rva4cerf
Jordan Brown, executive director of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, emphasized the importance of supporting artists.
“At VisArts, we’re always looking for creative ways to support artists,” Brown said.
“Witnessing the ongoing impact of Hurricane Helene, our exhibitions team was eager to jump in to help this opportunity for craft artists to support one another
A closing reception will take place Jan. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a speech by Ruby Harper Lopez, executive director of CERF+. For more details, please visit visarts.org/rva4cerf or follow @rva4cerfplus on Instagram and Facebook.
Mays’ sculptures are included in private collections nationwide, with notable collectors including filmmaker George Lucas and the late Peggy Cooper Cafritz. Her projects have ranged from large-scale public art, such as a 400-pound sculpture for San Francisco’s “Hearts in San Francisco” program, to a mural collaboration in her hometown reflecting the fleeting legacy of Black jazz musicians.
To mark the opening of “Rich Soil,” Mays will participate in a discussion at the Garden with Saajida Chohan, director of education and visitor experience at The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, on Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. The event is free for members of both the Garden and the Black History Museum. Tickets are $8. For more information visit lewisginter.org.
Kristen Cavallo
“Rich Soil” artist Kristine Mays’ sculpture series opens at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on Jan. 18. Inspired by Alvin Ailey’s “Revelation,” the 29 life-size sculptures honor ancestors who lived and worked the land.
Courtesy Gerald Albright
Jazz musician Gerald Albright and guitarist Jonathan Butler play at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Jan. 18.
Obituaries/Faith Directory
Beloved Richmond entertainer Wayne Breedlove dies at 56
By JayQuan Hartsfield
Wayne Breedlove, a prominent figure in Richmond’s entertainment and community scenes, died at age 56 on Wednesday Jan. 8, 2025. Affectionately known as “Bree” to friends and loved ones, Breedlove was a dancer, athlete, counselor and community activist whose vibrant personality and talents left a lasting impact. Breedlove gained recognition in the 1980s and ’90s as a dancer alongside Richmond rap artists Mr. Melody (Michael Braxton) and Sam The Beast. His dynamic performances introduced him to a generation of audiences in the city and beyond.
“Bree was already an incredible club dancer when I met him,” said Braxton, whose 1989 hit “Funk Motor” propelled the group to tour the East Coast. “When I saw his talent, I knew I had to bring him on board. Bree and Lou [Barber] together were as good as [rapper Big Daddy Kane’s dancers] Scoob and Scrap.”
just clicked,” Barber said. “We toured with Mr. Melody, then moved on to dance with Sam The Beast, whose hit ‘Knock Some Boots’ took us across the country, from Hawaii to New York.”
Lou Barber, Breedlove’s dance partner and close friend of over 30 years, recalled their first meeting through a dance battle that blossomed into a lifelong brotherhood. “We had similar styles and builds, so it
‘Mr.
Beyond the stage, Breedlove’s relationships extended far deeper. “He was more than a friend; he was family,” Barber said. “He was like an uncle to my kids, and I was the same to his. We did everything together—from smoking cigars to just being there for one another. That bond started with dancing and grew into something much more.”
Kim Hunter, who shares a daughter with Breedlove, reflected on his compassionate spirit. “He had a heart of gold,” she said. “Wayne loved hard, big and often. He touched so many lives, and we’ll cherish his memory forever.”
Jerome Becton, a football teammate with the Virginia Hornets, echoed those sentiments. “Wayne was my brother. He worked passionately with special needs children and ran his own group home. He was always there for others and showed love to everyone he met.”
Braxton explained that he maintained a close relationship with Breedlove after their musical partnership ended.
CIAA’ remembered as basketball tournament icon
By George Copeland Jr.
For decades, Abraham Mitchell was a beloved presence in the sports world of historically Black colleges and universities. Easily recognizable in the bustling crowds of Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association basketball tournaments, his colorful suits and upbeat demeanor earned him the nickname “Mr. CIAA.”
Mitchell died last week at age 95, sparking an outpouring of grief, tributes and celebrations that highlighted the profound impact of his contributions and legacy for basketball fans and the CIAA community.
“It is difficult to put into words the depth of our loss with the passing of Mr. Mitchell,” read a CIAA statement on social media. “Mr. Mitchell will forever hold a cherished place in the CIAA family, having created countless beautiful memories for our fans, students and partners over the span of more than four decades.”
Born on Sept. 24, 1929, in Suffolk, Mitchell was originally a mortician. He began attending CIAA tournaments in the 1970s to support his nephew, Peter Mitchell, who played for Norfolk State University.
Mitchell’s outfits started as a simple
shirt and tie to show support for NSU, but over the years, they evolved into suits featuring the school colors of both teams during games, with Mitchell changing outfits at halftime.
Over the years, Mitchell created, de-
signed, or redesigned a vast collection of unique, high-quality suits to celebrate each basketball team participating in the tournaments — a skill he attributed to his mother’s work as a seamstress. In a 2016 interview, he estimated having between 300 and 400 suits in his home.
For Joe Taylor, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and community wellness at Virginia Union University, Mitchell’s presence and energy “singlehandedly impacted” the attendance of CIAA basketball tournaments.
“His sharp dress and representation of each institution in the CIAA attracted attendees to the arena by the masses to see what outfit he would be wearing next,” Taylor said. “No one will ever duplicate his style, class and his impeccable fashions. He will truly be missed.”
Although Mitchell never played college sports, his dedication to celebrating the games and the players earned him a spot in the CIAA Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2016.
A viewing will be held by Mitchell’s family on Friday, Jan. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Suffolk. His funeral will take place noon Saturday, Jan. 18, at New Tabernacle Church, located at 2500 E. Washington St.
and the
Wayne Breedlove during their dancing days in the
“We smoked cigars together (Braxton is the founder of the Smoke & Vine Festival), and we remained brothers. He was a good father, and he left this earth working for the kids. He had his own group home, and he was always lending a helping hand.” Breedlove is survived by his children, Chanelle, Rashelle, Dymond, Ciara, Ymani, Kamryn, Zuri, Kiya and Wayne Jr.; grandchildren, Sage, Maliyah,
and Teron; mother, Florence Breedlove; siblings, Tonya (Derrick), Yasin (Erica), Jannat, Lamar and Antoine; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Willie Breedlove. He also is survived by his fiancée, Niawasa Jackson. Funeral services will be held at noon Jan. 24 at United Nations Church International, 214 Cowardin Ave.
Wayne Breedlove
Abraham Mitchell
Lou Barber
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by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Office of Sustainability’s “Grant – EECBG Home Energy Audits, Energy Savings for Richmond’s Workforce Housing Project Special Fund” by $262,500.00, and (iii) appropriating
$250,000.00 of such funds to Viridiant, all for the purpose of providing funding for energy efficiency assistance for low-income residents.
(COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m.)
Ordinance No. 2025-006
To amend Ord. No. 2022244, adopted Sept. 23, 2022, which authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Vehicle Lease Agreement between the City of Richmond, as lessor, and the Richmond Ambulance Authority, as lessee, for the purpose of leasing to the Richmond Ambulance Authority certain ambulances owned by the City, for the purpose of adding six “chase” vehicles to the Vehicle Lease Agreement and leasing certain City-owned personal property to the Richmond Ambulance Authority. (COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m.)
Ordinance No. 2025-007
To amend Ord. No. 2024100, adopted May 13, 2024, which accepted a program of proposed Capital Improvement Projects for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and the four fiscal years thereafter, adopted a Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, and determined a means of financing the same, by increasing estimated revenues from the JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. line of credit borrowings, authorized by Ord. No. 2023-077, adopted May 8, 2023, by $977,721.00 and appropriating such $977,721.00 to the Vehicle Replacement project in the Capital Vehicle and Equipment category for the purpose of purchasing six “chase” vehicles to be leased by the City to the Richmond Ambulance Authority. (COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m.)
Ordinance No. 2025-008
To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Grant Agreement between the City of Richmond, 2811 Rady, LLC, and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of facilitating the construction of an affordable residential development located at 2811 Rady Street. (COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m.)
Ordinance No. 2025-009
To accept a quitclaim deed from the School Board conveying a portion of 1211 Jahnke Road and commonly known as Westover Park to the City and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to act on behalf of the City in executing such deed. Ordinance No. 2025-010
To designate the 900 block of Decatur Street in honor of Reverend Robert A. Winfree. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 3:00 p.m.)
Ordinance No. 2025-011 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on
of
and the Council of the
a
on Monday, February
2025, at 6:00 p.m. in
on the
of City Hall, located at
East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2024-326 To amend Ord. No. 2021277, adopted Nov. 8, 2021, which authorized the special use of the property known as 3401 Patterson Avenue for the purpose of a restaurant, tea room, café, delicatessen, ice cream parlor, or similar food service establishment, upon certain terms and conditions, and repealed Ord. No. 90-142-117, adopted May 14, 1990, to authorize a mobile food truck use and to revise the plans, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ordinance No. 2024-327 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1800 North 27th Street for the purpose of one single-family detached dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ordinance No. 2024-328
To authorize the special use of the property known as 2501 Dana Street for the purpose of up to three single-family detached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ordinance No. 2024-329
To authorize the special use of the properties known as 5728 Patterson Avenue and 805 Libbie Avenue for the purpose of a mixed-use building, including commercial space, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ordinance No. 2025-012
To authorize the special use of the property known as 3401 Decatur Street for the purpose of two single-family detached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ordinance No. 2025-013
To authorize the special use of the properties known as 2526 Floyd Avenue and 105 North Robinson Street to allow for certain uses permitted in the R-63 Multifamily Urban Residential District, upon certain terms and conditions, and to repeal Ord. No. 88-92-99, adopted Apr. 25, 1988, as amended by Ord. No. 89-41-46, adopted Mar. 13, 1989, as amended by Ord. No. 94-195-188, adopted Sept. 15, 1994, as amended by Ord. No. 99-196-208, adopted Jul. 12, 1999.
Ordinance No. 2025-014
To authorize the special use of the property known as 3618 Hawthorne Avenue for the purpose of a four-unit multifamily dwelling and six singlefamily attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ordinance No. 2025-015
To authorize the special use of the property known as 618 South Laurel Street for the purpose of an accessory dwelling unit located on the same lot as a two-family dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ordinance No. 2025-016
To authorize the special use of the property known as 3308 East Marshall Street for the purpose of a mixed-use building with outdoor dining, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ordinance No. 2025-017
To authorize the special use of the property known as 501 South Pine Street for the purpose of an outdoor storage area
DIVORCE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA COUNTY OF HENRICO CIRCUIT COURT KELLEY LATRISE (ROBINSON) MOORE V TERRELLE DELANE OWENS Case No. CL24-8277 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN A DIVORCE A VINCULLO MATRIMONII OR FROM THE BONDS OF MATRIMONY ON THE GROUNDS OF A ONE YEAR SEPARATION PURSUANT TO §20-91. It appearing from an affidavit that the defendant is: that diligence has been used without effect, by or on the behalf of the plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city defendant is. It is ORDERED that Terrelle Delane Owens appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before March 3, 2025 at 9 a.m.
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF HENRICO 4301 EAST PARHAM ROAD HENRICO, VA 23228 DAVID EMMERLING v. RENALYN EMMERLING Case No.: CL24007319-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to: DIVORCE It is ORDERED that RENALYN EMMERLING appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before March 3, 2025 at 9 a.m. PROPERTY
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND DONNIE J. AUSTIN, Plaintiff, v. AUGUSTINE J. SMITH, et al., Defendants. CASE NO. CL24004043-00 DED ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of the abovestyled suit is the partition of the property located at 3106 Duncan Road, Richmond, VA 23223. It appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the whereabouts of Defendant, Paulette Austin Freeman, are unknown, it is therefore ORDERED that notice of these proceedings be posted at the front door of the courthouse pursuant to Virginia Code §8.01-317; and it is therefore ORDERED that notice of these proceedings be published in a newspaper or online-only news publication prescribed by the court, once per week for four consecutive weeks and that the Clerk’s Office take appropriate action as required under Virginia Code §8.01-317; and it is therefore ORDERED that a copy of this notice be mailed to the defendants at the address provided in the affidavit pursuant to Va. Code §8.01316; and it is therefore ORDERED that Defendant, Paulette Austin Freeman, appear before this Court on or before the 7th day of Febtuary 2025, and do what is necessary to protect her interests in this suit. A Copy Teste: EDWARD F. JEWETT, Clerk I ASK FOR THIS: D. Gail Holstrom, Esq., VSB#46975 Holstrom Law, PLC 2520 Professional Road, B Richmond, Virginia 23235 (804) 592-0848
NOTICE VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF HANOVER RICARDO D. EDWARDS, TRUSTEE OF THE
particularly described as follows: ALL that certain lot, piece of real estate, with improvements thereon and appurtenances thereto belonging, containing 10.000 acres, lying and being in South Anna District, Hanover County, Virginia, all as shown and designated as Parcel “A” on that certain plat of survey made by Downing Surveys, Inc., dated December 20, 2000, entitled “Plat of Family Division of 30.010 Acres East of Mountain Road & South of Scotchtown Road.” A copy of said plat is recorded herewith and reference is made to the plat for a more particular description of the property conveyed. BEING a portion of the property conveyed to Ruth Clarke Ward by Deed of Gift from Theresa G. Clarke, dated November 10, 2000, recorded February 12, 2001, in the Clerk’s Office in the Circuit Court of Hanover County, Virginia in Deed Book 1625, page 0317 and by a Corrected Deed of Gift, dated February 15, 2001 and recorded immediately prior hereto in the aforementioned Clerk’s Office. The Lorretta C. Edwards Living Trust have an interest in the property by deed, by inheritance or by duly recorded liens. The unknown heirs, devisees, and/or successors in the title to Robert E. Clarke, Sr. and/or George W. Clarke and other parties unknown by have an interest in the property by deed, by inheritance or by duly recorded liens.
Affidavit having been made and filed that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the identities and/or locations of certain parties to be served, and that there are or may be persons whose names are unknown, interested in the subject matter of this suit; It is ORDERED that Unknown Heirs of Robert E. Clarke, Sr. and George W. Clarke, if then living or if dead, their heirs, devisees, assigns, or successors in title, and other unknown heirs or parties who have an interest in the subject matter of this suit, who are proceeded against as UNKNOWN HEIRS OF Robert E. Clarke, Sr. and George W. Clarke, and PARTIES UNKNOWN,
appear before Court on or before February 5, 2025 to protect their interests, if any, in this suit. A Copy, Teste: FRANK A. HARGROVE, JR. I ask for this: Jason L. Shaber, Esq., V.S.B.96186 Attorney for Plaintiff DANKOS, GORDON & TUCKER, P.C. 1360 E. Parham Road Richmond, Virginia 23228 (804) 377-7424 jshaber@dankosgordon.com ABC LICENSE Pandora Cafe & House Music Inc. Trading as: Pandora Cafe & House Music 3119 West Moore Street Richmond, Virginia 23230-4419
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC)
AUTHORITY for a Retail Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverage Consumed On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or (800) 552-3200. Tacos Sabor Guerrerense, Inc. Trading as: Tacos Sabor Guerrerense 4810 US Route 1 North Chesterfield Chesterfield County, Virginia 23237 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Mixed Beverage Restaurant; beer, wine,
Musician / Director Westwood Baptist Church seeks an experienced Musician / Director to serve on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, beginning in February, 2025. Any/all interested parties are encouraged to apply directly via Indeed / Ziprecruiter or reply to the WBC HR Team at wbcsta ng@gmail.com
or (800) 552-3200.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Thank you for your interest in applying for opportunities with The City of Richmond. To see what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com. EOE M/F/D/V
ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
The City of Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Office has a position available for Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. Responsibilities include the prosecution of criminal cases, including felony and misdemeanor offenses, in the General District Court, Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court and Circuit Court. Attorney will receive training in order to prepare and prosecute cases, to advise local law enforcement agencies, and to work closely with victims of crime. As experience, knowledge, and skills are developed, the attorney will be exposed to increasing responsibility, including more difficult and complex cases. Position involves significant legal discretion and the opportunity to use a variety of alternatives to incarceration in the appropriate cases. Candidates must be licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Candidates should have a thorough knowledge of Virginia criminal law and procedure and familiarity with the criminal justice process. Work from home flexibility is available. Applicants with prior criminal defense or prosecution experience are encouraged to apply. Salary depends upon experience. Send resumes to beverly.s.harris@RVA.gov. Position open until filled.
