Richmond Free Press
Lightning strike hits school
Cardinal Elementary shuts down while repairs underway
By Paula Phounsavath
Parents arriving at Cardinal Elementary School on Wednesday morning, carrying clear backpacks and lunch bags, were met by a school official informing them the school was closed due to damage caused by a lightning strike and subsequent fire. The building will remain closed until next Tuesday.
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said at a press conference at the school on Wednesday morning that there was no severe damage to the building’s infrastructure.
“Everything worked the way it’s supposed to work,” the superintendent said. “As a result of that, the damage was fairly notable and we’re able to get kids back into school within a relatively short amount of time.”
The second floor, home to second- and third-grade classrooms, sustained the most damage. Lightning struck the roof, igniting a fire that was quickly contained by first responders. Rainwater later flooded a hallway in the affected classroom wing.
Inside the school, bulky plastic air ducts run throughout the first floor to prevent humidity from being trapped indoors, including portable fans set around the floors to keep the interior cool and lower the humidity. The stairway leading up to the second and third-graders wing was no longer flooded, but each
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
A COVID-19 vaccine is administered to a resident of Highland Park Senior Apartments in 2021.
By Charlotte Renee Woods
While respiratory illnesses like the flu typically trend higher in the winter months, COVID19 is not totally seasonal. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate high or very high levels of COVID-19 nationwide this summer. But with new vaccines expected to be available next month and the winter months on the horizon, medical professionals in Virginia suggest people get their shots sooner rather than later.
“COVID mutates quicker than the flu,” said Heather Harmon-Sloan with Virginia’s
Department of Health. “This makes it incredibly important to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine that will be coming out here shortly.”
This is because the newer vaccines — approved last week and expected in September — will be more effective at guarding against the latest variants of the virus. The new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will target the specific strain of the virus that has been attributed to spikes in infections this past spring and summer.
Over 3% of emergency room
visitors each week for the past three weeks in Virginia have been diagnosed with COVID19, a number that has been rising over the summer. And while not every case may lead to an emergency room visit, wastewater surveillance to detect the presence of COVID-19 indicates high levels around the country. Virginia’s latest surveillance shows mostly a plateau around the state with an increase in the Eastern Shore
“What we’re seeing right now is higher than what we saw this time last year,” HarmonSloan said.
Richmond International Airport officials delay vote on service changes
By George Copeland Jr.
A move by the Richmond International Airport to assume more control of airline services from two local providers has been delayed for a second time.
A unanimous vote by the Capital Region Airport Commission Tuesday morning paused the proposed change, which could have led to RIC handling aviation operations that have been provided for decades by the Richmond Jet Center and Million Air Richmond.
Commission members instead opted to defer the proposal so they can continue to investigate, discuss their options and gather more information. Another vote on the change was delayed during their previous meeting in late July.
“I want to make sure,” RIC President and CEO Perry Miller said, “because my intent going forward is to ensure I’m meeting with industry representatives on the possible options.”
The vote was the latest development in the years-long effort to assume more control of area operations from the two companies, who serve as fixed-base operators for the airport, providing services such as plane maintenance and operational support for both commercial and private flights.
The move has led to concern and criticism from the public, local businesses and lawmakers over a lack of transparency and the potential impact on the FBOs, their workers and those in the airline industry that also rely on them.
The response to the proposal was a major focus of discussion during the meeting, with multiple CRAC members decrying the toxicity of some of the messages they’ve received since the process began.
“I received multiple missives in my inbox, to my home,” Airport Commissioner Misty Whitehead said. “Being chastised to care about the little guy, being chastised to care about em-
Mayor acknowledges Finance lapses, pledges accountability
George Copeland Jr.
By
Mayor Levar M. Stoney
said “under 30 checks” were found by officials in the Department of Finance on the desks of employees during audits in early August, during a press conference held in the lobby of City Hall on Tuesday afternoon.
This is a violation of city policy that requires desks
to be clear of any checks or documentation with taxpayer information, according to the mayor.
Businesses and taxpayers who had
the unsecured checks have been contacted to ensure everything is in order and to resolve any issues, according to Stoney. “Our policy is that your
Stoney said. “Residents trust
Stoney noted the checks were a small percentage of the “over 71,000” processed in City Hall yearly, but made clear this discovery was “unacceptable.” He didn’t confirm what disciplinary actions were taken for the employees who left the unsecured checks on their desks, only saying that “accountability has occurred.”
George Copeland Jr./Richmond Free Press Mayor Levar M. Stoney at the press
Regina H. Boone/ Richmond Free Press
Cardinal Elementary School was struck by lightning Aug. 26, causing a small roof fire and water damage to the second floor.
Superintendent Jason Kamras, along with Richmond School Board representative Shavonda Dixon Fernandez and RPS Chief Operating Officer Dana Fox inspected the damage and ongoing cleanup efforts during a press conference on Wednesday. The school, which opened in 2021, is closed until next Tuesday.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
A decision on changing airline services at Richmond International Airport has been postponed until late August after strong opposition from critics.
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press Family time
Soliel Lindsey and her 5-year-old son, Samaad LindseyJones, enjoy ice cream at Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward during the 33rd Down Home Family Reunion on Aug. 17. Please see more photos on A4.
Aging RPS buildings to get multimillion-dollar facelift
By Paula Phounsavath
Richmond Public Schools is getting a $15.3 million federal grant for HVAC upgrades, a crucial step in the district’s efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs among its aging facilities. The funding, part of a broader initiative to enhance school infrastructure, will target 22 RPS buildings, addressing long-standing issues in a school system where the average facility is 62 years old.
In a press conference and infrastructure tour at John Marshall High School last Thursday morning, Superintendent Jason Kamras shared the school division’s plan for building improvements.
“We want to rebuild John Marshall and the rest of the schools that need it,” Kamras said. “We are in the work of fixing things up as best as we can with the resources that we have.”
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
The federal grant, which was announced by U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner on Aug. 6, was through the Inflation Reduction Act. The HVAC grant will be distributed among 22 RPS facilities: Bellevue Elementary, Carver Elementary, Fairfield Court Elementary, Francis Elementary, McClenney Elementary, Obama Elementary, Redd Elementary, G.H. Reid Elementary, Southampton Elementary, Swansboro Elementary and Westover Hills Elementary, Albert Hill Middle and Binford Middle, Armstrong High, Community High, John Marshall High and Thomas Jefferson High. Other schools slated for an upgrade include, Amelia Street School, Franklin Military Academy, Maymont and Summer Hill Preschools and Richmond Alternative School.
RPS happens to be the only division in Virginia to receive the grant, as well as one of only 16 school divisions across the country. The upgrades will decrease energy costs while also improving air quality. The school division has encountered many crumbling infrastructures within their facilities, with the average age of schools needing an energy upgrade being 86 years old.
“That’s a big deal because it’s hard to learn if you’re cold or if you’re too hot,” Kamras said.
The funding for the grant was made possible by the 2024 Renew America’s School Prize (RASP), which is a $190 million investment program from the U.S. Department of Energy for creating healthier learning environments and cutting costs for public schools by improving facilities and making energy efficiency upgrades.
“By investing in clean energy, we are taking steps to combat climate change, create jobs and build healthier communities,” Kaine said. “As a former Richmond Public Schools parent, I’m thrilled Richmond Public Schools, the sole recipient in Virginia of funding through this grant program for this year, is receiving
Labor Day closing schedule
In observance of the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 2, please note the following:
Government offices • Local government offices in the city of Richmond and Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties will be closed. • State and federal offices will be closed. Courts Closed Monday in Richmond and the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover. Schools Closed Friday, Aug. 30, and Monday, Sept. 2, for Richmond, Chesterfield County, Henrico and Hanover County public schools Public libraries Closed Monday. The Library of Virginia will be closed from Saturday, Aug. 31, to Monday, Sept. 2. Trash and recycling No pickups Monday, all collections will be delayed by one day for the week. Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions Closed. U.S. Postal Service Closed. Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers Closed. Malls, major retailers and movie theaters Varies; check with specific locations. ABC stores All stores will close at 6 p.m. on Monday. GRTC Operating on a Sunday schedule on Monday, Sept. 2, with no express service. Free Press Offices Closed.
Red Cross faces emergency blood shortage as severe weather disrupts donations
Free Press staff report
The American Red Cross is grappling with a nationwide blood emergency as severe weather, including the remnants of Hurricane Debby, has significantly impacted blood donations across the country. Residents in unaffected areas are urged to schedule an appointment to donate blood or platelets to help replenish the critical supply.
In recent weeks, severe weather has forced the cancellation of nearly 60 blood drives, resulting in approximately 1,500 missed blood donations. Many of these disruptions were caused by Hurricane Debby, which compounded the summer’s already low blood donation numbers. Each year, severe weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and blizzards impact around 90,000 donations.
Since blood has a limited shelf life and can only be supplied by volunteer donors, interruptions to collection efforts can have serious implications for hospitals and patients in need of lifesaving treatments.
The Red Cross is calling on both first-time donors and regular donors to help rebuild the blood supply. Those interested in donating can make an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
As a token of appreciation, those who donate through Aug. 31 will receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card via email. From Sept. 1 to 15, donors also may receive an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last.
Correction
An article in the Aug. 22-24
this funding to help students, educators, and the greater Richmond area and cut energy costs and save taxpayers money.”
John Marshall High School senior Kaileigh Wilson-Porter at the press conference said while she is grateful for the educational experience throughout her four years, she expressed bittersweet thoughts about the upcoming improvements to her school.
“With the construction going on, the underclassmen after me, they get to see these changes and I’ll be gone by then, but they get to see the school flourish,” Wilson-Porter said.
Beyond the HVAC upgrades, RPS is undertaking several renovation projects across the district. Following the press conference, Jon Balasa, the school division’s director of school construction, led a tour of John Marshall’s courtyard. He explained that since the beginning of summer break, the high school has been undergoing significant renovations. The courtyard walls are being reconstructed with horizontal-ribbed metal panels replacing the original brickwork, a change designed
to improve energy efficiency. New window and door frames also are being installed. Balasa noted that an abatement process was necessary before laying the new foundation. Currently, the courtyard remains overgrown with tall weeds and grass, but plans are in place to transform it into a maintained space for student lunches, outdoor learning and gardening.
The wall is expected to be completed by early October and cost roughly under $3 million.
“This is a good example of when there’s been decades of disinvestment, it ends up costing us a lot more in the long run,” Kamras said. “If you don’t take care of your house, things start falling apart and it costs you a lot in an emergency repair and that’s where we are in the system for over 50, 60, 70 years.”
Kamras said there is some “relief” the school division is finally receiving more funding toward its schools.
“The city really has stepped up,” he said. “Because of that, we were able to build more buildings and that is no small feat ... we just have a lot more to do.”
Henrico County Supervisor Tyrone Nelson speaks at Unlimited Barber Shop in Richmond about registering and voting for the Democratic presidential ticket of Harris and Walz. Listening are Delegate Michael J. Jones, left, and state Sen. Lamont Bagby, who also shared their views during the Virginia Democrats’ “Barbershop Talk Tour.” Afterward, 10-year-old Nii-Armah Ayree boldly asked the first question about Vice President Kamala Harris’ plans if elected president. Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Killer Mike among panelists for University of Richmond event
Press staff report
Free
The University of Richmond will host a panel discussion on the future of free expression, featuring rapper Killer Mike among the panelists.
The event, scheduled for Fridy, Sept. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Modlin Center for the Arts Camp Concert Hall, is free and open to the public but requires tickets, which may be reserved online.
Panelists also will include Mike Curato, an author; Emerson Sykes, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney; and
For the week ending on Saturday, Aug. 24, confirmed hospital admissions for COVID-19 in Virginia fell by 5.2% from the previous week, and new admissions remain low. Four deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported within the same timeframe. Updated data on COVID-19 wastewater levels in the Greater Richmond area showed plateaued levels starting the week of Sunday, Aug. 18. 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 804786-1960. • 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 804-230-2077.
• Whitcomb Court at 2106 Deforrest St., call 804-786-0555. For more information on testing sites visit
Mary Anne Franks, a George Washington University Law School professor. Erik Nielson, a liberal arts professor at the University of Richmond, organized the event and will moderate alongside former Free Press Managing Editor Bonnie Newman Davis.
“We look forward to bringing together this panel of artists and experts who un -
vax.rchd.com
The Virginia Department of Health testing locations are listed at vdh.virginia.go v Households also will soon be able to order four free COVID-19 tests at COVIDTests.gov. Want a COVID-19 vaccine? Those interested can schedule an appointment with RHHD by calling (804) 2053501. Vaccines.gov also lists pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine, and those interested can also text their ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233. A new vaccine locator is set to be released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through vaccines.gov. The Food and Drug Administration has approved updated versions of the PfizerBioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for 2024 and 2025, and they are set for distribution in September ahead of cold and flu season in the fall and winter months. The FDA currently recommends that children between the ages of 6 months to 4 years receive three doses of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or two doses of the updated Moderna vaccine if unvaccinated.
derstand as well as anyone the importance of free expression,” said Nielson, whose research examines the use of rap lyrics as evidence in court.
The discussion will focus on the current state of free expression in the U.S. and its future prospects.
“While free speech is supposed to be protected by the Constitution, those protections are not absolute or consistently extended to all Americans,” Nielson added. “We will grapple with the implications of that and more during this event.”
Those in the age range that had previously received the vaccine can get one or two doses of either updated vaccine, depending on when their last dose was previously received and how many. Waiting periods for additional vaccines can change depending on previous vaccine doses. Children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old who are unvaccinated or have received a previous dose should get one updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Children in that age range that have been vaccinated
wait at least two months after their previous dose before getting the new one. People who are immunocompromised are encouraged to talk with their health care providers about how they should approach the updated vaccines. Information compiled by George Copeland Jr.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Construction workers at John Marshall High School on Aug. 22, as Richmond Public Schools announces $15.3 million
federal grant for HVAC upgrades and other infrastructure improvements.
Killer Mike
Congresswomen press FDA on ban for hair-straightening chemicals
By Kenya Hunter The Associated Press
Two U.S. House members who first pushed the Food and Drug Administration in 2023 to investigate the health risks of hair straighteners used primarily by Black women are now asking the agency why it has twice delayed its target date to propose a ban on products containing formaldehyde, which studies link to increased rates of cancer.
Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Shontel Brown of Ohio pressed the FDA in a letter to finalize the proposed rule for banning certain salon-grade and at-home hair straighteners. Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York joined Pressley and Brown in spearheading the letter, which was dated Tuesday.
The FDA gave notice of a possible rule in 2023 with an initial target date to release the proposal in April. That was then moved to July before jumping to September.
The letter from Pressley, Brown and Velazquez — all of whom are up for re-election this year — asks FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to provide specific reasons for the delay.
Pressley told The Associated Press that Black women look to straightening treatments in part because of hair discrimination.
“If you do a Google search right now of unprofessional work hairstyles, you’ll be besieged by images of Black women,” said Pressley, who also believes another delay could cause more health issues for communities of color. “Everything from protective styles, Senegalese twists or braids like I wore for many years, or afros or locs ... I just want everyone to be able to show up fully, authentically and unapologetically, without fear and without discrimination.”
It isn’t uncommon for the FDA to have items on the regulatory agenda for years. For example, the draft of a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes came out in 2022, but the target date on finalizing the rule was pushed back twice before it was indefinitely delayed in April.
When asked about the letter, an FDA spokesperson told the AP that agency officials would respond directly to lawmakers. Last month, the agency said the proposed ban was still among its top priorities and in the rule-making process, but couldn’t comment to the AP on the timing or content of the proposal.
Black women and women of other ethnicities have used
Lightning strike shuts down Cardinal Elementary
Continued from A1
classroom’s furniture was covered in plastic to prevent more damage from the reconstruction of the ceilings.
Over 80 contractors are working inside and there will be more workers in the following days.
“We have contractors ready to go at something that happened so unexpectedly, so we’re really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish here,” said Shovanda Dixon Fernandez, 9th District School Board member.
Richmond Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Dana Fox said the bulk of the damage came from the flooding and ceiling tiles, drywalls and carpet will have to be replaced.
She also said repairs to the roof will take around three weeks.
“[The roof repair] will take a few weeks, but it won’t impact the learning part once we open the doors on Tuesday,” she added.
In the meantime, the second- and third-graders have classes in the school’s gym for about two weeks.
With over 800 kids attending Cardinal Elementary, the school division also has been providing meals for students, as well as accommodating transportation for families who need meals. RPS school health services will also be on site from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday to disburse medication that students stored in the school’s clinic.
Mayor acknowledges Finance lapses
us, and they trust us with their information, and protecting this information remains our top priority.”
Despite this and other, long-term challenges present before he took office, such as understaffing, shifting leadership and outdated technology, Stoney said work to improve the Finance Department has gone well. Financial and audit reports are being turned in on time annually, departmental processes are being streamlined, and staffing has increased from 101 employees to 151.
A major focus has been recruiting high-skilled employees for the office, helped in part by the restructuring of the Department of Human Resources that has contributed to improved employee performance, according to Stoney.
“We are setting a standard and fully embracing a culture of continuous improvement,” Stoney said.
Stoney also had praise for the custodians at Cardinal Elementary School and the Richmond Fire Department, whose quick actions helped mitigate damage when the school was struck by lightning Monday evening, causing the roof to catch fire.
Stoney pledged his support to Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras, emphasizing the importance of the classroom environment but also noting the necessity of laptops and virtual learning options for the 800 students.
“(Kamras) has to find solutions ensuring that our kids get back to the learning environment as quickly as possible,” Stoney said, “And we stand ready to help in that endeavor if needed.”
The city continues to address issues surrounding the meals tax, with Stoney saying that a total 604 businesses have been reviewed so far, with 279 qualifying for some form of relief and contacted by officials.
As of Tuesday, 132 reviews were completed so far this week and the City was waiting to hear back from remaining businesses that have been contacted.
Other topics discussed included efforts to improve FOIA compliance and accountability, the impact of COVID-19 on RPS bus drivers and the successes of the Mayor’s Youth Academy and the Office of Community Wealth Building.
chemical hair-straightening treatments for decades, and many of the relaxers, creams and keratin treatments contain formaldehyde — a chemical used in pesticides and to preserve dead bodies.
A 2022 study from the National Institutes of Health found people who used hair straighteners had an increased risk of developing uterine cancer. A 2023 study from Boston University found that postmenopausal women who used relaxers most often had a greater than 50% increased risk of uterine cancer compared to those who seldom used them.
Thousands of lawsuits allege that beauty companies that make some of the hair straighteners misrepresented “health impacts” of the products, and exposed plaintiffs to chemicals that increased the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers. Some also claim they experienced infertility after using the products.
In a social media video from October, the FDA reminded people that no ban was in place yet, and that the agency planned to work with and encourage the cosmetics industry to develop alternative straightening products.
Health officials tout updated COVID vaccine
Continued from A1
She also attributes some of the spikes in cases and emergency visits to the inclination to spend more time indoors amid the summer heat — not unlike how indoor gatherings in the winter contribute to infection spikes.
“Respiratory viruses tend to be able to spread more efficiently when we’re all indoors, especially if we have poor ventilation,” she said.
This is where opening windows, practicing social distancing and mask use can help reduce infection potential, Harmon-Sloan said.
And while the new vaccines should target the same variant that has been driving the summer wave, Harmon-Sloan said that anyone who was infected this summer could consider delaying the new vaccine for about three months.
This is because those people may have
a temporary resistance to the strain having just recovered from it, but she still suggests that people speak with their doctors if they’re weighing when they should get their newest shots.
“People overall should get the new vaccine — even if they were vaccinated or were sick with COVID 19 earlier this year,” she said. The vaccine that’s emerging “is going to better target those particular variants that are new, that are in circulation right now in our communities, and the cause for these high trends.”
The CDC will be launching a vaccine locator through the vaccines.gov website. Additionally, President Biden’s administration announced last week that it will once again offer free at-home COVID test kits that people can receive by mail. They can be ordered through covidtest.gov
This story originally appeared on VirginiaMercury.com
Airport officials delay vote on service changes
ployees struck me wrong because anybody that knows anything about me and my colleagues knows that is what we have given our lives to, long before we ever took any oath of office.”
Regardless of how this proposed change plays out, major changes to RIC are already underway. The day before the meeting, RIC leadership met with U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan for the delivery of a $500,000 check aimed at supporting the construction of a new aircraft apron.
When complete, East Side Apron 5 will be the site for two general aviation operations areas currently located in the airfield’s northwest and southwest corners. This project will also support RIC’s master plan, allow for the expansion of cargo facilities and the construction of a second parallel runway in the future.
“We’re seeing record numbers of passengers and cargo,” McClellan said. “This is going to make sure that we’re able to keep up with that demand, now and in the future, regardless of how it comes.”
McClellan is among the officials that have voiced concern over how RIC has handled the process to take over FBO responsibilities. When asked if her concerns have been addressed yet, she said
conversations with RIC officials on the matter were in the early stages. For the companies that
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan presents a $500,000 check to Charles S. Macfarlane, Perry Miller and James M. Holland of the Capital Region Airport Commission on Aug. 26 at Richmond International Airport.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
New coronavirus vaccines are expected to be available soon.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Charles Krupa, Susan Walsh
This combination of 2021-2023 photos shows U.S. Reps. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, left; Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y.
Home again
Reggae band Wildfire performs, right, during the 33rd Down Home Family Reunion in Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward on Aug. 17. Left, Nate Fleming enjoys the sounds of the Down Home Family Reunion before rainfall halted the annual event.
Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Richmond gun show highlights growing number of Black owners
By Brian Palmer
Firearms of all kinds were on display at the Showmasters Gun Show at the Richmond Raceway Complex last weekend. Attendees, including 26-year-old Pedro from Richmond who chose not to share his last name, carried their unloaded weapons through the bustling expo, highlighting a growing trend of African Americans embracing gun ownership.
“I’m hoping it’s one place where we all get united,” said Annette Elliott of Showmasters.
From 2015 to 2021, the percentage of new gun owners who identified as Black or African American jumped from 8% to 20%, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reported. About 14.4% of the U.S. population “self-identified as Black” in 2022, according to Pew Research Center The crowd at the Richmond Raceway Complex last weekend was multiracial and multigenerational. Folks hovered over tables overflowing with vintage rifles and semiautomatics, mostly the latter.
While a lot of Black folks are becoming gun owners, it’s impossible to ignore that a lot of Afri-
can Americans have died from gun violence. The Centers for Disease Control said firearm homicide rates are highest among teens and young adults, “Black or African American persons,” Indigenous folk, and Hispanics/Latinos. The CDC reported that in 2021, “among males, Black or African American males had the highest age-adjusted rate of firearm-related homicide (52.9 deaths per 100,000 standard population.”
Despite the grim statistics, some gun owners, like Jahmal Justin Exavier Patterson, 28, from Prince George County, believe the issue lies with people, not firearms.
“I believe that guns aren’t bad. It’s the choices of the people that are bad,” Patterson said. “I just believe in the [Second] Amendment right. I believe in protecting ourselves.”
In more than a dozen conversations with attendees about gun ownership, the words “protect” or “protection” came up often.
Bryan Watson, a gun vendor from Ivor, Va., was kitted out in a tactical vest, with “Security” printed on the back and strapped with multiple firearms and magazines.
“I’m here today, one, selling firearms that I
custom build and paint myself; and just to support the Second Amendment itself. “Watson told the Free Press. “The Second Amendment is the right to protect myself and preserve my property and the people that I love, so that’s what it means to me.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Avery Young, a 22-year-old manning a table for Hollow Point Coating, a Black-owned company, shared his perspective. “I have plenty of guns,” he said, listing his Glock 27, Glock 17, a 10/22 rifle he inherited, and an AR-15, the military-style weapon at the center of the assault weapon-ban debates. “I need the AR-15 to protect myself, to protect myself from anything that may want to harm me or my family, anybody that I care about.
“Gun control is BS,” Young said, but he allowed that there should be some limits placed on gun ownership. “Violent felons should not be able to own firearms.”
Others at the show shared the idea of personal accountability, such as Young’s boss, Andrew Holloway. “I think gun ownership is a responsibility,” Holloway, told the Free Press. “If you do need to protect your family, if you do need
to go back to hunter-gather mode, you need to understand how to use a firearm.”
There was some talk—and display—of politics. Trump banners hung in the back of the exhibition hall. One white man in his 40s wearing a camo cap who didn’t want to be quoted but talked a lot anyway about Trump and “Kamala,” emphasizing the second syllable. The elder he was sitting with spoke of “concentration camps” the government is allegedly setting up in all 50 states.
Margaret Robinson, a retired beauty salon owner from Emporia, was there with a friend who was considering a gun purchase. Robinson owns a gun “for protection” and says guns “should be out of [the] hands of people with mental illnesses,” children and people with domestic violence convictions.
She also wanted to address an issue she felt was crucial in the context of the gun show: the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
“That was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” she said. “That’s our Capitol. To me, it was the worst thing that could happen because it undermines our sense of security. Our government is supposed to protect us.”
TRUMP’S PROJECT ���� IS A THREAT TO BLACK AMERICANS
11/27/23 Cut Social Security and Medicare Americans have earned – Washington Post, 2/9/23 Ban abortion nationally – New York Times, 2/16/24
Pedro (left) and Ray, both 26-year-old Richmond residents, attend the gun show at the Richmond Raceway Complex organized by Showmasters. They declined to give their last names.
Photos by Brian Palmer
Firearm vendor and customizer Bryan Wastson of Ivor, Va.
Richmond Free Press
August 29-31, 2024
School conditioning
Kudos to the Richmond Public Schools administration for securing a grant to address the problem of sending some of our children to schools that may be older than their grandparents. A large part of creating an environment conducive to instruction and learning is ensuring a comfortable space. It’s difficult to process information when you’re shivering from the cold in class or to pay attention when you’re sweating onto your laptop keyboard at your desk. This grant should, in due time, remove one barrier that may be preventing students and teachers from doing their best.
If you’ve been around children recently, you know this generation picks things up fast. Unfortunately, a crumbling school building teaches a hard lesson to students who walk its hallways every day. If the building is neglected and not important enough to maintain, what does that say about the people inside it? On the other hand, a properly maintained school fosters emotional well-being. When students see investment in their learning space, they feel that their education matters. It sends a powerful message that their success is worth the effort, which can boost morale and classroom engagement.
Every student deserves to be educated in an environment that shows they are welcome and valued. We applaud RPS for taking one giant step in the right direction.
Debate duck
Former national security adviser H.R. McMaster said recently that his former boss, the previous president, needs the support of a team of competent professionals, as he is susceptible to manipulation.
“People know kind of how to push his buttons, especially buttons associated with maintaining the complete support of his political base,” he said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” program.
It seems they certainly do. At the Democratic National Convention, the former president was called out repeatedly by the leaders of the party. Barack Obama’s “off-hand” remark about crowd sizes seemed to strike a nerve with his successor, along with other one-liners from the party leaders. Some have suggested that these remarks were a strategic effort to draw their opponent onto a debate stage, something he had been on the fence about. They may have moved the needle some, but it was after the Harris campaign released a video of Trump hemming and hawing over a possible debate and mixed in soundtrack of clucking chickens that he finally agreed to terms for a debate.
We hope the former president doesn’t back down again. Voters are due the conversation and exchange of ideas that a debate provides. Don’t duck this one, Donald.
Have you seen this bench?
Last seen July of 2024, coupled with a Confederate marker in Richmond’s South Side.
If you have any information that could help locate this bench, please contact us at (804) 646-0496.
The Democratic National Convention, held Aug. 19 through 22, was, among other things, an occasion of joy. I’ve attended every Democratic convention since 1976, and have never experienced such energy, enthusiasm and, yes, exuberance. People were happy. Happy with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the candidates for president and vice president. Happy for the leadership team at the Democratic Party. Happy for the platform, for the entertainment, for the connections. Happy for the offsite events, organized by affiliate organizations. Just plain happy. People got it and used the word “joy” in many of the columns and commentary around the convention. Some compared the effervescent joy to a “sugar high” and suggested that it couldn’t last. Others say the joy as “rootless” because, they said, the joy was not matched by policy initiatives.
Because VP Harris had not agreed to an unscripted interview before the convention, her detractors posited that she was unable to do such an interview. New York Times columnist Patrick Healy wrote a snarky column titled, “Joy Is Not a Strategy ” Healy says that Harris can’t “coast on joy”, but she isn’t trying to. VP Harris can’t expect the rest of the country to come together
with the same enthusiasm as we did at the Democratic National Convention. As the nominee for president, she can expect shade, brickbats and even the outright lies that the former president is addicted to. A columnist like Healy should be honest enough, though, to admit that there were solid policy proposals in the speech he described as “good.” He might have mentioned her notion of an “opportunity economy” or written about her proposal to grant new parents $6000. He might have delved into the ways she proposes to deal with the housing crisis, including
granting $25,000 for first-time homebuyers. Or he might have written about her foreign policy firmness. She wasn’t smiling or laughing when she warned dictators and despots that she would not dally with them.
Healy is right, joy is not a strategy. Joy is icing, public policy is cake. You can have cake without icing, but you can’t have icing without cake. The Democratic National Convention showcased the cake that Harris has built through her career – as a prosecutor, district attorney, senator and vice-president. As a mentor, mother, and aunt. As a fierce advocate for women, and a protector of those who have been abused. That’s the cake. The joy is the icing. The Republicans have their own cake, a mean-spirited cake full of attacks and lies. And if they have any icing it is the bitter vitriol that repulses from the top down. The Democratic cake is solid public policy that helps people, and the icing is a joyful icing, one to be savored. It’s the kind of icing that you lick the spoon on, the kind that you might even eat by itself.
Walz ‘bringing the joy’ to election Dems’, energy,
Perhaps the most memorable moment of this year’s Democratic National Convention came the night before Kamala Harris officially accepted the party’s nomination for president.
It was no simple matter for anyone to follow a lineup of such stars as Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, and Barack and Michelle Obama, just to name a few.
But countless eyes and TV cameras in the United Center on Wednesday night turned to a young man front and cen ter in the au dience whom most of us had never seen be fore. He was Gus Walz, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s 17-year-old son, who wept throughout his dad’s speech and wiped his eyes with tissues. Through tears of joyful excitement, he proudly mouthed, “That’s my dad.”
There’s no way to tell how much this heartwarming sight transcended partisan lines. But as a fellow dad whose heart is not made of stone, I felt myself getting more than a little choked up, too. And when it was subsequently pointed out that Gus has a nonverbal learning disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and an anxiety disorder, it only deepened the impression of how relatable and compelling the Walz family is.
When Gov. Walz spoke, he offered proper thanks to Kamala Harris, President Biden’s endorsed successor, and the rest of the delegates in the Chicago arena for “bringing the joy” to this election. That sounded familiar. Was it a reference to the “politics of joy” that many of us old-timers associate with another decade and
another Minnesota Democrat?
Could be. Former Vice President and U.S. Sen. Hubert Humphrey used this phrase while announcing his own candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination back in 1968. It was a fateful year of the sort that Democrats have been trying to live down ever since. Amid widespread protests against the Vietnam War, President Lyndon B. Johnson decided to step aside without running for another term, and Humphrey won the
Democratic Party’s nomination. Unfortunately for Humphrey, the tumult surrounding the convention in Chicago defied his attempts to forge unity and promote the “politics of joy,” which seemed disastrously out of touch with the riots and protests on the streets. Worse, Humphrey failed to distance himself from Johnson’s unpopular war policy, of which he had been a loyal defender. He lost a close election to Richard Nixon.
Against that historical backdrop, it is easy to see why Walz would be delighted to see signs of joy returning to Democratic politics.
It remains to be seen whether the theme will attract enough new voters to bring a Democratic victory. But the chances have been helped by the former schoolteacher’s folksy charm and, from what we’ve learned about him, an admirable record of public service.
Walz’s years as a popular and successful high school football coach and member of Congress look impressive, along with his 24 years in the National Guard — a record that Team Trump has tried to pick apart in an effort that
sometimes reeks of desperation.
In response to his detractors, Walz offered joy.
”We’re all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason: We love this country,” Walz said as thousands of delegates waved placards reading “Coach Walz” in red, white and blue.
It was a moving moment of political theater, paired on the substantive side by the harrowing experiences Walz and his wife have described in their struggle to have children, speaking terms that cut through much of today’s heated abortion and birth control debates.
Of course, it’s too early to tell whether Walz will attract new voters or how much new controversies will rattle the Harris-Walz ticket. But ultimately, that’s why we have election campaigns. For now, after years of pushing back against Republican culture war debates that cast Democrats as out-of-touch cultural elites, Walz and his family offer a persuasive alternative.
Despite Harris’ experience as vice president, voters are still getting to know her after four years of her working in Biden’s shadow. We media folks are still waiting for Walz and Harris to hold their first full-fledged news conference. But Walz seemed to clear one obstacle. He apparently knows how to make a lot of Americans feel how much we have in common with him.
That’s saying a lot, especially when you have the other party’s candidate nipping at your heels and poring through your background for useful dirt.
Political success often comes when candidates and campaigns make voters comfortable enough to give them, at least, the benefit of their doubts.
The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
But few want icing without cake, without substance. My message to Patrick Healy is fasten your seatbelt and watch the details of the opportunity economy emerge. What will you write then? Will you stop with the snark? Patrick Healy isn’t the only one. The Wall Street Journal and the right wing press have been clamoring for details, and Harris has provided some of them. Others have reprised her 2020 presidential campaign and insisted that she explain her pivot on certain issues. Simple explanation — people evolve; people learn. Coupled with strategy, joy is the blissful delight I observed at the DNC. There was wretched haranguing at the Republican National Convention a month ago. What kind of icing goes with that? The writer is an economist and author.
Clarence Page
Julianne Malveaux
Letter to the Editor/Commentaries
Breaking the glass ceiling in November
People can be pleasantly unpredictable at times, so our politics is equally unpredictable. As a U.S. senator, Kamala Harris was seen as a rising star and viewed as the possible future of the Democratic Party. In January 2019, Harris launched her first presidential bid before a crowd of 20,000 supporters in Oakland, Calif. After 310 days of campaigning, she dropped out of the race while polling at 4%. Compare that to 2024, where President Biden makes an unpredictable move by dropping out of the race for re-election. He then endorses his vice president to be the party’s presidential nominee. Just 32 days after Biden stepped aside, Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic nomination in Chicago.
Once again, she is seen as the future of the Democratic Party. Donald Trump and the Republicans definitely did not expect a re-energized Democratic Party after the struggling performance by Biden in the
Preserving Black history over gentrification
“Remember the bridge that brought you across.” That impassioned plea was uttered by pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement in 2008, as Barack Obama was securing the Democratic Party’s nomination, on his historic march to the presidency. The coalition of organizations and individuals constituting the group, Save Community Hospital, are the living embodiment of that noble sentiment.
The rich tapestry of resources which built, nurtured and sustained Richmond Community Hospital laid the foundation upon which the profound legacies of Maggie L. Walker and Oliver W. Hill were built. Preserving that campus is vital, as a tribute to the resilience of our local black community in rising above the intentionally dehumanizing policies of Jim Crow.
Virginia Union University’s entry into the housing market seems ill-advised at a time when the priority should be protecting the school’s accreditation, which is currently at risk. Education is at the heart of their mission and what their charter prioritizes. The claim that the proposed plan is intended to provide much-needed affordable housing is not backed by the numbers they themselves offer up. One-and two-bedroom units at $2,000 per month and above reeks of gentrification and suggests that the motive is corporate greed rather than local need.
KENNETH C. DECKER Richmond
Editor’s note: The writer shared this letter to the Virginia Union University Board of Trustees. Dear Dr. Richardson and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees, Virginia Union University,
My name is Selden Richardson, and I am a historian in Richmond, Virginia, and author of “Built by Blacks: African American Architecture and Neighborhoods in Richmond.” I am writing to you today in an urgent appeal on a subject vital to the future of Virginia Union University, the enormous potential of an asset located on campus, and VUU’s responsibilities as a historically important Black college. The asset I refer to is the building which was the former Richmond Community Hospital. I am sure you have seen the reaction of the community to the plans to destroy the hospital building and replace it with a new residence hall, and I ask you, as the keep-
presidential debate. Neither did most Democrats. History was made with Harris becoming the first woman of Black and South Asian heritage to accept the party’s nomination. On the night of Harris’ acceptance speech, many women delegates wore white to honor the suffrage movement, the movement that culminated with American women securing the right to vote in 1920.
grown weary of the dark MAGA movement. We are voting for Harris because she represents a fresh generational shift for a nation looking for “new blood” and fresh ideas.
It’s time for America to prepare for a female president and commander-inchief. We are not voting for Harris just because she is Black or a woman. We are voting for her because, unlike her 2019 campaign, she is now electable. We are voting for her because she is the best candidate to bring optimism, inclusion, bipartisanship, enthusiasm, hope, joy, inspiration, unity, patriotism, and energy to a nation that has
The fact that Harris is Black and a woman is a bonus because her victory in November will also represent a resounding
David W. Marshall
victory in the nation’s culture wars. “From the courthouse to the White House,” Harris said, fighting for the people “has been my life’s work.” We are voting for her because she is a conscience-driven public servant who fought hard for people in many ways. For those who may struggle with Harris being a trailblazing woman, I suggest they consider Francis Perkins.
There are many individuals throughout history who were considered great Americans. Some of these patriots and their legacies will never be
forgotten. There are those, such as Harry Truman, who were not fully appreciated during their era, but over time, they were given due credit for their dedicated service. Francis Perkins is unique. Her name will never be well-known, but every American today lives her legacy. Perkins was a great American, not because she simply pushed through a political agenda. She is great due to the lives saved through regulations she developed regarding worker safety.
She allowed the elderly to live with some degree of dignity. She gave children their childhoods back by helping to abolish child exploitation and child labor. Not only was she a great American, but she was also a great woman. She was a voice for the working class. She became a quiet legend in history who overcame gender bias in a male-dominated society. By doing so, she broke the glass ceiling, making it easier for future women to have opportunities in the federal
government. The United States Department of Labor headquarters building in Washington D.C. rightfully bears her name— the Frances Perkins Building. While the average person may not know her by name, they definitely know her policies. Francis Perkins became the first woman to hold a cabinet position when she was appointed Secretary of Labor in the Franklin Roosevelt administration, a position she held for 12 years. She was the driving force behind the Social Security Act of 1935 and was responsible for drafting the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
Through her efforts, the U.S. established the minimum wage, overtime, pensions for the elderly, unemployment insurance, eliminating child labor, and regulating worker safety. She defined the 40-hour work week, which remains a part of today’s work standards. In other words, if you are a man or woman who at any time received workman’s compensation insurance or has
weekends off from work, you should thank the woman trailblazer who devoted her career to improving working conditions for Americans. In her words, she believed, “Poverty was preventable, destructive, wasteful and demoralizing. In the midst of plenty of potential plenty, it is morally unacceptable in a Christian and democratic society. Because the poor are people with hopes, fears, virtues and fellow citizens…” Francis Perkins and Kamala Harris are consciencedriven public servants with the future always in mind. Perkins and future Americans benefited by having the White House, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives controlled by the Democratic Party. In November, give the Democrats the federal government trifecta, and let’s see what our future holds. The writer founded the faithbased organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and is the author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.
Democrats quietly removed abolishing death penalty from party platform
“We are not going back,” goes the Democrats’ passionate rebuttal to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign — which is about going back to the “golden days” of America, when white men held all the power and Black folks had “Black jobs.” MAGA is in actuality MAWA: “Make America white again.”
Unfortunately, on at least one issue, the Democrats have gone backward rather than forward, in a move that caught many of us by surprise (thanks to Jessica Schulberg of Huffington Post for breaking this story). As the festivities finished up in Chicago last week, the Democrats quietly removed abolishing the death penalty from the party platform, a move that certainly will not help them distinguish themselves from Trump and win this election.
It’s surprising in part because a recent Gallup poll found 65% of Democrats oppose capital punishment. Even beyond the Democratic Party, public support for the death penalty has been steadily declining, with a majority of Americans now wanting alternatives to execution.
Even though most of the world has abolished the death penalty in my lifetime, the United States is one of the few countries that continues to execute. In fact, the U.S. is usually among the top five countries with the most executions annually and is almost always in the top 10. The other countries with the most executions usually include China, Iran, Saudi Arabia — not the best company when it comes to human rights.
There are promising signs that the death penalty is on its way out in the United States. Executions have been dropping nearly every year, and new death sentences are the lowest they’ve been in decades. There are only a handful of states that continue to carry out executions each year, and one state, Texas, accounts for nearly half of our
country’s executions. Nearly every year or two, a new state abolishes the death penalty, and movements like Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty are now seeing a surge of conservative lawmakers who are done with death.
It is noteworthy that the states that continue to execute are former Confederate states, a reminder that the death penalty is part of our shameful history of racial terror, lynching and slavery.
The places lynchings were happening most frequently 100 years ago are those where executions happen the most frequently today. The states that held onto slavery the longest are the same ones that continue to hold on to the death penalty.
But even here, there is hope. In 2021, Virginia became the first former Confederate state to abolish the death
penalty, the same year that Joe Biden became president. There is a connection here: As Virginia was turning away from the death penalty, so was Biden, who became the first U.S. president to publicly oppose the death penalty after once being a death penalty supporter.
Biden has some work to do to repair his past views. In 1994, Biden championed that year’s infamous crime bill, which, among other terrible things, expanded the crimes that were punishable by death at the federal level, resulting in more people on federal death row. In one of his not-so-shining moments, he boasted the bill did “everything but hang people for jaywalking.”
When Trump became president, he ended a 17-year pause in federal executions, reignited the federal death house in Terre Haute, Ind., and began killing people at a rate the federal government
Historian calls on VUU to save former hospital
had not done in 100 years. For the first time in modern history, federal executions outnumbered state executions. Trump continued killing people even after he had lost the 2020 election, keeping the executions rolling until January 16, 2021, four days before Biden was inaugurated. There is no doubt that if Trump is re-elected he will continue to kill. The Project 2025 plan leaves no room for doubt: On page 554 of the 887-page document is an explicit plan to execute every remaining federal death row prisoner and challenge the U.S. Supreme Court to expand the types of crimes that can be punishable by death.
Many of us have fought hard for alternatives to the death penalty, and we were encouraged in 2016 when the Democratic Party formally made abolishing the death penalty a priority of the official platform, with a plank reading, “We will abolish the death penalty, which has proven to be a cruel and unusual form of punishment. It has no place in the United States of America.”
It is disappointing that this key commitment, and a signal difference with the Trump agenda, has been removed from the DNC platform. President Biden and Vice President Harris need to do more than pause executions for the remainder of their administration; we need them to stop executions for good. We need them to “abolish and demolish.” We need them to commute all the sentences of those on federal death row to life. And we need them to demolish the federal execution chamber in Indiana, a building designed for one purpose — to kill human beings. If they are serious about “not going back,” we need them to help lead us into a better future by making the death penalty history.
Shane Claiborne is an author at Religion News Service.
ers of the heart and soul of this school, to reconsider and halt Dr. Lucas’ ambitious and misplaced ideas for “improvement” of this site. I need not remind you, as members of the Board of Trustees, that you have an obligation to perform due diligence regarding all facets of this proposed development, the first being does destruction of this African American heritage site really conform to the Mission Statement, which proudly proclaims, “Virginia Union University is nurtured by its African American heritage …”? Does this truly further the mission of the University? Or are there less lofty processes at work involving the relationship between the Steinbridge development group and the Administration?
Perhaps the core question, for the Board of Trustees (who I assume are for the most part of African American descent), how can you possibly countenance the utter destruction of this historically important and once vital part of the African American community in Richmond? The very name of
Selden Richardson
your committee implies trust, and trust in this case is another name for stewardship of resources. The former Richmond Community Hospital building is in your care and you are responsible, and this is not a resource to squander.
I researched and wrote the history of what was then known as the Leigh Street Armory in Jackson Ward and am solely responsible for that building being on both the State and National Register of Historic Places. The Armory, built by Richmond Blacks in 1895, was,
like the Community Hospital, neglected for decades. It is now regarded as an architectural treasure and is the home of the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. The once ruinous building has become recognized on a national level as a vital part of telling the history of Blacks in Virginia. The story of the former armory perfectly illustrates the potential for the former Community Hospital building when given the proper vision and creative design, and the amazing transformations that are possible with imagination and drive.
I would like to volunteer to do the necessary research and write the nomination, attend the meetings and shepherd the paperwork through for the former Richmond Community Hospital to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I believe it is eminently qualified for this honor. An extensive discovery of the history of this building would
show the world the heroic efforts made by people of little or no means, during the worst economic crisis this country has ever seen, to ensure modern and efficient health care where patients and doctors alike were treated with racial dignity.
A complete account of the Richmond Community Hospital building would also demonstrate clearly the importance of this building to African American Richmonders, the surrounding community, and the city at large. All that is necessary to turn this building into an amazing addition to the campus of VUU is your vision, and your help.
Consider the people who came before you, what this hospital building meant to them, and what a powerful addition to the already astonishing history of Virginia Union University a restored, repurposed and rejuvenated Richmond Community Hospital building will make.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
Former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, left, looks over the electric chair in the death chamber at Greensville Correctional Center with Operations Director George Hinkle, center, and Warden Larry Edmonds, right, prior to signing a bill on March 24, 2021, abolishing the death penalty in the state.
Russell Wilson’s fading career among hot QB questions in 2024
By Schuyler Dixon The Associated Press
Dak Prescott figures to get paid, either by Dallas or another team willing to go north of $50 million per year if the Cowboys let his contract expire after this season.
Russell Wilson hasn’t been announced as the starter for Pittsburgh’s opener in what’s shaped up to be the nine-time Pro Bowler’s last chance to revive a career that has stalled since his days as a star in Seattle.
The look and feel of the hot seat is a bit different for Prescott and Wilson, among others in potential make-or-break situations, but it’s a hot seat nonetheless.
In Prescott’s case, the runner-up in MVP voting from last season badly wants to take the Cowboys where they haven’t been in nearly 30 years — past the divisional round of the playoffs.
After his worst flop yet in a shocking home wild card loss to Green Bay last season, Prescott faces questions of whether he’s the guy to do what Tony Romo couldn’t in 10 years as the starter.
This will be the ninth try for the 31-year-old entering the final season of a club-record $160 million, four-year contract.
The first was a dynamic rookie season with fellow first-year star Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield, leading Dallas to the top seed in the NFC, but losing to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in their playoff debut.
The Cowboys say they want to keep him. Prescott, who replaced an injured Tony Romo in his first training camp and started from the get-go, says he wants to stay.
Yet the 2016 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of
the Year remains a lame duck QB for 2024, with the Cowboys at 28 years and counting since their most recent trip to the NFC championship game. Dallas won its fifth Super Bowl title to finish the 1995 season.
“I don’t think that’s pres sure,” Prescott said from train ing camp in California this month. “I don’t necessarily worry about the talk. I’m confident in getting something done. I’m confident in the front office here. I’m under contract right now so all I need to do is be the best I can be for my job.”
Quarterbacks whose clocks are ticking, or otherwise find themselves in potentially tricky circumstances:
Russell Wilson
The 35-year-old joined the Steelers after two mostly miserable seasons in Denver, where he signed a huge extension following a trade that ended a 10-year, Super Bowl-winning run with the Seahawks.
Days later, Pittsburgh traded for Justin Fields when Chicago decided to move on from its 11th overall pick in 2021, clearing the way for the Bears to get Caleb Williams at the top of this year’s draft.
The presumption all along has been that Wilson would start, and Fields would be ready if Wilson continues to look like a player with a 17-27 record as a starter over the past three seasons.
Wilson was slowed by a calf injury in training camp, and neither QB led a drive to a touchdown in the first two preseason appearances. Each was in charge of one TD march in the preseason finale.
And Fields isn’t going quietly.
“I think I’ve shown what I can do,” Fields said
Richmond Kickers unveil massive new video board at City Stadium
Free Press staff report
City Stadium is about to get a serious upgrade. The Richmond Kickers, in partnership with Ivy Soccer Clubs and the RVA Sports Foundation, have announced the installation of a new, cutting-edge video scoreboard that promises to transform the match-day experience. The privately funded project is on track to be completed just in time for the Kickers’ home showdown Thursday, Aug. 29.
The new board? It’s a monster. Measuring 65.62 feet wide by 35.43 feet tall, it’s 40% bigger than the current scoreboard and boasts a crystal-clear 10 mm LED display with nearly 2.2 million pixels, delivering a viewing experience better than full HD. Fans can expect high-definition replays, fan cams, interactive graphics and a whole lot of visuals to amp up the game-day atmosphere.
“We are excited to partner with PlainView LED to bring this incredible video board to RVA,” said Rob Ukrop, Richmond Kickers’ chairman and CEO. “This new video board will be a game changer for the way fans experience Kickers and Ivy games at City Stadium.”
But it’s not only about soccer. With more than 150 events hosted annually at City Stadium, the new video board will be a focal point for everything from viewing parties during FIFA World Cup 26 to local tournaments and community events.
PlainView LED, the Chattanooga-based company behind the scoreboard, partnered with the Kickers to replace the original board, which had been in place since 1994. They’ve handled similar projects for clubs such as Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and Fort Wayne FC.
The addition of the video scoreboard is the latest in a series of major upgrades at City Stadium since the Kickers signed a 40-year lease in 2016. Previous renovations include new stadium lighting, a sound system, fiber internet and a field irrigation system. Since 2019, 22 Holdings LLC, the Kickers’ ownership group, has invested over $4 million into modernizing the historic stadium.
Other enhancements include premium seating areas like the pitchside patio, expanded south end suites,and the Roos Brews Zone, along with new food and beverage stations. The board will make its first appearance on Aug. 29 when the Kickers take on Spokane Velocity at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit RichmondKickers.com.
Norfolk
last week. “I think the time that I did have with the (first team) practicing in training camp, I think that went well. I think we grew a lot each and every day, but at the end of the day, it’s not up to me.”
Daniel Jones The former Duke quarterback has been dogged by questions of whether he was the answer for the Giants since New York made him a surprising choice at No. 6 overall in the 2019 draft. Now Jones is coming off an ACL injury that ended his 2023 season in November. That 1-5 record was his fourth losing season in five years with the Giants, but Jones signed a $160 million extension — about half of it guaranteed — following his only winning season when he led the Giants to the playoffs in 2022.
New York will have a financial decision to make on Jones’ roster spot when the new league year starts next spring, and his release would generate substantial savings under the salary cap.
Derek Carr
The Raiders gave up on Carr late in his ninth season with Oakland/Las Vegas in 2022, and he signed with New Orleans as a free agent last year.
As was the case several times with the franchise that drafted Carr, the debut with the Saints came agonizingly close to the playoffs. Carr was beat up and booed the first half of the season but played great late, and New Orleans missed out on the postseason because of tiebreakers.
Going into his 11th season, Carr is without a playoff victory and part of just two teams that got in. His best chance was in 2016, when a broken leg in Week 16 kept him out of a wild-card loss to Houston for a 12-win Oakland team.
The Saints have a new offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak, and it’s realistic for Carr to get two more seasons based on the structure of his $150 million, four-year deal.
Jalen Hurts
It seems crazy to include the quarterback who finished second to Patrick Mahomes in MVP voting in 2022 while leading Philadelphia to the Super Bowl, where the Eagles lost to Mahomes and Kansas City. Then again, 2023 was a crazy season for Hurts and company
The Eagles started 10-1 before losing six of their last seven games, including a 32-9 wild-card loss at Tampa Bay. Coach Nick Sirianni took the brunt of the blame, but there were plenty of questions about Hurts shockingly soon after he signed a $255 million, five-year extension.
Because of that contract, Hurts isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. But the 26-year-old and his team need another U-turn that’s just about as quick as the one that ruined last season. Kirk Cousins
There’s no question the former Minnesota quarterback is the new starter in Atlanta. That’s because of the $100 million guaranteed in the $180 million contract Cousins signed with the Falcons in March. Funny thing is, Atlanta turned around and drafted Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall less than two months after signing Cousins. The 36-year-old says he’s fine with it, and the
National Museum of African American History and Culture to release first sports photography book
Free Press staff report
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will publish its inaugural sports photography book, “Game Changers: Sports Photographs from the National Museum of African American History and Culture,” on Sept. 17. This publication marks the beginning of the museum’s Double Exposure series, featuring images from the Johnson Publishing Company Archive, which is co-owned by the museum and the Getty Research Institute.
The 84-page softcover book includes 57 blackand-white and 11 color photographs that explore the evolution of African American sports from the early 20th century to today. It showcases significant moments and athletes who have made impactful contributions to sports and society.
“The Black athlete has long served as a symbol of excellence, a figure of change, and an image of the otherwise impossible,” wrote Kevin Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director of NMAAHC, in the foreword to the book. “We soar when they do, we root for them even as we doubt; we win even when they lose, as long as the attempt proves as noble as the victory. More than 20 of the photographs in this book, spanning almost 40 years, come from the Johnson Publishing Company Archive, remarkable for its ability to get inside athletes’ homes and experiences, documenting ordinary moments in often extraordinary lives.”
“Game Changers” is organized into thematic sections. The book begins by examining African American sports culture amidst segregation and the role of historically Black colleges and universities. It then moves on to athletes who integrated sports and used their influence for social change, highlighting figures such as Jackie Robinson and Althea Gibson. The book continues by focusing on the rise of athlete activists and their efforts for equality, featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Debra Kay Thomas. The final section reflects on progress in African American sports and athletes’ involvement in social justice movements.
Images of iconic moments in sports history include Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries during the 1910 “Fight of the Century,” Jackie Robinsonstealing home in 1952 and Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in 2016. Also presented are the more personal moments—Larry Doby teaching his son how to hold a bat, Wilt Chamberlain in class at the University of Kansas, Wilma Rudolph standing outside her charitable foundation office, Muhammad Ali in conversation with Fannie Lou Hamer and a young Venus Williams smiling after a practice session.
Featured photographers in the book include Ernest C. Withers,
Roderick J. Lyons, and Walter Iooss Jr. Additionally, it includes essays by Michèle Gates Moresi, Laura Coyle and other contributors such as Damion L. Thomas and David K. Wiggins. “Game Changers,” is supported by the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts and funded by the NMAAHC’s Sport Leadership Council. For more information, visit nmaahc.si.edu/publications.
State debuts in MEAC/SWAC Challenge with
Sportable
Adaptive sports in Central Virginia are about to take a swing forward. Sportable and First Tee Greater Richmond are partnering to launch a new adaptive golf pilot program this fall, offering
Free Press staff report
In a heart-stopping season opener, the Florida A&M Rattlers barely escaped the Norfolk State Spartans’ upset bid, squeaking out a 24-23 victory in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Saturday night.
The Spartans came out swinging, stunning the defending Celebration Bowl champs with a lightning-fast 14-0 lead. Junior speedster Kevon King set the tone early, blazing past defenders for an electrifying 83-yard touchdown run that had
Rattler fans holding their breath. King, the former Oscar Smith High School (Chesapeake) standout, was a one-man wrecking crew, steamrolling his way to a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns. His punishing runs left the FAMU defense battered and bewildered for much of the night.
But the Rattlers, true to their name, struck back with venom. Quarterback Daniel Richardson slithered through the Spartan defense, unleashing 286 passing yards and a pair of clutch touchdowns.
accessible. Supported by the Virginia State Golf Association and the Stand Up and Play Foundation,
With the clock winding down and trailing 24-17, Norfolk State found new life. Levontae Jacobs delivered a bonecrushing hit, forcing a fumble that Eric Ivory pounced on.
The Spartans capitalized with King’s second touchdown, bringing them within a whisker at 24-23. But their gutsy two-point gamble came up snake eyes, as FAMU’s defense stood tall when it mattered most.
The Spartans will look to build on this near-win when they clash with FBS foe East Carolina next Saturday.
AP Photo/Jose Juarez
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson addresses the media Aug. 24 after an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit.
Jacquez Jones led Norfolk State’s receiving corps with four receptions for 78 yards.
Jessica Stone Hendricks
The new video board at City Stadium replaces a scoreboard installed in 1994. It measures 65.62 feet, wide by 35.43 feet tall.
Zagar
Richmond native Carlehr Swanson’s pageant journey stemmed from her passion for music. In 2017, her talent and dedication earned her the title of third runner-up and the People’s Choice Award in the Miss Virginia Organization.
This past June, Swanson’s perseverance paid off when she was crowned Miss Virginia, a triumph that marked the pinnacle of her efforts and secured her $22,500 in scholarship awards.
Swanson, a music student at the University of Virginia pursuing a doctorate, will apply the scholarship award toward her academic pursuits. Her research focuses on Black studies, feminist studies and gospel music.
Post-graduation, she aspires to teach at the collegiate level while maintaining a career as a concert performer.
Her journey as a performer began in church choirs at the age of 6. She honed her skills with classical piano lessons at age 7 and later playing drums in the Highland Springs High School Marching Band. A summer camp in high school exposed her to the music industry and ignited her pursuit of music.
As Miss Virginia, Swanson serves as a goodwill ambassador, performing artist and motivational speaker as she travels across the Commonwealth. She’ll represent Virginia in the national Miss America competition in January 2025.
Swanson says the criticisms about pageants objectifying women are unfair. She highlights the effort contestants put in, such as preparing for interviews, staying informed on world events, doing community service, maintaining fitness and working on college admissions.
“People who say that don’t understand how pageants work,” she explains. “I would encourage young women to look at pageants because you can learn so many valuable skills.”
Meet Miss Virginia 2024 and this week’s Personality, Carlehr Swanson:
Occupation: Ph.D. student, minister of music, artist.
Date and place of birth: Oct. 15 in Richmond. Where I live now: Roanoke.
Education: Bachelor’s in jazz studies from George Mason University and a master’s in jazz vocal performance from the University of Miami.
Family: Mother Carolyn Swanson and father Wayman Swanson.
Tell us about Miss Virginia Opportunity Inc.: It’s a scholarship organization providing opportunities for young Virginia women to win financial assistance and further their education. The organization educates and empowers young women through pageants, workshops, seminars, volunteerism and scholarships.
What is Miss Virginia: The Miss Virginia competition is a scholarship pageant, with the title holder representing
Personality: Carlehr Swanson
Virginia in the Miss America pageant.
History of the Miss Virginia Pageant: The pageant was founded in 1926 and held at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach as a business outreach event. In 1963, a nonprofit called the Miss Virginia Competition was formed and became a franchise of the Miss America Pageant.
Where was the 2024 crowning pageant: Berglund Center, Roanoke.
Purpose of the Virginia pageant scene: The Miss Virginia Opportunity Inc. holds several local pageants throughout the year across the commonwealth to raise awareness of the Miss America Program. It’s a fundraising opportunity for scholarships and the implementation of community service projects.
History of black women and Miss Virginia: The first Black Miss Virginia, Nita Booth Young, was crowned in 1998. Others include Nancy Redd 2003, Caressa Cameron 2009 who became Miss America 2010, and Desiree Williams, 2013.
How I qualified to compete: I won a local Miss Virginia competition.
Why I decided to participate in pageants: I initially chose to participate in a pageant because of the talent portion and my love of music. Word spread about my singing, and I was invited to participate.
Why pageants are relevant in 2024: They allow young women to continue their education through the countless scholarship opportunities available. They also encourage young women to assess what’s happening in their community and develop fundamental, tangible ways to [address issues] through community service initiatives.
My previous pageant titles: Miss Virginia Dogwood Outstanding Teen 2014, Miss Bedford 2015, Miss Piedmont Region 2017, Miss State Fair 2018, Miss Fort Lauderdale 2020-2021, Miss Blue Ridge 2022, Miss Lynchburg 2023 and Miss Blue Ridge 2024.
How I wowed the judges: I wanted to be my authentic self in every way possible. I also wanted to show them that I could do the job by displaying the work I had been doing already.
Mental health and pageants: Pageants can be problematic because you’re constantly judged. Therefore, trusted mental health resources are essential. Mine include praying, exercise and designated social media times. Finding people who celebrate you and want the best for you is essential.
The best part of pageants: The sisterhood and family. They’ve pushed me to keep going.
Downside of pageants: I wish more people knew about the scholarship opportunities and the community service work the young women provide.
Spotlight on Miss Virginia 2024
My platform: Bridging the Divide: Music is Unity. I bring music to students and residents of nursing homes to help them experience its unifying and transformative power.
How it felt to be crowned Miss Virginia 2024: I thought about all the people who had to wait in the Bible for their blessings. I feel God has created a time like this just for me.
Prizes I received as Miss Virginia 2024: I was honored to receive a $22,500 scholarship, the chance to compete in Miss America in January, a fully furnished apartment in Roanoke, a 2024 Hyundai Tucson, and various hair, skin, nail [products] and clothes from Miss Virginia sponsors.
Miss Virginia 2024’s responsibilities: As Miss Virginia 2024, I have the privilege and responsibility to serve the community. In partnership with Virginia ABC, I will travel across Virginia to elementary schools, spreading a message of health, wellness and substance abuse prevention to students and teachers through the Miss Virginia School Tour.
The last Miss Virginia crowned Miss America: Camille Schrier in 2020.
How I want to inspire Black youths in my role as Miss Virginia: I hope to encourage them to believe they can do anything they put their minds to and, most importantly,
accomplish their goals by being authentic.
What’s next: I will tour elementary schools throughout the Commonwealth and compete in the Miss America Competition in January.
How I start the day: Grateful.
The three words that best describe me: Spirit-led, creative and adaptable.
My dream dinner party guest: My Grandma Gladys. She passed away while I was in high school, and I miss her very much. She was always so proud of me and I can imagine her telling her friends her “Honey” is Miss Virginia.
Best late-night snack: Peanut butter granola bar and Greek yogurt.
The top three songs on my playlist: “Livin’” by The Clark Sisters, “Day Dreaming” by Aretha Franklin and any Fantasia song.
Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Binge watch my favorite Disney shows.
A quote that inspires me: “Let us not become weary in
doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9
The best thing my parents taught me: My mother always asked me, “Why not you?” She always reminds me that I am capable and deserving of the goals I’m striving toward, no matter what I’m doing. Most influential person: My grandmother.
Most influential book: “90 mins in Heaven” by Don Piper because it helped me cope with my grandmother’s death. It gave me a different perspective on death and encouraged me to live life to the fullest.
My current read: “Practicing the Way” by John Mark Comer. My takeaway is that many Christians know Jesus, but few are dedicated to being his apprentices, making his way their way.
Next goals: Compete at Miss America, finish my Ph.D. and continue to take music to those that need it most.
ASK NIGHT & JERSEY AUCTION
Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival sets the stage for unity
By Davy Jones
Luis “Sweet Lou” Hidalgo is known on Richmond’s radio airwaves as “The Voice of Latin Jazz.” He’s the founder of the Richmond Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival and the owner of Master and Sons Plumbing company. Hidalgo also is a man on a mission: to harness the unifying power of the music he loves.
“If we can dance together,” he said, “we can understand each other.”
There’s sure to be plenty of dancing when his festival returns for its 17th year on Saturday, Aug. 31, at the 17th Street Market in Shockoe Bottom. Maryland-based salsa outfit Edwin Ortiz y La Mafia Del Guaguanco will serve as house band for the free event as a string of featured performers from near and far hit the stage between noon and 8 p.m.
Edwin “El Calvito” Reyes from Florida, Rossi “La Dama del Sabor” Lopez and Grupo Ritmo Son from Hampton Roads, Friday Love and Alejandro’s Nephews from right here in Richmond — these artists and others will come together for a day of festive food, infectious rhythms and community.
“Latin jazz is universal,” Hidalgo said. “Salsa is universal.”
That big-tent philosophy is baked into Hidalgo’s Latin Jazz and Salsa Show, which is simulcast each Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. on WHAP and his own Oasis Broadcasting Network. Between songs, Hidalgo switches from Spanish to English and back again to ensure that all listeners are caught up on the conversation. “We do both, because that’s who we are: Latino Americans,” he said.
The festival grew organically out of Hidalgo’s radio show, which started in 2005 when he looked into buying ad time for his plumbing business and ended up buying airtime instead. He was short on hosting experience but not on musical appreciation. Hidalgo remembers formative childhood Saturdays spent cleaning the
house and soaking in the melodies and rhythms of Puerto Rico courtesy of his mother. Growing up in Brooklyn meant he was also exposed to rock, R&B and the various sounds emanating from the borough’s many churches.
“As a Puerto Rican Jewish kid, I had to learn how to get along,” he said, “and the way I got along
was being able to groove with the music.”
The first iteration of the Richmond Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival was self-funded and informal. Hidalgo asked Preston T. Brown, then owner of WHAP, for permission to DJ from the WHAP parking lot. There were burgers, hot dogs and a few dozen listeners in attendance. Hidalgo estimates that hundreds showed up for the following year’s parking lot get-together — as did police officers, due to a lack of permitting. But even they were won over.
“They fell in love with what we were doing,” Hidalgo said. They weren’t the only ones. As the festival outgrew the parking lot, Hidalgo worked with his team to secure sponsors, form a 501(c)(3) organization and join forces with the City of Richmond. Dogwood Dell played host for years, but changes to the Byrd Park site’s management necessitated a move Downtown. Unchanged, however, is Hidalgo’s commitment to philanthropy, which has resulted in festival-affiliated school supply donations and will take the form of a canned food drive at this year’s event. The festival will also present local service awards — something near and dear to Hidalgo’s heart, given his own family’s history of military and first-responder service.
It’s all part of an inclusive approach that extends from the festival’s impact and atmosphere to the generosity extended to the artists who perform.
“We treat them like family,” Hidalgo said. “We feed them, the whole thing. It’s like a family love fest.”
For more information, visit oasisbroadcastingnetwork.com.
Tourism Foundation honors Black culture contributors
Elegba Folklore Society
founder Janine Bell along with daughtes Imani Bell and granddaughter Yaa-Nailah Bell-Barber accept the Cultural Preservation Award at the inaugural BLK RVA Community Awards this past Friday night at The Hippodrome Theater. Also pictured, Anissa Turner Randolph, chair of the BLK RVA Advisory Board, Greg Gallop, philanthropic associate of The Community Foundation and show host Clovia Lawrence.
Brown named executive director of the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU
Free Press staff report
Renowned curator Jessica Bell Brown has been tapped to lead the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University as its new executive director.
Since 2022, Brown has served as curator and head of contemporary art at the Baltimore Museum of Art. She joined the museum as associate curator in 2019.
In her new role, which she will assume Oct. 28, Brown will lead efforts to enhance the ICA’s impact and visibility at regional, national and international levels. As a prominent university-wide resource now integrated within the School of the Arts, the ICA serves as a link between the campus and the contemporary art world. It fulfills this role by nurturing local creative communities, fostering connections with a global network of artists and organizations and promoting collaborations across VCU departments and the community, according to press release from the school.
“I am beyond thrilled to lead the Institute for Contemporay Art at VCU, an institution that I have admired as a leading voice in the field of contemporary art today,” Brown said. “The ICA is a beacon for artistic excellence and freedom, grounded in the potency of ideas, collaboration and exchange.”
Brown’s enthusiasm for her new role is matched by the anticipation of VCU leadership.
“I am excited to welcome Jessica to this vital role,” said Carmenita Higginbotham, Ph.D., dean of VCUarts.
“Jessica will bring significant expertise as well as a unique vision to the ICA. I am so looking forward to working with Jessica to grow the ICA’s reputation and to generate new and innovative opportunities
for our students, our faculty and staff and the broader arts communities.”
In addition to overseeing the curatorial and programmatic vision for the ICA, Brown will increase an emphasis on cross-disciplinary studies and foster an environment for the most gifted artists and scholars from around the world to explore new terrain in artistic expression.
Brown holds a master’s in modern and contemporary art from Princeton University, and a bachelor’s in art history from Northwestern University, and has published widely on contemporary artists including Senga Nengudi, Theaster Gates, Nari Ward, Lubaina Himid, Meleko Mokgosi, Firelei Báez and Baldwin Lee. She is the recipient of the 2020 Andy Warhol Foundation Curatorial Research Fellowship, a member of the 2023
class of the Villa Albertine Museums Next Generation Incubator and a recipient of the 2024 VIA Art Fund Curatorial Fellowship. She is currently researching for a major exhibition that examines global contemporary artists who mine industrial, agricultural and maritime histories through materiality.
Asma Naeem, Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art, said Brown had left an indelible mark on the museum and would be missed.
“Jessica has been pivotal in shaping the Baltimore Museum of Art’s acclaimed contemporary program, emphasizing a steadfast responsibility to the historical underpinnings of the art of today and to an astonishing array of artists, many of whom are just now getting the attention they deserve,” Naeem said.
Free Press staff report
The Richmond Region Tourism Foundation recognized individuals and organizations for their contributions to Black tourism and culture at the inaugural BLK RVA Community Awards. The ceremony, held last Friday at The Hippodrome Theater, celebrated five years of BLK RVA, an initiative focused on promoting and celebrating Black culture and tourism in the Richmond area, and honored those who have helped shape the local Black cultural landscape.
Winners included the Afrikana Independent Film Festival for arts and entertainment, Richmond Black Restaurant Experience for food and drink and Elegba Folklore Society for historical preservation.
The Rising Community Impact Award went to RVA Explore Tour, while Randy and Shirley Cooper, former credit union executives, received the Rooted Community Impact Award for longtime community service. Wells Fargo presented the event, which was hosted by radio personality Clovia Lawrence.
Local artist’s floodwall-inspired art featured on CVS products
Free Press staff report
A Richmond artist is one of four CVS Health employees nationwide whose artwork will be featured on journal covers sold at CVS Pharmacy stores and online. Ashley Briggs’ design, inspired by her mental health journey, was chosen from over 75 submissions in a company-wide contest. Her cover, titled “My Peace,” depicts her as an Afro-Latina woman and her connection to the James River floodwall.
“I hope this piece can inspire others to be kind to their mind,” Briggs said. “I hope it’s something they love.”
Briggs, a senior representative for CVS Health since 2016, began creating digital art during the pandemic to cope with isolation. Her design reflects her experience finding peace at Richmond’s flood wall.
The journals are part of the Caliber Fashion Artist Series, sold at over 6,700 CVS Pharmacy stores and CVS.com.
Deborah Fernandez-Turner, deputy chief psychiatric officer at CVS Health, noted the therapeutic benefits of journaling. “Studies have shown that journaling after a difficult life event or about emotional expression and processing can help to improve one’s mood, anxiety and overall well-being,” she said.
This marks the first time CVS Health has featured employee artwork on store brand products.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Luis “Sweet Lou” Hidalgo, founder of the 17th Annual Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival, at his Oasis Broadcasting Network studio. This year’s festival, “Rumba en la Market,” will be held at the 17th Street Market in Shockoe Bottom on Saturday, Aug. 31, from noon to 8 p.m.
Ashley Briggs
Justin T. Gellerson Jessica Bell Brown
Gregg, first Black lieutenant general, remembered for legacy of leadership
By George Copeland, Jr
Military trailblazer Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg, who paved the way for African Americans in the armed forces, passed away Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, at the age of 96 after decades of distinguished service.
“Our family is so very thankful for the outpouring of support after the death of my father, Arthur Gregg,” his daughter Alicia Collier said in a statement. “We are so proud of the incredible legacy he has impressed on the Army and for our nation.
“Those accomplishments mean a lot, but our hearts ache for the loss of a wonderfully kind and loving father, grandfather, and friend. The world is a better place because Dad was a part of it.”
Gregg was born on May 11, 1928, in Florence, S.C. to Robert and Ethel Gregg, the youngest of nine children. He faced the challenges created by segregation
throughout his early life, from childhood education to efforts to pursue a career in medical science. He enlisted in 1946.
From a role in the 3511th Quartermaster Transportation Truck Company in West Germany, Gregg went on to become an instructor at the base formerly known as Fort Lee in the Quartermaster Leadership School. He later earned the Meritorious Unit Citation for his command of a battalion in Vietnam in 1966.
Among his many honors and achievements, Gregg served as the first African American brigadier general in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps when he was promoted in 1972, according to the Army. He was also the first African American to reach the rank of lieutenant general, earning three stars in 1972, 1976 and 1977. He served in the U.S. Army for over 30 years, retiring in 1981 as the highest ranking Black officer in the U. S. military. In 2016, the Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg Sustainment Leadership Award was created, with Gregg honored as its first recipient.
Last year, the military installation formerly known as Fort Lee was renamed in honor of Gregg and fellow Black military officer Lt. Col. Charity Adams as part of a congressional effort to rename facilities in the armed service that honored Confederate leaders.
Gregg was the first living person in modern American history to have a military installation named after him, according to the Army. It stands as just one of many landmark accomplishments he made during his long life.
“His dedication and leadership will never be forgotten,” said Maj. Gen. Michelle Donahue, commanding general of the Fort Gregg-Adams and the Combined Arms Support Command in a statement on the U.S. Army’s website. Gregg was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene McDaniel, and daughter Sandra Gregg. He is survived by Collier, another daughter Margy Steinmetz, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
NAACP to honor civil rights pioneer with wreath-laying ceremony
1950s and 1960s. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church and president of both the local and state NAACP branches.
“We are laying this wreath now to show our love and
respect for our fearless leader and to make sure he is never forgotten,” said James Ghee, current president of the Prince Edward NAACP. The group plans to make this an annual event near Griffin’s Sept. 15 birthday.
Griffin played a key role in the 1951 student walkout at Robert Russa Moton High School, protesting segregated and inferior schools for African American children. When Prince Edward County closed its schools in 1959 to resist
desegregation, Griffin filed a lawsuit that led to their reopening in 1964. Since his death in 1980, Griffin has been honored with a street named after him and a statue on Richmond’s Capitol Square as part of the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial. A gymnasium at Prince Edward County Middle School also bears his name.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Lt. Gen Arthur J. Gregg died at the age of 96 on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, according to the U.S. Army. Last April the former Fort Lee was named Fort Gregg-Adams after Lt. Gen. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams.
cOMMONWEALTH
8501 Mayland Dr Suite 106 Henrico, VA 23294
Inc.
Phone: 804-308-0051
Fax: 434-885-3600
Email: leganamericalawgroup.com
cOMMONWEALTH OF virGiNiA: iN THE circUiT cOUrT OF THE cOUNTY OF HENricO MArGAriTA MArTiNEZ rODriGUEZ, Plaintiff, v. GrEGOriO cHAvEZ NEPOMUcENO, Defendant. case No.: cL24-5172
OrDEr OF PUBLicATiON
The object of this suit is for the Plaintiff to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the grounds that the parties have lived separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption, and with Plaintiff’s intent to terminate the marriage, for a period exceeding twelve {12) months, namely since October 27, 2007. It appearing by affidavit that Plaintiff has no knowledge of the Defendant’s current address and Defendant’s present whereabouts are unknown and diligence has been used by or on behalf of the Plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city the Defendant is without effect. It is accordingly ORDERED that Gregorio Chavez Nepomuceno whose whereabouts are unknown, appear before this court on or before October 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. And do what is necessary to protect his interests herein.
A Copy Teste: HEIDI S. BARSHINGER, Clerk
The undersigned respectfully requests this: Elizabeth F. Egan, Esq. VSB # 44849 Attorney for the Plaintiff America Law Group, Inc. 8501 Mayland Dr Suite 106 Henrico, VA 23294 Phone: 804-308-0051 Fax: 434-885-3600 Email: leganamericalawgroup.com
virGiNiA: cOUNTY OF HENricO circUiT cOUrT 4301 EAST PArHAM rOAD, HENricO, vA 23228
cArriSA M. L. BAiLEY v. TrEMAiNE DUrON BAiLEY case No. cL24005341-00 OrDEr OF PUBLicATiON
The object of this suit is to: DIVORCE: NO FAuLT GROuNDS
It is ordered that Tremaine Duron Bailey appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before October 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
virGiNiA: iN THE circUiT cOUrT FOr THE cOUNTY OF HANOvEr JEFFrEY MUNSEY, Plaintiff v. rAcHEL MUNSEY, Defendant. case No.: cL24002051-00 OrDEr OF PUBLicATiON
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 15th day of October, 2024, and protect her interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Counsel VSB# 27724 The Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667
virGiNiA:
iN THE circUiT cOUrT FOr THE cOUNTY OF HANOvEr DArLiN OrOZcO ricArDO,
Plaintiff v. JASON LEMUS rUiZ, Defendant. case No.: cL24002003-00
OrDEr OF PUBLicATiON
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 7th day of October, 2024, and protect his interests. A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667
virGiNiA: iN THE circUiT cOUrT FOr THE cOUNTY OF HANOvEr DArriAN ricHArDSON, Plaintiff v. KiANA ricHArDSON, Defendant. case No.: cL24002435-00 OrDEr OF PUBLicATiON
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts appear here on or before the 1st day of October, 2024 and protect her interests. A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667
virGiNiA: iN THE circUiT cOUrT FOr THE cOUNTY OF HANOvEr KiMBErLY TiLLAr Plaintiff
v. TrAviS SKiNNEr, Defendant. case No.: cL24001886-00 OrDEr OF PUBLicATiON
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 24th day of September, 2024 and protect his interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Counsel VSB# 27724 The Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667
virGiNiA: iN THE circUiT cOUrT OF THE cOUNTY OF HENricO cHArLES EDWArD SLAUGHTEr, Jr., Plaintiff, v. ANGELiTA vErNiTA rOBiNSON GOLDSTEiN, Defendant. civil Law No.: cL24-2855 OrDEr OF PUBLicATiON The object of the above-styled suit is to obtain a divorce from the bonds of matrimony from the defendant on the grounds that the parties have lived separate and apart without interruption and without cohabitation for a period of more than one year, since September 15, 2011. And it appearing by Affidavit filed according to law that the above-named defendant,
is not a resident of this state and that due diligence has been used by or in behalf of plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city the defendant is, without effect. It is therefore ORDERED that the said Angelita Vernita Robinson Goldstein do appear in the Clerk’s Office of the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Henrico County, 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, Virginia 23273, on or before September 30, 2024 and Jo whatever necessary to protect their interest in this suit.
A Copy Teste: HEIDI S. BARSHINGER, Clerk I ask for this: Rudolph C. McCollum, Jr. VSB# 32825 P.O. Box 4595 Richmond, Virginia 23220 Phone - (804) 523-3900 Fax - (888) 532-1870
cUSTODY
virGiNiA: HANOvEr circUiT cOUrT 7530 cOUNTY cOMPLEx rOAD, HANOvEr, vA 23069 DESTiNY NicOLE MEADE v DESTiNY NicOLE SMiTH case No. cL24002387-00 OrDEr OF PUBLicATiON The object of this suit is to: Application for name change of Destiny Meade. It is ORDERED that Elisha Joe Meade appear at the above named court and protect his/her interests on or before OCOTBER 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
PrOPErTY
virGiNiA: iN THE circUiT cOUrT OF THE ciTY OF ricHMOND civil Action No. cL24-2941 JOHN JErOME HArriS, Sr. and GiLA SWAYZENE HArriS, Plaintiffs, v. DAviD PHiLLiP BAKEr, BrENDA BAKEr, rOrY BAKEr JOrDAN, GLAScOE A. BAKEr iii SErvE: Office of the Secretary of the commonwealth and by Order of Publication and KArL JErOME HArriS and ELiZABETH HArriS SErvE: by Order of Publication and and UNKNOWN HEirS OF WiLLiAM E. ArcHEr SErvE: by Order of Publication and The Unknown heirs, descendants, devisees, assigns, and/or successors in title to William E. Archer, if any there be, the consorts or any of said unknown heirs who are married, the lien creditors of said unknown heirs, if any, and other persons who may have an interest in the subject matter of this suit, or may have an interest or claim an interest in the property which is the subject matter of this suit and who are made parties hereto by the general caption “PArTiES UNKNOWN” Defendants. OrDEr OF PUBLicATi The object of this suit is to sell a certain parcel of real property situated in the City of Richmond, being originally owned by Jordan Austin more particularly described as follows: ALL that certain lot, piece or parcel of land with all improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto
belonging, lying and being in the City of Richmond, formerly Chesterfield County, Virginia, containing 3.471 acres as shown on plat of survey by Townes Consulting Engineers, Planners and Land Surveyors, dated April 1, 2022 entitled “Plat Showing Physical Improvements of 2115 Broad Rock Blvd for Quality Life of Virginia, LLC”, a copy of which is attached hereto and recorded herewith and to which plat reference is made for a more particular description of the property conveyed.
BEING the same real estate conveyed to Jordan Austin, by Deeds from Mary B. Lipscombe, dated May 15, 1877, recorded November 17, 1877, in the Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, Chesterfield County, Virginia, in Deed Book 60, page 366. Also, by Deed from Mary B. Lipscombe, dated May 23, 1880, recorded December 10, 1888, in the Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, Chesterfield County, Virginia, in Deed Book 77, page 43. The said Jordan Austin died intestate and was survived by Wilson Austin, Booker Austin, Preston Austin, Ella Austin, now known as Ella Parks, and Sophia Austin, now known as Sophia Harris.
The said Wilson Austin died intestate and is survived by Maude Austin.
The said Booker Austin died intestate and is survived by Ruth Austin, Robert Austin, Bettie Austin, now known as Bettie Archer and Beatrice Austin, now known as Beatrice Lawson.
The said Ruth Austin died on October 19, 1918 intestate and is survived by Willie Archer, Lillie May Archer and Dallas Archer.
Subsequently Maude Austin, unmarried, Ella Parks and Fred Parks, husband and wife, Bettie Archer and Kimmie Archer, husband and wife, Ruth Archer and Willie Archer, husband and wife, Beatrice Lawson and Aaron Lawson, husband and wife, Preston and his wife, and Robert Austin conveyed the aforesaid property to Sophia Harris, by Deed dated October 2, 1920, recorded February 3, 1920, in the Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, Chesterfield County, Virginia, in Deed Book 162, page 225. The said Sophia Harris, also known as Sophia Austin Harris, formerly known as Sophia Austin, died February 21, 1952, intestate and per List of Heirs recorded in Will Book 70, page 547 and Will Instrument Number 08-1073, is survived by Nelson H. Harris, also known as Nelson Herbert Harris, Sr.
The said Nelson Herbert
recorded liens. The unknown heirs, devisees, and/or successors in title to William E. Archer and other parties unknown, may 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 Karl Jerome Harris and Elizabeth Harris and unknow Heirs of William E. Archer, 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 William E. Archer, and PA r T i ES UNKNOWN appear before Court on or before October 7, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. to protect their interests, if any, in this suit. TESTE: Edward F. Jewett., Clerk By /s/ Curtis D. Gordon, Esquire, V.S.B. #25325 Dankos, Gordon & Tucker, P.C.
Richmond Ambulance Authority Notice of Request for Proposals
Services Solicitation Number:
The Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) hereby invites proposals from qualified interested parties to collect
accounts deemed to be
debts by RAA, pursuant to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in or referred to in the Request for Proposal (RFP). The successful Proposer will provide a plan and cost structure for placement collection services for bad debts, as described in the RFP.
All proposals must be received at the Authority offices no later than 3:00 pm (EST), on October 17, 2024. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the RFP by contacting:
Kiko Omar White
Compliance Manager Richmond Ambulance Authority 2400 Hermitage Road Richmond, Virginia, 23220 804-254-1150
Kiko.White@raaems.org Or Visit: https://raaems.org/about-procurement/
The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to: RFP 240013492 Codification Services
For all information pertaining to this RFP, please logon to the Richmond website (www.rva.gov). Proposal Due Date: September 27, 2024/Time: 11:00AM
Pre-Proposal Conference Meeting: September 13, 2024 at 10:00AM
Information or copies of the above solicitations are available at the City of Richmond website www.rva.gov or https://procurement.opengov.com/ portal/rva. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process. To advertise
