Lawsuit claims Virginia is purging legitimate voters from the rolls Richmond Free Press
By Matthew Barakat The Associated Press
A coalition of immigrant-rights groups and the League of Women Voters in Virginia has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares of an ongoing “purge” of voter rolls that will disenfranchise legitimate voters.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, argues that an executive order issued in August by Youngkin requiring daily updates to voter lists to remove ineligible voters violates a federal law that requires a 90-day “quiet period” ahead of elections on the maintenance of voter rolls.
voters, the lawsuit alleges, because DMV data is often inaccurate or outdated.
“Defendants’ Purge Program is far from ... a well-designed, well-intended list maintenance effort. It is an illegal, discriminatory, and errorridden program that has directed the cancelation of voter registrations of naturalized U.S. citizens and jeopardizes the rights of countless others,” the lawsuit states.
The quiet period exists to prevent erroneous removals, the lawsuit states. Virginia’s policy of using data from the Department of Motor Vehicles to determine a voter’s citizenship and eligibility will surely disenfranchise legitimate
Harris ahead in state by comfortable margin, new poll says
By Markus Schmidt
Vice
President Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, leads Republican Donald Trump by 11 points (52% to 41%) among Virginia likely voters, according to a new poll released Monday by the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University. The survey found that 4% of voters remain undecided four weeks before the Nov. 5 election, while 3% say they will vote for someone else. In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Tim Kaine leads Republican Hung Cao by 20 points, or 55% to 35%, with 8% saying they are undecided and 2% saying they will vote for someone else. Top-of-mind issues for Virginia likely voters include inflation and the economy (29%), threats to democracy (18%), immigration (11%), followed by abortion (10%).
Immigrant citizens are at particular risk, the lawsuit states, because individuals can obtain a driver’s license as lawful permanent residents, refugees or asylum applicants, and then later become naturalized citizens. But the data from the Department of Motor Vehicles will still list that individual as a noncitizen.
Christian Martinez, a spokesman for Youngkin, said Virginia is complying with state and federal law.
VCU students lead anti-war march to State Capitol on Gaza War anniversary
By George Copeland Jr. Traffic on East Broad Street came to a standstill Monday afternoon, as anti-war, pro-Palestine students at Virginia Commonwealth University walked out of classes to march against the conflict in the Middle East. Their march led to the State Capitol, where the Virginia Israel Advisory Board has a local office in Old City Hall. There, they chanted and shared personal stories of loss as a result of the war, as Capitol Police stood between them and the grounds.
“814 mosques destroyed, 30,000 children missing limbs, 2.2 million displaced residents, 300 journalists killed,” said VCU student Sereen Haddad, addressing a crowd outside the State Capitol. “For one year we’ve been watching children ripped from their parent’s arms, and their homes reduced to rubble.” The march, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, was just one of several assemblies held on the one-year anniversary
Richmond city workers call on Stoney to continue contract negotiations
By George Copeland Jr.
City of Richmond employees are calling on Mayor Levar M. Stoney to come back to the bargaining table and ensure their first union contract can be implemented.
Their message rang out throughout the city Tuesday afternoon, as a crowd of about 60 city employees and their supporters rallied at City Hall.
“We as workers deserve the opportunity,” Mavis Green, who works in the Department of Public Works, said as he addressed the crowd. “We need to be-
come one city again, and the way we’re going to become one city again is if we get this collective bargaining and people start treating others the way they want to be treated.”
The rally was organized by Teamsters Local 322, which represents 600 employees in the Department of Public Works, Department of Public Utilities, Parks and Recreation and Planning and Development Review.
Speeches and chants of “No contract, no peace!” filled the air as tractor trailers from Teamsters unions in Pennsylvania,
New York, Indianapolis, and Kentucky’s
Joint Council circled City Hall for about an hour, with horns blaring in support.
City employees gained collective bargaining rights in July 2022, when Richmond City Council approved extending those rights to municipal workers. However, Local 322 says the Stoney administration has “stonewalled” scheduling negotiations and turned down their proposals.
“It is critical that the mayor’s administration comes to the table and bargains
Former hospital worker charged with Irvo Otieno’s death acquitted
By George Copeland Jr.
A Dinwiddie County jury acquitted the first defendant to stand trial in the death
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia seen on Sept. 9 in Alexandria.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Brian Peyton, center, president of Teamsters 322, addresses a crowd from the back steps of Richmond City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Speaking on behalf of City of Richmond city workers, Peyton criticized Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration for not taking labor negotiations seriously.
Wavie Jones
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Sereen Haddad, a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University with bullhorn, leads a student-organized walkout on Monday, Oct. 7. The demonstration, marking one year since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, saw about 100 participants march from the Monroe Park Campus to the Virginia General Assembly Building on East Broad Street.
Julianne Tripp Hillian Happy hatter
Jamaya Mills helps her daughter Amari-Elle Mills, 7, try on
handmade hat at the Science Museum booth Oct. 5 at
2nd Street Festival.
Virginia NAACP names Melanie Campbell as speaker for annual convention
Free Press staff report
The Virginia NAACP announced that Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, will be the keynote speaker for the Freedom Fund Gala at its 89th Annual Convention in Williamsburg.
“Ms. Campbell is recognized as one of the hardest-working servant leaders in today’s civil rights, women’s rights and social justice movements,” said Virginia NAACP President Cozy Bailey. “Her dedication to empowering the Black community and cultivating the next generation of civic leaders makes her an ideal keynote speaker.”
The convention, scheduled for Oct. 11 through 13, will bring together leaders from NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters across Virginia. Attendees will participate in workshops and town halls designed to strengthen local advocacy efforts.
Gregory Neal Jackson Jr., deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, will be a special guest at the Youth Leadership Luncheon. The Rev. Carlon Lassiter, pastor of Saint John Baptist Church, will speak at the Unity Worship Service.
The convention will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Williamsburg. For more information, visit naacpva.org.
Holiday closing Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024
In observance of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday on Monday, Oct. 14, please note the following:
Government offices
Local government offices in the City of Richmond will be closed. State and federal offices will be closed.
Courts Richmond and the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover courts will be closed.
Schools Richmond and Henrico County Public Schools closed.
Public libraries
Richmond Public Library branches will be closed Monday, Oct. 14. The Library of Virginia will be closed from Saturday, Oct. 12, to Monday, Oct. 14.
Trash and recycling Regular schedule Monday, Oct. 14. Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions Closed. U.S. Postal Service Closed. Department of MotorVehicles customer service centers Closed.
ABC stores Open regular store hours Monday, Oct. 14. GRTC Schedule and route changes were not available ahead of publication. Riders may call GRTC at 804-358-4782 for further information. Free Press Offices Closed.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending on Saturday, Oct. 5, COVID-19 accounted for .9% of all emergency department visits in Virginia, trending down from previous data. No deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported within that timeframe at the time of publication. Data on COVID-19 wastewater showed levels plateauing for Richmond and below detection in Henrico County starting Sunday, Sept. 22.
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
• Thursday, Oct. 10, 2 to 4:30 p.m. - Calvary United Methodist Church, 1637 Williamsburg Road.
• Friday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Southside Woman, Infants and Children Office, 509 E. Southside Plaza
• Wednesday, Oct. 16, 8 to 10 a.m. - Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Ave.; 2 to 4:30 p.m. - St. Luke’s Apartments, 117 Engleside Drive.
RHHD’s Resource Centers are providing free at-home tests for pickup at select locations:
• Creighton Court at 2150 Creighton Road, call 804-371-0433.
• Fairfield Court at 2311 N. 25th St., call 804-786-4099.
• Gilpin Court at 436 Calhoun St., call 804-786-1960.
• Hillside Court at 1615 Glenfield Ave., call 804-230-7740.
• Mosby Court at 1536 Coalter St., call 804-786-0204.
• Southwood Court at 1754 Clarkson Road. Unit #B, call 804-230-2077.
• Whitcomb Court at 2106 Deforrest St., call 804-786-0555. For Virginia Department of Health testing locations, visit vdh. virginia.gov. Additional testing site information can be found at vax.rchd.com. Want a COVID-19 vaccine?
Individuals interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can schedule an appointment with the Richmond and Henrico health districts by calling (804) 205-3501. Additionally, vaccines.gov provides a list of pharmacies and clinics offering the vaccine. You also can find locations by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or calling 1-800-232-0233.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a vaccine locator at vaccines.gov. Residents can order four free at-home COVID test kits at covidtest.gov, while supplies last.
The CDC recommends the new COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age 6 months and older. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are approved for all ages 6 months and up, while Novavax is for those age 12 and older.
Updated vaccines are now available at pharmacies and health care providers. Health officials encourage eligible individuals to get their boosters. For those who received previous doses, the CDC advises waiting at least two months before getting the new vaccine. However, exceptions exist for people completing an initial vaccination series, immunocompromised individuals, those who recently had COVID-19 and individuals receiving an initial series of Novavax doses. Compiled by George Copeland Jr.
Construction continues on Nine Mile Road in Richmond’s East End,
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
By Paula Phounsavath
land for new townhouses and apartments. The development will replace
in Creighton Court with 626 apartments and 105 townhouses. The city provided
for infrastructure, with Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority agreeing
number of low-income residents in the new development.
The Richmond Behavioral Health Authority has been awarded a nearly $5 million grant to expand mental health programs in Richmond Public Schools and its clinic.
The $4.97 million grant was awarded about three weeks ago by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, but won’t take effect until Dec. 30. The SBIRT Project — which stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment — aims to help with case management and wraparound services for youths and adults with substance use disorders or behavioral health conditions.
“It really allows us to put in a lot of infrastructure in terms of screening processes, really putting in clinical staff, building on what we already have in [RPS] schools,” said Shenee McCray, RBHA’s chief operat-
ing officer for mental health services. RBHA has a longstanding partnership with RPS, providing mental health services in over 28 schools. These services include clinicians offering intake, individual therapy, group therapy and mobile crisis response. McCray said there’s a greater need for mental health services due to a high number of cases stemming from the pandemic, as well as helping students who are coming of age and experiencing peer pressure.
“The brain continues to develop through age 25 and so middle school years and high school years are ages where youths are really developing and figuring out who they are, who they want to be,” McCray said. “There is a lot of social pressure at that age.”
RPS officials and School Board candidates have been vocal about the need for more mental health resources in schools, a prominent topic during candidate forums this election season.
As society moves away from stigmatizing mental health, RBHA welcomes the positive attention it’s now receiving.
“I love the direction that we’re going in terms of breaking down the stigma that’s been our mission for decades is to normalize seeking help and to be able to say, ‘I’m not okay,’” McCray said. “That’s what our mission has been, that we want to normalize seeking mental health. We want to normalize taking care of our mental health, just as you would your physical health.”
RBHA is one of 10 grantees selected from nationwide applicants. The $4.97 million grant will be divided into about $1 million annually for five years.
By Paula Phounsavath
Richmond Public Schools announced at Monday evening’s School Board meeting that it is leading the state in the number of accredited schools.
RPS Director of Data Analytics John Grove and Chief Academic Officer for Elementary Schools Leslie Wiggins, both presented to the School Board the accreditation update for the 2023-2024 school year. While Superintendent Jason Kamras announced five newly accredited schools – Bellevue Elementary, Overby-Sheppard Elementary, G.H. Reid Elementary, Dogwood Middle and Thomas Jefferson High – during back-to-school season, Grove shared newer data that RPS has the highest number of accredited schools statewide in over the past 10 years.
“What we see here is something that I’m extremely proud of,” Grove said to the board. “Richmond city has the highest number of accredited schools with a total of 24, which is a huge accomplishment.”
Grove explained that a chart ranking the number of accredited schools statewide shows that other school divisions
have experienced declines in accreditation over the past two years. In contrast, RPS has added eight accredited schools during that same period. Prince William County, the next highest, has five newly accredited schools.
“As the state is decreasing, RPS is increasing at a very fast rate,” Grove said.
In addition to the data, Grove shared that John Marshall High School has maintained its accreditation status, despite chronic absenteeism that occurred the previous academic year. RPS Chief Engagement Officer Danielle Greene-Bell explained to the board that the engagement team is working alongside RPS’ academic leadership team to combat chronic absenteeism.
“We’re also conducting chronic absenteeism ... audits and assessments, where we are walking through our schools and working with our school leaders, especially at some of our locations where there is a particularly high chronic absenteeism rate,” Greene-Bell said. “There are attendance meetings that are being held once a week where we are identifying students by name so that it’s not just a number and a percentage.”
Most of the School Board – except 3rd
District board member Kenya Gibson, who abstained, also ratified Dreams4RPS, a long-term plan consisting of the three top goals to target for the next five years. The three goals – requiring a new baseline from the new VDOE’s accountability system for school accreditation, obtain a 78% “on-time” graduation rate and become proficient in subjects such as reading by 50%, writing by 49%, social studies by 43%, math by 47% and science by 45% –have been in the works since early August and went through four rounds of feedback from the board.
“I just wanted to give kudos on the homework that our staff has been doing, as far as facilitating this entire process because it’s been a labor of love,” said Dawn Page, School Board chairwoman, thanking RPS administrators for their work on the multiple revisions to Dreams4RPS. Kamras also announced a series of recognized observances for October during the meeting, including Hispanic Heritage Month, National Custodial Workers’ Day, School Security Staff Day, National Bullying Prevention Month, National Farm to School Month and Virginia Farm to School Week.
Free Press staff report
Virginia officials will unveil a state historical marker next week honoring Richmond’s first municipal African cemetery, a site that dates back to 1799.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources approved the marker for the burial ground, historically known as the “Burial Ground for Negroes.” The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at 1541 E. Broad St.
The cemetery, located in what is now the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood, served as a burial site for both enslaved and free Africans and African Americans. It fell into disuse after 1816 when the city opened a new cemetery following petitions from free Black residents who objected to the original site’s location near a gallows and its frequent flooding.
By the 1950s, much of the original cemetery was covered by Interstate 95 and parking lots. Community activists began a campaign in the early 2000s to reclaim and memorialize the site, now called the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground.
Speakers at the dedication will include Ana Edwards, a public historian and Virginia Commonwealth University assis-
tant
and Pamela
professor
Bingham, a descendant of Gabriel, an enslaved blacksmith who led a thwarted rebellion against slavery in 1800.
The marker is part of Virginia’s historical highway marker program, which began in 1927 and is considered the oldest such program in the nation. The state now has more than 2,600 markers.
DHR Director Julie Langan emphasized that the markers are intended to educate the public about significant historical events, people and places, rather than serve as memorials.
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
The Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground.
Melanie Campbell
Shenee McCray
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
where crews are preparing
504 public housing units
$21.4 million
to cap the
Mayoral candidates propose plans to boost Richmond’s arts and culture
By George Copeland Jr.
Richmond’s mayoral candidates brought their perspective to the city’s artistic community Tuesday evening during an Arts & Culture Mayoral Forum organized by CultureWorks and All City Art Club.
Moderated by Chioke I’Anson, director of community media at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University, the forum saw Andreas Addison, Dr. Danny Avula, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett and Harrison Roday take the stage of the Virginia Repertory Theatre. There, they pitched themselves as a mayor who would better support the arts and responded to questions from I’Anson and the around 100 people in attendance. Topics ranged from government support for the arts to their vision for the Arts District, health care for creatives and the value of art in Richmond’s future and growth.
The forum came amid changes and ongoing concerns around the future of the arts in the city. This includes the future of the Virginia Rep, which recently succeeded in fundraising $600,000 in donations to avoid a shutdown due to a $1.7 million deficit.
Despite this success, the forum made clear that other problems exist. The importance of and need for housing was a frequent topic throughout the forum, alongside city government’s relationship with creatives. Candidates promised commitments for
more affordable housing and rent control, as well as greater support for creatives.
Mosby shared her lack of experience in creating art, but stressed her appreciation for the arts and her experience in city government. She said both are important in a qualified mayor who could ensure results, and emphasized them throughout the forum alongside ideas for greater dialogues, diversity and integration of arts into the city.
“To take our city to the next level, we need an experienced and proven leader,” Mosby said. “One who can yield the outcomes, whether it be for housing, whether it be for public safety, whether it be for education or expanding our arts and culture scene.”
Avula also touted his experience in politics and love for art, promising creatives “a seat at the table,” while also praising the power of arts and culture to heal communities and build and elevate narratives. Celebrating the contributions of creatives, regional investments, and the establishment of a city department focused on the arts were among his ideas.
“I think what you all should be evaluating for is someone who understands how to be a partner to the arts community,” Avula said.
Addison used his experience in city government to show his ability to bring results to the public, his experience as a business owner in recognizing the obstacles for entrepreneurs
and his upbringing in proposals to facilitate artistic inspiration for the city’s youths.
“The equitable growth of our city is dependent on these kinds of conversations, these kinds of questions,” Addison said.
Neblett emphasized the ripple effects of policy on the city’s artistic community, highlighting issues like affordable housing and the Richmond Technical Center as vital supports. He suggested increasing funding and fostering partnerships with the city, local businesses and nonprofits as key strategies for enhancing support for the arts.
“When we bring together resources and create more public arts, festivals and creative spaces,” Neblett said. “We benefit not just the artists — it benefits the community.”
Roday, meanwhile, highlighted both the contributions of institutional and grassroots groups to Richmond’s art scene, alongside his own work with nonprofits, as he provided responses focused on economic development and community engagement.
“Our campaign is going to continue to be advocating for managing the cost of rent, increasing the supply of affordable housing and supporting our neighborhoods,” Roday said. “Without doing those things, we’re not going to be able to be the incredible place for arts and culture that we have been.”
The arts will continue to be a part of the mayoral race this week, as candidates will participate in a 5th District forum 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Richmond High School for the Arts.
K AMAL A HARRIS
$50K tax deduction for new business owners
$6K to young families in the first year of their child’s life
$25K in down payment assistance for first time home buyers
During his presidency, the Black unemployment rate was at an all time high His Project 2025 agenda would roll back civil rights policies that offer opportunity for Black Americans
He uses race to divide us, scapegoating Black & Brown communities
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Pres
Mayoral candidates Andreas Addison, Dr. Danny Avula, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett and Harrison Roday participate in the Arts & Culture Mayoral Forum hosted by CultureWorks on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Virginia Repertory Theatre. Chioke I'Anson, director of community media at the Institute for Contemporary Art at
Virginia Commonwealth University served as the moderator.
Lawsuit claims Virginia is purging legitimate voters from the rolls
“Every step in the established list maintenance process is mandated by Virginia law and begins after an individual indicates they are not a citizen. The DMV is mandated by law to send information about individuals who indicate they are a noncitizen in DMV transactions to (the state elections office),” he said. “Anyone spreading misinformation about it is either ignoring Virginia law or is trying to undermine it because they want noncitizens to vote.”
Shaun Kenney, a spokesman for the attorney general, said in an emailed response, “We feel confident in the position the Department of Elections has taken and stand ready to defend.”
It’s not clear how many voters have been removed as a result of the executive order. The lawsuit alleges that the Virginia Department of Elections has refused to provide data about its efforts. Youngkin’s executive order states that Virginia removed 6,303 voters from the rolls between Janu-
ary 2022 and July 2023 over citizenship questions. At the local level, the lawsuit cites anecdotal evidence of county boards removing voters since Youngkin’s executive order was issued and inside the 90-day quiet period required by federal law. In Fairfax County, the state’s most populous jurisdiction, minutes from the August meeting of the Electoral Board show that 49 voters were removed. According to the minutes, the elections office received data about 66 voters who were deemed likely noncitizens. The data came from both the state elections office and from an “Election Integrity Task Force” affiliated with the Fairfax County Republican Committee. The county registrar said that the elections office sent notices to all 66, and gave them 14 days to verify their citizenship and eligibility. Of those, 17 responded and were kept on the rolls. The other 49 were removed, and had their names forwarded to the commonwealth’s attorney and the Virginia attorney general’s
office for potential prosecution.
The lawsuit says the Fairfax removals, as well as other local actions, show that legitimate voters are being improperly removed if they don’t respond within the 14-day window provided to them.
Orion Danjuma, a lawyer with The Protect Democracy Project, one of the legal groups that filed the lawsuit on the plaintiffs’ behalf, said what’s occurring in Virginia is part of a national effort by supporters of former President Donald Trump to sow doubts about election integrity and delegitimize the results if Trump loses in November.
“The allies of the former president are advancing a narrative that’s false,” he said. “And they’re putting the voting rights of every citizen on the line to do it.”
The lawsuit asks a judge to bar the state from removing voters under what it describes as the state’s “purge program,” and restoration to the voter rolls of those who have been removed as a result of it.
A hearing on the request has not been scheduled.
Harris ahead in state by comfortable margin, in new poll
Continued from A1
According to the survey, voters think Harris would do a better job than Trump handling an array of policy issues, with a narrow lead on inflation and the economy (49% to 48%), a moderate advantage on threats to democracy (54% to 40%) and a large advantage on abortion (60% to 32%), racial inequality (61% to 31%) and climate change (61% to 29%). Trump has a narrow advantage over Harris on handling immigration (49% to 48%).
Overall, Harris has a +9 favorability rating (51% to 42%) in Virginia, with 8% indicating they have no opinion or don’t know. Trump is underwater with a -22 favorability rating (36% to 58%); 6% say no opinion or don’t know.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has a +12 favorability rating
(47% to 35%), with 19% indicating no opinion or don’t know. Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, has a –16 favorability rating at 34% to 50%, with 16% indicating no opinion or don’t know. Kaine has a +23 favorability rating (53% to 30%) with 17% saying they have no opinion or don’t know. Cao has an even favorability rating (23% to 23%); however, he is less well known, with a majority of likely voters indicating no opinion or don’t know (54%).
With early voting underway in Virginia since Sept. 20, likely voters are “fairly enthusiastic” to vote in the elections, with 82% indicating they are either very enthusiastic (64%) or somewhat enthusiastic (18%). Democratic voters have an enthusiasm advantage, with 75% indicating they are very enthusiastic com-
pared to 68% of Republicans and 46% of Independents.
While most Virginia likely voters surveyed have yet to cast their ballots, a higher percentage of Democrats say they have voted when compared to Republicans and Independents. In past elections Democrats have been more likely to vote early than Republicans, though Gov. Glenn Youngkin made a push in the 2022 General Assembly elections for Republicans to vote early.
The results of the Wason poll are based on 800 interviews with registered Virginia voters who are likely general election voters, including 211 on landline and 589 on cell phone, conducted Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, 2024. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4%.
This story originally appeared on VirginiaMercury.com
City workers call on Stoney to continue negotiations
in good faith,” Local 322 President and Political Director Brian Peyton said. “Anything less is an affront to taxpayers and is disrespectful to the hard-working people that keep this city running.”
The rally came to City Hall following other calls and actions for better labor agreements, including a nationwide strike by dockworkers that ended last Thursday. Another labor group, Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, also has called out the low wages and lack of basic benefits for contracted cleaning and security workers in Richmond.
While SEIU 32BJ and Local 322’s recent efforts for better worker rights aren’t closely connected, both groups are on good terms,
and some SEIU members were present at the rally to show their support. Also present for the rally was City Council member and mayoral candidate Andreas Addison, City Council member Reva Trammell, Richmond School Board member and City Council candidate Kenya Gibson, School Board candidate Ali Faruk and mayoral candidate Harrison Roday.
Some of them spoke during the rally, affirming their support for the workers’ efforts and celebrating their vital roles for the City of Richmond.
“When something is broken, wrong, needs to be picked up or fixed, it is you we depend on to get this done,” Addison said. “The least you deserve is to have this contract signed as soon as possible.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office touted Stoney’s record advocating for collective bargaining at the state level and the city’s status as the southernmost locality to implement collective bargaining in Virginia.
They also pointed to the need to ensure other employee groups aren’t given unequal agreements as the reason for the delay in the negotiations, which they say the administration has participated in with good faith and respect for the process.
“We recognize that the employees in this unit perform important work for city residents. The city wants a fair contract with the Teamsters and remains steadfast in our commitment to negotiating an agreement for our employees in the labor and trades unit,” the spokesperson said.
voting information
cast a regular ballot Tuesday, Oct. 15
Same-day registration begins Wednesday, Oct. 16
Deadline to request an absentee ballot Friday, Oct. 25 For voting details, contact the Virginia Department of Elections at elections.virginia.gov or 1-800-552-9745. They can provide information on early in-person voting, voting by mail, requesting absentee ballots and acceptable forms of ID for voting.
VCU students lead anti-war march to State Capitol on Gaza war anniversary
Continued from A1
of an attack by Hamas that led to ongoing military actions by the Israeli government focused on Gaza.
The student march also was just one of many anti-war, proPalestine protests that have been held around the world in recent days, as the war in the Middle East has expanded into Yemen and Lebanon.
Around 1,100 Israelis were killed and about 250 people were abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7. In the time since the war began, at least 41,000 Palestinians have died and over 96,000 have been injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Further injuries, deaths and displacements have occurred as the war has spread across the region.
“Today and every day, we mourn the lives lost on Oct. 7 and the suffering of civilians in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon in the year since,” U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine said in a statement released Monday.
“It is in the best interest of U.S. and Israeli national security, as well as for the safety of U.S. service members in the Middle East, that we urgently de-escalate tensions across the region and find a path back to peace — so the Israeli, Palestinian, and Lebanese people can live side by side as neighbors and with
Former
the safety and dignity they deserve.”
Monday’s march was just the latest anti-war effort seen at VCU. In April, a “liberation zone” organized outside Cabell Library ended when multiple police departments used riot gear and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Similar encampments were organized across the country in response to the war, including at the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and the University of Mary Washington.
In the aftermath, 13 people, including six VCU students, were arrested and charged with trespassing and unlawful assembly. Charges against seven of the protesters were dropped last Friday, following similar dismissals in late September. Further legal action for the remaining charges are pending.
Despite the police response and new conduct guidelines from the university that restrict assemblies and mask usage, VCU students have continued to organize and protest the war and VCU’s response to their efforts.
The protesters’ demands have ranged from calling for the resignation or removal of VCU President Michael Rao, to advocating for the defense of Palestinians on campus, urging a ceasefire supported by various organizations and politicians, and pushing for the university to divest from any deals or partnerships with the Israeli government.
Other events organized by SJP also have been held throughout the week, including the opening of an art installation at the VCU Commons Plaza on Tuesday, ending with a Day of Remembrance vigil. A fundraiser at Halal Munchies and a film screening on VCU’s campus were held Wednesday.
hospital worker charged with Irvo Otieno’s death acquitted
Continued from A1
nationwide outrage. The incident also led to new legislation on mental health crisis response and an $8.5 million settlement for his family.
Defense lawyers argued Otieno died from pre-existing health problems that led to sudden cardiac arrest, citing his enlarged heart, hypertension and obesity.
These factors, they argued, along with a lack of sleep, medication and food made Otieno’s heart a “time bomb” that ran out as Jones and others tried to restrain him.
“We can wish that Irvo Otieno had not died that day, as we can hope that Wavie Jones is not wrongly convicted for his death,” defense attorney Doug Ramseur said as part of his closing argument. “Do not respond to one tragedy by creating another.”
The verdict sparked emotional reactions in the courtroom. Ouko shouted “miscarriage of justice” at jurors and was removed, while Jones’
friends and family members wept.
Defense attorneys acknowledged the tragedy of Otieno’s death while arguing Jones’ innocence. They highlighted Jones’ record as a hospital employee and emphasized Otieno’s aggression and mental illness in custody, using witness testimony, documents and video evidence.
Jones echoed the defense’s argument when he testified during the hearing Wednesday, saying that he attempted to keep Otieno secured but safe when trying to restrain him. Jones and his family have not provided a response to the verdict, though Ramseur described him as “very thankful” for the result after what the attorney called “18 months of hell.”
“Unfortunately, for the past 18 months, we’ve had to suffer the slings and arrows of distortions,” Ramseur said, “intentional misrepresentations to the press from people who had eight and a half million reasons to sell a different version of this than what the truth was.”
Allan-Charles Chipman, a lead organizer for Otieno’s family described the trial as one where Otieno was “questioned and prosecuted more heavily than the defendant was.”
Witnesses in the trial included special agents for the Virginia State Police, CSH staff and some of the deputies and another hospital worker originally charged for Otieno’s death.
Bowers also took the stand multiple times during the trial, with the defense challenging her assessment of Otieno’s death across nearly two hours on Tuesday. Medical professionals called up by the defense also disagreed with her conclusion.
The verdict’s impact on pending trials remains unclear. Jones was the first of three defendants to face court hearings for Otieno’s death, with sheriff’s deputies Brandon Rodgers and Kaiyell Sanders still awaiting trial.
Seven deputies and three CSH workers were originally indicted with charges of second degree murder. Over the months that followed,
however, most of the defendants’ charges were dropped and the original charges downgraded to involuntary manslaughter.
The charges also have gone through three different Dinwiddie County commonwealth’s attorneys, each one altering them in some way. Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda N. Mann previously had rearranged the order of trials in what she said was an attempt to have a more favorable order for her office’s arguments.
“This is not the outcome we sought and while we are disappointed, we respect the jury’s decision,” Mann wrote in a statement. “Given there are additional cases stemming from Mr. Otieno’s death pending, it’s not appropriate for me to comment further. It’s important right now for information in these cases to be addressed in court, not the media and beyond.”
Rodgers’ trial is set for Nov. 19, while Sanders’ trial hearings will be held from Dec. 2 through Dec. 6.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Kaine faces GOP challenger Cao in Senate race
By Markus Schmidt
The morning of Monday, April 16, 2007, is forever etched in Virginia Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine’s memory.
On that tragic day, Seung-Hui Cho, an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, killed 32 people and wounded 17 others in a mass shooting before taking his own life. The incident, carried out with two semiautomatic pistols, remains one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
“I still have a lot of almost PTSD kind of scar tissue about that,” Kaine said in a recent interview. At the time, he was in the second year of his four-year term as Virginia’s governor.
Now, 17 years later, Kaine is seeking a third term in the U.S. Senate. The Democrat faces a challenge from Republican Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain and political newcomer. With polling data showing Kaine holding a comfortable lead, both candidates are ramping up their campaigns as they approach the final stretch.
For the Minnesota-born, Harvard-educated lawyer, who began his career in public service as a civil rights attorney before moving into politics, sensible gun regulations are one of the key issues defining Kaine’s campaign and setting him apart from his opponent. If re-elected, it’s an area that he wants to continue to work on.
“We haven’t done enough yet to reduce gun violence,” Kaine said in the interview. “I had a teacher tell me not long ago, ‘when we do that moment of silence at the beginning of every day, I know every adult in the building is thinking, let today not be that day.’”
Virginia’s children, parents, and teachers shouldn’t have to worry every day, Kaine added.
“So I do feel like there is more that can be done. Virginia has done some good things, and with the NRA headquarters here, we ought to be able to pass some of these gun safety laws in Congress,” he said, referring to universal background checks, closing loopholes in gun sales and banning assault weapons, measures he has advocated for on Capitol Hill.
Throughout his 12-year tenure in the Senate, Kaine has been a steadfast advocate for progressive policies, focusing on health care, education and climate change.
His bipartisan efforts relating to military issues — such as his role in sponsoring the War Powers Consultation Act, which seeks to clarify the role of Congress in war decisions, and his support of the expansion of the GI Bill and improving mental health services for military personnel — also have helped solidify his reputation in a state with a significant military presence.
Kaine’s incumbency gives him a distinct advantage, not only due to name recognition but also thanks to his deep ties across the commonwealth. As the husband of Anne Holton — the daughter of former Republican Gov. Lindwood Holton — he has positioned himself as a champion of Virginia’s diverse demography, from residents of urban centers like Northern Virginia to the rural regions of the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“Showing up is part of the job, and I tell people if somebody won’t show up for it, they’re
never gonna stand up for you,” Kaine said about his strategy for remaining a popular contender in Virginia, a state that has leaned Democratic in more recent times, but that still remains open to electing Republicans, as Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 victory has shown.
“I want people to know that I will stand up for them and you do that by being everywhere. Plus I enjoy it. I mean, I love the job, but more than the 36 weeks a year I’m in D.C., I love the 16 weeks when I’m in Virginia, and figuring out ways I can help with whatever challenges or aspirations people have.”
Kaine’s opponent Cao, who immigrated to the U.S. as a child after fleeing communist Vietnam, presents a sharp contrast to the Democratic incumbent.
With a platform closely aligned with former President Donald Trump — who endorsed him earlier this year — the Loudoun County resident has focused heavily on issues like immigration and national security, echoing Trump’s “America First” rhetoric.
Cao declined to be interviewed for this story, but he has openly supported Trump’s plan to deport all undocumented immigrants that are currently in the country. Cao also supports the former president’s effort to build a border wall.
“We will build the wall, we will secure the border through advanced technology, we will support the Border Patrol and border states, and we will repel this invasion,” Cao said on his website.
The Republican also has echoed Trump’s calls for imposing more tariffs for imports from countries like China, which he called “an existential threat” to the United States.
“There is no excuse for American exports to be taxed at a higher rate than Chinese imports,” Cao said on his website.
As a former Navy special operations officer who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, Cao has lamented the drop in the U.S. military’s recruitment numbers.
Since 2013, male enlistments
have decreased by 35%, going from 58,000 men enlisting in 2013 to 37,700 in 2023, according to the service data. Meanwhile, female recruitment has hovered around 10,000 recruits each year.
“Our military must have the resources it needs to face growing instability around the world. Right now, we face abysmal recruiting numbers and deficits in overall readiness,” Cao said on his website.
Looking ahead to the Nov. 5 election, Kaine conceded in the interview that at least the presidential contest will be close, in part because Democrats have failed to communicate what he called the economic victories of President Biden’s administration.
Among these accomplishments, Kaine named the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which authorized $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending with $550 billion of that figure going toward new investments and programs, such as the Green New Deal, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
“I do blame Democrats’ messaging, because if you ask people, ‘If you see a Republican ad on TV, what are they talking about?’ Maybe inflation, something about the economy,” Kaine said. “When they see a Democrat on TV, what Democrats talk about is access to abortions, a really important issue, but you often don’t see Dems really leaning into the economy.” Kaine said his positions on the economy contrast sharply with those of Cao, his Republican opponent.
“He opposes the infrastructure bill, and he opposed the inflation Reduction Act, including all these clean energy investments,” Kaine said. “I mean, we’re going to have a vote on reauthorizing the infrastructure bill in 2026. I’ll vote, yes, he’d
vote no.”
At their only televised debate at Norfolk State University last week, the two candidates clashed over a variety of positions, including abortion rights. While Kaine said he has introduced legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade in order to statutorily protect women’s access to abortion, Cao accused his opponent of supporting “unlimited abortion” up to and including after birth.
“What he wants to do is take it out of the hands of voters,” Cao said at the debate. “I want to keep it back in the hands of voters because I don’t want a senator from California or a congressman from Idaho making decisions for Virginians.” Cao also said that Kaine has had a 99% failure rate in passing legislation, claiming that only three out of the 220 bills Kaine has introduced during his time in the Senate have been successful.
When Kaine challenged the accuracy of this claim, Cao responded with a remark that drew a reaction from the audience: “There are two truths in the world — never walk into a Target store wearing a red shirt, and never go against an Asian when it comes to math.” Larry Sabato, the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said although Virginia’s Senate race “isn’t even vaguely competitive,” Kaine has shown no fear of running tough races.
“His first for the City Council in Richmond wasn’t easy. Same for lieutenant governor in 2001, and governor in 2005. Kaine’s
AARP Virginia is standing with you by providing the reliable election information you need to make your voice heard in November. Find out how to register, details on mail-in voting and polling places, plus all the key voting deadlines for Virginia at aarp.org/VAvotes
Randy Singleton
Tim Kaine and GOP challenger Hung Cao participate in a debate at Norfolk State University as Kaine seeks a third term in the U.S. Senate.
By Terry Spencer and Kate Payne
Associated Press
The
Hurricane Milton crashed into Florida as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, pounding the coast with ferocious winds of over 100 mph (160 kph) and producing a series of tornadoes around the state. Tampa avoided a direct hit.
The cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph) as it roared ashore near Siesta Key, the Miamibased National Hurricane Center said. Siesta Key is a prosperous strip of white-sand beaches that’s home to 5,500 people about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa.
The Tampa Bay area has not taken a direct hit from a major hurricane in more than a century, but the storm was still bringing a potentially deadly storm surge to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including densely populated areas such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers.
Heavy rains were also likely to cause flooding inland along rivers and lakes as Milton traverses the Florida peninsula as a hurricane, eventually to emerge in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.
Milton slammed into a Florida region still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which caused heavy damage to beach communities with storm surge and killed a dozen people in seaside Pinellas County alone.
Earlier, officials issued dire warnings to flee or face grim odds of survival.
“This is it, folks,” said Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, which sits on the peninsula that forms Tampa Bay. “Those of you who were punched during Hurricane Helene, this is going to be a knockout. You need to get out, and you need to get out now.”
By late afternoon, some officials said the time had passed for such efforts. By the evening, some counties announced they
Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm
had suspended emergency services.
“Unless you really have a good reason to leave at this point, we suggest you just hunker down,” Polk County Emergency Management Director Paul Womble said in a public update.
Multiple tornadoes spawned by the hurricane tore across Florida, the twisters acting as dangerous harbingers of Milton’s approach. Videos posted to social media sites showed large funnel clouds over neighborhoods in Palm Beach County and elsewhere in the state.
Milton, which has fluctuated in intensity as it approached Florida, was a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday evening. It was expected to remain a hurricane after hitting land and plowing across the state, including the heavily populated Orlando area, through Thursday.
“That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t happen,” said Luisa Meshekoff, who nevertheless was staying put with her partner and eight cats in their home, a brick warehouse in a mandatory evacuation zone in Tampa’s Channel District. The couple considered leaving but felt bringing the cats to a shelter wasn’t an option, and they worried that getting stuck on the roads could be dangerous.
“I think if you have water and batteries, everything’s OK,” Meshekoff said. “I could be singing a different tune by 2 in the morning.”
Milton threatened communities still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in Western Florida and left at least 230 people dead across the South. In many places along the coast, municipalities raced to collect and dispose of debris before Milton’s winds and storm surge could toss it around and compound any damage.
With the storm weaker but growing in size, the surge was projected to reach as high as 9 feet (2.7 meters) in Tampa Bay.
Jackie Curnick said she
wrestled with her decision to stay and hunker down at home in Sarasota, just north of where the storm made landfall. But with a 2-year-old son and a baby girl due Oct. 29, Curnick and her husband thought it was for the best.
up their gas tank, and if they could even find a safe route out of the state.
“The thing is, it’s so difficult to evacuate in a peninsula,” she said. “In most other states, you can go in any direction to get out. In Florida there are only
Curnick said they started packing Monday to evacuate, but they couldn’t find any available hotel rooms, and the few they came by were too expensive.
She said there were too many unanswered questions if they got in the car and left: Where to sleep, if they’d be able to fill
so many roads that take you north or south.”
The famous Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which spans the mouth of Tampa Bay, closed around midday. Other major bridges also closed.
At a news conference in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis described deployment of a wide range of resources, including 9,000 National Guard members from Florida and other states; over 50,000 utility workers from as far as California; and highway patrol cars with sirens to escort gasoline tankers to replenish supplies so people could fill up their tanks before evacuating.
“Unfortunately, there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that,” DeSantis said.
As of Wednesday evening, Milton was centered about 20 miles (30 kilometers) westsouthwest of Sarasota, Florida, and had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph), the hurricane center reported. It was moving northeast at 15 mph (28 kph), slowing slightly from earlier in the afternoon.
Heavy rain and tornadoes lashed parts of Southern Florida starting Wednesday morning, with conditions deteriorating throughout the day. Six to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) of rain, with up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in some places, was expected well inland, bringing the risk of catastrophic flooding.
One twister touched down Wednesday morning in the lightly populated Everglades and crossed Interstate 75. Another apparent tornado touched down in Fort Myers, snapping tree limbs and tearing a gas station’s canopy to shreds.
Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders across 15 Florida counties with a total population of about 7.2 million people. Officials warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, because first responders were not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.
“Yesterday I said the clock was ticking. Today I’m saying the alarm bell is really going off. People need to get to their safe place,” said Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service.
In Charlotte Harbor, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Tampa, clouds swirled and winds gusted as Josh Parks packed his Kia sedan with clothes and other belongings. Two weeks ago, Helene’s surge brought about 5 feet of water to the neighborhood, and its streets remain filled with waterlogged furniture, torn-out drywall and other debris.
Parks, an auto technician, planned to flee to his daughter’s home inland and said his roommate already left.
“I told her to pack like you aren’t coming back,” he said. By early afternoon, airlines had canceled about 1,900 flights. SeaWorld was closed all day Wednesday, and Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando shut down in the afternoon.
More than 60% of gas stations in Tampa and St. Petersburg were out of gas Wednesday afternoon, according to GasBuddy. DeSantis said the state’s overall supply was fine, and highway patrol officers were escorting tanker trucks to replenish the supply.
In the Tampa Bay area’s Gulfport, Christian Burke and his mother stayed put in their three-story concrete home overlooking the bay. Burke said his father designed this home with a Category 5 in mind — and now they’re going
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch told residents to expect long power outages and the possible shutdown of the sewer system.
What polling shows about Black voters’ views of Harris and Trump
By Matt Brown and Linley Sanders
The Associated Press
Black registered voters have an overwhelmingly positive view of Vice President Kamala Harris, but they’re less sure that she would change the country for the better, according to a recent poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The poll, which was conducted in mid-September, found about 7 in 10 Black voters have a somewhat or very favorable view of Harris, with few differences between Black men and women voters on how they view the Democratic candidate. Younger and older Black voters also had similar views of the vice president.
Black voters’ opinions of former President Donald Trump, by contrast, were overwhelmingly negative, underscoring the challenges that the Republican candidate faces as he seeks to erode Harris’ support among Black men. Black voters are an important Democratic constituency, and few are aligned with the Republican Party. According to the survey, two-thirds of Black voters identify as Democrats, about 2 in 10 identify as independents and about 1 in 10 identify as Republicans.
But the poll also found that despite this dramatic gap in views of the candidates, Black voters are less certain of whether Harris would set the country on a better trajectory, or make a substantial difference in their own lives. Only about half of Black voters say “would change the country
for the better” describes Harris very or extremely well, while about 3 in 10 say it describes her “somewhat well” and about 2 in 10 say it describes her “not very well” or “not well at all.” And only about half believe the outcome of this presidential election will have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of impact on them personally, an assessment that’s in line with Americans overall.
“The Democratic Party is not strong enough for me,” said Raina Johnson, 53, a safety case manager in Chicago. Johnson predicted that Harris would “try to do something for the people” but she felt that Harris would be limited as it was “with (Barack) Obama, because the Republican Party shut him down.”
While Johnson felt that the stakes of the election were extremely high, she did not think it would have a large personal impact on her.
“Because I’ll still live my life. I’ll just have to roll with the punches,” she said.
Most Black voters think Harris is better on the issues
When asked which candidate would do a better job handling their top issues, including the economy, health care and crime, Black voters had the same answer: Harris.
Like voters overall, about 8 in 10 Black voters said the economy is one of the most important issues to their vote. But about threequarters of Black voters said health care was one of their most important issues, compared to slightly more than half of registered voters, and
they were also more likely than the electorate as a whole to say gun policy and crime were top issues.
In all of those areas, as well as on other topics like abortion and climate change, Harris held a commanding advantage over Trump among Black voters. But the size of that edge was bigger on some issues than others. About 6 in 10 Black voters said Harris was better positioned to handle the economy, while about 2 in 10 said this about Trump, giving Harris about a 40-point advantage. On abortion policy, she had around a 60-point advantage over Trump.
The Trump campaign has stepped up with some outreach to Black communities this year. The former president’s campaign believes that his message on the economy, immigration and traditional values can make notable inroads into the Democrats’ traditional base of support among Black voters, especially younger Black men.
Rod Wettlin, a retired Air Force veteran in Surprise, Ariz., who wants greater action on issues like health care and immigration, said he was deeply opposed to Trump and was concerned about the implications of the election for American democracy.
“What’s going on now is the culmination of a lot of stuff that’s been in our face for years,” Wettlin said. “Hopefully after the election it is civil, but these cats out here are already calling for bedlam. And that’s their right, I fought for them
to have that right. But don’t infringe on mine.”
There are signs that some groups of Black voters see Harris as a stronger figure, though. Black women voters and older Black voters were especially likely to describe Harris as someone who would “fight for people like you,” compared to Black men and younger Black voters.
Black voters view Trump negatively
Relatively few Black voters have a positive view of Trump, or see him as a candidate who has important qualities for the presidency.
The poll found that about 8 in 10 Black voters have a somewhat or very unfavorable view of Trump, while just 15% have a somewhat or very favorable view. About 1 in 10 said “would change the country for the better” or “would fight for people like you” describes Trump at least very well, and a similarly low share of Black voters said that Trump would make a good president.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction if Kamala Harris gets it,” said Roslyn Coble, 63, and a resident of Oakboro, N.C. “But if Donald Trump gets it, it’s going to be bad. He already told us what he’s going to do. He’s going to be a dictator.”
About 7 in 10 Black voters say the phrase “will say anything to win the election” describes Trump at least very well.
In a sign of how former President Biden’s decision to withdraw as the Democratic candidate in July may
have altered the race, only 55% of Black men voters have a favorable view of Biden, compared to 7 in 10 Black women voters.
“He did his best,” Wettlin said. He said that Biden should have bowed out of the presidential race far sooner and was skeptical of some of his achievements.
Black voter engagement organizations say they have also seen a burst of energy from voters and advocates since Harris’ entrance into the race, and both the Harris and Trump campaigns are continuing to focus on this group.
The Trump campaign has been conducting listening sessions and community events in Black neighborhoods in cities like Philadelphia, Detroit and Milwaukee. The campaign has also coordinated a “Black Voices for Trump” bus tour across cities in September. Meanwhile, the Harris campaign has held a number of events geared toward Black voters, especially Black men, and has deployed a number of high-profile surrogates, including lawmakers, celebrities and civil rights leaders, to Black communities in recent weeks.
The poll of 1,771 registered voters was conducted Sept. 12-16, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for registered voters is plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File
Richmond Free Press
October
Damn x 3
Before James Evans, the African American matriarch of a poor family in Chicago, Black fathers on television were rarely seen. The few who did make it on screen were usually shiftless, lazy and not to be taken seriously. As portrayed by the late John Amos, James Evans didn’t check any of those boxes on “Good Times.” He worked a series of menial jobs, loved and protected his family and wasn’t afraid to fight for them. Evans was the type of character many Black families in the 1970s saw in their own homes or extended families, but this was the first time they saw this archetype presented in popular culture.
James owes his existence to Esther Rolle, who played his wife, Florida Evans. When producers decided to spin off her character from the popular sitcom “Maude” into her own series, they wanted her to be a single parent. This, despite her character having a husband on “Maude,” a dock worker named “Henry Evans,” played by John Amos. She insisted that the family have a mother and a father, and they relented. “Henry” became “James” and the Evans family was suddenly longtime residents of a housing project modeled after the infamous Cabrini-Green Homes in Chicago’s South Side.
Amos and Rolle fought to maintain the dignity and accuracy of the show’s depiction of a Black family. This wasn’t easy to do when the writing staff included people who didn’t have extensive knowledge of experience of African American culture, such as former weatherman turned comedian, David Letterman. Things came to head when the antics of the son, J.J. Evans Jr., became more prominent and pronounced, turning the character and his catchphrase into the show’s signature. Rolle voiced her displeasure in a 1975 Ebony magazine article. Amos took things a step further.
Similar to the character he portrayed, Amos demonstrated a tendency for swift confrontation. He confronted the writers about J.J.’s words and actions and demanded that changes be made. His forceful manner would bring about a seismic change to the program, but not the one he intended – he was fired. In a two-part episode called “The Big Move,” viewers were told that James Evans died in a car accident. Rolle powerfully conveyed the grief of Florida Evans repeating a curse word three times as the reality sank in.
The career of John Amos continued. He would play roles in the TV movie “Roots,” the political drama, “The West Wing,” and a father figure on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” He would also play another protective father in the comedy movie, “Coming to America,” as Cleo McDowell, a restaurant owner and entrepreneur.
Recent years weren’t the best for Amos. As his health failed, his children disagreed on the best options for his care and things got messy, as they do in families. Last week, his son, K.C. Amos, announced that his father had died – 41 days prior. Like the hard-working, loving character he was known for, Amos slipped away from us off screen, leaving us to remember the legacy he left behind.
Staying in RVA
Some might say that it’s ironic that a mayor would introduce a multifaceted initiative called “Stay RVA” as he prepares to exit his elected office. But that’s when Mayor Levar M. Stoney decided to share his plan that aims to provide financial assistance to Richmond’s renters and homeowners. The mayor is correct in realizing that Richmond’s housing crisis will “stay” after he’s gone from City Hall.
The mayor’s proposal has three parts. There’s “A Gap Grant Pilot Program,” which would reduce the burden on low-income residents spending a significant portion of their income on housing. This program offers up to $200 monthly for six months, for renters and homeowners. In addition, the Richmond Freeze Program aims to support senior homeowners and the disabled by freezing their property tax assessments and shielding them from escalating tax bills. The proposal also includes a one-time 4-cent tax rebate for all property owners, which effectively lowers the city’s real estate tax rate.
Sounds like something we could’ve used a few years ago. “Stay RVA” certainly won’t solve all of Richmond’s housing problems, which include a lack of affordable houses, but it’s a step in the right direction.
As we look toward the future, we hope the next administration builds on initiatives like these and fosters a comprehensive approach to housing that addresses the needs of our city. If we’re going to “stay,” let’s strive to thrive.
Fall leaves on the James River
Teen inventor challenges immigrant stereotypes
It is unlikely that we will ever hear Donald Trump mention Heman Bekele by name during one of his campaign rallies. Knowing Trump’s character as a man, it would be hard to fathom seeing him properly reference Bekele in public or private conversations.
Heman Bekele is an Ethiopian-born scientist who represents everything Trump and many of his supporters have stood against. Bekele’s story is one of inspiration, truth and validation. It is a story of hope for the future, innovation of new ideas and inclusion of “others.” Bekele is young, yet we can all learn from the example of his words and deeds. Bekele has been named Time’s 2024 Kid of the Year. As Time writes, “His accomplishment: inventing a soap that could one day treat and even prevent multiple forms of skin cancer. It may take years before such a product comes to market, but this summer Heman is already spending part of every weekday working in a lab with scientists at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, hoping to bring his dream to fruition.”
Trump
Reflecting on his invention, Bekele asked, “What is one universally impactful idea that transcends socioeconomic barriers?” He realized that soap, a product nearly everyone uses for hygiene, could hold the key. “I am deeply passionate about skin cancer research,” Bekele told TIME. “The thought of my soap directly impacting someone’s life is truly remarkable and is the driving force behind my work.”
Bekele envisions a future where his soap can be used in early-stage cancers and complement existing treatments in advanced stages. His goal is to make it affordable for everyone who needs it. He encourages others by saying, “Many believe that all ideas have been exhausted, but I disagree. There is an endless capacity for innovation that can better our world. Keep inventing and striving to make a positive difference.”
Last year, at 14, he created a video explaining his idea and used it to enter the 3M Young Scientist’s Challenge, which encourages kids to think of unique ways to solve everyday problems. He won the $25,000 grand prize.
It was from his parents that
‘saved’ Obamcare?
to kill it.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it is said. And in Washington, so is stealing credit.
Is there a better example than Republican lawmakers praising themselves for “saving” the fed eral health care law that they fought long and hard to defeat, repeal and otherwise sabotage?
Now we can count both former Presi dent Donald Trump and his GOP running mate and ideological “MiniMe,” Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, in that number.
You don’t have to be a TV network fact-checker to know that Trump and Vance are telling whoppers about the Republican record on health care reform. You need only to have been mildly sentient during Trump’s presidency.
For example, during the vice presidential debate with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vance proudly claimed that Trump “salvaged” the Affordable Care Act, informally known as “Obamacare,” and tried to improve it during his time in office.
“When Obamacare was crushing under the weight of its own regulatory burden and health care costs, Donald Trump could have destroyed the program,” Vance said. “Instead, he worked in a bipartisan way to ensure that Americans had access to affordable care.”
Oh, please. Whatever the Trump administration may have done to “save” the ACA came after repeated attempts
he learned about the dangers of cancer. Bekele said, “I have a really basic five-year plan mapped out, including acquiring FDA certification, conducting human testing and making sure that this all works. But then by 2028, I hope to turn this passion project into a nonprofit organization where I can provide equitable and accessible skin cancer treatment to as many people as possible, because honestly at the end of the day, that is what this project is all about.”
Living in Fairfax, Va., Bekele’s family came to the U.S. from Ethiopia when he was 4. In many ways, he is a typical 10th grade student who plays the flute and trombone in his school’s marching band. Outside of school, he enjoys playing basketball, reading and playing chess. Who would not want to see Heman Bekele or anyone like him succeed?
Bekele’s positive accomplishments, along with his passion for skin cancer research, counter the stereotypes often being painted about immigrants of color. His work validates that America remains the land of opportunity for people of all backgrounds and nations. As Time’s 2024 Kid of the Year, Bekele’s work and compassion for others is the answer to the racist question once presented by former President Donald Trump. According to an
Now that’s a whopper
On his very first day as president, Trump eagerly signed an executive order to repeal the government-funded Obamacare. That made for a suitable photo op but had little impact in real life on the complicated behemoth of government health care.
Many of us who care about
this important issue recall how vigorously Trump worked his signature pen to weaken Obamacare marketplaces, cut spending for advertising and enrollment assistance, and channel funds to different priorities — such as funding videos and social media messaging criticizing the ACA — to please conservatives.
As it happened, despite widespread public skepticism about the ACA, inspired in no small part by the vigorous efforts of Republicans to trash it, once the law was enacted, millions of uninsured Americans gained access to real health care, and the program’s popularity grew. Republicans now recognize it for the third rail that it is on Capitol Hill: Touch it, and you die.
So we have Trump to thank for the success of Obamacare?
I can only imagine the mental gymnastics that it took for Vance, a highly intelligent and educated person, to convince himself of that proposition, or at least to pretend he believed it.
Mark it down to chutzpah, if you like, but there was a different lie, a much more serious lie, that Vance could not bring himself to enunciate.
For most of the night, the more polished and media savvy
Vance seemed to be winning the debate, in my view. But when Walz challenged him to say who won the 2020 election, Vance’s discomfort with his running mate’s growing web of halftruths, fabrications and outright lies seemed to show itself.
As simple as the question “Who won the 2020 election?” might be to answer in most galaxies, in MAGA world, it is the defining issue, the shibboleth that separates the true Trump believers from the perfidious RINOs — Republicans in name only.
Vance, a rising star in that world, refused to give a direct answer.
Reeled back toward the question at hand, he tried another dodge. He wanted to answer a question he asked himself about whether Kamala Harris censored Americans from speaking their minds in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic.
No dice. Walz then cut in with one of his most aggressive attack lines of the evening: “That is a damning nonanswer.”
Indeed, having dug himself into a hole, Vance figuratively pulled dirt in on top of himself: He declined to rule out challenging the outcome of the 2024 race, a mission Trump tried unsuccessfully to persuade Vice President Mike Pence to complete.
Now Pence is widely praised for having done the right thing on Jan. 6, 2021. With our constitutional system at stake, he would not lie for Trump.
That’s integrity young JD should learn from and emulate, if he can.
The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
aide, when a bipartisan group of senators came together to discuss immigration from Africa, Trump asked why America would want immigrants from “all these shithole countries” and that the U.S. should have more people coming in from places like Norway. The answer: Heman Bekele. Those of us who have grown tired and weary of the constant anti-immigrant sentiment against people of color can be proud to highlight the hard work and accomplishments of this young man from Africa. We know that if Bekele’s soap becomes FDA-certified and is available as a successful treatment for skin cancer, many white people who share Trump’s thoughts and rhetoric about immigrants of color will be the first in line to obtain Bekele’s product. The writer is the author of the book “God Bless Our Divided America.”
David W. Marshall
Clarence Page
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ guilt hinges on how the women will be judged
For years, a barely worn blazer has hung in my closet. It features a graceful cut and fabric woven with the colors of the sea, offset by a white silken lining. The garment exemplifies a certain freshness, a vibrancy, a bit of luxury. The designer’s label: SEAN by Sean Combs. Yes, that brand was the one that went up in flames recently with the unsealing of a federal indictment against Combs, better known by his rap handles “Puffy,” “Diddy” or “Puff Daddy.”
include manipulating women “to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers.”
Drugs were used to keep the women obedient and compliant. The orgies, which he called “freak offs,” could last for days and were videotaped.
Now, one glance at any of his names and the illusion of elegance fades. Beauty on the outside remains intact, but there’s the creepy feeling that it was crafted by a man who faces eye-popping allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, kidnapping, forced labor, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.
All of his monikers are cited in the documents of the Southern District of New York: Sean Combs, “Diddy,” “Puff Daddy,” “PDiddy, “PD” and “Love.” He stands accused of longstanding abuse of women and other individuals. More specifically, the allegations
He’s accused of luring women into the acts by romantic overtures. But eventually, he and others in his circle would
Mary Sanchez
flash firearms at the women, track their whereabouts and even their medical records to control them.
Combs, the rapper/producer/ music mogul and businessman, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The judge denied him a $50 million proposed bail.
Combs outside of jail, even on house arrest and under strict surveillance, is dangerous. He can’t be trusted not to intimidate and coerce witnesses, the judge said in denying Combs’ release.
It’s crucial to understand that Combs’ businesses, including the clothing line that produced my jacket, are linked to the racketeering allegations.
Federal prosecutors believe that Combs leveraged his many lucrative empires — including the clothing line, a television
LEGAL NOTICE
network, a marketing firm, his recording studio, and a liquor brand — in a criminal enterprise that helped facilitate the alleged crimes.
It’s the kingpin argument — everything is intertwined.
As complicated as federal racketeering charges can be to prosecute, Combs’ defense will be quite simple. His attorneys have already leaned into it in public comments.
It goes like this: The women wanted it. The sex, the drugs, performing with male prostitutes for the pleasure of Combs and others, all of it was consensual. Think of it as the groupie’s defense.
Women desiring a romantic or simply a sexual link to music superstars is hardly a new storyline. But being enthralled with a musician, getting introduced into his circle, doesn’t equal consent to the kind of treatment alleged in the Combs indictment, treatment that includes threats, intimidation and violence.
The women involved will need to be seen as victims, and not as sex objects who willingly offered themselves up for their own and Combs’ pleasure.
It’s a high hurdle, given society. Forget #MeToo. American mindsets repeatedly, consistently and appallingly still lean toward blaming and criticizing women. People still need to
step back from how they’ve been conditioned to think about women and sex.
What was she doing when she was attacked? What was she wearing? Why was she running alone at night? Why didn’t she fight back?
The questions go beyond curiosity, driving home an expectation that women somehow can prevent their own sexual assaults. Instead, we should focus foremost on expecting
men not to attack them.
Take away the enormous fame and wealth of the accused in this case, and the indictment will likely look incredibly familiar to sex trafficking and relationships that turn abusive.
The methods deployed to court, control and then abuse the women aren’t novel. In fact, they’re recounted in domestic violence cases daily, in other courtrooms that don’t draw
ELECTRIC VEHICLE TARIFF DESIGNATED AS SCHEDULE GS-3 EV PUBLIC CHARGING, PURSUANT TO § 56-234 B OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CASE NO. PUR-2024-00157
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this
riders, transmission Rider T1, distribution riders,
media attention. The allure of fine items is dangled first, the hope of romance ignited. Then, the switch up and a descent into manipulation, control and violence.
If the Combs’ case goes to trial, one good outcome would be society’s increased ability to see women in similar situations as survivors. The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to ; or (iii) by calling (804)
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Sean Combs
Defense delivers Commanders a 4th victory, but Ravens will be a bigger test
By Stephen Whyno The Associated Press
Frankie Luvu sacked Deshaun Watson twice by himself, shared another sack and recovered a fumble. After he and the Washington Commanders’ revamped defense had by far their best game of the season, he was not taking a victory lap.
“There’s still a lot of plays left out there that we could improve on,” Luvu said. “Always room for improvement, and us as a defense, we’re just getting started. The arrow’s pointed up, and that’s the direction we want to go.”
Defense delivered a fourth consecutive victory to get the Commanders to 4-1 with a rout of the Cleveland Browns, who gained just 149 yards through three quarters before the teams went through the motions to finish a 34-13 blowout. The difficulty level ratchets up big time this week against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, so Luvu and his teammates are right to say there is still plenty to work on after a rough start.
“We’re trying to get better,” said six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, who forced the fumble by Watson that Luvu recovered. “There’s still stuff that I feel like we can fix. Each week we just want to get better, and I feel like we’re doing that.”
Signs of improvement are there
The Commanders had the worst third-down defense in the NFL through the first four weeks of the season. They held Cleveland to 0 for 12 on third down with Watson in the game and 1 for 13 overall counting garbage time when the outcome already was decided.
They also made Watson’s life difficult with the seven sacks, thanks to blanket coverage and more pressure than he expected.
Free Press staff report
Mark Wright led Virginia Union University to a 31-13 victory over Winston-Salem State University on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Hovey Stadium. Wright completed 13 of 17 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a rushing score.
The Panthers’ ground attack was bolstered by Curtis Allen, who rushed for 68 yards, with Jada Byers and Steven McKinney each contributing rushing touchdowns. Reginald Vick Jr. caught three passes for 55 yards, including a touchdown reception.
On defense, Shamar Graham anchored the unit with 11 tackles, and Raylyn Manley recorded an interception.
“It was another great win against a tough Winston-Salem team,” said VUU Coach Alvin Parker. “I loved our balance in all phases of the game. I am extremely proud of our program for today’s performance.”
“We executed really well,” said defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who had a sack among his four tackles. “Whenever you get that amount of sacks, the (defensive backs) should get a lot of credit because they played really well. And they made it tough for him.”
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels flashed more brilliance, made one mistake and acknowledged his play was not the biggest reason for the latest win.
“Shout out to the defense,” Daniels said. “They gave us opportunities, even when we weren’t clicking at first, to get back on the field and get
into a groove, get into a rhythm. Without them, we would not have been in this position.”
What’s working
Daniels has had some rookie moments, like his interception just before the goal line against Cleveland, but many more in which he looks like he has been in the league much longer than five games.
Washington’s offense surpassed 400 yards for the fourth time in five games, and Daniels & Co. are clicking on all cylinders running and throwing the ball.
“You can kind of see, the tempo’s been get-
ting to the defenses, for sure,” right guard Sam Cosmi said. “They’ve been tired, which is just allowing us to make explosive plays.”
What needs help
Red zone play on offense, which was excellent at Arizona, has hit another lull. Daniels’ interception and a couple of other drives stalling cost Washington some points along the way.
“We left stuff out there on the table a lot,” Daniels said. “It’s a long game. You’ve got to keep battling.”
Stock up
Daniels found top receiver Terry McLaurin for four completions, 112 yards and real evidence their rapport is improving as the season goes on.
“Him and I are growing each and every week,” McLaurin said. “You can definitely tell that our connection is growing.”
Stock down
Veteran tight end Zach Ertz was targeted eight times and finished with just two catches for 10 yards. He remains a valuable leader but may not be the reliable option for Daniels that the Commanders thought when they signed him.
Injuries Receiver Noah Brown’s groin injury bears monitoring, along with defensive end Clelin Ferrell’s knee problem that has knocked him out of the past three games.
Key number 1997 — The last time Washington won backto-back games by 20-plus points until beating the Browns and Cardinals by a combined score of 76-27.
Next steps
The focus immediately shifted to the Ravens, who opened as 6½-point favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook. The run defense will be tested in a big way by Jackson, Derrick Henry and Justice Hill.
River City Sting eyes 2025 season after championship run
2-0 in CIAA play. WinstonSalem State dropped to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in conference competition. VUU will host Elizabeth
City State University at 1 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12, at Hovey Stadium as part of the Dr. Lucille M. Brown Community Youth Bowl.
With the win, Virginia Union improved to 3-2 overall and Wright leads Virginia Union past Winston-Salem State 31-13
By Saurav Pathak
Richmond’s River City Sting is gearing up for the 2025 season with high hopes after making three championship appearances in the last four years.
“We have a good core group of players that are returning, and I have high hopes for this season,” said Coach Larry Jones on Friday.
The Sting capped off the 2024 regular season with a 4-1 record, securing a playoff spot. They went on to defeat the Houston Phoenix Fire 8-6, earning a trip to the National Championship against the Brick House Bricks.
As the team preps for the upcoming season, the Sting has parted ways with the Women’s Tackle Football League (WTFL) and joined the United States Pro Women’s Football League (USPWFL), offering players the opportunity to get paid.
“It is a huge step forward,” said CJ James, a returning player and owner of the Sting.
The Sting’s 2024 campaign ended in a tough 8-6 loss to the Brick House Bricks in the Legacy Bowl, held at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Fla., on July 20. Despite the defeat, they secured a runner-up finish.
The team’s championship history has been varied. In their undefeated inaugural 2021 season, the Sting went 5-0, capturing the title. They returned to the championship in 2022, though they fell short. The 2023 season saw a 2-4 record, with the wins coming by forfeit.
Looking ahead, the Sting is focused on improving in championship moments. “They need
Florida A&M Rattlers hold top spot in Week 6
Free Press staff report
The Florida A&M Rattlers continue to dominate the HBCU football landscape, maintaining their No. 1 ranking in the Week 6 BOXTOROW HBCU Media Poll. With a 3-2 record, the Rattlers received 13 first place votes and 193 points overall, solidifying their position at the top of the rankings.
Hot on their heels, the North Carolina Central Eagles (4-2) held steady at No. 2 with seven first place votes and 187 points. The Jackson State Tigers (4-2) round out the top three, climbing one spot from last week’s rankings.
This week’s poll saw some significant movement, with Tennessee State (4-2) making a leap to No. 4. The surprise of the season continues to be Johnson C. Smith, as the Golden Bulls (6-0) crack the top five for the first time this year. Hampton (3-3) and South Carolina State (3-2) hold the sixth and seventh spots respectively, while Grambling (3-2) sits at No. 8. Morgan State (3-3) and Alabama State (2-3) are tied for the ninth position, both entering the top 10 this week.
Several teams just missed the cut but received votes, including Virginia
Union and Alcorn State, both garnering 13 points. Winston-Salem State, West Virginia State, and Howard also are knocking on the door of the top 10. The HBCU Media Poll, now in its 18th year, is voted on by media members nationwide who cover HBCU football and provides a weekly snapshot of the most competitive teams in Black college football. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Florida A&M to see if they can maintain their grip on the top spot, while hungry challengers such as North Carolina Central and Jackson State look to dethrone the Rattlers.
that ‘dog’ in them; they need to be aggressive when appropriate while still having good sportsmanship,” James said. “You have to have that champion mindset and strive to be better than you were yesterday.”
Beyond the field, the Sting is dedicated to community involvement. “We also like to get involved in the community. We will help with different events, including school field days,” James said. The Sting is now recruiting for the upcoming spring season. Tryouts are scheduled for Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 at John Rolfe Middle School from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Women age 17 and older, regardless of athletic ability or experience, are encouraged to attend.
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., right, celebrates his sack last Sunday of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (not shown) during the second half of the game in Landover, Md.
James Haskins/Richmond Free Press
VUU quarterback Mark Wright (2) calls his own number Oct. 5 during the Panthers’ 31-13 victory over WinstonSalem State at Hovey Stadium.
CJ James, owner of the Richmond River City Sting women’s tackle football team at a recent practice. The team is recruiting for the 2025 spring season, with tryouts scheduled for Oct. 19 and 26 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. For more details, visit rivercitysting.com.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Personality: Jannette Ricks
Spotlight on vice president of Rho Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and their Pink Pearl Experience Black Tie Gala
As an undergraduate nursing student at Virginia Commonwealth University, Jannette Ricks learned about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, an international service organization established at Howard University in 1908.
Ricks knew then that she wanted to become a member of the first Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. Serving and helping people steered her into a career in nursing, so she saw the sorority as another way to serve and help. She pledged years later and her 29 years as a member have been everything she thought it would be.
“If I can help you, I’m going to help you,” she said.
Nursing was not just a career choice for Ricks. It’s a childhood dream she has lived for over 30 years. Her journey has taken her from general and cardiac medicine to post-surgical care and administration. She vividly remembers the early days of her career when she first began to assess and meet the needs of patients.
“It was so exciting because nursing is my passion. I was actually performing the duties I studied in school,” Ricks said.
Given her passion for helping others, it’s no mystery that Ricks stepped into the role of vice president of the Rho Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. As part of the leadership, she helps fulfill the sorority’s focus on service in the Richmond area, including initiatives advocating social justice, enhancing the environ-
ment, building economic wealth and empowering families.
Ricks and her chapter members provide backpacks to deliver to students at Blackwell Elementary School on Fridays. The effort is called Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Packs, which provides weekend and holiday meals for children and is part of the sorority’s national childhood hunger program.
According to recent data from the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, over 252,000 children in Virginia are experiencing hunger, bringing the child hunger rate to almost 14% across the state. The organization also found that food-insecure individuals spend an average of over $1,500 more on health care.
One of Rho Eta Omega’s signature chapter programs is Passport to Wellness, a health fair at the Bon Secours Center for Healthy Living Sarah Garland Jones Center. Bon Secours physicians are on hand to speak to attendees, stressing the importance of men’s and women’s health issues.The members also organize arts and crafts for kids, provide free meals and offer exercise sessions for underserved residents in Church Hill.
The chapter also hosts voter registration drives. Their most recent voter drive at the Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall football game on Oct. 4 aimed to register high school students who may be eligible to vote in the November election.
Meet Jannette Ricks, the nurse who’s passionate about helping others, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
and this week’s Personality: Volunteer position: Vice president and program chairman for the Rho Eta Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Occupation: Registered nurse.
Place of birth: Richmond. Where I live now: Chesterfield County.
Education: Bachelor’s in nursing from VCU and a master’s in health services administration from Central Michigan University.
Family: Two adult children, two grandchildren and a supportive Honey-do!
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is: An international service organization, founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908.
Number of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapters and members around the globe: We have more than 360,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 12 nations and territories.
Mission of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority: To cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life and to be of “Service to All Mankind.”
Most celebrated Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority member: Kamala Harris is the most celebrated member today. She’s the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. She has made history by shattering the glass ceiling.
When and where I became a member: I pledged Rho Eta Omega Chapter in Richmond in 1995.
My sorority is meaningful to me: Because we strive to make a difference on all levels.
No. 1 goal as vice president: Be visible as a chapter to advocate and implement the programs that support the needs of our communities.
Rho Eta Omega Chapter president: Monica Darden. No. 1 challenge for our
chapter: Thinking of new and innovative ways to meet the needs of the community we serve.
Upcoming chapter event: 2nd
Annual Pink Pearl Experience Black Tie Gala, An Ivy Elegant Affair.
Purpose: Benefits scholarships for high school seniors in Metro Richmond, surrounding counties and other community service projects
Details of event: Saturday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom, Richmond Marriott, 500 E. Broad St.
Event chairperson: Vanessa Myers Mason.
How readers can participate: Purchase tickets. General admission tickets are $85/each.
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite or PayPal. The deadline for ticket sales is Nov. 3 at midnight.
How the gala benefits Richmonders: Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the Richmond community. We gave over $20,000 in scholarships to area
graduating high school students this year. Proceeds from the gala also fund sorority initiatives we implement locally.
How I start the day: With prayer and a 30- to 45-minute workout.
Three words that best describe me: Outgoing, energetic and confident.
Best late-night snack: Hot cup of relaxing tea.
A quote that inspires me: “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m possible.” — Audrey Hepburn.
Best thing my parents taught me: My parents taught me to be goal-oriented and self-sufficient. If you fail, try again. Most influential people: My parents.
Most influential book: “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. She exhibited openness, inner strength and power as the matriarch of her family.
Next goal: I plan to challenge myself with a DIY home project.
Best-selling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez headlines ‘Read Up Richmond’
Free Press staff report
The Richmond Public Library hosts its “Read Up Richmond” event 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Main Library. The program features best-selling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez in conversation with historian Linda Janet Holmes.
Perkins-Valdez, known for her works “Wench” and “Balm,” will discuss her latest novel, “Take My Hand.” Inspired by true events, the book tells the story of a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who bravely exposes the mistreatment of her patients. Following their conversation, there will be a Q&A session. Books from both Perkins-Valdez and Holmes will be available.
Dolen PerkinsVladez
“Take My Hand” has garnered significant recognition, including being named a finalist for a Goodreads Choice Award and
winning the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. Perkins-Valdez also is an associate professor of literature at American University.
Joining her is Linda Janet Holmes, an advocate for women’s health and an authority on the history of Black midwives. Holmes’ work includes “Listen to Me Good: The Life Story of an Alabama Midwife” and her recent release “Safe in a Midwife’s Hands,” which highlights the birth traditions of African descendant midwives.
“Read Up Richmond” encourages the community to explore literature that broadens perspectives and fosters understanding across different experiences. This event is supported by the Richmond Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Richmond Public Library. For more information, visit rvalibrary.org
Valentine Museum showcases painter Edmund Archer’s works
Free Press staff report
The Valentine Museum is presenting “Edmund Archer: Perspectives on Black Dignity,” featuring 10 works by the late artist Edmund Archer (19041986). Archer’s art is distinguished by its commitment to faithfully capturing the physical details of his subjects, challenging the prevailing stereotypes of the late Jim Crow era and offering a dignified representation of their humanity.
Born in Richmond, Archer spent time in various cities, including Paris, New York and Washington. He served as an assistant curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art and taught at the Corcoran School of Art. In 1926, Archer rented the studio of Edward Valentine, the museum’s first president, where he focused on creating portraits devoid of broader context or commentary.
“In his portraits of Black Americans, Edmund Archer captured the humanity of his subjects in a way that is
profoundly different from the caricatures created by other white artists in the Jim Crow era,” said Christina K. Vida, curator of general collections at the Valentine and co-curator of the exhibition.
Archer’s legacy continues to shape Richmond’s artistic culture. In 1962, he co-founded The
Hand Workshop in Church Hill, which later became the Visual Arts Center of Richmond.
“Our family is truly honored that the Valentine has organized and supported this exhibition,” said Guy Archer, co-curator of the exhibition and great-nephew of Edmund Archer. “Our uncle was a brilliant, kind and won-
Richmond Tree Week focuses on urban forest restoration
Free Press staff report
Richmond is set to embrace nature during its fifth annual Richmond Tree Week, Oct. 11 through 20. With over 20 local organizations joining forces, the city will host 40 events dedicated to enhancing the urban forest. Attendees can expect a variety of activities, including volunteer tree plantings, free tree giveaways, workshops, and guided walking and biking tours. Originally known as ArborDayRVA, this 10-day celebration is free to the public and designed to foster environmental awareness and community engagement. Workshops and presentations will invite participants to delve deeper into the significance of trees in urban spaces.
What started in 2020 as an initiative to distribute 12,000 donated Eastern Redbud seedlings has evolved into a vibrant
celebration of Richmond’s urban forest. Led by Reforest Richmond alongside environmental groups, community organizations, and city departments, this year’s focus will be on formerly redlined and flood-prone neighborhoods and parks, emphasizing equity and
environmental justice. Through increased awareness and active participation, Richmond Tree Week aims to restore tree canopy in areas particularly vulnerable to climate change.
For a complete schedule of events and locations, visit reforestrichmond.org.
derful man, and we’re delighted that the museum is once again securing his legacy as one of Virginia’s great and momentous artists.”
The paintings featured in this exhibition are on loan from Guy Archer and Mollie Archer Payne. The exhibition continues through Sept.1, 2025.
Contributions
Community members gather around “Umama, and so she sows,” a community monument created by ART 180. The sculpture, honoring Black women’s contributions, was unveiled at its temporary location between Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Black History Museum in Jackson Ward. Led by artists Natassja Swift and Xolani Sivunda, the project involved local youths and symbolizes cultural connectivity and healing.
Richmond National Battlefield Park to honor Black soldiers’ voting in 1864
Richmond National Battlefield Park will mark the anniversary of the 5th United States Colored Troops (USCT) voting in the 1864 presidential election with a special event on Saturday, Nov. 2. Titled Election Day 1864: Black Soldiers Vote on the Front Lines, the program will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort Harrison Visitor Center, located at 8761 Battlefield Park Road. The event will feature ranger-led tours, living history demonstrations and hands-on educational activities.
The 1864 election came during a critical year for the nation both in battle and at the ballot box. On Sept. 29, 1864, U.S. forces, including the 5th USCT, captured New Market Heights and Fort Harrison from Confederate defenders. Fourteen African American soldiers were later awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during these assaults, securing a foothold for Union forces near Richmond. As the war raged, the upcoming presidential election would help decide the fate of the Civil War and the future of emancipation.
Thanks to state laws allowing absentee voting for soldiers, some members of the 5th USCT, originally from Ohio, were eligible to cast ballots while stationed near Fort Harrison. On Nov. 8, 1864, just 39 days after their historic battle, 194 Black soldiers voted in favor of President Lincoln’s re-election. Their participation was a significant early step toward African American voting rights and citizenship.
The event also will highlight new scholarship on the role of Black soldiers in voting during the Civil War.
Schedule of Events for Saturday, Nov. 2:
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Historical election day activities, interactive exhibits and food
• 10 a.m.: “Black Soldiers Guarding the Front Lines” - A tour of Fort Harrison and Fort Burnham
• 1 a.m.: “194: The 5th USCT’s Vote at Fort Harrison”
- A walking tour
• Noon: “Corresponding with History” - Living history presentation of Thomas Morris Chester, the first African American reporter for a Civil War newspaper
• 1 p.m.: “Black Soldiers Guarding the Front Lines” - A repeat of the morning tour
• 2 p.m.: “194: The 5th USCT’s Vote at Fort Harrison” - A second walking tour
• 3 p.m.: “Corresponding with History” - An interactive living history conversation with Thomas Morris Chester For more information visit: nps.gov/rich or the park’s Facebook page.
Follow Richmond Free Press on social media.
@FreePressRVA @RichmondFreePressUSA
Courtesy of Mollie Archer Payne
“Elks on Parade,” by Edmund Archer, one of the works included the Valentine’s current exhibition.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Courtesy National Park Service
Richmond National Battlefield Park celebrates the anniversary of first Black soldiers voting with a day of events.
Free Press staff report
Trailblazer, philanthropist remembered for community support
By George Copeland Jr.
and
to hold executive positions at Philip Morris USA in both New York and Richmond.
Settle retired and married veterinarian John E. Settle Jr. in 1998.
Outside her career, Settle was a passionate philanthropist, donating time, money and personal resources to many causes and charities. In 2015, she and her husband established the Dixon-Settle Fund for Women at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation in tribute to her mother’s work with women’s issues and job training. She and her husband also supported education through scholarship programs at colleges across the country.
Other organizations Settle sup-
ported included the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU Virginia Foundation, Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center, the Chrysler Museum of Fine Art and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Settle also was a board member for the Richmond Free Press,
helping support the paper’s early development and investing in the Imperial Building where the company is headquartered.
“She was incredibly generous of spirit,” Richmond Free Press publisher and co-founder Jean Boone said, describing Settle as a dutiful board member and “quiet warrior” who nonetheless had a passion for truth-telling.
“She saw the Free Press as a vehicle to tell the truth about issues that affect people in Richmond, particularly people of color.”
Settle was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and sister Gwendolyn Dixon West. She is survived by her brother, Lloyd Dixon, niece Shannon West, nephew Miles West, stepchildren John Settle III, Hope and Angela Settle, grandchildren J. Aedan Settle and Raven Maier, and cousins Ovetta Williams, Mary Thomas, Dorothy Scott and Ida Larkins.
A memorial service and reception will be held at the Princess Anne Country Club, at 3800 Pacific Ave.,Virginia Beach at 1 p.m. Oct. 11.
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston’s mother, dies at 91
By Jonathan Landrum Jr
The Associated Press
Cissy Houston, the mother of the late Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians such as Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, has died. She was 91. Houston died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston told The Associated Press. The acclaimed gospel singer was surrounded by her family.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston said in a statement. She said her mother-in-law’s contributions to popular music and culture are “unparalleled.”
“Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”
Houston was in the wellknown vocal group, the Sweet
Lamp” in 1967. In the same year, Houston worked on Franklin’s classic “Ain’t No Way.”
Houston’s last performance with the Sweet Inspirations came after the group hit the stage with Presley in a Las Vegas show in 1969. Her final recording session with the group turned into their biggest R&B hit “(Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover” a composition by the production team of Gamble & Huff, who appeared on the group’s fifth album, “Sweet Sweet Soul.”
During that time, the group occasionally performed live
concert dates with Franklin. After the group’s success and four albums together, Houston left The Sweet Inspirations to pursue a solo career where she flourished.
Houston became an indemand session singer and recorded more than 600 songs in multiple genres throughout her career. Her vocals can be heard on tracks alongside a wide range of artists, including Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé, Paul Simon, Roberta Flack and her daughter.
Houston won Grammys for
her albums “Face to Face” in 1997 and “He Leadeth Me” the following year in the best traditional soul gospel album category.
Houston authored three books: “He Leadeth Me,” “How Sweet The Sound: My Life with God and Gospel” and “Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss and The Night The Music Stopped.”
In 1938, Cissy Houston started her career when she joined her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky to form the gospel group, The
Drinkard Four, who recorded one album. She attended New Hope Baptist Church, where she later become minister of sacred music.
Houston was the youngest of eight children.
“We are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief,” Houston said on behalf of the family. “We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.” Hillel Italie contributed to this story and reported from New York.
Inspirations, with Doris Troy and her niece, Dee Dee Warrick. The group sang backup for a variety of soul singers, including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, The Drifters and Dionne Warwick.
The Sweet Inspirations appeared on Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and sang background vocals for The Jimi Hendrix Experience on the song “Burning of the Midnight
Homecoming
Settle
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File Cissy Houston performs during McDonald’s Gospelfest 2013 in Newark, N.J.
Sports betting brings in tax money, more helpline calls
By Stacy Watkins Capital News Service
Football season has kicked off and stretches from September to February. The sport is forecast to bring in $35 billion in legal bets this season, according to the American Gaming Association.
In Virginia, it is one of the top types of sports wagers made, according to Virginia Lottery gaming updates. Sports betting started in Virginia in 2021. It generated almost $69 million in taxes in fiscal year 2023, according to a legislative report
That revenue is stacking coffers in U.S. states for totals in the billions.
More people are sports betting now, and people in their early 20s are the fastest-growing group of gamblers, according to a 2023 report from the American Psychological Association, or APA. Nearly two-thirds of adolescents, ages 12 to 18, report having an experience with gambling.
Experts worry early exposure to gambling could lead to gambling addiction, and could be linked to higher risks of mental distress, according to the APA.
U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-NY, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, recently introduced legislation to tackle problem gambling, known as the ‘‘SAFE Bet Act ’’
The bill calls for a nationwide 12-month survey to better provide data on the scope of “problem gambling and gambling-related harm experienced by individuals using online sports betting.”
Qualified researchers would collect the data, and the study would not be sponsored by the gambling industry.The findings would be made available to the public, according to the bill.
The bill also proposes a national self-exclusion
A sports bettor uses a mobile app to place a wager, highlighting the convenience and growing popularity of sports betting in Virginia, where it generated nearly $69 million in taxes in 2023.
list, where individuals can restrict themselves from placing a sports wager with a sportswagering operator, and also a process for a person to add or remove themselves from the list.
Sports betting does not require a bettor to walk into a casino and there are no set hours of operation. Someone can place a bet from their couch, or on their phone any time of the
day. The ads also are not regulated, so people consume sports betting promotions on social media and TV.
The August numbers recently released by the Virginia Lottery show a 30.6% increase over the previous year. Virginians placed over $416 million in bets in August and won over $376 million.
Jaleel Patterson, a senior at Virginia Tech, places bets a few times a week, and definitely on Sundays because “NFL season is here.”
He has turned a profit, but not enough to be a sustainable income. Sports betting can be entertaining with friends who enjoy the competition, he said.
“If your favorite team is playing their favorite team, you will gamble and say ‘oh, my team is gonna beat your team,’” Patterson said. “Between friends, I feel like that makes it more fun compared to just doing it on your own.”
It is important for a bettor to determine what they want to spend, and even the amount of time they will spend on the apps, he said.
“Only play with what you are willing to lose,” Patterson said.
Brendan Dwyer is the director of research at the Center for Sport Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.
“[Sports betting] is a potentially fun activity if done responsibly,” Dwyer said.
He expects the amount of money wagered on sports across the U.S. will eventually slow down, but not in the immediate future.
“I don’t think we’ve completely penetrated the market,” Dwyer said. “I think we are still having new sports fans feel comfortable sportsbetting.”
Males under age 25 are most likely to become problem bettors, including betting money they don’t have or behaving irresponsibly, according to Dwyer.
“I don’t think that’s unique to sports betting,” Dwyer said. “It’s something you see with alcohol consumption, drug use, and anything that involves regulating your behavior. Sports betting is an extra activity that fuels that misbehavior.”
Sports betting isn’t any more emotional than gambling in a casino, Dwyer said. But when a bettor has a specific attachment to a sportsteam, it can be more emotional.
“If you don’t bet and you watch a football game, you’re going to be emotional about your favorite football team playing,” Dwyer said.”Sports in general is just more emotional.” Carolyn Hawley is a VCU professor and president of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling, which operates a helpline. She is also a past member of the board of directors of the National Council on Problem Gambling.
The helpline received 967 intakes from January through June 2024, according to its August newsletter. That surpasses the total number of intakes last year, which was 898.
The state helpline has seen a shift in the age of callers, which used to be older individuals who had gambled for years before developing a problem, Hawley said in a previous Capital News Service interview
Signs of problem gambling can be when it has a certain priority throughout a person’s daily life, according to Hawley.
“Are you spending a lot of time thinking about gambling and planning your next gambling activity?” Hawley said. “Are you spending more time gambling than you would with other activities that you used to enjoy? Do you need more and more to get that same level of excitement?”
Anyone who thinks they have a gambling problem can contact the confidential and toll-free helpline at 1-888-532-3500 or visit: vcpg.net
Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities
and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident, appear here on or before the 12th day of November, 2024 at 9:00 A.M. and protect her interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Esquire VSB# 27724 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 WHITNEY CHRISTIAN, Plaintiff v. WILLIAM CHRISTIAN, Defendant. Case No.: CL24002794-00 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 are unknown, appear here on or before the 12th day of November, 2024 at 9:00 A.M. and protect his interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this:
CL24002833-00 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 are unknown, appear here on or before the 13th day of November, 2024 at 9:00 A.M. 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 BID
COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION BID
ITB #24-2740-8JOK Three Lakes ParkNew Restroom and Nature Center Site Improvements Due: November 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. For additional information visit: https://henrico.us/ finance/divisions/purchasing/ solicitations/ COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION BID
ITB #24-2760-9JOK Greendale Park Sewer and Water Extension Phase II Due: October 31, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. For additional information visit: https://henrico.gov/ finance/divisions/purchasing/ solicitations/ NOTICE
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF HENRICO IN RE: AGNES GACULA CARABAT DETERMINATION OF
The object of this suit is to have this Court make a judicial determination that a legal presumption of death for Graciano Barrameda Carabat is applicable, and if so determined, that the Court enter an order in accordance with Va. Code Ann. §64.22305. It is ORDERED that this Notice and Order be published once a week for two consecutive weeks, on October 3, 2024 and October 9, 2024 in the Richmond Free Press, a newspaper having general circulation throughout the Richmond Metropolitan Area, including Henrico County. And it is further ORDERED that Graciano Barrameda Carabat, the presumed decedent, or any person for him, produce to the Court satisfactory evidence that the presumed decedent is alive within two weeks from the date of the last publication. If no satisfactory evidence is produced within this period, the Court shall enter an order in accordance with Va. Ann. §64.2-2305. A final hearing will be held for this matter on November 22, 2024. A Copy Teste: HEIDI S. BARSHINGER, Clerk I ask for this: Jason L. Shaber, Esq., V.S.B. 96186 DANKOS, GORDON & TUCKER, P.C. 1360 E. Parham Road, Suite 200 Richmond, Virginia 23228 Telephone: (804) 377-7424 Facsimile: (804) 262-8088 Email: jshaber@dankosgordon.com Counsel for Petitioner ABC LICENSE Stewart F. McCullouch IV Trading as: Richmond Billiards Association, LLC 101 Wadsworth Drive Richmond, Virginia 23236 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA
from previous column Continued from previous column Continued on next column DEATH OF GRACIANO BARRAMEDA CARABAT Case No.: CL24003701-00 NOTICE AND ORDER OF PUBLICATION
Captial News Service