Richmond Free Press
City janitors walk off job, protest Nu-Tech
By George Copeland Jr.
Chants of “Nu-Tec, shame on you,” and “Union for all” echoed in the streets around City Hall on Tuesday, as contracted Richmond janitors walked off their jobs to protest their employer, Nu-Tech Janitorial Services.
The strike, which began at 7:30 a.m. and continued throughout the day, focused on federal labor charges accusing Nu-Tech leaders of retaliatory firings, disability discrimination and threats related to unionization efforts. The janitors were joined by other local union members at the events.
Clarissa McGhee and Sharonda Smith allege they were fired late last year for participating in union activities, with McGhee also saying she faced scrutiny from management for using a cane to travel to work.
Tiffany Cobbs, meanwhile, was warned by her supervisor after a Free Press story on McGhee and Smith’s firings was published.
“As soon as the Richmond Free Press story came out, my supervisor told me that I could be fired for joining the union,” said Cobbs, a Nu-Tech janitor at John Marshall Courts Building, in a press release. Employees were clear that things had to change, citing long-term issues with Nu-Tech, including low pay and a lack of benefits, as well as the impact of the water crisis weeks earlier, which caused problems at their homes and resulted in a loss of work and pay.
“I promised them when I got this job that I would do the best for this company, and I have done that,” said Priscilla Peebles, a cleaner who works in the city’s Social Services building but relies on food stamps and other sources to pay
Richmond’s first Black mayor, Henry Marsh, remembered
By Paula Phounsavath
By George Copeland Jr.
Henry L. Marsh III, Richmond’s first Black mayor and a trailblazer in Virginia politics, died on Jan. 23 at 91, leaving behind decades of legal and civic work aimed at creating a more just and equal Commonwealth and nation.
Born in Richmond on Dec. 10, 1933, as one of six children, Marsh faced many challenges. After his mother, Lucy Philips, died when he was 5, his father sent him to live with relatives in rural southeastern Virginia while he worked to secure the resources needed to support his family.
Marsh and his siblings returned to Richmond years later to live with their father, and he continued his education at George Mason Elementary School, which was renamed to Henry L. Marsh Elementary in 2021. Marsh excelled at Maggie L. Walker High School, taking on roles such as editor of the school paper, president of the Student NAACP and vice president of the senior class over the course of four years.
“We are deeply grateful for the profound impact of Senator Marsh, not only in the city of Richmond and the state of Virginia, but throughout the
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deportation threats
tion and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on school grounds. Superintendent Jason Kamras said on YouTube that immigrant students should continue
attending school despite the fear of potential detention by ICE law enforcement.
“Let me be clear, we love you here and RPS will always be a safe haven for you,” Kamras told students in the YouTube public address.
In the public announcement, RPS said it would protect students by preserving their privacy rights and the right to ensure access to education, which federal law protects. In addition, RPS staff will receive updated training and instructions to protect students.
America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” after the Trump administration lifted a policy preventing arrests from happening in hospitals and sensitive areas such as churches and schools.
According to the U.S. Census, Richmond has a foreignborn population of 8.6%, with Latinos and Hispanics being the largest ethnic groups.
President Donald Trump signed a handful of executive orders on Jan. 20, one of which authorizes a mass arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Jan. 21 stated that “criminals will no longer be able to hide in
Throughout the past week, ICE raids have been carried out in major cities such as Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco. Due to ICE raids occurring in these cities, concerns arose on social media about potential local ICE law enforcement detaining immigrants statewide.
However, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia told WTVR — including Mayor Danny Avula, who told Richmond City Council — that there have been no confirmed reports of ICE raids in the Richmond area.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., denounced Trump’s mass deportation ban and said he is working to protect Dreamers and holders of Temporary Protected Status (TPS),
provides
Youngkin’s office aware of aid portal suspensions during Trump’s funding freeze
By Charlotte Renee Woods
orders.
“In some instances, aid portals were temporarily suspended during the day as federal agencies processed this memorandum,” Littel wrote.
Less than 24 hours later, the Trump administration on Wednesday afternoon abruptly rescinded Monday’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo that had set the freeze
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond
Jason Kamras
Gov. Glenn Youngkin
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Taste of talent
Kyla Stallings (right) and Israel Mays (left) participants in the Virginia Randolph Culinary Arts program, plate tasty bites during the Career and Technical Education Career Rodeo Skills Challenge on Jan. 23 at the Richmond Raceway Complex.
Something in the Water Festival canceled
By Paula Phounsavath
The Something in the Water festival will not return to Virginia Beach this April due to contract violations, as confirmed by the Virginia Beach City Council.
The city council announced Monday night that it will terminate its sponsorship contract with SITW festival organizers after they missed the five-day grace period deadline for submitting music lineups and ticket sales.
“While the city values the positive impact and visibility the Something in the Water festival has had on Virginia Beach in years past, regretfully organizers did not meet the cure notice requirements in terms of next steps,” the city council’s statement read.
SITW was set for April 26-27, but in recent months, organizers have been unclear about the festival’s logistics and planning.
The music festival, previously scheduled for October 2024, was canceled after tickets went on sale in September. Festival founder and music producer Pharrell Williams stated the event “isn’t ready yet.” In response, the city implemented a contract requiring SITW organizers to meet specific deadlines.
In November, city officials contacted the organizers for updates on the tickets and music lineup. The organizers indicated they would wait until the new year to provide those details, missing the original Dec. 31 deadline.
Last week, the city council granted a five-day grace period after seeing no progress on ticket sales or the lineup. When organizers missed the Monday deadline, city officials declared a breach of contract and moved forward with termination.
Williams founded the art and music festival in 2019, and the inaugural event generated over $24 million in revenue for Hampton Roads, with Virginia Beach seeing more than $26 million in 2023.
Due to the pandemic, the event was canceled for both 2020 and 2021. Williams then moved the concert series to Washington, D.C., in April 2022 after his cousin was shot and killed by a police officer in Virginia Beach.
The Virginia Beach City Council said it will find “alternative plans” to attract tourists for April 26-27, but remain open to working with SITW.
“We remain optimistic about future opportunities to work with the SITW team,” the statement read.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending Saturday, Jan. 25, COVID-19 accounted for 1.1% of all emergency department visits in Virginia, with overall respiratory illness high and trending up compared to previous data. No deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported within that period at press time. COVID-19 wastewater levels for Richmond and Henrico County were below detection as of the most recent sample collection week on Sunday, Jan. 12.
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
• Thursday, Jan. 30, 2 to 4:30 p.m. – Calvary United Methodist Church, 1637 Williamsburg Road.
• Friday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Southside Women, Infants and Children Office, 509 E. Southside Plaza.
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. Residents also can order four free at-home COVID test kits at covidtest.gov, while supplies last. Want a COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are approved for everyone aged 6 months and up, while Novavax is for those aged 12 and older. Individuals interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can schedule an appointment with the Richmond and Henrico health districts by calling 804-205-3501. Vaccines.gov provides a list of pharmacies and clinics offering the vaccine. Additional locations also can be found by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or calling 1-800-232-0233. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers a vaccine locator at vaccines.gov. Compiled by George Copeland Jr.
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
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Richmond officials discuss response to water crisis, as criticism surfaces
By George Copeland Jr.
City officials have begun outlining their response plans for future emergencies, as they continue to address the effects of an outage that left residents without running water for nearly a week.
A Tuesday afternoon meeting of the Public Safety Standing Committee focused on a presentation by Stephen Willoughby, director of the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness & Response, exploring the city’s response to the crisis and the post-disaster recovery plan.
Building a “culture of preparedness” was a major focus, and a goal Willoughby said the city had been working toward for years before the outage. The initiatives include assessing the city’s emergency management process through a third-party review, implementing hazard mitigation measures and evaluating other potential threats to the city.
Improvements to the city’s emergency response are now being guided in large part by Hagerty Consulting, an emergency management firm based in Illinois.
“It was important for me to bring in a third party to do a comprehensive analysis and plan for us,” Willoughby said, “make sure we’re implementing best practices as we go forward and make sure that we’re
involving the community and that feedback in how we develop that plan.”
Alongside supporting staff in the city’s Emergency Operations Center, the firm is performing an assessment of the city’s response to the water crisis, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and will recommend actions to improve future actions.
Hagerty is also helping develop a disaster recovery plan that will serve as a general framework and guidance for future responses, a recovery action plan for the winter storm that led to the outage and a cost recovery plan to better assess damages, collect information on costs and seek reimbursement.
Last week, the city announced it had hired two companies: Hagerty and the infrastructure design firm HNTB. While HNTB will focus on investigating the power outage and its cause, Hagerty will assess the crisis response and its aftermath.
The Public Safety standing commitee meeting followed several days of actions by city officials focused on Richmond’s water operations, as criticism and other responses from authorities and officials
over the crisis have continued.
The Virginia Department of Health filed a Notice of Alleged Violation for Richmond’s main treatment water plant last week, following an assessment by staff at the Office of Drinking Water weeks earlier that found issues in training and violations of state water laws and regulations.
“ODW asserts that the water crisis should never have happened and was completely avoidable,” the VDH report reads.
The city has 30 days to respond to the notice and provide information on staff training, plans to ensure backup power systems are functioning properly and other details.
Criticism of the city’s response to the crisis also came from city officials, as 8th District council member Reva Trammell objected to Willoughby’s belief that city employees responded well given the circumstances. She pointed to communications with her constituents during the crisis as evidence of the city’s failure to properly notify residents of the outage, leaving them unprepared and unable to access necessary resources, with some still facing ongoing issues.
“You let our people down in the city of Richmond,” Trammell said. “This is the worst disaster I have ever seen in our city.”
The post-disaster recovery plan begins this week, according to Willoughby.
Haleon to invest $54M to upgrade Richmond pharma facility
By George Copeland Jr.
The maker of Advil, Emergen-C, Sensodyne toothpaste and other products is investing millions into its Richmond operations.
Pharmaceutical company Haleon announced a $54 million investment to upgrade and expand its facility on Sherwood Avenue, during a press event Monday morning.
“It is a very encouraging step to see big international companies making huge investments in our town,” said Mayor Danny Avula, who joined Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Commerce and Trade Secretary Caren Merrick, Haleon North America President Lisa Paley and hundreds of Haleon employees at the event.
Haleon’s decision followed discussions between state officials and the company’s leaders about expanding their local involvement last year in England. For Youngkin, the investment represents the latest development for what he called the “pharma corridor” between the cities of Richmond and Petersburg.
The growth of this corridor, as officials explained, has been driven by the potential workforce of students from state colleges such as Old Dominion University, Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia and others.
“The talent is at the heart of it,” Youngkin said.
That talent will be tapped as part of a five-year paid internship program for graduate and undergraduate students focused
on advanced life sciences and consumer health care. Haleon and the Commonwealth of Virginia will co-fund the initiative and are partnering with Virginia Commonwealth University to launch and manage the initiative.
Chesterfield appoints new superintendent, deputy
By Paula Phounsavath
The Chesterfield County School Board appointed John Murray as superintendent for Chesterfield County Public Schools during a special meeting last Thursday, after a months-long nationwide search.
Murray served as interim superintendent from September to January, following the retirement of former Superintendent Mervin Daugherty on Aug. 31. Daugherty had served CCPS for nearly six years.
Murray took the oath of office alongside his children, Emerson and Grant.
“I spent my life in Chesterfield County, so this is a full-circle moment for me,”
Murray said in a YouTube public address on Jan. 16. “CCPS is already a well-respected, award-winning school
system. I’m proud of that, but there’s more work to do.”
Murray is the first superintendent since 1921 to have been a student at CCPS. He attended Chalkley Elementary School, Jacobs Road Elementary School and Manchester Middle School before graduating from Manchester High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Longwood University, as well as a master’s and doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University.
After college, he began his career as a seventh-grade history and language arts teacher at Falling Creek Middle School in 2004 and Robious Middle School in 2006. In 2011, he became assistant principal at Matoaca Middle School and later served as principal at Carver Middle School in
2015 and Matoaca High School in 2017.
In addition to Murray’s appointment, Lisa High was named deputy superintendent, effective Jan. 27. High, who has held numerous leadership roles in education, joined CCPS in 2019 as the chief of schools.
Before joining CCPS, High began her career in education with Albemarle County Public Schools in 1992. She later served as assistant principal and principal at Spotsylvania County Public Schools beginning in 1999. From 2007 to 2019, High worked in Falls Church City Public Schools in various roles, including human resources director, assistant superintendent for curriculum innovation and personnel, chief academic officer and assistant superintendent for equity and capital programming.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
of “Portals,” a public art project, began Wednesday morning, Jan. 29. Featuring 20 large-scale historic photographs displayed in windows throughout Shockoe Bottom, the installation celebrates the legacy, resilience and everyday lives of African American Richmonders from the early 1800s to the 1980s. The project, installed by Mike Murphy and John McLeod of Three One One Printing, is set to be completed on Thursday, Jan. 30.
File photo
Courtesy Chesterfield County Schools
John Murray takes the oath of office as superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools, joined by his children, Emerson and Grant.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/ Richmond Free Press
Gov. Glenn Youngkin presents a state flag to Lisa Paley, Haleon North America president, at a press conference on Jan 27. Haleon, a global consumer health company, announced it will invest $54.2 million to upgrade its research and
Pharrell Williams
Reva Trammell
City janitors walk off job, protest Nu-Tech
Continued from A1
her bills. “I am pleading to you today to please listen to us, to do the right thing. We’re not asking for a whole lot, we’re not asking for much.”
The strikes were organized by the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, a labor organization whose unions represent workers in localities across the state. The group has also been helping with the federal labor charges filed by Clarissa McGhee, Sharonda Smith and Tiffany Cobbs.
The strike saw a large turnout over several hours, with as many as 50 people on the streets and outside Nu-Tech’s office in Shockoe Bottom, while others participated from home. Although the rallies were spread out, workers’ goals were unified, with their main demand clear: the immediate rehiring of McGhee and Smith and accountability for Cobbs’ treatment.
The need for Nu-Tech employees to unionize, to ensure their concerns are addressed and they receive the full benefits of their job, was also emphasized.
“These workers do not have sick days, they don’t have vacation, they don’t have health care,” SEIU Virginia Executive Vice President Jaime Contreras said. “And they make as little
Youngkin’s office aware of aid portal suspensions during Trump’s funding freeze
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into motion. The two-page document outlined Trump’s intent to unwind policies enacted under former President Joe Biden’s administration.
The sudden rescission could potentially add to the uncertainty surrounding which programs might still be affected and for how long — especially after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, attempted to clarify that it only applied to the OMB memo, but not the funding freeze itself, which she said follows Trump’s executive orders and “will be rigorously implemented.”
Littel’s own memo linked to White House guidance clarifying that the freeze wasn’t a blanket halt on federal funding but applied only to programs tied to Trump’s executive orders — targeting initiatives such as DEI, the Green New Deal and funding nongovernmental organizations deemed to “undermine the national interest.”
Lawmakers in other states also reported difficulties accessing the Medicaid payment systems yesterday.
With little clarity on which programs might be affected, Virginia lawmakers scrambled to assess the fallout of Trump’s federal funding freeze — raising concerns about potential hits to economic development, health care and disaster relief. Some blasted Trump and, by extension, Youngkin.
Meanwhile, Littel acknowledged the widespread concern but echoed Youngkin’s criticism of what he called “fearmongering.”
“Unfortunately, due to very limited information from OMB and a fair amount of misinformation, many individuals and agencies are understandably concerned,” Littel wrote. “And sadly, several people engaged in fearmongering throughout the day.”
Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, pushed back Tuesday on the notion that the issue was being overblown, arguing it would be “irresponsible” for state lawmakers to ignore the potential ripple effects of federal decisions on Virginia.
That concern isn’t unfounded — federal grants are the largest source of Virginia’s non-general fund revenue, supporting bipartisan state initiatives. According to a May 2024 report from the House Appropriations Committee, the state is set to receive over $45 billion in federal grants and contracts for the current biennium.
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, went further, calling Trump’s planned freezes “political games” and warning that critical efforts — like post-Hurricane Helene recovery and Medicaid access — would be in jeopardy.
Following Wednesday afternoon’s rescission of the White House memo, Scott turned to X, blasting the GOP for the chaos of the last 48 hours.
“This is priceless,” Scott wrote. “Republicans — especially Governor Youngkin — spent all day twisting themselves into pretzels defending Trump’s disastrous decision. And then — bam — it gets rescinded. Eventually, everyone who ties themselves to Trump ends up looking like a fool. Stand by for more chaos.”
Despite mounting concerns, Youngkin and the White House had insisted that Trump’s federal funding freeze wouldn’t disrupt essential services.
“There’s not going to be an effect of this pause on those critical individual assistance and state run programs,” Youngkin told reporters Wednesday morning. “I called [President Trump] again this morning and reaffirmed.” He also again took aim at Democrats, accusing them of stoking unnecessary fear.
“This misinformation hurts people,” Youngkin said. “I know that people will be worried about their health care coverage, and we can’t, for a minute, suggest that it’s not going to be there when they go see a doctor.”
But U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Alexandria, wasn’t buying it. In a pointed post on X Wednesday, he highlighted Youngkin’s own administration’s admission that aid portals were briefly frozen.
“Your own administration acknowledged internally that ‘aid portals’ were temporarily suspended by the freeze. Hospital payments were frozen,” Beyer wrote. “This happened because of a terribly written order so incompetently executed that you yourself had to call the White House for clarity.”
While Youngkin and Trump insist that Medicaid isn’t affected by the federal funding freeze, access to its portal was still temporarily paused Tuesday, raising fresh concerns about the program’s future.
Despite not being directly targeted by Trump’s executive order, Medicaid remains in Republican crosshairs, with Trump and GOP lawmakers in Congress weighing potential cuts. The program provides health insurance to low-income earners and people with disabilities, covering about 630,000 Virginians.
The commonwealth is also one of several states with a trigger law that would end its Medicaid program if federal funding is slashed. In response, state Sens. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, and Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, plan to introduce budget amendments to eliminate that trigger — an effort to safeguard coverage for those who rely on it.
This story originally appeared at VirginaMercury.com
as $15 an hour or maybe even less — and so you wonder why people want to organize to have a union?”
When reached for comment via phone, an employee for NuTech’s Richmond office who declined to provide a name said the company “did not engage in any unfair labor practices whatsoever.”
SEIU continued its campaign Wednesday at the General Assembly, where essential public, care and service workers met with state legislators to advocate for bills that would improve labor standards across Virginia. Bills supported include collective bargaining for public workers, service worker retention protections and a $15 wage floor, among others.
For Peebles, she hopes that the strike will cause Nu-Tech to acknowledge workers’ many issues with the company, and lead to a more open, honest discussion of their needs.
“I just hope that they will listen to us and hope they come to the table with us and at least give us something that we asked for,” Peebles said. “Show us some respect, show us some concern, some consideration and compassion.”
Richmond’s first Black mayor, Henry Marsh, remembered
immediate Marsh Elementary community,” said Henry L. Marsh Elementary Principal Cornelius Smith. “He is a powerful and far-reaching example of who our children are and who they are capable of growing up to be.”
Marsh continued his drive for excellence and activism in higher education, graduating from Virginia Union University in 1956 with a degree in sociology and Howard University with a law degree in 1959.
Marsh met civil rights attorney Oliver Hill after testifying in the Virginia General Assembly against “massive resistance” to keep schools segregated during his senior year at VUU.
Hill encouraged Marsh to pursue a law degree, and he forged a lifelong friendship during his studies with future governor and fellow law student L. Douglas Wilder.
“Henry’s contribution, as a lawyer and elected official, to eradicating many of the segregationist acts of the past is recognized
and appreciated by all who value freedom,” Wilder said in a statement. “His becoming the first African American Mayor of the City of Richmond enabled the enactment of many laws and regulations that moved our Capital City to national recognition and prominence.”
After serving two years in the military, Marsh put his education to work as a civil rights lawyer. He co-founded the Tucker and Marsh law firm with Samuel W. Tucker in 1961 and became a key figure in the fight against segregated education.
Marsh’s legal career was filled with landmark cases, tackling racial discrimination in employment during Quarles v. Philip Morris in 1967, school desegregation in Brewer v. School Board of City of Norfolk in 1970, and a victory in 1981’s Gravely v. Robb led to single-member districts in the General Assembly — and more opportunities for minority candidates.
As Marsh continued his work in the court, he also entered politics, and first served in the Richmond City Council in 1966. More than a decade later, Marsh made history when he was elected mayor in 1977. He returned to a City Council seat after his term ended in 1982.
“Henry Marsh was a true statesman,” former Mayor Levar M. Stoney stated in a social media post. “He loved Richmond and Virginia. Simply put, he made both better.”
After decades in city government, Marsh was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991, winning re-election five times
authorization and deportation relief to certain immigrants.
“I’m very concerned about President Trump’s mass deportation plans, particularly the rollback of a decades-long policy under both Democratic and Republican administrations,” Kaine said. “Mass deportations would tear apart many families with longstanding ties to
before retiring in 2014. He remained a political fixture for years, mentoring others in public service.
“Henry Marsh was a friend, mentor and role model. He played an important role in my public service career, for which I will be forever grateful,” said U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, who worked with Marsh during her time in the Virginia House of Delegates. “His life was a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of fighting for what is right, no matter the difficulty.”
Outside of his professional life, Marsh enjoyed playing tennis and golf as well as cheering for the Dallas Cowboys. He was also fond of live music and playing bid whist, a card game.
Marsh was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and wife Diane Harris Marsh. He is survived by children Nadine Marsh-Carter, Sonya M. Craft and Dwayne S. Marsh, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Marsh will be lying in state at the Virginia State Capitol from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. A viewing will be held Friday, Jan. 31, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th St., followed by a funeral Saturday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church, 4247 Creighton Road.
the U.S. and severely hurt the U.S. and Virginia economy.”
The Richmond School Board released a public statement on Tuesday afternoon also condemning Trump’s mass deportation policies and stated it will continue to monitor the situation.
“The School Board would like to send this clear message: No matter who you are or where you were born, the School Board will take steps to ensure that you
continue to receive an education in a safe and welcoming atmosphere,” the School Board told its students.
Chesterfield County Public Schools, which also has a significant immigrant student population, emailed a statement on Wednesday at noon stating that it will protect its students, regardless of immigration status, and is not aware of any ICE detainment in Chesterfield.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
A worker shares her experience working for companies like Nu-Tech. About 150 union workers picketed Jan. 28, outside the Nu-Tech Janitorial Services building.
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Chuck Richardson, Claudine McDaniel, Willie Dell and Henry Marsh at an event in 2015 to honor the first Black leadership on City Council.
Photo by Clement Britt
Henry L. Marsh III cuts the ribbon at a ceremony dedicating a Richmond elementary school named in his honor. Flanking Marsh are his daughter, Nadine MarshCarter, left and Principal Kimberly Cook.
File Photo
Henry Marsh III center with Oliver Hill left and Samuel Tucker, right.
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Donald McEachin, Sen. Henry Marsh and Tim Kaine at the Gold Bowl in 2005.
RPS students compete in MLK Oratorical Contest
By Paula Phounsavath
Shyla Scott, a senior at Richmond High School for the Arts, won first place in Richmond Public Schools’ MLK Oratorical Contest, held Saturday at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.
Scott presented her poem “Too Black,” which analyzed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Her performance examined themes of justice and injustice, delivered with a cadence that drew from King’s speaking style.
Scott received a $500 check and a $50 gift card. She said she was nervous throughout the speech but remained confident.
“I did not just write what I just said up there for no reason,” she said. “There was always a reason behind my words, because my words represent my truth.”
Destiny Dillards, a senior at Richmond Community High School, won second place and $250. Imani Smith, a senior at RHSA, placed third and received $125. All winners received engraved trophies. The other 12 contestants each
received a trophy and a $50 gift card.
The contest was a public speaking competition with student contestants from various schools across RPS to reflect and commemorate King’s powerful messages of love, unity and non-violent demonstrations.
The competition required students from RPS schools to select and analyze one of King’s speeches while studying his life and legacy. Judges evaluated speeches based on content, delivery and overall impact.
“[The MLK Oratorical Contest] is important because it actively engages young people in learning about the message of equality and justice,” said Bernice Travers, chairwoman of the nonprofit organization Living the Dream Inc.
The contest was attended by the contestants’ friends and families, Superintendent Jason Kamras, Richmond School Board members Katie Ricard (2nd District), Wesley Hedgepeth (4th District) and Franklin Military Academy Principal Col. David Hudson.
Ricard, a former history teacher, and Hedgepeth, a current government and history teacher,
noted the contestants’ potential as future leaders.
“The overall theme is that the work is not finished and there are so many similarities to the time period in which Martin Luther King
spoke,” Hedgepeth said. “Today, it’s concerning and it’s also very comforting that the students understand the gravity of the situation and are facing it head first.”
Meyers receives Teacher of the Year award in Chesterfield County
Maria Meyers, a reading specialist at Davis Elementary School, was surprised Tuesday, Jan. 28, when Chesterfield County Public Schools leaders entered her classroom with a banner, balloons and the announcement that she is the Teacher of the Year.
Free Press staff report
Maria Meyers, a reading specialist at Davis Elementary School, has been named the 2025 Teacher of the Year for Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Meyers, who joined Davis Elementary in 2023, previously taught at schools in Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi and Florida.
CCPS leaders surprised Meyers with the news on Jan. 28, presenting her with flowers, balloons and a banner announcing her award.
“Maria Meyers has a passion for literacy and growing student and teacher knowledge,” said Kenya Batts, principal of Davis Elementary.
“She is extremely knowledgeable and digs in to make sure we all have what we need. Maria’s passion for literacy is contagious, and it makes us all want to be better.”
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Meyers earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, a master’s degree from Plymouth State University and a reading specialist certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University. She sees her most significant achievement as helping students learn to read and empowering teachers to effectively guide their students in reading.
“The most basic and foundational way that I truly connect with students and the community is through regular, positive interactions,” Meyers said. “The impact of a kind word and a smile can uplift those around you. Remembering a student’s plans for the weekend or the name of a sibling generates trust and connection. It does not take a large sum of money or even time and energy to show the kindness that others need to feel connected and safe enough to try to do their best.”
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Judges heard Shyla Scott of Richmond High School for the Arts loud and clear and named her the winner of an oratorical contest held at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/ Richmond Free Press
Richmond Free Press
January 30-February, 2025
When Silence Speaks
It takes a special person to be a school superintendent. Or at least a fairly decent one. It’s a job that requires leadership, great communication skills, strategic thinking and financial acumen, among other qualities. Some superintendents are better at some of these job responsibilities than others, but most of them have one strength in common – speaking effectively about their schools and the thousands of students who attend them.
When things are going well at school, you can expect a superintendent to show up, to offer some insight and commentary on how great this thing is. Some jaded teachers might call this hogging the spotlight, but most observers know that this usually isn’t the case, at least with good superintendents. They’re also easy to be found when something goes wrong, whether it’s low test scores, violence at a school or personnel issues at the central office. They will take the opportunity to explain, apologize and outline steps to prevent similar issues in the future.
That’s why it’s curious, that in light of recent events, some of our local superintendents aren’t saying much.
Recent actions taken by the current occupant of the White House, regarding immigration, have created increased concerns among immigrant families about deportation, legal status and access to education. On Jan. 21, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded a policy that restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement from carrying out operations at “sensitive locations,” such as schools, churches and hospitals. At least one school leader, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters in Oklahoma, appears eager to comply with federal authorities. He told Politico that he would turn over information on students and their families to the government, “if President Trump sees fit.” Fortunately, at least one local superintendent has made it known that he takes his responsibility of safeguarding students seriously.
In an email to students and their families, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras stated, “To our students, let me be abundantly clear: We love you here and RPS will always be a safe haven for you.” He follows that message with several key points aimed at reassuring students and their families, before closing with a reminder that the school’s stance is not a political one.
“This is about doing what’s right for our students and living up to our motto of ‘Teaching, Leading and Serving with Love,’” he stated.
Immigrant students in surrounding communities deserve the same thoughtful and powerful support. Unfortunately, their school leaders have not taken a strong stand, offering only a couple of milquetoast statements to a local media outlet that seemed to play both sides.
In times of crisis, effective leadership requires courage, clarity and empathy. By remaining silent, the leaders of our school systems signal that they are more concerned with political correctness than with doing what’s right for the students entrusted to their care.
Our immigrant students deserve better. They deserve leaders who will speak up, stand firm and protect their future, not ones who fall silent when their voices are needed the most.
and he delivered.
“American communities, disproportionately Black and Brown, have long borne the scars of the Drug War. Extreme and racist sentences for crack cocaine offenses tore apart families. Children grew up visiting their parents behind bars. Those parents are now elders, yearning to hold their grandchildren. Justice is served by allowing these individuals to return home. Their debt to society was long ago paid.” — Kara Gotsch, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project Chief Justice John Marshall described a presidential grant of clemency as an “act of grace.” The President’s constitutional power to grant pardons and reprieves descends from the “prerogative of mercy” of English law. Few acts of clemency exemplify the ideals of grace and mercy more fully than President Biden’s historic commutation of the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
It was the largest single-day commutation in American history, coming less than a month
after another historic act of clemency, sparing the lives of 37 people sentenced to death in federal courts.
Together, these commutations have cemented President Biden’s legacy as a champion of justice, civil rights and racial reconciliation.
The commutations of drug
sentences address a shortcoming in the First Step Act, which the National Urban League has advocated for years to repair. Too many people have been incarcerated for too long based on outdated and racist sentencing laws. Black men especially have suffered under our current sentencing regime that still charges crack cocaine offenses 18 times more harshly than powder cocaine at the federal level.
The National Urban League and our partners in the civil rights community have worked tirelessly to close the gaps in our drug sentencing laws. In November, the leaders of the eight legacy civil rights organizations wrote a letter to President Biden asking to remedy the extensive harm done to Black and Brown communities caused by the War on Drugs through commutations,
Further, the death penalty has ensnared hundreds of innocent defendants. The National Urban League has long opposed the death penalty in all cases. The death penalty has proven to be wildly discriminatory in every aspect. This is true in the federal system, just as in the states.
In his commutation order, President Biden acknowledged the racially disparate impact of the death penalty and committed to ending it on the federal level. His Department of Justice paused executions, a welcome reprieve after the first Trump administration’s gruesome execution spree.
The cases of the 37 men whose lives were spared manifest all the profound flaws that inevitably mar the death penalty, including significant racial disparities. Black Americans are seven times more likely to be falsely convicted of serious crimes compared to white Americans. Among the 37 were those prosecuted by almost exclusively white attorneys and convicted by all-white juries, the intellectually disabled, seriously mentally ill or brain damaged, those who faced execution though they did not personally kill anyone, and those whose convictions or death sentences were secured through the use of misleading
Pardons must not lead to the unpardonable Commutations
Hindsight, as the old saying goes, is always 20/20. That thought came to mind after a couple of the roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 offenders given pardons by President Trump said they didn’t want it.
Finally, I thought, a bright light of sanity shows itself.
I am heart ened by the example of Pamela Hemp hill, 71, of Boise, Idaho, rechristened the “MAGA gran ny” by some.
Now she’s making new headlines by declaring her desire to refuse to accept Trump’s pardon, although refusing a pardon is not easy in a system unaccustomed to such requests.
She no longer supports Trump or believes his lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
“Absolutely not,” she told The New York Times on Jan. 22. “It’s an insult to the Capitol Police, to the rule of law and to the nation. If I accept a pardon, I’m continuing their propaganda, their gaslighting and all their falsehoods they’re putting out there about Jan. 6.”
Hemphill, whose wish to reject the pardon was previously reported by The Idaho Statesman, pleaded guilty in January 2022 to a misdemeanor offense for entering the Capitol during the riot. She was sentenced to 60 days in prison and three years of probation.
Now she looks back with regret, relieved by a therapist who helped see that she was
“not a victim of Jan. 6; I was a volunteer.”
“I lost my critical thinking,” she told the Times. “Now I know it was a cult, and I was in a cult.”
Which reminds me of author Tom Wolfe’s often-repeated observation: a cult is a religion that lacks political clout.
She’s not alone. In New
Hampshire, Navy veteran Jason Riddle also reacted uncomfortably to his pardon for offenses he regrets.
He admitted to entering the Capitol on Jan. 6, drinking from an open bottle of wine and stealing a book from the Senate Parliamentarian office. He eventually pleaded guilty to theft of government property and illegally protesting inside the Capitol, for which he was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years of probation.
But now, as he told ABC News, he feels grateful for the help his arrest and mandatory alcoholism treatment have given with his struggle with alcoholism.
“It was definitely 100% warranted getting arrested. (I’m) thankful I did,” he said. “Good thing it didn’t happen before my life was turned around. I’m grateful he couldn’t pardon till now, because my life was terrible at the time of the riot.”
After years of being tempted to dismiss the individual rioters as members of the tinfoil hat brigades, it has been illuminating to see how easily well-meaning folks can get swept up in what appears to be an insidious form of mass politically charged hysteria.
As Riddle said, no one should be celebrating that.
“Capitol Police officers are dead. People have died, and, you know, more people are going to die if, you know, by feeding this lie and carrying on with the charade,” Riddle said. “Obviously, it sounds better to say that I’m a hero and a patriot who I would love to, you know, I would love to believe that, but I know it’s not true.”
That probably sounds familiar to Robert Pape, who directs the Chicago Project on Security and Threats at the University of Chicago.
He’s spent months poring over court documents and researching more than 700 arrested for unlawfully entering the Capitol that day.
He found that the motives of people interviewed by officials tended to be political more than criminal. They believed Trump’s big lie that he had won a legitimate electoral victory that was being snatched away from him and his voters.
And while members of extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys were arrested and convicted for their participation in the riot, Pape estimates that 87% of those who were convicted were not members of such groups.
The awful truth, he told NPR, tends to show that “this is coming from part of the mainstream.”
That means those of us who live in the mainstream need to be extra vigilant about extreme voices that are eager to exploit our legitimate grievances and frustrations for their own power grabs.
Too often the cures they offer are worse than the malady.
or unreliable scientific evidence.
President Biden is a man of faith, courage and principle. His historic acts of grace and mercy manifest all of those qualities.
“President Biden has demonstrated one of the strongest commitments to racial justice in American history,” Morial said. “Today’s historic decision will allow people to come home to their families sooner and give communities the opportunity to reunite and rebuild.”
“We commend President Biden for his commitment to justice and equality even in his last days in office. As we prepare to enter a new era, today’s actions are a reminder of what real leadership looks like.”
The writer is the President/ CEO of the National Urban League.
Clarence Page
Marc H. Morial
Recently, we observed the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. When I think of Dr. King’s legacy, I don’t immediately think of the overused “I Have a Dream” speech. Instead, I think of his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” essay.
While in custody in Birmingham, Dr. King wrote a letter to clergy members who had criticized his presence and the demonstrations he helped organize there. Their concern amounted to being against any disturbance to the status quo. Their critique of the demonstrations led MLK to ask in his letter, “Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world?” Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while advocating for environmental justice in Memphis, Tenn., for sanitation workers. Many of our political and corporate leaders claim religious faith is important in their lives. Those of us who do should reflect on the quote above to whether we are too bound to the status quo to save our cities, towns, counties, and ultimately our world.
The movement he gave his life for was not simply about social and civil rights but about quality of life and respect for all life forms. We are sixty-two years after his imprisonment and letter from Birmingham, and we are still hearing similar arguments against proposals for achieving justice for people of color and low-wealth communities who bear a disproportionate burden of polluting industries. We are facing increasing opposition to efforts to address climate and environmental injustices. A status quo argument we hear echoed from various sectors is that to achieve climate and environmental justice would require a disturbance of what has existed for 100 years or more! The argument is essentially a status quo rationale. We should do nothing to remedy the greenhouse gas emissions, disproportionate energy burden, and health hazards faced by
communities across Virginia because “we have always done it that way.” To address these problems is too disruptive and costly. We cannot maintain the status quo for how we relieve unjust pollution burdens. While it may be counterintuitive for some, achieving environ-
Rev. Faith Harris
mental justice is an essential step toward the goals of the climate movement. Bills going through the General Assembly 2025 session would guide the comprehensive planning commissions across the state and implement a process for state agencies to relieve health risks for communities suffering from poor air and water quality and support community resilience. Every town, city and county has a role to play in the movement to address climate change.
Our mission at Virginia Interfaith Power & Light starts with achieving environmental justice for communities impacted hardest and longest by industry and governmental decisions that either neglected
Caregivers need fair pay to continue vital work
Caregivers are the unsung heroes of
and
Virginia’s Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care services are among the lowest in the nation. Despite a 2019 state study recommending significant increases to keep pace with costs, reimbursement rates remain outdated and insufficient. Rising inflation and
administrative expenses have only widened the gap, leaving caregivers underpaid and providers struggling to stay afloat.
Without additional funding, many providers will be forced to shut their doors. Vulnerable Virginians will lose access to in-home care, driving up costs and eliminating personal choice.
The General Assembly must act now to increase reimbursement rates and safeguard the future of in-home care in Virginia.
SHARON MELARA Glen Allen
or targeted Black, Brown, and those deemed suitable to bear the pollution burden.
We resonate with the adage that rising tides lift all boats. Knowing that a rising tide may lift all boats, we also consider that some of our most vulnerable Virginians are in rafts while others are in yachts. The objectives of climate and environmental justice are inextricable. We cannot maintain the status quo policies, practices, or laws when they ignore the problems of climate and environmental justice. Working for environmental justice honors the legacy of advocates like Martin Luther King Jr. and his life and work to achieve social, economic and civil rights for all of God’s children.
The writer is the executive director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Panthers secure second straight victory over Bluefield State
Free Press staff report
Virginia Union University’s defense played a key role in sparking its 69-64 win over Bluefield State University on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Barco-Stevens Hall. The Panthers held the fourth-ranked Bluefield State to a season-low 64 points, showcasing their ability to control the game defensively while securing their second consecutive victory.
Jonathan King led the charge for the Panthers, posting a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Bobby Gardner added 14 points, and Malachi Dark chipped in 13, helping Virginia Union maintain a steady lead throughout the game. The Panthers never trailed, with their defense forcing 21 turnovers and recording 14 steals, a clear testament to their focus on that end of the court.
Bluefield State, known for its high-powered offense, came into the game averaging nearly 96 points per contest but was unable to find its rhythm against Virginia Union’s relentless defense.
“I thought the guys really came out with high energy on the defensive end, and that allowed us to get going on the offensive end, “Head coach Jay Butler said. Anytime you can hold the number one offensive team in the CIAA that was averaging over 90 points a game to just 64 points, that’s being locked in on defense.”
Vick earns second Hall of Fame induction in one week
Chiefs, Eagles feature HBCU alumni in Super Bowl LIX
Free Press staff report
Super Bowl LIX will feature the Kansas City Chiefs aiming for a historic third consecutive championship against the Philadelphia Eagles. The matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, where the Chiefs triumphed 38-35, launching their back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
Both teams have strong ties to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Christian Parker, the Eagles’ passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, is in his first season with the team after six years in the NFL. His coaching career began at Virginia State in 2013 before he moved to Norfolk State, where he served as the secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2019, he joined the Green Bay Packers as a defensive quality control coach and later worked as the Denver Broncos’ defensive backs coach before joining the Eagles. Roy Anderson, the Eagles’ cornerbacks coach, is also making his first Super Bowl appearance. A former quarterback at Howard University, Anderson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida A&M. He later moved to the NFL, working with the Baltimore Ravens for seven seasons before joining the Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks. He was part of the LSU coaching staff that won a national championship in 2019.
Eric Dickerson, the Eagles’ offensive quality control coach, is making his second Super Bowl appearance. Dickerson played at South Carolina State and helped lead the Bulldogs to two MEAC championships. He began his coaching career at his alma mater and, after a stint at Duke, joined the Eagles.
For the Chiefs, Joshua Williams, a defensive back from Fayetteville State, makes his third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. He was drafted by the Chiefs in 2022 after helping his college team reach a CIAA championship berth each year. This season, Williams recorded 33 tackles, six pass breakups, and one sack in 17 games.
Kevin Saxton, an offensive assistant for the Chiefs, is making his second Super Bowl appearance. Saxton previously coached at Benedict College, where he helped lead the Tigers to an undefeated regular season and SIAC championship. He joined the Chiefs in 2023.
Terry Bradden, an assistant defensive line coach for the Chiefs, is in his fifth Super Bowl. Bradden played quarterback at Howard before transferring to Tuskegee. He served in coaching roles at Bethune-Cookman and Florida Atlantic before joining the Chiefs in 2017. He is set to join the Nebraska coaching staff after the season.
Bryan Cook, a safety for the Chiefs, is also in his third Super Bowl appearance. He played at Howard University before transferring to the University of Cincinnati. Cook finished this season with 78 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups.
Norfolk State football head coach Michael Vick has been selected for induction into the National High School Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, the organization announced Wednesday. This marks Vick’s second Hall of Fame selection in just one week, following his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Vick’s high school career at Warwick High School in Newport News remains legendary.
As the starting quarterback for the Raiders, he threw for 4,846 yards and 43 touchdowns while rushing for 1,048 yards and 18 touchdowns. His combination of arm strength, speed and agility made him one of the top recruits in the state.
Vick continued his career at Virginia Tech,
where he redefined the quarterback position. His play helped the Hokies reach the 2000 BCS National Championship Game, earning national recognition for his dual-threat ability as both a passer and a runner. The Atlanta Falcons selected Vick with the first overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, making him the first quarterback drafted in that spot as a predominantly running quarterback. Over his 13-year NFL career, Vick became the league’s all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks and earned four Pro Bowl selections.
Vick will be honored at the National High School Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony June 14, in Canton, Ohio. His induction to the College Football Hall of Fame will take place Dec. 9 in Las Vegas.
Spider track team shines at VMI Invitational with strong results
Free Press staff report
The University of Richmond women’s track and field team put on a strong showing at the VMI Invitational on Saturday at the Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington, highlighted by a standout performance from the Spider 4x400-meter relay team.
Van der Westhuizen also made waves in the 400-meter, taking second place with a time of 57.23, while Elliot finished third with a solid 57.79.
In the 800-meter, sophomore Ashley Bolesh raced to a second-place finish at 2:21.24, and senior Emily Rzucidlo wasn’t far behind, finishing fourth in 2:24.19.
Richmond’s relay squad—senior Elke Van der Westhuizen, junior Nina Lavelle, freshman Molly Flanagan, and sophomore Morgan Elliot — claimed victory, finishing first out of 12 teams with a time of 3:51.22.
The day also marked the debut of freshmen Avery Beike, Kayla Buback, and Mia Paolino, who all laced up their spikes for the first time this indoor season.
The Spiders will look to keep the momentum rolling at the Penn State National Open and VMI Winter Relays on January 31.
Senior Lindsay Colflesh made her collegiate mile debut, crossing the line in 5:29.81 to finish 18th. In the 3000-meter, junior Phoebe Rubio clocked in at 10:19.82, securing a seventh-place finish.
Strikers and Kickers Youth merge to form Richmond United
Free Press staff report
Two of Virginia’s top youth soccer organizations, the Richmond Strikers and Richmond Kickers Youth, have merged to form Richmond United, creating one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the country. The recently announced partnership unites more than 10,000 players under one banner.
“Our collaboration is a natural fit. We are stronger together — one dynamic club dedicated to elevating its players, coaches, and the community to the highest level,” said Jay Howell, Richmond United’s CEO, during an announcement attended by over 300 community members, officials and staff.
The newly formed club consolidates re-
sources and coaching talent to create opportunities for players at all levels. Richmond United’s leadership, including Howell, Leigh Cowlishaw, the club’s director of soccer, and a board featuring representatives from both organizations, began work on Jan. 1 to focus on player development.
“Combining the expertise and sophistication of these two clubs has been years in the making,” said board chairman John Mumford. “This union is a result of their mutual respect and making
player experience a top priority.”
The merger aims to strengthen ties with local schools, businesses and organizations. The new entity is expected to bring economic benefits through expanded tournaments, including the Jefferson Cup series.
Richmond United unveiled a rebrand featuring a new logo, uniforms and a color palette blending elements from both legacy clubs, at a press conference The rebranding, developed in partnership with Nike, will debut during the fall season.
“Our new branding is the perfect showcase for our new club, and a wonderful way to build excitement, particularly for our players,” Howell said.
Howell and Cowlishaw bring decades of experience to Richmond United. Howell, a former Richmond Strikers executive director, is a seasoned soccer leader and advocate for youth programs. Cowlishaw, a former Richmond Kickers coach, has led teams to five championships and built a lasting legacy in the region.
“Together, we bring more than 75 years of success, experience and expertise to youth soccer, making Richmond United the best, most experienced club in Virginia,” Cowlishaw said. “This is a pivotal step toward advancing the quality of youth soccer in our region and beyond.”
Coach Parker
Free Press staff report
Coach Vick
The University of Richmond’s 4x400 relay team — Elke Van der Westhuizen, Nina Lavelle, Molly Flanaga and Morgan Elliot — poses on the track after winning first place at the VMI Invitational.
Jay Howell Leigh Cowlishaw
James Haskins / Richmond Free Press
Personality: Dr. Robert Winn
Spotlight on the Association of American Cancer Institutes Board President
Dr. Robert A. Winn, a physician-scientist dedicated to community-engaged cancer research and eliminating health disparities, is deeply concerned about the potential impact of federal funding cuts on scientific progress.
As director of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winn bridges the gap between basic science and communitybased health care, advocating for underserved patient populations and equal access to cutting-edge treatments.
“Since 1971, every single race and ethnicity has had an impact on reducing cancer rates. We’ve been able to translate that research to everyone,” Winn said.
According to NIH, spending on competing and noncompeting grant awards was $34.9 billion in 2023, a 4.7% increase from the previous year. Specifically for clinical research, NIH funding was around $18.9 billion in fiscal year 2023. Success rates for new research project grants (RPGs) increased slightly to 21.3% in FY 2023, with an average cost per RPG of $609,790.
Winn joined VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in January 2020. He served as director of the University of Illinois Cancer Center from 2015 to 2019 and as associate vice chancellor of health affairs for community-based practice at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Science System. Before his time in Chicago, Winn spent 13 years at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and School of Medicine.
“I’ve fallen in love with Richmond, Winn said. “I’m connected in ways that I never thought I’d be. I love the food and the people, and it’s been surprising that I’m so connected to the city.”
He’s received numerous awards and honors, including the inaugural Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) Cancer Health Equity
Award in 2021. He’s also a Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy and chair of the 2024 AACR Cancer Health Disparities Report.
As he considers retirement, Winn looks forward to mentoring the next generation of scientists as a consultant, without the responsibilities of cancer research.
“My goal is to prepare the next generation,” he said. “I hope that I will always be a resource. I want to be available, but I want to do as much good as possible for now.”
Meet the cancer research scientist focused on health disparities and this week’s Personality:
Occupation: Director and Lipman Chair in Oncology, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center; senior associate dean for cancer innovation and professor of pulmonary disease and critical care medicine, VCU School of Medicine.
Date and place of birth: Oct. 9 in Buffalo, New York. Where I live now: Midlothian.
Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Notre Dame; M.D., University of Michigan Medical School.
Family: Two children, Jamal Winn and Leila Winn.
What is the Association of American Cancer Institutes
(AACI): We are the only membership association dedicated to academic cancer centers, representing over 100 premier academic and freestanding cancer centers in the U.S. and Canada. We advance the objectives of cancer centers by promoting widespread recognition of our network, educating policymakers and fostering partnerships among cancer centers and like-minded organizations to improve the overall quality of cancer care.
Mission: AACI is accelerating progress against cancer by enhancing the impact of academic cancer centers and promoting
cancer health equity.
When and why founded: Founded in 1959, the AACI has a mission to reduce the burden of cancer by enhancing the impact of North America’s leading academic cancer centers.
Location: Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo.
When elected board president: 2023.
Why I accepted the position: The position was important because there had not been a person of color as a president and it seemed like it was the right time to introduce an inclusive platform to an organization that has been growing.
Length of term: Two years.
No. 1 project as board president: Inclusive excellence in broadening the diversity of the AACI and broadening its focus to include international cancer centers.
Strategy for achieving goals: I have a strategic plan for implementing inclusive excellence.
Number one challenge: The lack of resources.
Racial equity, cancer and my role as board president: In my presidency and as the
cancer center director of Massey, I have never apologized for a platform of health equity for all people, especially those who are at risk. So, from start to finish, I have been committed to, unapologetic about and active in ensuring that the science benefits all communities, particularly the African American community.
How cancer treatment is improving for people of color: We are closing the gap in deaths between Black and white people for many types of cancer, especially lung cancer, according to the latest American Association for Cancer Research report.
Latest recognition: The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Allen Lichter Visionary Leader Award. It recognizes its members who have transformed the oncology field or significantly advanced its mission through their leadership, vision and ability to inspire.
Who is Allen Lichter: Dr. Lichter’s research and development of three-dimensional treatment planning led to a Gold Medal from the American Society for Radiation Oncology. In 2002, he was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science.
This recognition is meaningful because: Allen Lichter was a pioneer and high-impact person. It was humbling to receive the award.
My leadership philosophy: Leaders should have a vision and bring people on board to help execute a plan.
Who inspires me to lead: My family inspired me to lead. My grandfather, James Darden Sr. My father, Harrison Winn Sr. My uncles, particularly John Darden Jr., James Darden and Kenneth Darden.
Does technology make leader-
ship easier or difficult: Both. Technology allows communication to happen quicker, but it can be a double-edged sword. There are times when things get lost in the translation. Sometimes human conversations are needed.
How my leadership has made a difference: Just showing up and being comfortable with being an African American affects the lives of other young African Americans who see me. It also affects people who are not African American because they see that I am comfortable with who I am. I hope the level of authenticity has inspired others, especially young African Americans, to just learn that being yourself sometimes is good enough.
A good leader is: Someone who is humble, focused on their North Star and able to change tactics without having to change their focus. It’s someone who has tons of grace for others and themselves.
How I start my day: I wake up, grateful to see the ceiling, and I go work out. After that, I make an affirmation about what I’m going to accomplish that day, and then I get to work.
The three words that best describe me: Committed, servant and leader.
If I had 10 extra minutes in the day: I’d help somebody.
Dream dinner party guest: It would be George Washington Carver because, as an African American who loved science like I do, I would want to know his struggles and what drove
him to figure out what to do with one little peanut that didn’t just help African Americans, but it helped all of America and the world over.
Best late-night snack: Swedish Fish.
Top three on my playlist: John Coltrane, Rhiannon Giddens and Reason.
Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Hike.
Most inspirational quote:
“When you know what you stand for, you know what you fight for,” by former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The top of my “to do” list: Make this cancer center better so that it can serve the people who need it the most in a much more efficient and effective manner.
The best thing I learned while growing up: Stay humble. Know your worth.
Most influential person: My grandfather, because he is a man who grew up in Alabama during a time when just being Black could have gotten him hung, and he persevered. He never lost sight that education was really important.
Most influential book: “Invisible Man,” by Ralph Ellison. What I’m reading now: “The Warmth of Other Suns,” by Isabel Wilkerson. It’s about the Great Migration and what that meant for the U.S. Next goal: Build something so good that we inspire the next generation to take the reins and do better.
Richmond Planet editor’s life inspires upcoming stage production
Free Press staff report
John Mitchell Jr., the fearless newspaper editor who used the Richmond Planet to fight racial injustice during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, will soon take center stage in a new play commissioned by Firehouse Theatre.
The theater, in partnership with the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the Richmond Planet Foundation, has tapped playwright Kristen Adele Calhoun to dramatize Mitchell’s life. Known as the “fighting editor,” Mitchell used his platform to advocate for civil rights, racial pride and justice, earning a reputation as one of Richmond’s most courageous historical figures.
“It is an honor to work with the
Mitchell family, Firehouse Theatre, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the Richmond Planet Foundation to tell the remarkable story of Mr. John Mitchell Jr., a man who was triumphant in the face of unthinkable Southern horrors,” Calhoun said.
“Armed with a deep love for community and justice, Mr. Mitchell’s life teaches us so much about facing our fears and meeting our current moment with courage, strategy, and strength.”
The play marks the first in a planned series of collaborations between Firehouse Theatre and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture to explore untold stories from Virginia’s history. The project will also include community education and engagement opportunities throughout its
in Thalhimers department
white-only policy for service.
development.
Mitchell, born enslaved in 1863 near Richmond, became editor of the Richmond Planet at 21. He used the newspaper to advocate for civil rights, expose injustices and mobilize community action, including leading the Richmond streetcar boycott of 1904. His activism extended to the antilynching movement and calls for self-defense against racial violence.
“Far too often, history is seen as a distant occurrence or a list of dates and events on a page,” said Joseph S.H. Rogers, director of partnerships and community engagement at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. “It is talked about as though it were just something that happened in the past that has little to no bearing on the pres-
ent. The truth is that history is alive and being made every day. It shapes our communities and motivates us to explore the possibilities of our future. This project brings history forward in a powerful and personal way. By telling the story of John Mitchell Jr. as a living, breathing person who had to make important decisions while uncertain of the eventual outcome, we show how all of us can rise to the challenge and bring about change in our lives.”
The play’s development will include research and writing residencies in Richmond through 2025 and early 2026. A first draft is expected to be completed ahead of semiquincentennial celebrations, with a world premiere slated for Firehouse Theatre’s 202627 season.
Civil rights documentary fundraiser set for March 23
Free Press staff report
A fundraiser for a new documentary about a 1960 civil rights protest will be held March 23 at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.
The black-tie event, beginning at 2 p.m., will support “Richmond 34: The Silent Victory,” a documentary about Virginia Union University students who protested segregation at Thalhimer’s department store. The Richmond 34 were arrested on Feb. 22, 1960, while conducting a sit-in at the white-only lunch counter of Thalhimers department store.
Featured speakers include Virginia Union University professor Raymond Hylton, jazz musician James “Saxsmo” Gates and Phillip Brashear. Brashear is the son of Carl Brashear, the Navy’s first Black master diver
whose story was portrayed in the film “Men of Honor.”
The event will premiere the documentary’s trailer. Attendees can meet the production team and cast members. DJ Stormin’ Norman will provide entertainment and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
The Rev. LK Harris Sr., founder of Prestigious Productions, is directing the film at the request of Pastor Vincent Scott Bray of The LM Bray Jr. Foundation. The foundation honors Bray’s father, Leroy Bray Jr., one of the protesters arrested during the demonstration.
Prestigious Productions, founded by Harris and Teresina Harris, previously produced the film “You Reap What You Sow” starring actor Tommy Ford, the television program “The Impact of Reality” and “Gospel Soul Celebration” featuring singer Tony Terry.
Virginia Opera, Richmond Symphony to debut Loving v. Virginia opera
Free Press staff report
Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony will present the world premiere of “Loving v. Virginia,” a new opera that tells the story of Mildred and Richard Loving, whose legal battle led to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down laws banning interracial marriage. The production will be the final presentation of Virginia Opera’s 50th Anniversary Season.
The opera will debut in Norfolk on April 25 and 27, with additional performances in Fairfax on May 3 and 4, and in Richmond from May 9 to 11.
Damien Geter
The opera was co-commissioned by Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony in May 2022. Damien Geter, a Petersburg native, is the composer, with Jessica Murphy Moo serving as the librettist.
Reflecting on the significance of the project, Geter shared that the historical importance of Loving v. Virginia has stayed with him since his teenage years.
“I’m finding there are many who are unfamiliar with this
Free Press staff report
landmark case,”he said, “Coming back home to Virginia and collaborating with Virginia Opera and working with Jessica Murphy Moo to tell the story of Mildred and Richard Loving is important not only for the sake of honoring their legacy, but also for ensuring the future of the art form.”
Moo reflected on the deeper personal connection to the story, explaining that “Mildred and Richard Loving made my own family possible. What an honor and responsibility it is to be part of a team telling their story. Think for a moment about what they achieved — they were only two people and yet they stood up to legalized racism and enacted lasting change. Their story is an inspiration. And it’s also an opera!”
Virginia Opera Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Adam Turner spoke about the significance of the opera’s premiere.
“Considering how best to commemorate VA Opera’s 50th Anniversary of producing opera in the Commonwealth has been the subject of countless conversations for a number of years,” he said. With composer and Virginia-native Damien Geter, and the powerful, courageous story of Loving v. Virginia, we are thrilled
to meet this incredible moment for opera in Virginia.”
Public input sought for Virginia’s most endangered historic sites list districts. Preservation Virginia encourages individuals and organizations to nominate places that hold historical, cultural or architectural significance and are in need of protection.
Preservation Virginia is now accepting nominations for its annual Most Endangered Historic Places Program, an initiative designed to identify and protect historic sites at risk of being lost. The program invites the public to nominate significant locations facing threats such as demolition, neglect or other challenges.
Since its launch, the program has highlighted more than 100 historic sites across Virginia. Of these, over half have been successfully preserved, while approximately 36% remain under active monitoring. Unfortunately, 13% have been lost due to demolition or neglect, highlighting the ongoing need for awareness and advocacy.
The Most Endangered Historic Places list includes historic buildings, cultural landscapes, cemeteries, archaeological sites and urban or rural historic
“Preserving local history is a community effort, and simply raising awareness for
threatened sites is a huge part of the equation,” said Will Glasco, CEO of Preservation Virginia. “We need the public’s help to identify this year’s list so that together, we can take action before these unique places are lost forever.”
Nominations can be submit-
ted online at preservationvirginia.org and must be received by Friday, Feb. 14. The 2025 list of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places will be announced on May 13.
For more information or to submit a nomination, visit preservationvirginia.org.
The cast for the premiere includes Flora Hawk as Mildred Jeter Loving, Jonathan Michie as Richard Loving, Troy Cook as ACLU lawyer Bernard Cohen, Christian Sanders as ACLU lawyer Philip Hirschkop, and Benjamin Werley as Sheriff Brooks and Judge Leon M. Bazile. Other cast members include Adam Richardson as Raymond Green, Tesia Kwarteng as Annette Byrd, Phillip Bullock as Theoliver “Jake” Jeter, Melody Wilson as Musiel Byrd Jeter, and Alissa Anderson as Lola Allen Loving.
Performances of “Loving v. Virginia” will take place in Norfolk on April 25 and 27 at the Harrison Opera House; in Fairfax on May 3 and 4 at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University; and in Richmond from May 9 to 11 at the Dominion Energy Center.
BOOK TALK & SIGNING WITH LINWOOD NORMAN
WHEN MAYOR DOUG WILDER RULED RICHMOND
Join us for a talk by author Linwood Norman on his new book, “When Mayor Doug Wilder Ruled Richmond: Strong-Arm Politics in Virginia’s Capital City.” Our nation’s first elected Black governor, L. Douglas Wilder, returned to public service in 2005 as the first popularly elected mayor of Richmond in 60 years. Despite his landslide election, voters may have had little idea what they were getting themselves into, as many were ill-prepared for Wilder’s strong style of leadership. Norman, a former press secretary to the mayor, skillfully recounts the turmoil of Richmond’s transition to the “strong mayor” model of local government. Registration is required: lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/13726050
Library of Virginia Free Event
Courtesy of Dr. Anderson J. Franklin Richmond police attempt to move Virginia Union University students out of a restaurant
store downtown where they refused to leave, protesting the
Richmond Planet Editor John Mitchell Jr.
Courtesy Estate of Grey Villett Richard and Mildred Loving
Faith groups say they’ll aid refugees despite Trump order. But they’ll need help.
By Bob Smietana, Yonat Shimron, and Jack Jenkins Religion News Service
Jalil Dawood, pastor of the Arabic Church of Dallas, thanks God every day for the U.S. government’s refugee resettlement program, which helped him settle in the United States after he fled persecution during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Dawood, who said the program reflects the best of American values, believes he has President Ronald Reagan to thank for helping to change the course of his life.
“Ronald Reagan helped me make it to America,” Dawood said.
On Jan. 24 the Trump administration halted the current resettlement program for refugees, who are legal immigrants vetted by the government, many of them after awaiting resettlement for years. A previous order put a stop to all new arrivals of refugees for the next 90 days.
That is a mistake, said Dawood, an evangelical Christian who holds graduate degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He voted for Donald Trump three times.
Dawood, founder of World Refugee Care, a small Texas nonprofit that provides spiritual and humanitarian support for refugees in the United States and the Middle East, said he understands the president’s concerns about national security. But the refugee resettlement program is not a danger, he said. Instead, it’s a way for the United States to help religious minorities and others facing persecution around the world.
“There are a lot of persecuted Christians,” said Dawood, whose group does not receive any federal funds. Saying he believes the Bible tells Christians to be compassionate to refugees, he added, “There is a real need, and America needs to bless those people, bring them in or help them so they might start a new life. God will bless America for that. And that’s my concern.”
Danilo Zak, director of policy at Church World Service, a faith-based refugee resettlement agency that contracts with the
federal government to resettle refugees, said that in the week before Trump’s inauguration alone, more than 5,000 refugees and 1,000 Afghans on Special Immigrant Visas were resettled across the country. The administration then canceled flights that were supposed to bring in refugees before the Jan. 27 pause. Then it ordered a halt to all assistance for those already here.
Matt Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, said that faithbased refugee resettlement groups, including World Relief, had expected Trump to put limits on the number of refugees allowed in the United States, as he did in his first term. Those past limits led resettlement groups to lay off staff and close offices, essentially crippling the public-private partnerships that make resettlement work in the United States.
Faith-based refugee agencies operating in the U.S. ramped up their efforts to assist as many refugees as possible before Trump returned to office, fearing he would eliminate the refugee program. But Soerens said World Relief and other groups were caught off guard on Friday by a federal memo instructing them to stop working with refugees already in the United States.
World Relief and other refugee resettlement groups, includ-
ing Catholic Charities, Church World Service and HIAS, receive federal funding to help refugees. They also raise funds from private donors to assist refugees and recruit volunteers from houses of worship.
That volunteer work will continue, said Soerens, who also said that volunteers and private donations will be needed now more than ever. “I don’t think that the government has any authority to tell us, or any church, don’t bring your refugee friends to the grocery store,” he said. “Or don’t help them go to their medical appointments.”
The president has unilateral authority to set the ceiling on refugee admissions each year. President Biden’s announced target was 125,000 refugees
for the current fiscal year, as it was each of the three prior years.
Although refugee resettlement has been a controversial issue over the past decade and a half, World Relief’s work with refugee resettlement has been active ever since it started in the 1970s, when Grady and Evelyn Mangham, former Christian and Missionary Alliance missionaries to Vietnam, organized to assist refugees fleeing the fallout from the end of the Vietnam War.
resettle refugees have faced criticism.
Dawood said that Christian critics of the refugee program might want to go back to the Bible to read its passages about
Faith-based groups that
welcoming refugees, and, citing his hero, Ronald Reagan, said, “America is the city on a hill, and America is to be honored and blessed by accepting those refugees.”
AP Photo/Anjum Naveed Afghan refugees hold placards during a meeting to discuss their situation after President Donald Trump paused U.S. refugee programs, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday,
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER EBONY PERSON, Plaintiff v. JAQWAN PERSON, SR., Defendant. Case No.: CL25000142-00 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 14th day of March, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR.,
Clerk I ask for this:
Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER NIKKI PATTERSONRUSSEL, Plaintiff v. PATERIAN RUSSEL, Defendant. Case No.: CL24002946-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident, appear here on or before the 14th day of March, 2025 at 9:00 AM 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 FAITH WASHINGTON, Plaintiff v. GERALD WASHINGTON, Defendant. Case No.: CL24000425-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 11th day of March, 2025 and protect his interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Counsel Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER FRANCELIA ARCHIEWILLIAMS, Plaintiff v. ERIC WILLIAMS, Defendant. Case No.: CL25000036-00 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 6th day of March, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests. A Copy, Teste:
M. Eure, P.C.
M. Eure,
VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER CLYDE WALLACE, Plaintiff v. JANICE BROWN, Defendant. Case No.: CL25000083-00 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 7th day of March, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER LESLIE WOODARD, Plaintiff v. HENRY WOODARD, JR., Defendant. Case No.: CL25000088-00 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 7th day of March, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests. A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR.,
Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER KIMBERLY SHAW, Plaintiff v. LEA MCCLENDON-SHAW, Defendant. Case No.: CL25000082-00 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 7th day of March, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests. A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER JESSICA JOHNSON, Plaintiff v. RYLAND JOHNSON, JR., Defendant. Case No.: CL24003277-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months. It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 7th day of March, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests. A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Counsel Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA COUNTY OF HENRICO CIRCUIT COURT KELLEY LATRISE (ROBINSON) MOORE V TERRELLE DELANE
OWENS Case No. CL24-8277 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN A DIVORCE A VINCULLO MATRIMONII OR FROM THE BONDS OF MATRIMONY ON THE GROUNDS OF A ONE YEAR SEPARATION PURSUANT TO §20-91. It appearing from an affidavit that the defendant is: that diligence has been used without effect, by or on the behalf of the plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city defendant is. It is ORDERED that Terrelle Delane Owens appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before March 3, 2025 at 9 a.m.
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF HENRICO 4301 EAST PARHAM ROAD HENRICO, VA 23228 DAVID EMMERLING v. RENALYN EMMERLING Case No.: CL24007319-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to: DIVORCE It is ORDERED that RENALYN EMMERLING appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before March 3, 2025 at 9 a.m.
CUSTODY
VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re DRE’ONA CLAIBORNE RDSS V. LATASHA POLLARD Case No. JJ103477-MEL ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to: Provide notice to Latasha Pollard (Mother) of Dre’ona Claiborne, child DOB 06/21/2016, of custody status and that:
It is ORDERED that the defendants Latasha Pollard (Mother), to appear at the above-named Court to protect her interest on or before 03/17/2025, at 9:00 AM, COURTROOM #4.
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND John Marshall Courts Building TYQEASE QUINTA MOODY, SR., Plaintiff, v. In Re: Aniya Nikia Bagby ALEX JAVON BAGBY, Defendant. Case No.: CA24-21 RBC AMENDED ORDER OF PUBLICATION
I. The object of this suit for the Court to enter of and Order Adoption of Aniya Nikia Bagby, by Tyqease Quinta Moody, Sr. 2. The relief prayed for is a complete and final adoption.
3. It appearing from an Affidavit, that diligence has been used by or on behalf of the Plaintiff to ascertain in what nation, state, county or city the Defendant resides in without effect.
It is ORDERED that the Defendant appear in this Court within fifty days after due publication of this notice on or before March 13, 2025, and protect his interest herein, A Copy Teste: EDWARD F. JEWELL, Clerk I ASK FOR THIS: William G. Shields, Esquire (VSB#14200) THE SHIELDS LAW FIRM, PLLC 11512 Allecingie Parkway, Ste C N. Chesterfield, VA 23235 T: 804-594-3966 F: 804-594-3855 (fax) E:Bill.Shields@ theshieldsfirm.com
ABC LICENSE
Mink Cocktail Lounge LLC Trading as: Mink Cocktail Lounge 3322 W Cary St Ste B Richmond, Virginia 23221-3404 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Restaurant Wine, Beer and Mixed Beverage On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Jermaine Day NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc. virginia.gov or (800) 552-3200. Gather For Grace LLC Trading as:
Woodman Road Improvements Henrico County, Virginia Public Hearing
The County of Henrico is proposing to improve 1.75 miles of Woodman Road to provide a four-lane divided roadway between Hungary Road and Mountain Road. The project includes turn lane improvements, a shared use path, and sidewalk along the corridor. Pedestrian crossings with push buttons and count down timers will be provided at each signalized intersection. Project plans and schematics will be available to view, and County staff will be available to answer questions. You will also have the opportunity to provide comments.
Construction is currently planned for December 2030.
Project information which includes the construction plans, project schedule, and funding information can be reviewed at the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, Administration Annex Building, 4305 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA. Telephone: (804) 501-5532. The County and the design team are performing environmental reviews and coordinating with state and federal agencies to obtain information about environmental resources in the project vicinity; provide natural and historic resource agencies with an opportunity to review and comment on the project during its development; and identify opportunities for avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of environmental impacts. The project is being coordinated with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as part of the state environmental review process. This process will include a review of the potential impacts to threatened or endangered species within the vicinity of the project.
The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Brookland Middle School (Gymnasium), 9200 Lydell Drive, Henrico, VA 23228 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Kevin Newcomb at the above address or phone number or at new038@henrico.us.
Information related to the project can also be reviewed on the County’s website below or at the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, 4305 E. Parham Road, 3rd Floor, Henrico, VA 23228. Telephone: (804) 501-5532.
Woodman Road Improvements website: https://henrico.us/projects/woodman-roadimprovements/ VDOT UPC: 121403
Project: VDOT 9999-043-R34, C-501
PASTORAL DIRECTOR at Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill is an ecumenical Christian retreat center and small residential community located in a former monastery in the center of Richmond, Virginia. RH seeks to hire a full-time pastoral director as its chief administrative officer and pastoral leader. More details: www. RichmondHillVA.org/apply Inquiries to: applyPD@RichmondHillVA.org
Church building. This includes the church sanctuary, office and general use spaces, and the outside grounds. This is a part-time position with flexible hours and an expectation of 10-15 hours on site during the week. The salary pays $25 per hour. No other benefits are provided. For additional information, or to submit a letter of application and resume with references, please contact Mr. R. Shelton at: shelto1712@aol.com.
Staff Accompanist I
Mount Olive Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Virginia is seeking a skilled and self-motivated part-time musician to play in various worship services with other musicians of the church. The successful candidate must have training and skills in playing the piano/ keyboard/organ and must be able to play a variety of music. The candidate will also be responsible for praise and worship services and for assigned choirs. For additional information, please view the complete job announcement on the church’s website mobcva. org (Job Openings). A Criminal History Background Check and Sex Offender Registry check will be conducted.
N. Laburnum Avenue Pedestrian and Transit County of Henrico, Virginia Notice of Willingness to Hold a Public Hearing
The County of Henrico proposes to provide approximately: 2,250 linear feet of 5 foot wide sidewalk, curb ramps and crosswalks, 900 linear feet of curb and gutter, including an enclosed storm drainage system, and lane widening of approximately 9 feet to match adjacent pavement widths in some locations, a wooden pedestrian bridge to avoid extending two box culverts, improvements to two bus stops that could include shelters and other amenities, and ten dedicated park and ride spaces identified in the parking lot of the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center. Improvements are proposed along the eastern side of N. Laburnum Avenue between Harvie Elementary School and the previous Fairfield Library location. Construction is currently planned for September 2027. Project information which includes the construction plans, project schedule, National Environmental Policy Act documentation in the form of a Programmatic Categorical Exclusion (PCE), National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800 information, and funding information can be reviewed at the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, Administration Annex Building, 4305 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA. Telephone: (804) 501-5532. If your concerns cannot be satisfied, the County is willing to hold a public hearing. You may request a public hearing by sending a written request to Kevin Newcomb, P. O. Box 90775, Henrico, VA 23273-0775, on or before February 14, 2025. If a request for a public hearing is received, notice of the date, time and place of the public hearing will be provided.
The County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Kevin Newcomb at the above address, phone number, or at New038@henrico.gov.
VDOT UPC: 115411 Project: VDOT 7555-043-959 Federal Aid Project: NHPP-5A27(963)
Thank you for your interest in applying for opportunities with The City of Richmond. To see what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com. EOE M/F/D/V
ChamberRVA is hiring a Senior Program Manager for Talent/Workforce to lead workforce development initiatives in the region. This role will involve executing strategic plans for workforce programs in collaboration with staff, volunteers, and stakeholders, as well as preparing grant
