‘All-cause mortality’ Richmond Free Press

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and violence linked to homicide, suicide, drugs and truancy

By George Copeland Jr.

A series of shootings in Richmond last week has sparked renewed calls for solutions to end gun violence. The urgent cries come as new research shows growing rates of death among young people throughout the country.

Last Friday evening, Binford Middle School student Marquan Mitchell-Nash was accidentally shot and killed on Stockton Street. Within the same hour, a separate shooting was reported on Halifax Avenue that left three youths injured, with one shot and two who were grazed by gunfire.

“My heart breaks for the Nash-Mitchell family who lost their 13-year-old son last night,” Mayor Levar M. Stoney said in a statement released Saturday. “As I have said before, we have too many damn guns in our community. Guns that are too easily accessible by our children and result in tragedies, like what

The recent increase in “all-cause mortality,” a measure of all deaths in children and teens, is largely driven by increases in certain injury-related deaths, which began well before the COVID-19 pandemic, accord ing to new research detailed in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

• Researchers found that suicide rates at ages 10-19 began increasing in 2007 and climbed by 70 percent by 2019;

• Homicide rates began increasing in 2013, rising by 33 percent by 2019;

• The number of overdose deaths began to rise in 2019;

• Deaths from car accidents dramatically jumped in frequency in 2020 and 2021.

The risk of injury-related death also varied significantly by race and ethnicity:

• In 2021, Black youths ages 10-19 were 20 times more likely to die by homicide than white and Asian American/Pacific Islander youths, and six times more likely than Hispanic youths;

• Death by suicide was more than twice as likely among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native youths than white youths;

• American Indian/Alaska Native youths faced the greatest risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident.

Council members link truancy to increased violence involving city youths

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Richmond Public Schools needs to do more to ensure students are in class rather than roaming the streets, according to concerned members of City Council.

The council members see a correlation between the rise in violence involving youths ages 12 to 18 and the chronic absenteeism that has become worse since the pandemic.

In a January report, the school system stated that one in four students has already missed 10 or more days of the first semester, the definition of chronic absenteeism.

That’s far higher than RPS’ stated goal of reducing chronic absenteeism to one in 11 students.

Before the pandemic struck in 2020, 15 to 20 percent of students were chronically absent, still well above the goal.

The issue of truancy and schools came to the forefront during

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Special education troubles continue for Virginia

Labeled

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The Virginia Department of Education continues to shirk its responsibility to ensure students with mental and emotional disabilities secure a free, appropriate public education, or FAPE in educational jargon, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

In Its Efforts To Curtail Learning Loss

Feb. 17 to VDOE, Valerie Williams, director of the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, issued notice that her office will be increasing its monitoring of the state’s management oversight of special education based on a flood of complaints and a staff review.

for years for its management of special education, and has been the subject of critical reports both from the U.S. DOE and the Virginia legislative watchdog, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

County’s public school system after finding that the state’s largest school system “failed or could provide FAPE to thousands of qualified students with disabilities” in violation of federal law.

COVID-19 Remembrance Day on Tuesday drew people throughout Richmond to Virginia Union University’s Bell Tower. The hourlong event, presented by Delegate Delores L. McQuinn (D-70th), served to honor and remember loved ones and others lost since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Delegate McQuinn said, in announcing the ceremony, said that “24,000 people are no longer seated at our tables. We must never forget the impact of this devastating disease on our families and friends. COVID-19 and COVID-19 related diseases has changed communities.”

A total of 207 new cases of COVID-19 were reported statewide Tuesday for the 24-hour period, contributing to an overall state total of 2,294,667 cases in Virginia since the pandemic’s outbreak, according to the Virginia Department of Health. As of Tuesday, there have been 458,963 hospitalizations and 23,681 deaths reported statewide. State data available at the time also shows that African-Americans comprised 22.1 percent of cases statewide and 22 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 10 percent of cases and 4 percent of deaths.

Free vaccines for COVID-19 continues

The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free vaccines for COVID-19 and more at the following locations:

Thursday, March 16, 2 to 4 p.m. - Cary Street, 400 E. Cary St., Primary Moderna shots for age 6 months to 5 years old and 12 years and older, and bivalent boosters for age 6 years and older, Primary Pfizer shots for age 6 months and older, bivalent boosters for age 5 years and older, Novavax primary shots for age 12 and older, and boosters for age 18 and older, and baby bivalent boosters. Walk-ups welcome

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Nearly three years after finding VDOE was failing disabled students and their parents, the federal agency has determined that, despite some reform, VDOE is still not meeting the requirements of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, the federal law governing special education

In an eight-page letter issued

The Free Press reached out to VDOE, but has not received a response to the letter that arrived two weeks before Jillian Balow resigned as superintendent of public instruction, the top VDOE post.

VDOE has been under fire

Canine country

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Kyrie Artis, 6, gets acquainted with a dog, along with soldiers from Fort Lee Military Base, during a K9 Walk at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond on March 11. The annual K9 event commemorates K-9 Veterans Day in Virginia and across the U.S. The special day recognizes and honors contributions of military and services dogs in battle and to civilian communities.

One key concern Ms. Williams mentioned is the learning loss that disabled students in Virginia experienced as a result of the pandemic. She stated that her office had issued guidance to assist states to deal with the problem. While some states took action, she stated, her office found the VDOE response “deficient.”

Ms. Williams noted that the U.S. DOE’s Office of Civil Rights two months ago upheld complaints against Fairfax

She expressed concern that the policy and practice failure that turned up in Fairfax was at least partially based on guidance from VDOE.

“Since the VDOE guidance was statewide and because (my office( has received complaints from across the state about practices similar to those cited by OCR in Fairfax, (staff from this office will be assigned) to examine this matter.”

Her letter also noted that VDOE is still failing in its general supervisory responsibilities when it comes to ensuring that

Richmond city attorney to retire

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

City Attorney Haskell C. Brown III will immediately leave City Hall’s top legal post in the wake of his arrest for drunken driving, the Free Press has learned.

Mr. Brown, who has nearly 24 years of service as an in-house lawyer for the city, agreed to retire from city service after meeting Monday with members of City Council in a closed-door session.

Council expects to name one of Mr. Brown’s five deputy city attorneys as interim city attorney at a special meeting on Monday, March 20, the Free Press has been told.

Mr. Brown, who had been interim city attorney since 2019, just removed interim from his title seven months ago in an office that lists 18 other attorneys on the staff.

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Henrico County deputies charged in man’s death at mental hospital

By Sarah Rankin The

Associated Press

Seven Virginia sheriff’s office employees have been charged with second degree murder in connection with the death of a 28-year-old man at a state mental hospital last week, a local prosecutor said Tuesday. Henrico County Sheriff’s Office personnel took the

Mr. Otieno victim, Irvo Otieno, to Central State Hospital on March 6 to admit him as a patient, according to the prosecutor, Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill. Mr. Otieno, who was physically restrained, died during the intake process, Ms. Baskervill said in a statement.

“Mr. Otieno’s family was notified by my office this morning of these charges and I will continue to work with and for his family in relation to pursuing this case to its fullest extent,” Ms. Baskervill said.

Ms. Baskervill’s statement did not state a cause of death but said Mr. Otieno’s body had been taken to a medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Mr. Otieno’s family previously raised concerns about his

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RPS essay winners receive cash awards

By Holly Rodriguez

Three RPS students received cash awards for their winning submissions to the Game Changer writing contest sponsored by the Richmond Crusade for Voters and Richmond Public Schools.

Mackenzie White from Westover Elementary received $100; Alison De Leon from River City Middle School received $250; and Ana Santos Ajualip from George Wythe High School received $500. The winning essays were selected from more than 120 student submissions across the district.

The contest took place Dec. 17, 2022, through Feb. 1 of this year. The winners were announced at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School on Feb. 22.

Open only to RPS students, entrants were required to write about the importance of education, their feelings about gun violence, how COVID-19 affected their lives and other topics.

Garry Callis, the founder of Children of Light, a nonprofit founded to help children with challenges at home and in school, organized the event. He also is a member of the Richmond Crusade for Voters’ education committee. The challenge was created, he said, because in his work with RPS students, he has seen a serious deficit in writing and reading proficiency.

“The predatory economic system is feasting on the failure of the school system (by) not teaching our children properly, especially in underserved Black communities,” he said. The contest is a step toward reconciling the education of students in writing.

Mr. Callis said the Crusade plans to offer the contest again next year.

RPS student is local Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year

By Holly Rodriguez

Richmond Community High School senior A’landa Macklin has been selected as the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond Youth of the Year. As a result, she will receive a $10,000 scholarship and is eligible to compete at the state level.

Ms. Macklin was one of three finalists competing for the award.

The yearlong Youth of the Year leadership program offered through Boys & Girls Clubs across the country provide personal and professional development to youths in preparation for college and career development.

Participants are required to write essays, create a résumé and cover letter, memorize and recite a speech and submit letters of recommendation. They also are interviewed by a panel to be considered for the award.

Although she has not decided which university she will attend, Ms. Macklin said she will major in social work. She credits the Boys & Girls Club with helping prepare her for a future academic career.

“Growing up, I lived in the apartment building right beside the Boys & Girls Club building, and I just loved going there,” she said. “My mom signed me up at age 6, and I’ve always gone back.”

As a member of Keystone Club, one of the organization’s programs encouraging community service, Ms. Macklin has attended conferences in Orlando, Fla. and Anaheim Calif., with both trips including surprise trips to Disneyworld and Disneyland, respectively. Another trip that had a profound impact on her, she says, was visiting the White House in Washington, D.C.

“I got to meet Ashley Biden, President Joe Biden’s daughter, who is also a social worker,” she said.

Outside of Keystone Club, Ms. Macklin maintains a 3.4 grade point average at Richmond Community where she is president of the Key Club. She also is the senior class coordination director, serving as a liaison between the school’s principal and teachers and the senior class to suggest events they want to produce.

Level Up accepting applications for podcasting program

Applications are now open for the Level Up Academy, a summer podcast intensive created by the VPM + ICA Community Media Center to provide high quality teaching and opportunities for young adults in Richmond.

The program, which launched last year, is seeking 15 Richmond students age 17 to 22 for its two-week session. Participating students will be offered travel support, receive lunch every day of the program and receive a $500 stipend.

Those who complete the program will graduate with an audio project that can be used when applying to college or other ventures. Participants also will receive assistance when applying to college.

Sessions are currently scheduled from Tuesday, June 20, to Friday, June 30, and from Monday, July 3, to Friday, July 14. Applications must be completed before Saturday, April 15. More information, including application links for age 17 and ages 18 to 22, can be found at www.icavcu.org/communitymedia/levels-up.

New HIV treatment facility opens in Henrico

Free Press staff report

CrossOver Healthcare Ministry opened the doors to its new HIV treatment facility Wednesday morning, ringing in the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new facility is in CrossOver’s Henrico Clinic at 8600 Quioccasin Road.

The relocation also follows a major remodeling of the Henrico clinic’s second floor.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer this new, beautiful space for our clients,” CrossOver officials said in a statement. “With added exam rooms, a dedicated waiting area, consultation rooms, and adequate office space for case management, this relocation means we can treat more clients in a dignifying space designed specifically for them.”

“We want them to feel welcomed, respected and comfortable.”

For more information about HIV testing or treatment at the new facility may call 804-655-2794.

“McLean,” an installation by Navine G. Dossos, is featured on the façade of the Institute of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University. The installation is part of the exhibit “So it appears” opening on Feb. 24 at the ICA, 601 W Broad St. The vinyl pieces used in the work are adapted from a series of paintings. According to the ICA’s website, “McLean, ”com-