Filing starts Morrissey divorce proceedings

By Debora Timms

the two did have a “sexual relationship” while Ms. Pride was still a minor – something that both parties have previously denied. The complaint outlines how her husband told her to “throw your phone in the river” to hide evidence of the relationship from a police investigation. It also states he had a legislative staffer purchase “burner” phones so the two could keep in contact and he could be informed about the course of the investigation and that the existence of these phones was never revealed to authorities.

When reached by telephone for comment, Sen. Morrissey said his wife had texted him that she would “ruin your life and your political career” following allegations of child abuse the senator had made against Ms. Pride’s boyfriend in January.

Please turn to A4

Ms. Pride

By Hillel Italie

The Associated Press NEW YORK

Tina Turner, the singer and stage performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and ’70s and survived her horrifying marriage to triumph in middle age with the chart-topping “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” has died at 83.

Ms. Turner died Wednesday, May 24, 2023, after a long illness in her home near Zurich, Switzerland, according to her manager. She became a Swiss citizen a decade ago.

“She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer,” tweeted Mick Jagger, whom Ms. Turner helped in shaping his own dynamic stage presence. “She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”

Additional homeowners to enjoy city property tax exemption

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

More Richmond homeowners are joining the list of people who will not have to pay property taxes due to their age or certification as totally disabled.

On Monday, City Council unanimously approved a significant expansion of its long-standing tax relief program, which currently benefits nearly 2,100 property owners who are 65 or older or totally disabled.

Among the changes, council extended the 100% exemption is to homeowners with income up to $30,000 a year and a net worth of $450,000 or less, excluding the value of the primary home.

Until now, complete exemption from real estate taxes was only available to qualifying homeowners with an income of $20,000 a year or less, with a 75% exemption provided to those with household incomes between $20,001 and $30,000 a year.

Richmond Department of Finance data show 1,289 homeowners now qualify for full exemption, which city officials said represents an increase of about 300 homeowners.

Separately, the new ordinance extended a 25% exemption to homeowners with incomes up to $70,000 a year, up from the current $60,000 income limit. About 160 homeowners qualified for the 25% exemption, according to the Finance Department. It is unknown how many additional owners with income higher than $60,000 a year would seek to qualify for that exemption.

The ordinance left unchanged the 75% exemption that 393 elderly and disabled homeowners with incomes between $30,001 to $40,000 a year qualified for and the 50% exemption that 256 property owners with incomes of $40,001 to $50,000 qualified for.

This is the second expansion of the program since 2020. With property values continuing to rise, the program is now budgeted at around $4.6 million, up from $3 million in 2017.

Richmond’s program is the only one in the state, the city has found, that accepts applications 12 months a year. That change went into effect in January 2022.

Those who qualify also get another benefit: Free trash service and recycling pickup. The city does not charge for those services for those who qualify for the tax relief program. Renters who reach age 65 or those who are totally disabled also can apply to the program to eliminate those service charges.

RPS superintendent opposes new contract for beleaguered school social worker

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

First, Richmond Public Schools accused her of beating a child in her care, but that charge was twice dismissed in court after witnesses who saw the incident testified that it never happened.

Then, Richmond Public Schools sought to fire her for failing to show up to work in position that she was never offered.

Now Superintendent Jason Kamras, in a final bid to get rid of social worker Robin Spears, a 15-year RPS employee, has recommended to the School Board that she not receive a new one-year contract.

The School Board, which has the final say in personnel matters, could reject the superintendent’s decision at its meeting next Monday, June 5, although that happens only in rare situations despite the current shortfall in staff.

Ms. Spears has been on paid leave since November 2021 when the incident occurred involving a 6-year-old student who was participating in an after-school program at Fox Elementary.

Ms. Spears was in charge of the program and drew a complaint for her efforts to halt the child from overturning chairs and a table in the room that served as her office. Before he was brought to her office, he had been walking on tables in the cafeteria.

Along with an internal finding against her which Ms. Spears disputed, she also was charged with battery of the child.

But in Richmond General District, the charge was dismissed after a judge heard testimony from two other adults who were in the room that Ms. Spears never touched the child while seeking to bring him under control.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Elisabeth Linka refused to accept that verdict and used her position to take the case to Circuit Court, where another judge heard the evidence and found Ms. Spears not guilty.

Earlier this year, the RPS Human Resources Department sought to charge her with failing to report to a position. However, Ms. Spears provided evidence that she was never offered a specific job nor given the name of the school to which she was supposed to report.

Sa’ad El-Amin, who has represented Ms. Spears in the administrative proceedings, said the only hope for Ms. Spears is for the School Board to take a deeper dive and consider whether the superintendent is making an appropriate recommendation in her case.

“She has been put through the wringer,” said Mr. El-Amin, a former member of City Council who now operates Employee Rights Advocates that mostly defends government employees facing disciplinary action in administrative hearings. “Given her record, she doesn’t deserve what is happening. She has been a loyal employee with an excellent record; just the kind of person you would want on the payroll.”

RVA Bike Share shuts down

Free Press staff report

Richmond’s bike share program shut down abruptly Monday after the Canadian operator, Bewegen Technologies, ended service, according to a city statement.

There are now 22 stations across the city where people can check out a bike for a fee, with most of the cycles coming with electric motors. All of the bikes are locked and unusable, the city reported.

In the statement, the city said that a new operator is now being sought for the RVA Bike Share program, and that a month of free rides would be offered once Bewegen is replaced.

Richmond is not alone in experiencing difficulties with Bewegen. In April, bike service was suspended n Raleigh, N.C., when the company halted service. And Baltimore ended a trouble-plagued program operated by Bewegen.

RVA Bike Share started service in August 2017 with 17 stations and was later expanded in a second phase. The bikes at first were all pedal and then were mostly replaced with Bewegen’s electric bikes.

The program initially started with federal funding. According to the bike program’s internal financial reports, the program has broken even for the past several years and has not needed any city subsidy to support operations.