Richmond Free Press Nov. 17-19, 2022 edition

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UVA shooting deaths create wave of grief

By Holly Rodriguez

The three University of Virginia football players killed in an on-campus shooting on Sunday were remembered by their head coach as “incredible young men with huge aspirations and extremely bright futures.”

Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry were juniors returning to campus from a class trip Sunday night when authorities say they were killed by a fellow student identified as Petersburg High School graduate and former UVA football player Christopher Darnell Jones Jr.

The young men were journeying through periods of transition in their careers — whether it was bouncing back from a seasonending injury, changing positions on the team or transferring in from another school.

“They touched us, inspired us and worked incredibly hard,” head football Coach Tony Elliott said in a statement.

Mr. Chandler was a second-year University of Virginia student from Virginia Beach and a wide receiver and kick returner for the UVA Cavaliers football team.

Mr. Davis Jr. was a third-year student from Ridgefield, S.C. preparing to graduate in December, and a wide receiver for the team.

Mr. Perry was a fourth-year student from Miami and a line backer and defensive end for the team.

Two other students — identified by various news outlets as Marlee Morgan, and UVA running back Michael Hollins — also were hospitalized with serious injuries on Monday. In an email,

University of Virginia Athletics/Associated Press

2 City-supported shelters temporarily open for homeless

At 80, Gayle Freeland is struggling to keep a roof over her head.

The retired welder said her Social Security check only allows her to rent a motel room, at most, for two weeks, and then she is on the street trying to find a doorway or some other place to sleep.

That’s why Ms. Freeland was grateful to learn that she could find a warm space to spend the night at the newly opened RVA Sister’s Keeper shelter at 2807 Hull St. The South Side location was formerly the New Pathways counseling center.

Ms. Freeland was among the early arrivals at the 40-bed shelter for women and women with children that partners Kia Player, a licensed therapist, and Gerri Archer, a real estate agent, have opened, with a promise of city financial support.

“We just wanted to help people,” Ms. Archer said. The shelter provides cots to sleep on and provides guests with two meals and counseling to assist in getting them off the street.

The shelter operates from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. when nighttime temperatures drop below 40 degrees, which is predicted to be the

City reportedly has a $70M general fund surplus

Richmond’s treasury is bulging with unspent dollars, according to two members of City Council.

While neither would go on the record, both told the Free Press that they have been advised that City Hall will report a record general fund surplus of up to $70 million from the 2021-22 fiscal year that ended June 30.

“It’s going to be in that ballpark,” one member said.

Although the surplus could end up smaller, both council members said the total in unspent

GOP wins slim House majority; Trump announces candidacy despite criminal problems

By Eric Tucker The Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Republicans won con trol of the U.S. House on Wednesday, returning the party to power in Washington and giving conservatives leverage to blunt President Biden’s agenda and spur a flurry of investigations. But a threadbare majority will pose immediate challenges for GOP leaders and complicate the party’s ability to govern.

More than a week after Election Day, Re publicans secured the 218th seat needed to flip the House from Democratic control. The full scope of the party’s majority may not be clear for several more days — or weeks — as votes in competitive races are still being counted. But they are on track to cobble together what could be the party’s narrowest majority of the 21st century, rivaling 2001, when Republicans had just a nine-seat majority, 221-212 with two independents. That’s far short of the sweeping victory the GOP predicted going into this year’s midterm elections, when the party hoped to reset the agenda on Capitol Hill by capitalizing on economic challenges and President Biden’s lagging popularity.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s early announce ment of his third White House bid won’t shield

money from fiscal 2022 would be far greater than the $29 million surplus the administra tion projected in May and would be separate and apart from the $155 million the city has received in federal American Rescue Plan funds since 2021.

So far, Mayor Levar M. Stoney and his team have declined to confirm or deny the information and have not posted any financial documents that would disclose the amount.

City Hall has until Dec. 15 to submit its an nual audited financial report to the state. That document would end the suspense.

If it turns out those two council members are

correct, the oversized surplus could be political bad news for the mayor and the council, both of which have rebuffed any cuts to city gov ernment or the tax rate. A windfall of unspent dollars would undermine arguments that the current property tax rate is needed to pay for essential services.

The members of the governing body have been besieged with calls from people facing surging tax bills as the value of property rises. This year, City Assessor Richie McKeithen reported values rose more than 13 percent across the city, with the home values averaging a record $336,000.

“You’re killing the city’s momentum with a tax rate that is too high,” said John T. Selko, owner and operator of Woodland Construction Inc.

Despite that, the council followed the mayor’s advice Monday and refused to lower the cur rent real estate tax rate from $1.20 per $100 of assessed value — substantially higher than in neighboring suburban counties — with only 4th District Councilwoman Kristen Nye and 8th District Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell opposing.

Artist Paul Rucker awarded $2M from the Mellon Foundation and Art for Justice Fund

Free Press staff report

The Mellon Foundation and Art for Justice Fund have awarded multimedia visual artist, composer and musician Paul Rucker $2 million to create Cary Forward — a multidisciplinary arts space, interpretive center, artist/re searcher residency and archival lending library, according to an announcement by Virginia Commonwealth University.

hands

school and are now banned.”

The space will house artifacts from Mr. Rucker’s collection of more than 20,000 items of American history and offer visitors opportunities to connect

“The award and future center aim to address false narratives and preserve and promote the omitted histories of race and gender – in Richmond,” states a VCU news release.

“This project will support Mr. Rucker’s role at Virginia Commonwealth University developing creative collabo rations connecting VCU and surrounding communities.”

Mr. Rucker is curator for creative collaboration for the VCU School of the Arts and an iCubed Arts Research Fellow.

“Addressing false narratives and the denial of histories are two of the unspoken foundational goals of critical race theory,” Mr. Rucker said. “Cary Forward will deliver its programming and initiatives from a place of ‘show and tell’ in how we approach shows and public engagement. The stories will include the ones that were not taught in

their everyday experiences with visit

artists

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Helping

Mekhi Anthony, 10, was among volunteers on Nov. 12 who assisted residents during the 5th Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Give-Away at the South Side Community Center on 6255 Warwick Road. This project was sponsored by 9th District City Councilman Michael J. Jones.

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Gayle Freeland waits to enter shelter 2807 Hull St.

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

From left, Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry, the University of Virginia football players who were killed Sunday.

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

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ing

and scholars and a corps of traveling docents who will lead dynamic community-centered programs. Regular offerings will include exhibitions, public programs, a banned-book library, digital archives, publications and onsite print

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Walk-up monkeypox vaccines available

Free Press staff report

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are now of fering walk-up monkeypox vaccination clinics for residents who qualify. No appointments will be needed for these clinics, although those who prefer can still make appointments at rhhd. gov/monkeypoxvax.

“Anyone who is eligible based on their risk factors, as well as people who may have been exposed to monkeypox should get vaccinated,” RHHD Director Elaine Perry said in a statement.

“Monkeypox spreads through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed. The sooner you get the vaccine after being exposed, the better.”

Eligible and interested individuals can visit monkeypox clinics on Tuesdays, Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon and Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Richmond City Health District at 400 East Cary St.

Clinics will also be open at the Henrico Health Department’s West Clinic at 8600 Dixon Powers Drive on Nov. 30 from 9 to 11 a.m., and Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Additional information is available by calling (804) 205-3501.

Armstrong-Walker legacy group announces events

Free Press staff report

The Armstrong-Walker Football Classic Legacy Project has several events scheduled the weekend after Thanksgiving.

A parade will kick off the festivities 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 26, at 1000 Mosby St. Floats in the parade will feature artifacts and memorabilia from both schools and provide a history lesson for the audience on the 40-year historic rivalry between the two schools. All events are free and open to the public.

The parade also will include alumni football players and cheerleaders, former queens, marching bands, elected officials, businesses, civic groups, and several youth groups.

From noon to 5 pm., a custom and antique car show will take place in the Armstrong High School parking lot, along with tailgating on the field. Alumni are invited to attend, bring their own coolers and provide their own food.

At 12:30 p.m., a doubleheader for peewee parks and recre ation championship games will be held on the Armstrong field. The first is for children ages 8 and younger, and the second is for ages 12 and older.

Donations to support future annual events celebrating The Armstrong/Walker Football Classic Legacy Project may be made at the website: www.awfootballclassic.com/

A special exhibition about both schools runs through Dec. 2 at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.

Matthews, Omega Psi Phi and Armstrong-Walker honored

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Joseph E. “Joey” Matthews received City Council’s recog nition award Monday night for his volunteer efforts to collect and distribute food, clothes and household items to people in Richmond.

Eighth District Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell spearheaded the award to Mr. Matthews for “the care, commitment and kind service he provides” after the Free Press spotlighted the former reporter’s efforts to aid those in need in the Oct. 13-15 edition.

The council also joined with Mayor Levar M. Stoney to honor the Richmond Public Library on the 100th anniversary of its founding and to celebrate Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and its Richmond Phi Phi Chapter for their annual Achievement Week in November and the high school essay contest that is part of it.

The mayor and council also jointly recognized the annual Armstrong-Walker Classic Weekend held after Thanksgiving in remembrance of the once huge holiday game between the two Richmond high schools designated for Black students during the segregation era.

The event this year will feature the Armstrong-Walker Legacy Parade from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 26, from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School on Mosby Street to Armstrong High School on Cool Lane.

Cityscape

Slices of life and scenes in Richmond

Donovan Walker, 58, of Richmond helps his godmother Caroline Bennett

leaves so she does not have to do it, he said on Tuesday, Nov. 8, during a short break from his task in the 2400 block of 2nd Avenue near Spruce Street. According to the City of Richmond’s website, the leaf collection program began Monday, Nov. 7, for the bagged collection option. The City allows up to 10 bags to be collected on a normal trash day. Other options provided by the city for leaf collection can be found by visiting http://www.rva.gov/public-works or by calling 3-1-1 or 646-LEAF.

Some restrictions eased at Lawrenceville prison; concerns remain

By George Copeland Jr.

Since late August, incarcerated men at Virginia’s privately-owned Lawrenceville Correctional Center experienced increased restrictions and punishments.

What started with the end of outdoor activities and the cancellation of visitations from friends and family without warning grew to include stringent cleanliness checks and disproportionate punishments, accord ing to inmates and their loved ones.

And while some of the restrictions have become more relaxed in recent weeks, they are not enough, say sources familiar with the prison.

Quadaire Patter son, who has been incarcerated for 15 years in the Law renceville prison for armed robbery, says the lockdown left oc cupants isolated in their cells and build ing sections, deprived of the few options available for rehabilitation during their confinement.

“The environment has taken on a more of a hostile tone,” Mr. Patterson said in a recent recorded phone conversation. “Being restricted from seeing our loved ones, it’s built up tension.”

“We’re not able to go outside, exercise properly. We’re confined to the building constantly. It’s very contentious in here.”

The prison lockdown began on Oct. 17, according to the GEO Group, which operates the LVCC. The lockdown followed reports of several overdoses and deaths among the incarcerated in the facility in early August. Those incidents led to a re sponse from the GEO Group, as well as an investigation from the Virginia Department of Corrections that is ongoing.

According to a GEO Group spokesman, the Lawrenceville prison is now transition ing back to normal operations, with the return of in-person visitations on Nov. 5, and vocational and religious programing resuming Monday.

written statement.

“We value the enduring partnership we have with the Commonwealth of Virginia, and we share the same goal of providing a safe, secure, and humane environment for inmates, staff, and visitors at Lawrenceville.

“We will continue working with the Virginia DOC as we manage the contra band challenges that many correctional facilities across the country are also cur rently facing.”

Santia Nance, a member of Sistas in Prison Reform and Mr. Patterson’s fiancé, confirmed that operations at LVCC have improved recently, with phone calls and visitations available again, although she said only some of the school and religious programs have re turned, and that these services now appear to be provided monthly instead of weekly.

She said the lock down was the latest grievance with a facility that long has been criticized for its treat ment of the men imprisoned. Frequent complaints about the facility include it be ing understaffed, employees underpaid and deteriorating facilities.

The Lawrenceville prison, which opened in 1998, has a prisoner capacity of 1,555, and currently houses 1,536 according to a GEO Group’s webpage on the facility.

“They’re punishing everybody in the prison for mistakes that other people have made,” Ms. Nance said. “There’s more fights and arguments, people that work there are in danger, people who have noth ing to do with some of the terrible things that happen in the facility are caught in the crossfire, and it feels like a very dangerous place for them to be.”

Group’s contract well before the COVID19 pandemic began, including a lack of health care officials onsite. Because of such problems, there are calls for the Virginia Department of Corrections to not renew the GEO Group’s contract.

“The cruelty being experienced by individuals incarcerated at LVCC and the waste of Virginia taxpayer money has to end,” SALT Founder and Coordinator John Horejsi stated. “Virginia’s experi ment with for-profit prison management has been a total failure.”

Shawn Weneta, who was incarcerated for six years at the LVCC and now serves a as policy strategist for the ACLU of Virginia, doubts that VADOC would take ownership of the facility. The GEO Group’s contract expires on July 31 next year, but has been renewed in the past, despite ongoing issues that Mr. Weneta said were present during his incarceration.

“Not only is it a transparency issue and a matter of treating people in a humane manner and with dignity and respect, but it’s also a public safety issue,” Mr. Wen eta said. “It’s a matter of public safety for the staff and volunteers there.”

Mr. Weneta, Ms. Nance and other prison justice advocates have pushed for several solu tions not just for Lawrenceville but also Vir ginia prisons in general, which includes instituting independent oversight of the VADOC and ending solitary confinement.

Efforts to end privately-owned prisons in Virginia have included a bill seeking to end for-profit prison ownership in Virginia by 2024. That bill was introduced during the 2021 General Assembly by Senator Adam Ebbin of Alexandria, but failed to advance out of the Senate. It’s not clear how the current lockdown could impact future efforts to end private prison owner ship in the state.

Free Press staff report

Virginia Commonwealth University’s five health science schools are committing $4 million to enroll and train more mi nority students in an effort to increase the diversity, equity and inclusivity of health care in Virginia and beyond.

In announcing its award last week, the MCV Foundation noted that the funds will be distributed across four years to enable the schools to recruit “highly qualified students” from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds for the College of Health Professions and the VCU schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.

“Improving diversity, equity and access in health care delivery, research and education sits at the core of everything we do,” said Margaret Ann Bollmeier, president and CEO of the MCV Foundation, in a news release.

“The health care workforce — whether in specific communi ties or on a global scale — should feature the same diversity as the people it serves,” she noted. “We’re confident our MCV Campus partners will use this award to affect significant change in moving toward that goal.”

Currently, more than 4,100 students are enrolled in a health sciences program at VCU for the 2022 to 2023 academic year, and account for about 15 percent of VCU’s total student body.

Underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities among health care professionals is an ongoing problem in the U.S. Research has shown that racial and ethnic minorities continue to experience greater incidences of disease and earlier mortality, and some health care professionals diagnose and treat patients differently based on their race or ethnicity,” the news release states.

According to VCU’s health sciences deans, there is compelling evidence that increasing the number of health care providers from diverse backgrounds is a critical step to building health equity, improving access to health care, improving health outcomes and providing better patient centered care.

“We are pleased that the mitigation ef forts we had previously taken to curb the introduction of contraband, particularly drug-related contraband, have allowed us to begin transitioning the Center to normal operations,” The GEO Group said in a

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Social Action Linking Together had added further questions to the LVCC’s current operations in a report released on Oct. 18. The report shared data and multiple testimonies from incarcer ated men, their loved ones and correctional officers at LVCC detailing several problems the incarcerated face.

Issues investigated as part of this report include the extortion of and violence against the incarcerated, unresponsive leadership and understaffing in violation of the GEO

Beyond these efforts, those concerned for the state of the LVCC, inside and out, have stressed the need for public advocacy by contacting legislators.

“Advocate for us,” Mr. Patterson said. “We as offenders, as prisoners, we’re not given the benefit of the doubt.”

“Our loved ones and those who have any type of inclination to decency should raise their concerns, with the agency, with DOC, with their legislators, with those in power and hold them accountable for the mistreatment that’s happening.”

New law hopes to quiet loud music, noise

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Artist and composer Paul Rucker long has been frustrated by the loud music that blasts into his Downtown residence from nearby clubs.

He is among those thrilled that City Council on Monday unanimously ap proved a major overhaul of the city’s noise ordinance that will allow police officers armed with sound meters to start issuing costly tickets to businesses and residents that are disturbingly loud.

“This could make a real difference,” said Mr. Rucker, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and VCUArts curator for creative col laboration.

Eliminating criminal charges that were little enforced, the new law Mayor Levar M. Stoney also endorsed instead provides for fines that start at $100 for a first of fense, rise to $200 for a second offense and hit $500 for a third offense.

Every hour that the loud sound is not reduced would constitute a separate of

fense, the new ordinance states.

The wide-ranging law sets sound limits for a full day and seeks to cover as many forms of noise pollution as possible.

For example, it authorizes tickets to restaurants whose live entertainment spills onto the streets and into nearby homes, to people who blast the car radio, have a dog whose continual barking penetrates a neighbor’s home, or host a house party that disturbs neighbors.

The goal of the new law is to limit sounds to levels at or below 80 decibels in commercial areas and 65 decibels in residential areas. According to research, normal conversation is conducted at 60 to 70 decibels, with machine noises usually above that. An unmuffled motorcycle engine, for example, operates at 95 decibels.

Keeping noise to 70 decibels or less prevents hearing damage, according to the Hearing Health Foundation.

Mayor Stoney

The new ordinance also bars the cre ation of annoyingly loud sounds outside schools, places of worship, hospitals and other health care facilities.

The new law states that “excessive sound is a serious hazard to the public health, welfare, peace, safety and quality of life … and that people have a right and should be ensured an environment free from excessive noise.”

In residential areas, officers could is sue violations for sounds that exceed 65 decibels between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. and that exceed 55 decibels between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The ordinance does not apply to an array of sounds, such as power tools or lawn equipment used during normal hours and the operation of garbage trucks and legal fireworks shows.

Those issued citations can either pay the Richmond Department of Finance or face having the City Attorney’s Office file a civil suit in court to collect, potentially adding court fees to the cost.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

battle her

VCU receives $4M to address lack of diversity and equity in health sciences

Ms. Nance

Mr. Patterson

UVA shooting deaths create wave of grief

Eric Swensen, public information officer for UVA said “one patient is being discharged from the medical center Tuesday; the other patient is in serious condition.” He would not confirm the surviving students’ identities.

The Associated Press reported that a family spokesperson for Mr. Hollins said that his condition was improving after a second operation on Tuesday.

In a press conference on Monday, University of Virginia police chief Tim Longo said the police arrived on the scene of the crime after receiving a call around 10:30 p.m. that shots had been fired on campus. The campus was immediately placed on lockdown, with students huddling in classroom closets and dorm rooms as a manhunt ensued, according to reports.

UVA President Jim Ryan confirmed that the students involved in the shooting were on a charter bus with fellow classmates returning from a field trip to see a play in Washington, D.C. when the incident occurred.

According to the Washington Post, most in the group didn’t know Mr. Jones, who’d briefly played football himself in 2018. Although Mr. Jones wasn’t in their class focused on AfricanAmerican playwrights, he’d been invited along by their professor because he was taking a social justice class with her, said Ryan Lynch, a 19-year-old neuroscience major.

Mr. Jones, 22, sat apart in the theater as the two dozen or so students watched a Mosaic Theater Company play about Em mett Till, whose young life was cut short by racial violence, the Post reported.

Upon arriving back on UVA’s campus, Mr. Jones started shooting, seemingly aiming at specific people, and one witness reported that he shot one of the football players as he slept, a prosecutor said in court Wednesday.

After a 12-hour search on Monday, the accused, Mr. Jones, was apprehended by law enforcement in Henrico County. He has been charged with three counts of second degree murder, three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony and two counts of malicious wounding.

On Tuesday, Coach Elliott and Director of Athletics Carla Williams said during a press conference that their primary focus was caring for members of the football team as they navigated their collective grief one day at a time.

The grief felt by the loss of student-athletes Chandler, Davis and Perry extended beyond the university campus.

Former UVA football player Eric Clay, ’89, said there is a mix of emotions being felt by the alumni and friends of the university. “I am hearing that people don’t want to ever see this again — that they are asking ‘What can we do to make sure that this never happens again?’”

This sentiment was echoed by UVa. Professor John Edwin Mason. While there is understandably much attention given to

Free COVID-19 vaccines

Continued from A1

The Virginia Department of Health also has a list of COVID19 testing locations around the state at www.vdh.virginia.gov/ coronavirus/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites.

Want a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot?

The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free walk-up COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the following locations:

• Thursday, Nov. 17, 1 to 4 p.m. - Richmond Henrico Health District, 400 E. Cary St., Pfizer for ages 6 months and older, Moderna for ages 6 months to 5 years old and ages 18 years and older, appointments encouraged.

• Thursday, Nov. 17, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. - Gilpin Resource Center, 436 Calhoun St.; 12:30 to 4 p.m. - Henrico East Health Department, 1400 N. Laburnum Ave.; 3 to 6 p.m. - Southwood Resource Center, 1754 Clarkson Rd., Flu shots, walk-ups only.

• Friday, Nov. 18, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. - Fairfield Resource Center, 2311 North 25th St., Flu shots, walk-ups only.

• Tuesday, Nov. 22, 1:30 to 3:30 a.m. - Whitcomb Resource Center, 2106 Deforrest St., Flu shots, walk-ups only.

People can schedule an appointment online at vase.vdh. virginia.gov, vaccinate.virginia.gov or vax.rchd.com, or by calling (804) 205-3501 or (877) VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682).

VaccineFinder.org and vaccines.gov also allow people to find nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

Those who are getting a booster shot should bring their vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine received.

RHHD also offers at-home vaccinations by calling (804) 2053501 to schedule appointments.

New COVID-19 boosters, updated to better protect against the latest variants of the virus, are now available. The new Pfizer booster is approved for those age 12 and up, while the new Moderna booster is for those age 18 and older.

As with previous COVID-19 boosters, the new doses can only be received after an initial two vaccine shots, and those who qualify are instructed to wait at least two months after their second COVID-19 vaccine.

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are now offering bivalent Pfizer and Moderna boosters to children between the ages of 5 to 11 in clinics in the near future. Children in this age range will be eligible after at least two months since their last vaccine dose. New COVID-19 cases in Virginia dropped by 5 percent during the last week, according to the Virginia Department of Health, and data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association showed hospitalizations statewide were largely unchanged.

Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover have remained at low levels of community COVID-19. No localities in Virginia are ranked at high community COVID levels, while 18 are ranked at medium.

A total of 988 new cases of COVID-19 were reported statewide Wednesday for the 24-hour period, contributing to an overall state total of 2,135,778 cases in Virginia since the pandemic’s outbreak. As of Wednesday, there have been 456,133 hospitalizations and 22,253 deaths statewide. The state’s seven-day positivity rate dropped to 7.4 percent on Wednesday. Last week, the positivity rate was 8.1 percent.

On Wednesday, state health officials reported that over 17.7 million COVID-19 doses had been administered, with 73.1 percent of the state’s population fully vaccinated at the time. State data also showed that over 4.7 million people in Virginia have received booster shots or third doses of the vaccine.

Among ages 5 to 11 in Virginia, 339,723 have received their first shots as of Tuesday, accounting for 46.9 percent of the age group in the state, while 298,308 children, or 41.2 percent, are fully vaccinated. In this age group, 54,232 children have received a monovalent booster, making up 7.5 percent, while 17,896 have gotten a bivalent booster shot, accounting for 6.2 percent of this group.

As of Tuesday, 56,997 children from the ages of zero to four have received their first doses, making up 12.5 percent of the population in Virginia, while 42,292 are fully vaccinated, or 9.3 percent of the population. On Tuesday, fewer than 176,830 cases, 1,066 hospitalizations and 15 deaths were recorded among children in the state.

State data also shows that African-Americans comprised 22.1 percent of cases statewide and 22.9 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 11.2 percent of cases and 4.9 percent of deaths.

Reported COVID-19 data as of Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022

Cases Hospitalizations Deaths

Richmond 59,243 1,229 553

Henrico County 82,820 1,651 1,026

Chesterfield County 93,146 1,686 832

Hanover County 27,044 830 325

Compiled by George Copeland Jr.

the young men who were murdered, Mr. Mason said there is also grief in the family of the shooter.

“For a lot of us there is grief for the killer as well,” he said. “What happened to that young man, you wonder, who, at one time, showed so much promise?”

Mr. Clay said he has a son that is close to the same age of the victims. A graduate of Varina High School, where the accused shooter attended school from ninth to 11th grade, Mr, Clay said the grief and loss of these once promising lives is rippling through all of the communities these young men came from.

“I’m numb, I’m frustrated, I’m angry,” he said. “I want to remain hopeful that there can be some solutions to mental health and gun violence, and I just hope we don’t become desensitized to this.”

When asked, during the press conference, how he was person ally coping, Mr. Elliott, whose one-year anniversary as UVA head coach is in December, responded: “It feels like it is a nightmare to be honest with you, and I’m ready for somebody to pinch me, wake me up and tell me this didn’t happen.”

James Harris, a professional counselor and advocate working to end the stigma surrounding mental health, said in an email, “It’s important to ‘feel your feelings’ — something I say to all MEN.” He continued: “Oftentimes they feel it’s only OK to show two emotions, happiness and sadness — but there are others that will help you process.”

During the often-tearful press conference, Coach Elliott’s described the slain football players as “beautiful individuals.”

In speaking about Mr. Chandler, he said, “He was what you

wanted at this level. He was just a big kid, had a smile all the time, loved to dance and loved to sing; loved to compete, even though the guys revealed he was not very good at video games but thought he was. Loved to compete. He was just happy with where he was, comfortable in his skin, and just had a bubbly personality.”

Mr. Davis, he said, often wore a “big smile, had a gentleness about him, but was passionate about what he believed in. (He) would do anything for his teammates.”

Mr. Perry, Coach Elliot continued, “was very, very, very ar tistic, could draw, could shape pots with clay, loved music and was very, very cultured and well-rounded. Just a great teammate and his sense of humor one of a kind.”

Like Mr. Clay, Mr. Mason said he hoped this tragedy will bring attention to the need for more attention to be paid to mental health and a reduction of gun violence. But he is not that optimistic.

“I don’t understand this country’s obsession with guns and why we can’t get over it,” he said. “But unfortunately, if the killing of elementary school students in Uvalde, Texas, does not prompt a change in our attitude about guns, then, unfortunately, I doubt that the death of three young, promising Black men will either.”

Ms. Lynch, who transferred to UVA from Hampton University, according to the Washington Post, said she has been haunted by the image of her friends — Lavel, D’Sean and Devin — as they lay bleeding on the bus.

“They were so caring and amazing to me, to everyone in that class,” she said in the Washington Post article. “The one thing that gives me comfort is I know each one of them had somebody in our class trying to help them. I want their families to know that. In their last moments, they weren’t alone.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

2 shelters temporarily open for homeless

case through most of the rest of November, according to weather.com’s extended forecast. Lows were forecast to be in the 20s through Tuesday, Nov. 22, and to be in the 30s and low 40s through Tuesday, Nov. 29.

RVA Sister’s Keeper shelter is one of two city-supported temporary shelters that opened Sunday night when temperatures dropped into the low 30s, expanding hous ing options for people on the street trying to avoid freezing to death.

United Nations Church is operating the second, a 60-bed shelter for single men located in the gymnasium at Wall and West 19th streets. That facility also opened Sunday night.

The church, led by Bishop Orin K. Pullings Sr., volunteered to house homeless people in October when there was a cold snap and agreed to continue operations.

Both RVA Sister’s Keeper and United

1900 Chamberlayne Ave.

According to the city, CCC was to receive more than $600,000 to operate a 60-bed shelter at that location.

However, with the city acknowledging that it could be January before CCC might open the space, officials made urgent calls to RVA Sister’s Keeper and United Nations Church, which agreed to open as temporary shelters.

Whether those shelters will be large enough remains a question. Few people showed up at either location, a spot check indicated. Council President Cynthia I. Newbille expects more people will seek shelter at the two locations as bitter night time cold arrives.

Other nonprofit shelters, such as those Caritas and Salvation Army operate, reportedly are full, and early estimates from homeless advocates suggested that a minimum of 150 beds might be needed to handle the potential demand.

City reportedly has a $70M general fund surplus

Continued from A1

No one on the council mentioned the potential surplus during the discussion.

Ms. Nye and Ms. Trammell had jointly proposed a 4 cent cut in the tax rate to $1.16 per $100 of assessed value, and Ms. Trammell separately had proposed a cut of 10 cents in the tax rate. Both proposals were rejected, with only 9th District Councilman Michael J. Jones joining them.

Lincoln Saunders, the city’s chief admin istrative officer, successfully pleaded with the council to stick with the deal they made with the mayor Nov. 9 to maintain the tax rate at $1.20 and then spend $18 million of the fiscal 2022 surplus to provide a 4 percent rebate to property owners.

Armed with a report from the city’s financial advisor, Davenport & Co., Mr. Saunders argued that lowering the tax rate could create a revenue challenge for the city in the 2023-24 budget that will be ap proved in the spring now that a potential recession is looming. He also noted the

city facing a host of unmet needs, rang ing from improving employee wages to addressing deferred maintenance on city buildings.

As announced last Wednesday after Free Press deadline, the mayor and seven members of the council agreed to rebate the equivalent of 5 cents in real estate tax to property owners while keeping the tax rate at $1.20.

The mayor explained that the rate needed to be maintained to ensure the city could full fund services and maintain its borrowing power in proposing the rebate that would cut the effective rate property owners paid in the 2022 fiscal year to $1.15 per $100.

For a property valued at $300,000, a 5 cent tax rebate would amount to $150.

Several ordinances to authorize the rebate were introduced Monday night. The council is set to approve them at the next meeting, Monday, Dec. 12, so the city could issue the checks after the new year.

The administration dropped a hint about

the size of the surplus by stating in one ordinance that the $18 million represents more than 10 percent of the fiscal 2022 surplus, an indication that information from the two council members is on track.

Separately, the council was advised of major improvements that have speeded up the permits and inspections operation by Kevin J. Vonck, director of planning and development review, and his team, Deputy Director Leo Mantey and Commissioner of Buildings David Alley III.

Among other changes, Mr. Vonck said the depleted department has been rebuilt with the hiring of more than 70 employees to handle development paperwork and inspections.

As a result, he said, initial paperwork is being handled in one to three days, instead of taking 60, and most plan reviews are be ing accomplished in less than three months, depending on the complexity.

The trio also cited other changes, includ ing reopening the front lobby at Mr. Alley’s City Hall operation in the mornings and creating a customer service operation.

Artist Paul Rucker awarded $2 million

Continued from A1

and podcast studios.

“At one point in collecting the 20,000plus artifacts I felt that there was a need to share these items in a way that would be beneficial to addressing false narratives while instilling pride by making things that have been made invisible, visible,” Mr. Rucker said.

Cary Forward is expected to open in the fall of 2024 on Richmond’s Cary Street, which is named after enslaver Archibald Cary, who supported the Confederacy. His daughter, Constantine Cary, designed the first Confederate battle flag.

Richmond is a hub of highly contested views of history, and Cary Forward will use its vast collection to ensure that the

full stories of race and gender are told. Within the collection is one of the largest photo collections of early U.S. incarceration and the convict leasing program, it was announced. Diverse artifacts such as an autographed photo of Frederick Douglass taken just prior to his passing, early pho tographs of Jesse Owens breaking records at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics and American civil rights activist Pauli Mur ray’s full output of writing will enable a study center and loaning library at a scale unfound in the United States.

Through its use of art, historic objects and documentation, Cary Forward will support factual knowledge around histories that include enslavement, incarceration, systemic racism and the destruction of communities, as well as the stories of

resilience, perseverance and the thriving communities that once existed in Rich mond and beyond, the VCU news release further states. It will also offer physical space for community members to gather and actively use their history in planning for Richmond’s future.

“We are proud to support Cary Forward,” said Agnes Gund, art collector and Art for Justice Fund founder. “Paul Rucker’s vision to build a future where all can be celebrated in the fullness of their histories and identities aligns with the fund’s mission. Only by ac knowledging our country’s history of racism and exploitation can we imagine a more just and safe world, free from mass incarceration and systemic harm. We’re inspired by artists like Paul who are illuminating the past to secure a better future.”

GOP wins slim House majority; Trump announces candidacy

Continued from A1

the former president from the criminal investigations already confronting him as an ordinary citizen, leaving him legally and politically exposed as he seeks the 2024 Republican nomination.

The Justice Department is pushing ahead with its probes. And with the midterm elections now mostly complete and the 2024 presidential campaign months away from beginning in earnest, federal prosecutors have plenty of time to continue their work even as Mr.Trump

hits the campaign trail.

“I don’t think the department is going to hesitate as a result of Trump nominating himself and anointing himself as the first candidate in the 2024 election,” said former Justice Department prosecutor Michael Weinstein. “I just think they will see that as him trying to game the system as he’s done very successfully in the courts,” and they’re prepared for his “blowback.”

Mr. Trump enters the race facing federal investigations re lated to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and into the hoarding of top-secret

government documents at his Florida estate — plus a sepa rate state probe in Georgia. The Mar-a-Lago investiga tion has advanced especially swiftly, with prosecutors this month giving a close Donald Trump ally immunity to secure his testimony before a federal grand jury. Justice Department lawyers in that probe say they have amassed evidence of potential crimes involving not only obstruction but also the willful retention of national defense information.

It remains unclear if anyone will be charged, as does the

timetable for a decision. But former officials say the best way to ensure the outcome is seen as above reproach is to conduct a by-the-book investigation showing no special favor or ill treatment because of Trump’s former high office.

“The public will have the most faith in what you’re doing, and you will get the most successful results, if you treat Donald Trump like any other American,” said Matthew Miller, who served as Justice Department spokesman under former Attorney General Eric Holder.

Nations Church were listed as city partners for shelters, but were not supposed to open until the city found additional operating funds. The only space that the Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration told City Council that it planned to initially fund was a shelter that Commonwealth Catholic Charities proposed operate at

Kia Player, left, and Gerri Archer of RVA Sister’s Keeper.

Mr. Jones

Free van service helps public housing residents get to work

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Myra Griffin has found the biggest problem placing people in jobs is trans portation.

“We have had hundreds of openings, but many of our applicants didn’t have a way to get to work on time or get home after they clocked out,” said Mrs. Griffin, a job placement veteran who owns and oper ates the two-year-old Community Staffing agency at 422 E. Franklin St.

That’s why she and her husband, Michael Griffin, this year launched Community Transportation, a van service to provide reduced cost transportation service to job sites in the Richmond-Petersburg area for low-income working parents with incomes below 200 percent of poverty.

Now the Griffins’ company has won a city contract to provide free transportation to jobs and education centers primarily to public housing residents with at least one child and who qualify for TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, to help them meet the work requirements.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney on Monday went to Fairfield Court in the East End to announce the new van initiative that is currently supported with a $279,000 grant from the Virginia Transit Association.

Dironna Moore Clarke, the city’s direc tor of the new Office of Transit Equity and Mobility (OTEM), the Griffins and their company’s staff also took part in the announcement.

Kelli Rowan, OTEM program manager for the project, said that the program “had a soft launch in October, and the company already has provided 400 rides.”

The company’s vans pick up at a cen tral point in public housing communities, usually the management office, Ms. Grif fin said. Those who use the service are provided delivery and pickup from work sites and job training programs, she said, and the service also provides rides for children in day care along the way.

Ms. Rowan urged people to apply online at www.communitystaffing.work/ transportation or to call OTEM’s Chenice Brown at (804) 646-3513 to gain signup

assistance.

The company already has six vans in operation, Mrs. Griffin said, and plans to add more vehicles if demand grows. “We’ve been fortunate to find the drivers we need,” she said.

The VTA grant is expected to enable Community Service to provide service through June 30, 2023, and OTEM is al ready seeking additional grants to ensure the service continues.

Steven B. Nesmith, chief executive officer of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which manages public housing, hopes to help on that score as well. He expressed enthusiasm for the program and said he will seek grants to support and expand a program that could “change people’s lives.”

There also is hope that some funding is included in the next city budget, as well.

Before this program, working residents without cards relied on GRTC buses. The van service initiative now provides another option.

Fifth Street Baptist, Richmond Convention Center free Thanksgiving meal sites

Two free Thanksgiving dinners are being prepared for the Richmond community.

The first is being hosted by City Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District.

With sponsorship from Costar, Ms. Robertson is throw ing a luncheon with turkey and all the trimmings for 500 people from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Fifth Street Baptist Church’s Grace Center, Victor Street and 1st Avenue in North Side.

Tickets are required, Ms. Robertson stated in her an nouncement, and can be obtained online at eventbrite.com.

Information: (804) 646-7964.

The luncheon is an addition to the 600 Thanksgiving baskets that Ms. Robertson is distributing, her aide, Tavares Floyd, noted.

The second is the 18th annual Thanksgiving feast that the nonprofit The Giving Heart stages on the holiday, Thursday, Nov. 24.

The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its tra ditional home, the Greater Richmond Convention Center on 5th Street in Downtown, and will offer food, fellowship, flu shots, toiletries, clothing and other goods to all comers, The Giving Heart stated.

No reservations are required for those who come for the

sit-down meal.

The Giving Heart also will provide curbside service and is urging people who want to pick up their dinners to sign up at Signupgenius.com for the 100 pickup slots for vegetarian meals or the 1,000 pickup slots for regular meals.

Hundreds of volunteers are taking part in preparing the meals and serving them.

The regular meal menu will include turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, dessert and beverages.

Details: Vicki Neilsen, founding director of Giving Heart, (804) 749-4726 or vneilson@thegivingheart.org

Jeremy M. Lazarus/Richmond Free Press

Myra and Michael Griffin own and operate Community Transportation, which provides public housing residents with children free transportation to work or school.

Free Press staff report

Wins, losses and deja vu

We continue to note Black success in the November elections, which includes the election of two Republicans from majority-white districts.

The winners include two former military officers Wesley Hunt of Texas and John James of Michigan. When they are seated in the U.S. House of Representatives in January, they will double the number of Black Republicans in the lower chamber to four — the most since 1877.

The two newcomers will join incumbents Byron Donalds of Florida and Burgess Owens of Utah.

Currently, there is one Black Republican senator, Tim Scott of South Carolina, who was re-elected and one Black Democratic senator, Corey Booker of New Jersey.

The number of Black Republicans pales with the number of Black Democrats in the Congressional Black Caucus, which, if Sen. Ralph Warnock holds his Georgia seat, is poised to have 59 members in the next Congress, includ ing the nonvoting delegates from Guam and Washington, D.C.

Black Democrats also continue to fare better than Black Republicans in elections. Of the 27 Black Republicans who challenged Democrats for House seats, 25 lost.

Disappointing

Our biggest disappointment is that so many Republican candidates who ran in Tuesday’s election — at least 300 — support Donald Trump’s big lie that the 2020 election was stolen and he should still be president.

That includes all eight Republicans who ran for the U.S. House in Virginia. They stand with Mr. Trump and his claim that President Biden is illegitimate, according to the Washington Post.

Thank goodness voters sent election deniers Leon Ben jamin, Hung Cao and Yesli Vega packing, but that still leaves major portions of our state receiving representation from five of these liars, Rob Wittman, 1st District; Bob Good, 5th District; Ben Cline, 6th District; Morgan Grif fith, 9th District; and Congresswoman-elect Jen Kiggans, 2nd District.

Notice that none of these Republicans have raised any stink about the results of Tuesday’s election, even though Virginia residents could even register at the polls and vote.

Who needs Russians when there are so many homegrown elected officials so eager to threaten and attack the integrity of those who operate the election machinery.

It is past time for Republican members of Congress to apologize and repudiate Mr. Trump.

Two elected Republicans, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Virginia Beach Del. Tim Anderson, have recently urged their party to cut ties with Mr. Trump.

But as Roger Chesley points out in a Virginia Mercury column, the call for a divorce from the party’s titular leader stems from the GOP’s poor performance in the elections two weeks ago and “not because of some newly found valor.”

Essentially, they and others don’t want to be associated with a loser who energizes Democrats and drags the party down, as happened Nov. 8 when most Trump-backed can didates were defeated, albeit narrowly, sharply reducing expected Republican gains.

The election results show Democrats surprisingly will retain their slim hold on the Senate, thanks to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, while Republicans have won a narrow majority of the 435 House seats – hardly the ballyhooed “Red Wave.”

Republicans have had plenty of chances in the past to take a stand against Mr. Trump and his racist and antidemocratic statements and to challenge his election lies. Even now, most party members are saying nothing or are continuing to cheer him for calling up a mob to attack the U.S. Capitol in an effort to prevent certification of President Biden’s 2020 victory.

In the main, Republicans have preferred to be the “sun shine patriots” that Thomas Paine described and shrink from the needed service of ousting Mr. Trump.

That needs to end if a government of the people, by the people, for the people is to survive.

Here we go again.

Two years out, Republican Donald J. Trump, 76, has thrown down the gauntlet and begun his campaign for election in 2024 for a new term as president.

The self-admiring liar created upheaval during his first term and would do so again.

Speculation is that the former president declared Tues day in hopes his candidacy would deter or undermine the multiple investigations into his efforts to cling to power after losing the 2020 election, including his central role in organizing and inciting an attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

We’re still a long way even from the selection of a Republican nominee, and there are others who might want to challenge him.

But let us be prepared to do all we can to stop this man whose hope is to be America’s first dictator.

Trail of tears

Our hearts bleed for the slain and injured UVA students, their precious parents, family and loved ones, The UVA family, the Charlottesville community, and the Common wealth of Virginia. May Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry rest in peace, knowing that the joy they brought and shared with others will never be forgotten.

Election reflections and red puddles

To let the pollsters tell it, Democrats were going to get a “drubbing” or a “shellacking” just like the one President Obama experienced in 2010 when Dems lost 63 Congressional seats and six Senate seats.

In contrast, Democrats seem to have gained one Senate seat, and the Geor gia runoff may push the number up to two.

There was no “red wave,” hardly even a red puddle. Despite President Biden’s tepid ratings and economic uncertainty, Democrats did not do badly.

As of this writing, the partisan makeup of the House of Rep resentatives is up in the air, but even if Republicans take the House, they’ll hold onto it only narrowly. Republican control of Congress will, of course, be a blow to the African-American community as key committees are chaired by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Rep. Bobby Scott (Virginia) in Education, Rep. Maxine Waters (California) in Banking, and Finance, Rep. Bennie Thompson (Mississippi) in Homeland Security, among others.

The 2022 midterm elections remind us that pollsters spew nonsense and raise questions about the very nature of poll ing. It makes me wonder if the corporate media collaborates

with pollsters to maintain the status quo.

The pollsters take to the airwaves predicting, among other things, a red wave. Does it encourage people to stay home or to get out to challenge the polls? When the drip drip drip of negative polls is reported as

“breaking news” almost every hour on the hour, what impact does it have on the electorate? Who are these pollsters talking to anyway? How many people? What demographic? What methodology? Are they doing internet polls? Are they properly sampling Black people?

Are they stuck in the dark ages of landline phones (many people don’t have landlines)? Polling methodology is replete with possible errors, and the voters highlighted those. No red wave, just a red puddle. The whole polling enterprise needs to be re-examined.

The Democratic Party also needs to be examined. It relies on African-American people as its base, yet it is expert in ignoring Black people when distributing resources. Organizations like the National Coalition for Black Civic Participation, Black Voters Matter, and other independent organization get less support for the Democratic Party than they should. Further, Democratic indifference or belated focus on Black candidates has impacted the outcome of the midterm

elections.

North Carolina’s senatorial candidate Cheri Beasley came within 3 percent of winning the election. Ms. Beasley got some Democratic Party support, but it was too late. In Wisconsin, Mandela Barnes came within 30,000 of winning, but a low turnout in heavily Black Mil waukee condemned Mr. Barnes to a loss. Could the Democratic Party have funded a ground game in Milwaukee? Did Mandela Barnes pay enough attention to his natural base? It’s easy to do the Monday morning quar terbacking about the midterm election. The process of mak ing the Democratic Party more responsive to Black people is more challenging.

Many of us received tens of emails daily from Democrats asking for funds. It was always urgent, accompanied by the promise of a two or three or four times match. How much money goes to candidates, and how much to pollsters and cam paign consultants? How many of these consultants work for the Democratic Party, not the candidate directly? I prefer to give my money directly to can didate websites and to support independent voter participation activities, especially those that target Black voters.

Neither Democrats nor Re publicans have a majority among voters. Independent voters are unwilling to declare party allegiance, and often willing to split tickets, responding to their assessments of individual

Elon Musk trying to figure out Twitter

After closing his $44 bil lion deal to purchase Twitter, Elon Musk still seemed to be trying to figure out what he had bought.

The world’s richest man two weeks ago cut about 3,700 of the company’s 7,500 employees, saying in a tweet that “unfortu nately there is no choice when the company is losing over $4 million a day.”

But within hours, accord ing to reports, the company was reaching out to ask doz ens of those newly unem ployed em ployees if they would please, please return to their jobs.

Those dozens included not only those who were fired “by mistake,” according to reports, but also some whose knowl edge will be critical to the development of new features that Mr. Musk would like to implement.

They include members of the trust and safety teams that manage content moderation, a function that seemed more sorely needed than ever in the deluge of racist slurs, Nazi memes and other garbage that followed the takeover by Mr. Musk, a famously self-described “free speech absolutist.”

But those who were expect ing even bigger changes, such as the restoration of former

President Trump’s account, have to wait longer, says Mr. Musk. He tweeted on Friday that he would make “no major content decisions or account reinstate ments” until the convening of a new “moderation council.”

Earlier in the week, Mr. Musk met by phone with civil rights groups in an effort to as sure them that he would curtail hate speech, stop the spread of misinformation ahead of the midterm elections — and restore access by Twitter employees to

moderation tools from which they had been locked out during the company’s acquisition.

He confirmed in his Friday tweet that the council would have “widely diverse view points,” but he offered no other information about it, its members or how much authority it would have. The groups re minded Mr. Musk that any such organization should include those who are targeted with hate-filled online language.

Moderation matters, if Mr. Musk is to avoid the “freefor-all-hellscape” he promises Twitter will not become. We’ll see. Besides social justice groups, Mr. Musk also has to be concerned about advertisers, readers and everyone else con nected to the outsize role social networks play in our national politics and social discourse.

Mr. Musk certainly could have invested in another exotic

enterprise such as his Tesla elec tric car company or his SpaceX venture in commercial space travel that might bring fewer public relations headaches — and maybe an actual profit.

But Mr. Musk’s big buy-in, as many analysts see it, is all about influence, more than profits. Elon Musk, a tireless self-promoter, already has used Twitter to market and sell products and joust with regulators and critics and build his fame.

The social network offers him a more direct opportunity to engage and shape the na tional conversation as a selfproclaimed free speech advocate who already has whipped up a sizable politically minded fan base.

The South Africa-born Mr. Musk can’t run for president without a change in our Con stitution. But he doesn’t have to be president if he can influence one — or a few.

“The reason I acquired Twit ter is because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square,” he said in a speech to advertisers, “where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.”

That’s a relief, especially that violence part. But can he pull it off?

The writer is a syndicated columnist and senior member of the Chicago Tribune edito rial board.

The Free Press welcomes letters

The Richmond Free Press respects the opinions of its readers. We want to hear from you. We invite you to write the editor. All letters will be considered for publication. Concise, typewritten letters related to public matters are preferred. Also include your telephone number(s). Letters should be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Richmond Free Press, P.O. Box 27709, 422 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23261, or faxed to: (804) 643-7519 or e-mail: letters@richmondfreepress.com.

candidates, not party affiliation. This increasing independence, especially among young vot ers, poses a challenge to both parties.

Both Democrats and Re publicans are experiencing intra-party conflict, which, when combined with gerrymandering, has caused some Democratic losses in usually Democratic New York state. Ideological puritans say they won’t vote for flawed candidates unless they get their way. They need to consider what happens when they fail to vote at all.

The 2022 midterm election will be discussed until 2024. How ever, I hope the 2022 elections taught lessons. The Democratic Party must invest in its AfricanAmerican base. And all of us must ignore the pollsters.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA.

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The history behind ‘parents’ rights’ in schools

By Brooke Schultz The Associated Press

The movement for “parents’ rights” saw many of its candidates come up short in this year’s midterm elections. But if history is any guide, the cause is sure to live on — in one form or another.

Activists through the generations have stood up for a range of things in the name of parents’ rights in education.

Over the last century, the term has been invoked in disputes related to homeschooling, sex education and even the teaching of foreign languages in schools.

In politics today, many U.S. parents have joined a conservative movement pushing for state legislation giving parents more oversight of schools. At issue are library books and course material, transgender students’ use of school bathrooms and the instruction of topics related to race, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, won election last year with his slogan “Parents matter.” The GOP embraced the message, with conservative PACs funneling millions of dol lars to school board races on the coattails of frustration over remote learning and school mask mandates.

Here is a look at how movements for “parents’ rights” have evolved over the decades.

For nearly as long as there have been public schools in the U.S., there has been concern among some parents, and conservatives in particular, about influences on children.

Religion

In the 1950s, groups of parents monitored schools closely for any signs of communist infiltration. In the same decade, amid the start of desegregation, large numbers of families in the South began enrolling children in private schools rather than have them in integrated public schools.

In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court cited pa rental rights when it allowed Amish families

to exempt their children from high school, in Wisconsin v. Yoder. The court acknowledged it was an exceptional case since the Amish live separately and self-sufficiently, said Joshua Weishart, a lawyer and professor at West Vir ginia University.

In lawsuits stretching back to the 1920s, courts have affirmed the rights of parents to direct their children’s education. But they also have emphasized there’s a balance to be struck with the state’s obligation to protect children’s welfare, Mr. Weishart said.

Part of being a democracy is educating all American kids, Mr. Weishart said.

“The state really does have a constitutional duty to democratize school children, and that’s never been disputed that the state has that ob

Appeals court ruling keeps Biden student debt plan on hold

By Jim Salter The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

President Biden’s plan to forgive student loan debt for millions of borrowers was handed another legal loss Monday when a federal ap peals court panel agreed to a preliminary injunction halting the program while an appeal plays out.

The ruling by the three-judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Ap peals in St. Louis came days after a federal judge in Texas blocked the program, saying it usurped Congress’ power to make laws.

The Texas case was appealed and the administration is likely to appeal the 8th Circuit ruling as well.

The plan would cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income.

Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, would get an

additional $10,000 in debt forgiven. The cancellation ap plies to federal student loans used to attend undergraduate and graduate school, along with Parent Plus loans.

The Congressional Budget Office has said the program will cost about $400 billion over the next three decades.

A federal judge on Oct. 20 allowed the program to proceed, but the 8th Circuit the next day temporarily put it on hold while it considered an ef fort by the states of Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Ar kansas and South Carolina to block the loan forgiveness plan.

The new ruling from the panel made up of three Re publican appointees — one was appointed by President George W. Bush and two by Donald Trump — extends the hold until the issue is resolved in court.

Part of the states’ argument centered around the financial harm the debt cancellation would cause the Missouri

Higher Education Loan Au thority.

“This unanticipated financial downturn will prevent or delay Missouri from funding higher education at its public colleges and universities,” the 8th Circuit ruling stated.

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, a Republican, said in a statement that the rul ing “recognizes that this attempt to forgive over $400 billion in student loans threatens serious harm to the economy that cannot be undone. It is important to stop the Biden administration from such unlawful abuse of power.”

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the administra tion believes there is legal authority for the program and that “it is necessary to help borrowers most in need as they recover from the pandemic.”

“The Administration will continue to fight these base less lawsuits by Republican officials and special interests and will never stop fighting to support working and middle class Americans,” the statement added.

ligation,” he said. What do earlier movements have to do with today’s debates?

One commonality has been questions about what schools should teach related to sex and gender identity.

In the 1990s, a movement backed by evangeli cal conservatives sought to limit sex education in schools. Conservative leaders also encour aged like-minded candidates to run for school board, expressing concerns about the morals taught in schools and growing acceptance of LGBTQ rights.

Some of those candidates won election, but the communities pushed back against attempts at extreme changes, said Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, who has studied those school board battles. By the early 2000s, many conservative Christian families had begun leaving public schools for homeschooling or other options, she said.

“Parents’ rights always existed in that you can pull your kid out of something,” said Michael Barth Berkman, a political science professor at Penn State.

Now, he said, parents are going further — keeping their kids in the public school, but pushing to determine the curriculum. What do opponents say?

Critics say the policies emerging from the parents’ rights movement threaten to make schools less welcoming places for students of color and others who’ve benefited from inclusion efforts.

The proposals promote a false narrative that parents don’t have rights, said Sharon Ward, a senior policy adviser at Pennsylvania’s Education Law Center. A legislative proposal in Pennsylva nia, she said, could allow objections by parents to impose limits on what is taught.

“Rather than empower parents, the bill will impose some parents’ views on other parents,” Ms. Ward said.

Across Virginia, student activists held school walkouts in September to protest Gov. Young kin’s proposed changes to the state’s guidance on transgender student policies. New rules there would parental sign-off on the use of any name or pronoun other than what’s in a student’s of ficial record.

Some opponents see an agenda to hollow out public education through vouchers and other measures.

“I would say that part of the game plan here is to just sort of discredit schools and to discredit the public school system,” Mr. Berkman said. “It’s painting them as horrible, evil places where all of these really bad, ugly things are going on and have to be stopped.”

Has this gotten traction in state legislatures?

In the last two years, legislation focusing on parents’ rights has appeared across the country, with mixed success.

The bills largely seek to codify that parents are responsible for the care, custody and di rection of their child’s education. Discussions around them have focused on parents’ access to curriculum, bans on critical race theory and transgender students’ use of bathrooms, among other issues.

At the federal level, legislation introduced last year as the Parental Rights Protection Act by a Republican congressman would have barred COVID-19 vaccination requirements for children.

Several states have enacted the legislation like Georgia, Arizona, and Florida — but it has stalled or been struck down in other states like North Carolina and Missouri.

Pursuant to the provisions of §33.2 902 of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will consider abandonment of Frontage Road F301 (adjacent to Greenwood Road north of I-295) in Henrico County. The total length of the abandonment is 0.06 miles

Additional information about the proposed abandonment is available at the VDOT Ashland Residency office located at 523 N. Washington Highway, Ashland VA 23005 1316. Please call ahead at 804 481 0906, TTY/TTD 711 to make an appointment with the appropriate personnel.

VDOT is willing to hold a public hearing. You may request that a public hearing be held by sending a written request to Mr. Adam Moore, Virginia Department of Transportation, 523 N. Washington Highway, Ashland VA 23005 1316 or by email to adam.moore@vdot.virginia.gov on or prior to December 12, 2022. If a request for a public hearing is received, notice of date, time and place of the hearing will be posted.

VDOT 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 special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the project manager at the phone numbers listed above.

Daniel A. Varela/Associated Press file photo

Children holding signs against Critical Race Theory stand on stage near Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as he addresses the crowd before publicly signing HB7 at Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School in Hialeah Gardens, Fla., on April 22, 2022. Republican groups that sought to get hundreds of “parents’ rights” activists elected to local school boards largely fell short in this year’s Nov. 8 elections. The push has been boosted by Republican groups including the 1776 Project PAC, but just a third of its roughly 50 candidates won.

President Biden

Beyoncé ties Grammy record after leading nominations with 9

By Jonathan Landrum Jr. The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Beyoncé has propelled herself into the highest Grammy echelon: The star singer claimed a leading nine nominations Tuesday, mak ing her tied — with her husband Jay-Z — as the most nominated music act in the history of the awards show.

Beyoncés “Break My Soul” reeled in record and song of the year nominations, while “Renaissance” — which ventured into the world of dancehall music — netted an album of the year nod. With Jay-Z also earning five nods this year, each spouse now holds the record for the most-ever Grammy nominations at 88 apiece.

Kendrick Lamar came away with the second-most nominations, with eight. Adele and Brandi Carlile both received seven nods.

Harry Styles, Mary J. Blige, Future, DJ Khaled, The Dream and mastering engineer Randy Merrill each picked up six.

“This makes me feel very proud, but it makes me conscious of the fact that we have to maintain the work we have done,” said Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academy’s CEO. He said there have been strides in the peer-driven voting system and increased membership, but he still believes more progress can be made.

The academy added a special song for social change and five new categories, including songwriter of the year, which Mr. Mason says will further help diversify the 65th edition of the annual awards.

The non-classical songwriter category will recognize one individual who was the “most prolific” non-performing and non-producing songwriter for a body of new work during an eligibility year. It will take a different approach than song of the year, which awards the songwriters who wrote the lyrics or melodies to one song.

Mr. Mason said implement ing the songwriters category is a “significant” step forward for the music industry. Last year, a rule update allowed that any songwriter, producer, engineer or featured artist on a work nominated for album of the year could ultimately earn a nomination.

“The academy and voters are placing a high importance on the craft of songwriting,” Mr. Mason said of the new category, in which nominees include The Dream, Amy Allen, Nija Charles, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Laura Veltz. “Personally, as a songwriter, I’m happy to see it being a significant part of our process. We realize that songwriting is at the heart of our industry. It’s one of the building blocks for every artist’s career.”

Calls grow to save site of oldest U.S. Black women’s benevolent society

Free Press staff report

Social justice and com munity advocates are calling for no taxes to be levied on a mansion that has served as the headquarters for the oldest Black women’s benevolent so ciety in America for decades.

The mansion, located at 87 MacDonough St. in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neigh borhood in New York, is the chief location for the Brooklyn chapter of the United Order of Tents, which formed in 1848 to provide aid to slaves escap ing through the Underground Railroad. The organization was officially chartered in 1883 by Anetta M. Lane and Harriet R. Taylor, two formerly enslaved women, in Norfolk.

The Brooklyn Chapter has owned and operated the man sion since 1945, where it has served as a focal point for community aid of all kinds for more than 70 years. The chapter shifted to become a recognized nonprofit as membership and the dues that helped them pay their property taxes decreased over the years.

However, a decision made recently by the New York Department of Finance to deny the Brooklyn Chapter a property tax exemption has put their ownership of the mansion at risk. The chapter is now working with the Legal Aid Society in New York to appeal the denial.

“The United Order of Tents has been a beacon of light in Bedford-Stuyvesant for more than 75 years,” said Essie Greg ory, president of the United Order of Tents, Brooklyn, in a statement. “We are working tirelessly so that our organiza tion remains a ‘tent of refuge’ for decades to come.”

“That is why the Department of Finance must approve our application for real property tax exemption.”

The Brooklyn chapter plans

Beyoncé, the most decorated woman in Grammy history with 28 wins, could break the late Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti’s record for most awards won if she wins four awards. Mr. Solti, who has 31 Grammys, has held on to the record since 1997.

For the first time in Beyoncés lauded career, she was nominated in the dance category. Her seventh studio project is up for best dance-electronic music album and “Break My Soul” is nominated for best dance-electronic recording. Other nominations include best R&B song for “Cuff It,” R&B performance for “Virgo’s Groove,” traditional R&B performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa” and song written for visual media for “Be Alive,” the Oscar-nominated song from the “King Richard” soundtrack.

Other album of the year nominees include: Adele’s “30,” ABBA’s “Voyage,” Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti,” Mary J. Blige’s “Good Morning Gorgeous” (Deluxe), Carlile’s “In These Silent Days,” Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres,” Mr. Lamar’s “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” Lizzo’s “Special” and Mr. Styles’ “Harry’s House.” Bad Bunny made history, with his album becoming the first sung entirely in Spanish to compete in the category.

Tracks competing with “Break My Soul” for record of the year include Mr. Styles’ “As It Was,” Doja Cat’s “Woman,” Adele’s “Easy On Me,” ABBA’s “Don’t Shut Me Down,” Mary J. Blige’s “Good Morning Gorgeous,” Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit,” Mr. La mar’s “The Heart Part 5,” Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” and Ms. Carlile’s “You and Me On the Rock” featuring Lucius.

(2) update Rider SNA for the recovery costs associated with the Program.

In its Petition, Dominion states that the Program is proceeding on time and on budget, and that the Company received license renewals for the Surry Units on May 4, 2021. The renewals for the North Anna Units.

The Company asserts it has continued to implement the Capital Upgrade Component projects consistent with the scheduled station outages and outage events at both stations. In 2022, the Company began implementing seven Capital Upgrade Component projects – four at Surry and three at North Anna.

In its Petition, the Company presented a new project for Phase I of the Capital Upgrade Component projects: the Cathodic Protection Project at Surry Units 1 and 2. The Company asserts the Cathodic Protection Project is necessary to obtain the SLR.

In this

Canal Street, Richmond Virginia, 23219, tpatterson@mcguirewoods.com scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit Public-Comments the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118.

to Case No. PUR-2022-00162. the address listed above.

notice

a copy of the notice of

counsel to the Company. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of partic basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by Rule 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel , any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits

Copies and formal, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

to seek grants for historic pres ervation of the mansion that would enable them to repair the building, but the possibility of property taxes has stymied these goals. Legal Aid is look

ing to appeal the DOF’s denial soon, with plans to challenge and disprove the allegations around the building’s use and whether the Brooklyn chapter qualifies for a tax exemption.

Associated Press File Photo Beyonce at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in March 2021. Beyoncé is nominated for nine Grammy Awards, including record and song of the year for “Break My Soul,” along with album of the year for “Renaissance.”

Kendrick Lamar Brandi Carlile

When Wes Carmack first took the floor for VCU in January 1977, Rams fans’ initial reaction was “Who’s He?”

Second reaction was more like “wow, that new kid can really ball.”

Under unique circumstances, Carmack — a bouncy 6-foot-5 forward from Buffalo who shot left-handed but dribbled right-handed — helped usher VCU hoops into the postseason era.

And all by a quirk of fate.

“I had no thoughts of playing for VCU when I came to Richmond,” he said in a phone interview from Douglasville, Ga. (near Atlanta).

“I came to play for Virginia Union.”

In the fall of ’76, Carmack was living on the VUU campus but was not on the Panthers’ bas ketball team (then coached by Bob Moore). Nor was he enrolled in classes.

“I was more of a guest, staying with friends,” he recalled.

Here’s the deal during the ’76-‘77 season: Under Moore, VUU had a strong roster led by 6-foot-9 NBA draftee Curvan Lewis. The Panthers won the CIAA Northern Division, went to the NCAA Division II playoffs and finished 25-5.

Meanwhile, Division I VCU was flounder ing.

Coach Chuck Noe had resigned unexpectedly that fall and several players transferred. New Coach Dana Kirk was scrambling with what came to be known as “The Walk-On Team.” Open tryouts took place.

VUU didn’t need any late-arriving players, but VCU did.

With the VUU and VCU campus within easy walking distance, Carmack found his way to VCU’s Franklin Street Gym.

Dance auditions

“(I) was playing pick-up games there and the guys on the team noticed me and told Coach Kirk,” said Carmack.

Coach Kirk practically pulled a hamstring getting to the gym to look for himself. Out of nowhere, he had the kind of player he needed to compliment his two returning stars, Gerald Henderson and Ren Watson.

Everything went fast forward. In a blink, Carmack was enrolled in spring classes, given a scholarship, a uniform and told “go get ‘em.”

Carmack, always a bundle of energy, was not added to the VCU roster until the start of the spring semester.

Coach Kirk called Carmack “my secret weapon.”

Fans called him “Carmack the Magnificent” after the Johnny Carson late-night TV skit with a similar name.

Carmack’s self-description: “Instant offense.”

TJ Vikings seek state title

Thomas Jefferson High’s Vikings will try and take another step toward a state football title Friday night at Huguenot High. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Poquoson High from the Hampton area will provide the opposition for the Class 2 Region quarterfinal.

The Vikings are 8-3 after defeating Amelia, 33-15, last week in the regional opener. Poquoson is 7-4 after trouncing Nandua, 35-0, in its region first round.

TJ is the higher seed but unable to play on campus since its football field has no lights.

Wembanyama primed for NBA’s 2023 top pick

You may not have heard of Victor Wembanyama, but you will soon.

Don’t be surprised if the 18-year-old, 7-foot-3 Frenchman is the overall first selection in the NBA’s 2023 draft.

Wembanyama, who turned pro in France at age 15, now plays for Metropolitans 92 in Paris. He drew plenty of approval in two October exhibitions in Las Vegas against the G-League Ignite (featuring several top NBA prospects).

Scoring inside and out, the towering teenager with the eightfoot wingspan had 37 and 36 points, respectively, against the pro squad. He hit seven 3-pointers in the first contest.

NBA/ESPN sportswriter Adrian Wojnarowski called him “the single greatest prospect in NBA history.”

He is the son of Congolese Felix (6-foot-6) and Elodie (6-foot-3) Wembanyama. The NBA draft will be May 16.

Coming off the bench, Carmack played 43 games over two seasons for Coach Kirk’s Rams. In 1977-78, he averaged nine points and four rebounds (hitting 50 percent from field and 72 percent at foul line).

VCU rallied from a 13-13 in ’76 -‘77 to 25-4 in ‘77-78, earning the Rams their first trip post season experience.

The Rams defeated the University of Richmond three times that season for their first-ever wins over their crosstown rival.

Then came the “playoffs,” a new word in Rams’ hooptionary. With Carmack in the middle of the action,

VCU beat Georgetown in Washington in the first round of the ECAC playoffs. The Black ‘n’ Gold then lost on a buzzer beater to St. Bonaventure in Rochester in round two. A win over the Bonnies would have sent VCU to the NCAAs.

Still, they weren’t done. The Rams were selected to the NIT and dropped a tough game at Detroit (with former Titians’Coach Dick Vitale courtside).

“We were competing on a national level,” said Carmack.

The Rams have been postseason regulars ever since.

It’s not like Carmack had no credentials.

He had been a standout at Buffalo’s Lafay ette High and at Jamestown Community College before making the trip, “on friends’ advice,” to Richmond.

His memories at VCU include Coach Kirk (“he told me to use the backboard more and not try to dunk everything”) and elderly sports information director Earl McIntyre, aka “Mr. Mack.”

“Mr. Mack was like a father to me,” said Carmack.

Since leaving VCU with a degree in education, Carmack has enjoyed a career in law enforce ment (Fulton County, Ga., Sheriff’s Office) and security.

He has served as security chief and road manager for the likes of Rick James and Lucky Peterson (both from his hometown of Buffalo) and even Prince.

VCU’s older fans still recall how the Rams had hit a rough patch in ’76. Carmack was the kid who “came out of nowhere,” just in time to help lift the teetering program to higher ground.

VUU hosts Wingate in NCAA Division II this weekend

Virginia Union University’s reward for a brilliant football season is the right to put on the Maroon ‘n’ Steel uniforms at least one more time.

Coach Alvin Parker’s No. 4 seed Pan thers will play host to No. 5 Wingate, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 19, in the opening round of NCAA Division II Super Region II.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Hovey Sta dium/Lanier Field. Tickets went on sale Monday on campus.

The winner will advance to play un defeated SIAC cham pion Benedict on Nov. 19 in Columbia, S.C. Benedict receives a first round bye as the top seed.

The Northsiders sprint into the postseason with a 9-1 record and some gaudy offensive numbers, most notably 43.9 points per outing.

History lesson: The Panthers are 0-9 in previous NCAA playoffs, under three different coaches, going back to 1979.

The most agonizing defeat was in 1982 at frosty North Dakota State. VUU appeared to have the game in control in the closing minutes when Dwayne Drew returned an interception for a long touchdown.

However, a highly controversial “inad vertent whistle” blew the play dead and

VUU went on to lose 21-20.

VUU was a clear underdog in each of the previous NCAA assignments. This time it seems different. The Panthers feel like the favorites and have a resume to support such optimism.

VUU has defeated last year’s NCAA runner-up, Valdosta State, Ga., last year’s quarterfinalist Bowie State and this year’s CIAA champ, Fayetteville State.

Uh-oh, more Bulldogs: Having sur vived the Bowie Bulldogs, finally, this au tumn, here come the Wingate Bulldogs.

A private southern Baptist school lo cated near Charlotte, Wingate is 9-2 and a dangerous 6-0 in away games.

The South Atlantic Conference affiliate specializes in defense. Wingate has outscored its 11 opponents, 278 points to 120.

All-American candidate Marquis Flem ing has 11 sacks, 122 total tackles and 14 quarterback hurries.

There are two common foes. Wingate defeated Fayetteville State and Shaw of the CIAA in the early season. VUU also defeated both HBCU’s.

Wingate’s 21st year coach, Joe Reich, is brother of longtime NFL quarterback Frank Reich.

The spoils: VUU tailback Jada Byers is CIAA Offensive Player of Year. Place kicker Brady Myers is Kicker of the Year. And Dr. Parker is Coach of the Year.

Along with Byers and Myers, other first-team All-CIAA picks are offensive linemen Darian Bryant and Justin Meade, defensive end Armonii Burden and punt returner Demetrius Mann.

Second team picks are tight end Kalen Carver, defensive end Isaac Anderson and linebacker Domontay Rhem.

CIAA company: Also named to the Super Region II field is CIAAchampion Fayetteville State. The Broncos defeated Chowan, 31-28, for the title before 3,752 fans in Salem and a national aspire TV audience.

Fayetteville is seeded seventh and will play at No. 2 seed Delta State, Miss., on Nov. 19.

In conclusion: Finals of the 28-team tour nament will be Dec. 17 in McKinney, Texas. Ferris State, Mich., is the defending champ. Beware: Ferris State also is the Bulldogs.

Power drives Panthers’ ‘Wizard of Os’

VUU defeats Shippensburg 60-56

Call this Robert Osborne’s encore season.

It would take a lot for the Virginia Union Uni versity senior to top what he did a year ago — but he just may.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound power forward out of Hermitage High posted a pair of double-doubles as the Panthers started this season 2-0.

“The Wizard of Os” had 19 points and 11 re bounds in a 60-56 win over Shippensburg and 16 points and 13 boards in a victory against Millersville. This came in the CIAA vs. Pennsylvania Challenge Nov. 11-12 at Virginia State.

As a junior, Osborne made All-CIAA and was the MVP of the CIAA tournament in Baltimore.

While the Panthers were relying on something “old,” Osborne, VSU unveiled something “new,” a pair of talented transfers.

Zach Newkirt and Tremere Brown were difference makers as the Trojans topped Millersville 72-63 and Shippensburg 76-71 at its Multi-Purpose Center.

A 6-foot-1 transfer from Central Connecticut

State, Newkirk led VSU with nine assists vs. Millersville and in scoring with 19 points against Shippensburg.

Brown is a 6-foot-8 inside operator who came to Ettrick as junior from Wallace State, Ala., Community College. Brown totaled 27 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in the opening triumphs.

While the outcomes were encourag ing, attendance was poor for the two nights. VSU drew 567 the first night and 425 the second night in the 6,000seat facility. Crowd counts for the VUU games were 359 and 258.

VUU: After playing earlier this week in the Chris Paul Classic in Connecticut, the Panthers will travel to Atlanta Nov. 18-19 to face Clark-Atlanta and Lemoyne-Owen, Tenn., in the CIAA vs SIAC Challenge.

VSU: The Trojans have a Tuesday, Nov. 22, home date with visiting Bluefield State, W.Va. at 6 p.m.

Coach Parker

Honoring

Some steps we’re taking to support veterans and military members:

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Victor Branch President, Bank of America Richmond

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registered trademarks of

By leading one of the oldest artist-run galleries in the nation, Haley M. McLaren is helping to illuminate Richmond’s indepen dent art scene.

As president of 1708 Gallery’s board of directors, Mrs. McLaren deftly applies the gallery’s mis sion to support independent Richmond artists during a time of change for the group and the city’s art scene in general.

“The 1708 family is phe nomenal, and I felt encouraged, supported and inspired by those who served in leadership roles before me,” says Mrs. McLaren when asked why she accepted the position.

The gallery’s website presents a fascinating history of its found ing in 1978 by emerging Virginia Commonwealth University artists described as risk-takers.

“They founded 1708 Gallery, a nonprofit arts organization run by artists, in a flood-damaged Richmond warehouse at 1708 East Main Street, where they showcased an exciting mix –alternative art forms, large-scale pieces, important works – not driven by commercialism,” reads its website.

Hailing from Abingdon, Mrs. McLaren joined 1708 at its current location on West Broad Street in 2008 during its “In Light” event. Mrs. McLaren was recruited by 1708 leader and emeritus councilmember Suzanne Hall to help serve on its steering committee, as the group worked to showcase light-based artwork from the community’s artists.

The atmosphere and com munity Mrs. McLaren found at 1708 during “InLight” inspired her to volunteer for other gallery events. So impressive was her work that she was invited to join 1708’s board.

“I immediately felt welcome and at home in a community of artists and volunteers who shared a passion for promoting and fostering unique, contemporary art and sharing it with the com munity,” Mrs. McLaren says.

Mrs. McLaren currently is focused on the 2022 “InLight” festival, scheduled for Nov. 18

Personality: Haley M. McLaren Spotlight on board president of 1708 Gallery

-19 at Bryan Park. During the event, artists will create works that engage with and expand upon the histories and current activities that comprise Bryan Park, according to 1708’s web site. These include Gabriel’s Rebellion and its legacies, disc golf and soccer, bird watching, the park’s environmental and ecological life, the park’s wildlife and native flora and fauna

In balancing her volunteer ism with her job as director of advancement at the Valentine Museum, Mrs. McLaren seeks to ensure 1708 Gallery’s future success and sustainability by helping it establish a permanent space in Richmond, including purchasing the building that it has rented at 319 W. Broad St. for more than two decades.

Mrs. McLaren ultimately hopes to ensure that 1708’s and the Valentine’s mutual interests and ideas are shared with and available to Richmond—unin hibited by financial needs—to illustrate and highlight their full potential.

“Both organizations have great projects and inspiring future plans, and the Richmond community has amazing sup porters and cheerleaders,” Mrs. McLaren says. “We just need to work on aligning passions, visions and resources.”

Meet an advocate for the indie arts in Richmond, Haley M. McLaren:

Volunteer position: President, board of directors, 1708 Gal lery.

Occupation: Director of ad vancement, The Valentine.

Date and place of birth: May 5 in Abingdon. Where I live now: Richmond.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Richmond.

Family: Husband, Matt McLar en; daughter, Eve 9.5 months.

1708 Gallery is: One of the oldest artist-run independent art spaces in the country, and a safe, supportive space for artists to create new artworks such as video projections, large installa tions and more.

When and why founded: Founded in 1978 at 1708 E. Main Street by a group of artists look ing for a space to feature experi mental, risk-taking contemporary art that functioned outside of a commercial gallery world.

Founders: A group of rising stars from Virginia Common wealth University including Dan Brisbane, Richard Carlyon, Tom Chenoweth, Ron Coleman, John Crabbs, Tom DeSchmidt, Gerald Donato, Willie Hall, Chris Hay man, Heather Holden, Davi Det Hompson, Richard Kevorkian, Sharon Lawless, James Miller, Harold North, Curtis Ripley, Joe Seipel, Chris Silliman, Lester Van Winkle, Brett Wilson and Morris Yarowski.

Number one goal as board president: Garner more support for the gallery’s CATALYST

campaign and get the gal lery as close to the fundrais ing goal as possible while also sustaining support for existing operations, pro grams and exhibitions.

Strategy for achieving goals: Embracing some great framework from the gallery’s strategic plan and thinking about creative ways to engage community partners and rally new and existing funders behind the gallery’s mission and future plans.

InLight 2022 is: 1708’s annual exhibition of lightbased public art. It is free to attend, and this year marks the 15th InLight! It’s always one of my favorite fall events in Richmond and appeals to so many different people.

InLight022 curators: InLight 2022 is curated by Tiffany Barber and Wesley Taylor.

Date and time: Friday, Nov. 18 — Saturday, Nov. 19, 7 - 11 p.m.

Significance of the location for InLight 2022: The location of InLight changes every year. Each location sparks inspiration for the art installations, presents new op portunities for partnerships and invites attendees of all ages to explore different areas throughout the city. This year’s event is at Bryan Park and the 15 artists and four community partners have created works that connect to the park’s history and its present day role in the community.

InLight 2022 partners: Com munity partners: Art on Wheels, Henderson Middle School, Stu dio Two Three, and Westminster Canterbury.

Supporters and sponsors: National Endowment for the Arts, Windsor Foundation, Cul tureWorks, E. Rhodes and Leona

B. Carpenter Foundation, Altria, Peachtree House Foundation, Capital One, Dominion, Oliver Properties, NewMarket, Sifter, City of Richmond Parks & Rec reation, RVA Big Market, Friends of Bryan Park, Virginia Repertory Theater, and Mosaic.

Why art moves me: Art can be created, interpreted and influenced by so many differ ent perspectives, mediums and ideas.

Favorite artist: Suzanna Fields –Her work is beautifully complex, unique and deeply inspired by nature. She also is one of my dearest friends.

Upcoming events: Monster Drawing Rally.

A perfect day for me is: I love a weekend day with no need to rush out the door, made even better with a morning walk for easy exercise, catching up with a friend or a stroll to Carytown for coffee and/or breakfast with Matt and Eve. I also cherish a day that I can spend quality time with my daughter and fit in some me-time to casually tackle a project around the house, catch up on work or just sit quietly and recharge for a bit while she takes a solid nap.

What I am continuing to learn about myself during the pandemic: The pandemic has offered a unique opportunity for greater introspection – good and bad. While there have been sad times, scary times and lots of uncertainty, I’m hopeful that one silver lining that will stick with me and continue to shape me is my awareness of the multitude of perspectives that exist and the importance of finding meaning ful connection with others, even if they don’t completely agree with you.

Something about me that people may not know: I’m a big crafter and generally love most

things that sparkle but absolutely detest glitter!

A quote that inspires me: “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” — Dolly Parton

My friends describe me as: Creative, committed, thoughtful, kind (and I hope funny).

At the top of my “to-do” list: Organizing my desk at work and making a comprehensive list of action items I need to tackle (or delegate). I also really need to address my personal email inbox.

Best late-night snack: Warm, homemade chocolate chip cook ies.

The best thing my parents ever taught me: Respect your elders.

The person who influenced me the most: My husband (it’s cheesy, but true) has been a huge influence in my life and continues to be every day. Our relationship is rooted in friendship, love and respect, and we have grown so much together and as individuals since we met nearly 15 years ago (not to mention weathering a pandemic, fertility challenges and now journeying through parenthood). He encourages and challenges me in so many ways (good and bad). He has one of the biggest hearts I know, and we make a great team.

Book that influenced me the most: “Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult really stuck with me after reading it at the beach several years ago.

What I’m reading now: “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr has been on my nightstand for quite some time, but I’m more likely to read a board book with Eve these days.

Next goal: I want to help 1708 and The Valentine effectively meet their current capital cam paign fundraising goals as soon as possible. Both organizations have great projects and inspiring future plans, and the Richmond community has amazing support ers and cheerleaders; we just need to work on aligning passions, visions and resources.

Above left, Sam Doud, 27 from Washington, D.C., came in first for men during the Allianz Partners Marathon on Saturday, Nov. 12. Doud, a software engineer, came in at 2 hours, 24 minutes and 27 seconds. Meanwhile, Sarahbeth Chargois, 31, of Richmond, was the top female finisher, winning in 2:51.02. Anthony Green, right center, crosses the finish line of the Richmond Half Marathon.

Veterans Day 2022

Men and women who served in the U.S. military branches were honored Nov. 11 during a Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. In attendance were Gov. Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, who are shown with essay contest winners Mason Bibby and Katie Wittenbraker. Being at the memorial is “Reaffirming the Commonwealth’s commitment to pay the stories of our service men and women forward to future generations,” Gov. Youngkin told the veterans and others in attendance.

Photos by Carlos Bernate

Julianne Tripp/Richmond Free Press

‘Black Panther’ sequel scores 2nd biggest debut of 2022

The Associated Press

The Marvel “Black Panther” sequel earned $180 million in ticket sales from more than 4,396 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, ac cording to estimates from The Walt Disney Co. on Sunday, making it the second biggest opening of the year behind “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Overseas, it brought in an additional $150 million from 50 territories, bringing its worldwide total to $330 million.

“Wakanda Forever” was eagerly anticipated by both audiences and exhibitors, who have weathered a slow spell at the box office since the summer movie season ended and there were fewer bigger budget blockbusters in the pipeline. The film got off to a mighty start, a bit stronger than even the first film, with an $84 million opening day, including $28 million from Thursday previews.

“Some may have hoped for $200 million like the first film, but this is solid,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior

media analyst. “This is the type of movie that theaters really need to drive audiences.”

The first film opened to $202 million in Febru ary 2018 and went on to gross over $1.4 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest grossing films of all time and a cultural phenomenon. A sequel was inevitable, and development began soon after with director Ryan Coogler return ing, but everything changed after Chadwick Boseman’s unexpected death in August 2020. “Wakanda Forever” became, instead, about the death of Boseman’s King T’Challa/Black Pan ther, and the grieving kingdom he left behind. Returning actors include Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke and Danai Gurira, who face off against a new foe in Tenoch Huerta’s Namor. The film would face more complications too, including Ms. Wright getting injured and some COVID-19 related setbacks. All told, it cost a reported $250 million to make, not accounting for marketing and promotion.

AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review that, ”‘Wa kanda Forever’ is overlong, a little unwieldy and somewhat

Healing through humor

Playwright shows how domestic violence impacts children

By Debora Timms

Every year millions of chil dren are exposed to family and domestic violence in the United States. Domestic violence af fects both physical and mental health, leaving emotional scars that have long-lasting effects on those who experience it directly and those who bear witness to it.

Playwright C. Michelle LeeRobinson addresses this in her play, “Not the Man I Married,” being presented this Saturday by CMR Impact Productions at the Trinity Family Life Center on Dill Road.

“Not the Man I Married” is based on a dysfunctional family that has endured years of domestic violence. The play, featuring Ms. Lee-Rob inson, Mario Booker, Tandylyn Cooke and Sabrina Smith, uses comedy and laughter to ad dress the traumas of domestic violence — traumas, which

Mrs. Lee-Robinson says are linked to the current cycle of mental health, suicide and rising crime.

“We tell our kids to ‘do as I say and not as I do,’ but I don’t know if we really think about how our kids’ mirror what they see and mimic what we do,” Mrs. Lee-Robinson said in a recent phone interview.

“So many youths are going through this in their homes. I

want to shine a light so that parents can think, ‘If this is what is happening to me, if this is what I’m doing then how is it affecting my children?’”

Mrs. Lee-Robinson says some of her own life experience is reflected in what she writes and why she writes it.

“My mother was emotion ally abusive,” she explained. “I repeated that cycle with my family. That’s the scary

part — that hurt people, hurt people.

“The play is serious, but it’s like a rollercoaster. You can’t just go up, up, up,” she added. “I want the humor to soften the downs. Give people something to smile about, to laugh through the pain, hurt and misunderstandings.”

She also hopes the play will encourage parents to talk to their children.

“I lost my sister 10 years ago to domestic violence and it came as a surprise,” Mrs. LeeRobinson said. “There were warning signs but we never asked the questions.”

Such talks are especially important within the black com munity where there is a culture of “what happens in the home, stays in the home.”

Trinity Family Life Center is located at 3601 Dill Rd., Richmond. Tickets are $25 in advance through Eventbrite or $30 at the door.

mystifyingly steers toward a climax on a barge in the middle of the Atlantic. But Mr. Coogler’s fluid command of mixing intimacy with spectacle remains gripping.”

Superhero films have fared well during the pandemic, but none yet have reached the heights of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which opened to $260.1 million in December 2021. Other big launches include “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” ($187.4 million in May), “Thor: Love and Thunder” ($144.2 million in July) and “The Batman” ($134 million in March).

“Wakanda Forever” is first film to open over $100 million since “Thor” in July, which has been difficult for exhibitors that are already dealing with a calender that has about 30 percent fewer wide releases than in a normal year.

Juliette Stephens Hamilton, retired nurse, dies at age 104

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

“Live one day at a time and enjoy that one.”

Juliette Stephens Hamilton, one of Richmond’s oldest residents, called that the secret to a long and healthy life.

The retired nurse was an institution in the Washington Park community in North Side where she was born, grew up and lived her entire life. She died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at age 104.

Family and friends will celebrate Mrs. Ham ilton’ life at noon Saturday, Nov. 19, at March Funeral Home’s Laburnum Chapel, 2110 E. Laburnum Ave.

Described as a vibrant, independent woman, Mrs. Hamilton traveled overseas into her 90s,

and drove until she was 100, friends said, only stopping after the pan demic hit.

“You were always full of laughter, telling your jokes to everyone and I enjoyed listening, trying to learn some thing,” admirer Jautena Fauntleroy wrote in a tribute to Mrs. Hamilton on the funeral home’s website.

Mrs. Hamilton was born on Nov. 8, 1918, three days before World War I ended. Her life spanned 19 U.S. presidents, from Woodrow Wilson to Joe Biden.

Mrs. Hamilton

A witness to history, she lived through the Great Depression and World War II, participated in the Civil Rights-era overthrow of the harsh

Sheila D.H. Scott, former RPS school principal, dies at age 69

Shelia Diane Harris Scott, a career educator who touched the lives of thousands of schoolchildren, has died.

Best known for her 12 years as principal of Miles Jerome Jones El ementary School in South Side, Mrs. Scott died Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. She was 69.

Family and friends will pay fi nal tributes to Mrs. Scott 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at Swansboro Bap tist Church, 3801 Midlothian Turnpike, where she was an active member.

Her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, was scheduled to hold an Omega Omega service 6

p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Bliley’s Funeral Homes Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull Street Road.

Born in Southampton County, Mrs. Scott started her education ca reer after graduat ing from Virginia Union University in 1975. She later added a master’s degree from Virgin ia Commonwealth University. She taught in Surry County for three years before joining Richmond Pub lic Schools.

Mrs. Scott was a classroom teacher in Richmond for more than 20 years before serving as a math specialist, teacher spe

cialist and assistant principal. In 2001, she was named princi pal of Jones Elementary, which opened in the late 1990s. She led the school until she retired in 2013.

During her career, Mrs. Scott earned a Teacher of the Year award and other accolades for her service.

Survivors include her hus band, Angriess F. Scott Jr.; son Avery F. Scott; her mother, Catherine Warren Harris; sis ters Gwendolyn Harris-John son and Gilda Harris-Howard; brothers, Alvin Harris, Joseph Harris III and Malcolm Harris; and a granddaughter.

Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church

1408 W. Leigh Street Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 358 6403

Dr. Alonza L. Lawrence, Pastor

and government-imposed regime of racial separation. She saw the trans formation in American life wrought by cars, airplanes, radio, TVs, computers, social media, modern medicine and numerous other innovations.

Born into a family of three chil dren, Mrs. Hamilton graduated from Armstrong High School in 1936, took courses at Virginia Union and Virginia State universities and went on to earn her certi fication as a licensed practical nurse.

During her working years, she served as a nurse’s aide at Richmond Memorial Hospital and as a nurse at the Medical College of Virginia.

Public Schools before retiring in 1982.

Mrs. Hamilton was active in the Washington Park Civic Association, and for more than 20 years hosted a Christmas feast for family, friends and neighbors at her home. She also participated in the American Association for Retired Persons and the state Triad initiative to reduce crime against the elderly.

She also was involved in planning reunions for her Armstrong High class. In addition, Mrs. Hamilton was an active member of Second Baptist Church and served on the church’s Finance Committee.

She was the widow of the late Alcus E. Hamilton Sr. Survivors include her two children,

“Gone But Not Forgotten” Aaron L. Robinson Jr. (Shakey)

By Connie Robinson Reed

This past October 7, 2022, marked one year that Aaron L. Robinson Jr. departed this earthly life, as his loved ones remember his love and dedication to his family and the love he had for his career as an automobile salesman. In the mid-1950’s after Aaron took on a part-time automobile sales position, he quickly developed a passion for the car sales business. Once Aaron moved into the career full-time, there was no stopping him. With his strong work ethic, business sense, and leadership skills he rapidly accelerated in the auto sales industry in the Richmond, Virginia area, Aaron was highly motivated and dedicated to his auto sales career. He managed numerous car dealership and earned many awards for top sales. For several years he earned top sales awards across many major cities/states within the car sales arena and received numerous accolades

Aaron was best known in the Richmond area for selling and managing luxury car dealership for his ability to get even the most challenging deals and applications approved in working with or few days. He earned the highest level of respect in the Richmond, Virginia area, having a following of customers who often sought him out for repeat business and referrals. Aaron was a living legend that opened and guided the pathway for other black automobile sales associates. Aaron’s leadership qualities along with his wife (Jessie) allowed them to become entrepreneurs in having two successful businesses that included owning a cleaners - Robinson Cleaners that was located on Roberts Street in Northside and the Employment Agency - Robinson Employment Agency, The Employment Agency was located on North 3rd Street in Downtown Richmond.

— Both Gone But Not Forgotten.

“Your Home In God’s Kingdom”

Mrs. Scott

First Black Automobile Salesman in the Richmond, VA Area

Aaron & Jessie Robinson

World Cup prize money disparity an obstacle to equal pay

World Cup prize money continues to be a sticking point for equality in soccer, despite the historic equal pay agreement between U.S. Soccer and its men’s and women’s teams.

Earlier this year, the U.S. national teams decided to split prize money, which means that the haul from playing in the sport’s most prestigious tournaments will be distributed equally between players for both teams — after the federa tion takes a cut off the top.

It was a landmark agreement, hailed as an important step for equality even beyond sports. But other nations haven’t fol lowed suit.

At the heart of the matter is the huge disparity in prize money between the men’s and women’s tournaments — and how it is eventually passed on by federations to their players.

FIFA has earmarked $440 million in prize money for this

year’s men’s World Cup. The winner in Qatar will take home $42 million.

The U.S. women won $4 million from a $30 million pot at the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed doubling the prize money for the 2023 event, but the field has expanded from 24 to 32 teams.

That could change. FIFA Secretary-general Fatma Samoura recently suggested that the final prize money total for the women could be greater.

“Today, the men’s World Cup is the one that is funding all the FIFA competitions, includ ing the Women’s World Cup. But we have seen new trends in terms of revenues,” she said at an event in Sydney.

Some countries — including Australia, Ireland, Brazil, Nor way and others — have made significant strides toward equal match and appearance fees, but an equal division of pooled

World Cup prize money hasn’t been part of those deals.

In July, Spain’s federation also agreed to give its female players a percentage of bonuses equal to the men’s side, as well as earnings from sponsorships, image rights and improved working conditions. It did not reveal specifics.

Lisa Delpy Neirotti, associ ate professor of Sport Manage ment at George Washington University, said there is a threepronged approach for equal pay: Public sentiment has to be for it, the women have to be unified in their demands, and the players needs allies, as in the case of the U.S. men’s team.

That might be a tough ask in countries like France and Germany, both successful World Cup nations, because the men’s team would give up a lucrative payday. France, which won $38 million for winning the 2018 World Cup in Russia, distributed $11 mil lion between the 23 players on

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v. NATHANIEL JETTER, JR, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-3790

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 2916 Garland Avenue, Tax Map Number N0000889011 , Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Nathaniel Jetter, Jr, and Dorothy E.W. Beal

An Affidavit having been filed that said owners, NATHANIEL JETTER, JR, upon information and belief deceased or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest and DOROTHY E.W. BEAL, upon information and belief deceased, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest have not been located and have not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of Parties Unknown.

IT IS ORDERED that NATHANIEL JETTER, JR, upon information and belief deceased or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest DOROTHY E.W. BEAL, upon information and belief deceased, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, and Parties Unknown , come forward to appear on or before JANUARY 12, 2023 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v. TWO AVIS INC, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-3791

ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3219 Dill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map Number N0051079006, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Two Avis Inc An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, Two Avis Inc. who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to its last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees,

the squad.

In contrast, the U.S. women have been more successful than the men, winning the last two World Cups. The U.S. men failed to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

“If the (U.S.) women con

tinue to do better than the men, it’s not really hurting the men. Even though the men get more, the women can actually contribute just as much if they keep going,” Ms. Neirotti said. “But it’s not always the same economics in other countries

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities

assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of Parties Unknown.

IT IS ORDERED that Two Avis Inc, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JANUARY 12, 2023 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v. TWO AVIS INC., et al, Defendants. Case No.: CL22-3792

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3221 Dill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map Number N0051079007, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Two Avis Inc.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, Two Avis Inc., who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to its last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of Parties Unknown.

IT IS ORDERED that Two Avis Inc., and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JANUARY 12, 2023 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

DYNQUEST PROPERTIES, LLC, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-3664

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3424 Carolina Avenue, Tax Map Number N0001161001 , Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Dynquest Properties, LLC

An Affidavit having been filed that HENRY MERE, Registered Agent for DYNQUEST PROPERTIES, LLC, the owner of record of said property, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title

and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that HENRY MERE, Registered Agent for DYNQUEST PROPERTIES, LLC , the owner of record of said property, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JANUARY 12, 2023 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v. TWO AVIS INC et al, Defendants. Case No.: CL22-3794 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3901 Old Warwick Road, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map Number C0080435052, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Two Avis Inc

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, Two Avis Inc., who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to its last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of Parties Unknown.

IT IS ORDERED that Two Avis Inc., and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JANUARY 12, 2023 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND RICKY COSBY Plaintiff, JOHN T. GLASGOW; ANNIE C. GLASGOW; HAZEL T. GLASGOW; MARY C. GLASGOW, if deceased the heirs at law of John T. Glasgow, Annie C. Glasgow, Hazel T. Glasgow, Mary C. Glasgow; and the Unknown heirs, descendants, devisees, assigns, and/or successors in title to John T. Glasgow, Annie C. Glasgow, Hazel T. Glasgow and Mary C. Glasgow, if any there be, the consorts of any of the said unknown heirs who are married, the lien creditors of the said unknown heirs, if any, and other persons who may have an interest in the subject matter of this suit, whose names are unknown and are included

PARTIES UNKNOWN” Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-441812

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to claim title to a certain parcel of land situated in the City of Richmond, Virginia, being previously owned by John T. Glasgow, Annie C. Glasgow, Hazel T. Glasgow and Mary C. Glasgow, more particularly described as follows: No. 603 North 31st Street, designated as 603 on a plat of said adjacent parcel by T. Crawford Redd & Bro., dated April 16, 1919, and recorded in the Clerk’s Office of the Chancery Court of the City of Richmond, Virginia in Deed Book 252 D, page 239.

The unknown heirs, descendants, devisees, assigns, and/or successors in title to John T. Glasgow, Annie C. Glasgow, Hazel T. Glasgow and Mary C. Glasgow, if deceased have or might have an interest in the property by deed, by inheritance, or by duly recorded liens.

Affidavit having been made and filed that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the identities and/or locations of certain parties to be served, and that there are or might be persons whose names are unknown, interested in the subject matter of this suit; It is ORDERED that the unknown heirs, descendants, devisees, assigns, and/or successors in title to John T. Glasgow, Annie C. Glasgow, Hazel T. Glasgow and Mary C. Glasgow, if living and if not living, their heirs at-law; and other unknown heirs or parties who have an interest in the subject matter of this suit, who are proceeded against as Unknown Heirs and Parties Unknown, appear before Court on or before December 13, 2022 to protect their interests, if any, in this suit.

I ask for this: Curtis D. Gordon, Esq., V.S.B. #25325 DANKOS, GORDON & TUCKER, P.C. 1360 East Parham Road, Suite 200 Richmond, VA 23228 Telephone: (804) 262-8000 Facsimile: (804) 262-8088

Email: cgordon@ dankosgordon.com Email: kroberts@ dankosgordon.com Counsel for Plaintiff Notice of Intent to Acquire Property: The Valentine Museum hereby notifies intent to acquire title to the objects listed below. There is no last known owner on record & this object will become the property of the museum after 65 days if no person can prove ownership of the property, pursuant to Code of VA § 55.1-2606. FIC.029103.01-.50 Drawings OM.81 Music stand OM.68.14 Card table FIC.007760 Ship model FIC.016010, FIC.019034-5, FIC.030414, FIC.031506, FIC.031546-8, FIC.031552, FIC.031554-5, FIC.031558, V.63.01.53, X.52.01.06, X.61.35.08 Photographic prints X.2022.38.01-.22 Photographic prints & glass negatives FIC.020378, OM.137, X.55.05a-c Letters OM.160.01, .03a,b-05, .0709, .11-12a,b, .15a,b-16a,b Letters OM.160.17 Manuscript V.82.12.09 Cabinet photograph Library4351, Library4358 Books

Please visit website or contact museum for information on how to make a claim:

The Valentine Museum Rachel Asbury Cole, Collections Project Manager/Registrar 804-649-0711 ext. 329 rasburycole@thevalentine. org http://www.thevalentine.org/ collections/undocumentedproperty

BID

COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION BID

ITB #22-2435-10JOK Taylor Farm Park Due: December 6, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. For additional information visit: https://henrico.us/ finance/divisions/purchasing/ solicitations/

SUBSCRIBE Richmond

— those other countries where the men go further in the tour nament and thus generate a larger prize pool. So obviously the economics of coupling that with women would probably be more significantly hurting the men than the women.”

EOE M/F/D/V

Committee, P. O. Box 34369, Richmond, VA 23234. No emails or hand deliveries will be accepted. This is an equal employment opportunity.

Associated Press file photo

Megan Rapinoe lifts up the trophy and celebrates with teammates after winning the Women’s World Cup final soccer match in July 2019 between the United States and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France.

The Associated Press