Lawsuit over Richmond Community Hospital building dropped Richmond Free Press
By George Copeland Jr.
As plans for the future of the old Richmond Community Hospital building continue to unfold, a lawsuit regarding its condition and preservation is being dropped.
Former Richmond City Council member Sa’ad El-Amin filed the suit last year over the deteriorating condition of the historic building, which opened in the 1930s to serve African American patients who were denied care elsewhere due to segregation.
The suit intended to prevent the building’s demolition as part of a housing project by Virginia Union University, who was given the building in the 1980s to ensure its preservation.
Thousands rally in city for “Hands Off!” protests against Trump and Musk
By George Copeland Jr.
A lack of managerial training, delayed projects and communication issues were among the problems identified as part of the final report on an outage at Richmond’s Water Treatment Plant that left the region without running water for days.
The after-action assessment, developed by consulting firm HNTB and released last week, is the last revision to a report that was released in-development across multiple months, and previously identified an equipment malfunction during the outage that led to the plant flooding.
“I want to thank HNTB for their thorough investigation and comprehensive report,” Mayor Danny Avula said in a statement on the report’s release.“We are committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again, and I’m grateful that the recommendations provided in this final assessment will put us on the right path.”
Alongside previous findings on how a
By Brodie Greene
Thousands of demonstrators
filled Downtown Richmond streets Saturday, marching from Capitol Square to Monroe Park as part of a nationwide series of “Hands Off” protests held in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The demonstrations targeted President Trump and billionaire tech executive Elon Musk, criticizing their influence over politics, social media and civil rights.
The Virginia chapter of 50501, which has organized several issue-specific protests in recent months, used this march to raise awareness about anti-immigrant policies implemented by the Trump administration, according to 50501 organizer Kienan Chung.
Anne Marks, who attended the march, said she’s concerned about minorities — including immigrants and women — losing their rights under the Trump administration. The daily news makes her blood boil, she said, and she felt she needed to get out of the house and take action.
“The biggest thing about going to the march is showing him that we do care and this is not okay. Whoever wants to not tell you it’s fine. It’s not,” Marks said.
Protest signs and chants at the march expressed concern for Mahmoud Khalil, a proPalestinian student activist at Columbia University who is currently held in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center after the State Department revoked his student visa.
Lauren Natale, who previously organized a protest against Gov. Glenn Youngkin for his support of Trump and attended the march as a bike marshal, said that deportation without due process puts all Americans at risk.
“Even non-citizens on our soil are entitled to the protections of the Constitution,” Natale said. “And many of us
lack of preparation, staff training and communication worsened the crisis, the final report noted problems with mechanical systems and plant leadership.
Staff at the Water Treatment Plant interviewed for the report said that, along with limited preparation ahead of the winter storm that led to the outage and mechanical failure, leaders didn’t discuss storm preparation with employees.
This oversight occurred despite multiple calls ahead of the storm held by city and state emergency departments.
The school announced plans to preserve the site just hours after the suit was filed late last year, following months of community pushback and outcry over its original plans for the building.
El-Amin explained the decision to drop the suit came after the previous judge attached to the case, Devika Davis, recused herself last week, leading to Judge Bradley Cavedo’s selection as her replacement.
El-Amin has criticized Cavedo’s work in the past, including filing a complaint in 2020 with the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission to remove Cavedo from his position over judicial injunctions barring the removal of Confederate Please turn to
By
A newly surfaced recording of Lt. Gov.
Earle-Sears is drawing sharp criticism from Democrats and federal employee unions, who say her remarks downplaying the impact of recent federal layoffs show a disregard for the thousands of Virginians — many of them veterans — who have lost their jobs under President Trump’s administration’s workforce cuts. In the clip, released last week by the progressive media outlet Meidas Touch, Earle-Sears is heard downplaying concerns from federal workers about job losses tied to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which already has axed more than 6,000 veterans and is on track to cut at least 80,000 VA employees nationwide, according to the Associated Press. In the recording, which appears to be from a March 13 gath-
turn to A4
Apr. 6. The event featured train rides, kite demonstrations and a children’s entrepreneurship market. Attendees could also make and decorate their own kites if they didn’t bring one.
Protesters fill Mainstreet during the “Hands Off!” rally on Saturday, April 6, marching from Capitol Square to Monroe Park in opposition to the influence of President Trump and Elon Musk on politics and civil rights.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Chasing the wind Solomon, 4, picks up speed during Kite Day at Dorey Park on Sunday,
Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears speaks at a bill-signing event in Richmond on March 19, as Gov. Glenn Youngkin looks on. At the event, both doubled down on the necessity of sweeping federal layoffs while attempting to reassure Virginians that the state’s economy is resilient.
Markus Schmidt
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
The former Richmond Community Hospital on Overbrook Road.
Loretta Beechaum
Council questions mayor’s proposed spending, salary increases and rate hikes
By George Copeland Jr.
Richmond City Council members raised sharp questions Monday during the first in-depth discussion of Mayor Danny Avula’s proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year, challenging both spending priorities and potential cost increases for residents.
The budget work session featured a presentation by Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sabrina Joy-Hogg, just days after Avula publicly outlined his proposal. Much of the conversation focused on the financial impact on the public.
While Avula promised his budget wouldn’t raise property taxes, the proposal came with planned rate increases for gas, water, stormwater and wastewater services meant to maintain and upgrade the city’s aging infrastructure.
“We are a very old city,” said Joy-Hogg of the increases, stressing that they weren’t due to the water crisis but part of an annual process. “We have to take care of our infrastructure.”
But council members Kenya Gibson, (3rd District), and Sarah Abubaker, (4th District), expressed concern about the burden on city residents already struggling with rising costs.
“People are breaking under the cost of living in the city,” Abubaker said. “It is not on individuals to sustain this budget. It can’t be.”
The city’s planned expenditures also were concerns for Abubaker and Reva Trammell, 8th District, in particular planned salary increases for City Hall employees.
“When you’ve got employees making $200,000, $300,000, should they be getting at this time the 3%?” Trammell said. Joy-Hogg, like Avula during his presentation, cited the challenges the city faces in generating revenue as key to their budget choices. This includes the large amount of tax-exempt properties in Richmond, inflation and possible funding cuts on the federal level.
Richmond is also set to freeze its real estate assessments in 2026 in order to align the assessment and budget cycle calendars. The process will leave the city without an increase in a revenue stream that accounts for about 76% of its general fund, according to Joy-Hogg.
“To get through FY 2027 with very little projected incremental revenue, we should be putting away money now,” Joy-Hogg said.
These challenges, however, only made the raises, including one for Avula from about $131,000 to $175,000, and other specific expenditures more questionable for City Council.
Council members also flagged concerns about limited time to review the budget documents, as well as issues related to community investment, service redundancies and vacant positions.
Despite the tough questioning, city officials appeared open to changes. Avula opened the session by acknowledging the inclusion of unrelated policy items in the proposed budget and said he welcomed council input.
“Just know that however you all want to approach that, if you want to pull some of those items out, I’m more than supportive of that,” Avula said. “We’ll continue to work out our processes and figure out our rhythms over the next four years in terms of how we do this.”
The second of four budget work sessions is scheduled for Monday, April 14.
Torian succeeds Bagby as leader of Virginia Legislative Black Caucus
Free Press staff report
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus elected Delegate Luke Torian as its new chair last week, succeeding Sen. Lamont Bagby, who led the group for seven years. Bagby, who will now chair the Democratic Party of Virginia, called his tenure with the caucus “a true honor.”
“Together, we have led efforts for real policy change in the aftermath of national crises and confronted a governor who fails to protect our most vulnerable communities,” Bagby said. “These challenges have shaped my leadership and strengthened my focus on creating a commonwealth where opportunity, justice and safety are available to all.”
Torian, the incoming chair, vowed to prioritize issues affecting marginalized Virginians.
“The VLBC is stronger, better equipped and more determined than ever to fight for those who have been overlooked for too long,” Torian said. “Our priority remains on addressing issues everyday Virginians face — from cuts to health care benefits to underfunded schools and wages that don’t meet the cost of living.”
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending Saturday, April 5, COVID-19 represented 0.8% of all emergency department visits in Virginia. Overall, respiratory illness rates remained low and continued to trend downward compared to previous data. No COVID-19-related deaths were reported at press time. As of March 2, COVID-19 wastewater data for Richmond was unavailable, but levels in Henrico County remained steady. CDC monitoring from March 23 to 29 detected high viral activity across Virginia, with reports from six sites statewide. The highest concentrations were found in the northwestern and southwestern regions, as well as in Petersburg. For Virginia Department of Health testing locations, visit vdh. virginia.gov. Additional testing site information can be found at vax.rchd.com.
Want a COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are approved for those 6 months and older, while Novavax is for individuals age 12 and older. To schedule an appointment with the Richmond and Henrico health districts, call 804-2053501. A list of pharmacies and clinics offering the vaccine is available at vaccines.gov. Additional locations can be found by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or calling 1-800-232-0233. Compiled by George Copeland Jr.
Correction
Cityscape
Hanover to recognize students who led school integration 60 years ago
By Jennifer Robinson
Sixty years ago, eight courageous students walked through the doors of Hanover County’s segregated schools, defying resistance and reshaping history. This month, their legacy will be permanently honored.
The Hanover Branch NAACP, in partnership with Hanover County Public Schools, will host two commemorative ceremonies recognizing these pioneers of school integration. Plaques will be unveiled at Patrick Henry High School and Mechanicsville High School, serving as lasting tributes to their bravery and contributions to racial equality.
The first ceremony, set for April 14 at Patrick Henry High School, will honor sisters Arlene and Harriett Thompson. One week later, on April 21, Mechanicsville High School, formerly known as Lee-Davis High School, will celebrate the perseverance of Raymond Bagby, Jacqueline and Blanche Holmes, and siblings Walter, Norbert and Phyllis Lee. Walter and Norbert Lee, along with their cousin Phyllis Lee, are the surviving members of the Mechanicsville group and will receive individual plaques.
“These plaques stand as lasting symbols of their courage and the strides they made in transforming our educational system,” said Pat Jordan, president of the Hanover NAACP.
Their journey was not easy. Like much of Virginia, Hanover County clung
to segregation under the state’s Massive Resistance policy, delaying integration until the courts forced action. Even then, the road was paved with hardship.
“In the locker room when the teacher wasn’t around, some of the guys would say, ‘I smell a gar—not a cigar, but a niggar,’” Norbert Lee said. “Extra-curriculars weren’t for us. I don’t know if they would have allowed it, but after everything we went through in class and in the hallways, you didn’t even want to try.”
For Walter and Norbert Lee, the namecalling, the cold shoulders, and the exclusion were daily battles. Yet, those trials shaped them.
“We did a very momentous thing—we didn’t realize it then,” Walter Lee said. “But looking back, if I could go through that, I know there’s nothing I can’t tackle.”
The April 14 ceremony at Patrick Henry High School begins at 2 p.m. and the April 21 event at Mechanicsville High School starts at 3 p.m.
VCU students renew calls for accountability from university leadership
By George Copeland Jr.
Students at Virginia Commonwealth University are once again demanding increased accountability, protection and engagement from university leadership regarding its ties to the war in Gaza and federal influence on its policies.
During a press conference outside the James Branch Cabell Library last week, members of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at VCU reiterated their calls for the university to disclose and divest any financial connections to companies linked to the Israeli government and the ongoing conflict.
“We will not stop demanding that the university live up to the values it claims to uphold,” said Palestinian student and SJP member Sereen Haddad, speaking alongside fellow students and members Kenza Zitouni and Cristina Sayegh.
The organization also called on university officials to establish VCU as a “sanctuary campus” to ensure the safety of marginalized students from law enforcement, to reject anti-Palestinian conditions for federal funding, and to ban military recruiters, corporations and partners from the college grounds.
The role of the student body, college staff and faculty in decision-making was also a key focus. They specifically expressed concern over the VCU Board of Visitors’ control over decisions related to the curriculum, faculty and the surrounding community.
munity members of Richmond stand.”
The press conference was the latest gathering on VCU’s campus related to the war, following a ceasefire that ended weeks earlier but still saw ongoing death and violence.
ings, chalk drawings, face coverings, and other activities. Despite these restrictions, the press conference drew a sizable crowd, with about 40 students and others attending.
An April 3 article about the hiring of Phil Martelli Jr. as VCU’s new men’s basketball head coach incorrectly stated that he
Mike
leave VCU for Penn
for Penn State. While
in 2023, Martelli is not his direct successor. The Free Press regrets the error.
“VCU has been avoiding us, not meeting with us,” Sayegh said. “By holding this press conference and listing our demands, we hope to make a stand and show where the people and the students and the com-
It also was the latest anti-war gathering held by VCU students, whose protests have continued after a “liberation zone” on the library’s lawn last year ended with a crowd of students and residents dispersed by campus, city and state police with riot shields and tear gas. That event led to multiple arrests and charges that were later dismissed. Since then, new VCU policies have imposed limits and requirements on gather-
“All of these people who have all these different concerns are coming together to understand that our struggles are interconnected, they are not separate,” Haddad said. “And once we do understand, once we do figure out that we all need to be working together is ... when we truly will be able to persevere.”
When reached for a response to the demands, a VCU spokesperson said they “don’t have any comments regarding the students or their activity.”
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia displayed projections on the Leigh Street side of its building last Wednesday night in honor of Richmond’s 160th Emancipation Day. The exhibit, created by artists Dustin Klein and Alex Criqui of Reclaiming the Monument, featured historical images and text highlighting African American soldiers who served in the First Battalion Virginia Volunteers at the Leigh Street Armory. The temporary installation lasted about 20 minutes.
replaced
Rhoades, who left
Rhoades did
State
Angeline Herron
Norbert Lee stands outside Mechanicsville High School, formerly Lee-Davis High, where he helped integrate the student body 60 years ago. Lee and other trailblazing classmates will be honored with commemorative plaques this month.
George Copeland Jr./Richmond Free Press
Sereen Haddad, center, speaks during a press conference outside the James Branch Cabell Library last week, joined by fellow VCU students and Students for Justice in Palestine members Cristina Sayegh and Kenza Zitouni.
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Lawsuit over hospital building dropped
statues by the Richmond and Virginia governments. Cavedo’s orders would later be thrown out by the Virginia Supreme Court.
“I just don’t have the energy,” El-Amin said when asked about dropping the lawsuit. “We can go away with a small victory. We got what we really wanted.”
El-Amin added that public interest in the building’s condition had waned since VUU’s announcement, potentially leaving him without the community support he believes is essential for a case like this.
Viola Baskerville, who co-founded the Save Community Hospital group in response to VUU’s initial intent, disagreed
with El-Amin’s perspective on public interest.
“The community’s fight was to bring attention to the critical significance of the building as a cultural asset worthy of saving and to keep it from being demolished,” Baskerville stated in an e-mail. “We accomplished that. The current state of the building, however, is still an issue.”
El-Amin remained critical of VUU’s management of the building, the City of Richmond’s failure to hold them accountable and the need for a non-profit entity to take control.
“They’ve done nothing with it since it was gifted to them ... and they don’t intend to do anything,” El-Amin said. “They haven’t even tried to cover up the windows that are broken.”
El-Amin said seeking an injunction could still be an option
if VUU fails to follow through on preserving the site. He also plans to contact the Internal Revenue Service about the building’s condition but acknowledged that recent staffing cuts at the agency could complicate those efforts.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for VUU did not address the lawsuit directly, but stated the school is “eager to help address Richmond’s housing crisis by building new places for people to live.”
“This includes bringing the Richmond Community Hospital building back to life as a center for health and wellness,” the spokesperson said. “The entire project is moving through the review and permitting process now, and we hope to break ground later this year.”
Thousands rally in city for “Hands Off!” protests against Trump and Musk
don’t understand that. We are not aware that the rights of the Constitution apply to everybody.”
During a speech, Josué Castillo, who works for an advocacy organization called New Virginia Majority, said that immigrants involved in advocacy were invited to participate in the protest, but many only felt comfortable expressing themselves anonymously.
“The truth is, when we’ve talked to our members, they’re scared. They know that there’s been attacks on immigrants for expressing their freedom of speech,” Castillo said.
“Nearly one-tenth of our state budget is paid for by their hard work. Many will go on to start their own businesses, creating jobs for us all. Even undocumented immigrants pay taxes and they will never see any benefits from it,” White said.
The march, which stretched down Main Street, paused traffic both ways on Belvidere Street for about 15 minutes. There were no significant issues reported from the event, according to statements from Capitol Police and the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department.
According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, approximately 12.5% of Virginia residents are immigrants. Andrew White, an independent candidate for governor, emphasized this point in his speech.
In leaked audio, Sears downplays job losses tied to Trump cuts
ering, Earle-Sears addresses the recent federal layoffs tied to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“Now I’m hearing about DOGE and all of that,” she begins, before quickly shifting to a broader defense of Virginia’s job market. She insists that “we don’t want folks to lose their jobs,” but points to what she says are “over 250,000 jobs that we’ve created since we’ve been in office” as evidence of economic strength.
Earle-Sears then pivots to suggest that job loss is a common experience, asking the crowd, “How many here have ever lost a job?” When some respond affirmatively, she continues: “Oh, you mean it’s not unusual? It happens to everybody all the time? Okay.” She concludes by criticizing the media coverage surrounding the layoffs, saying, “The media is making it out to be this huge, huge thing. And I don’t understand why.”
The reaction from union officials and political opponents was swift.
“She was caught on tape saying she doesn’t know why this is a huge deal,” said Christine Surrette, national vice president for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) District 4 and a former VA employee.
“I’ve had to console employees who were laid off, who don’t know how they’ll make rent. Some have taken their own lives. Sears isn’t on the side of Virginians,” Surette said on a Zoom call set up by the Democratic Party of Virginia last Thursday.
Earle-Sears, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran herself, is currently leading the pack in the Republican gubernatorial primary and has leaned heavily into her alignment with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and, despite disavowing him more than two years ago, Trump.
The layoffs, which have significantly affected Virginia’s large population of veteran federal employees, are part of a broader federal work-
force reduction effort launched under Trump’s second-term agenda of fiscal reset.
A spokeswoman for Earle-Sears’ campaign declined to comment, but pointed to a video the lieutenant governor posted on X, formerly Twitter, in February, where she expressed empathy for federal workers facing layoffs.
“I have been in your shoes and I totally understand what it is to not know how the next paycheck is coming,” Earle-Sears said in the video. “I know it from being an employee and I also know it from being a small business owner, and so I want to say this to you that we see you.”
“ The media is making it out to be this huge, huge thing. And I don’t understand why.”
— LT. GOV. WINSOME EARLE-SEARS
At the same time, she reaffirmed her support for Trump’s efforts to cut federal spending — even if it results in job losses.
“Our government, without question, owes us answers to how the money is being spent,” she said. “We work very hard for those dollars in order for the government to tax us, and so the government must be accountable to us and tell us how it is spending our hard earned dollars.”
Earle-Sears added that it’s also important to ensure support is available for those who lose their jobs and want to pursue new opportunities.
“It is also a given that we want to make sure that you have the money that you need to find a job or if you want to start a new career or even to go into business and how to do that,” she said.
Earle-Sears went on to promote Youngkin’s plan to connect laid-off federal employees with new job opportunities in Virginia.
But her critics say the damage is done.
“She’s talking about someone’s life being turned upside down,” said Monique Samuels, president of AFGE Local 1992, which represents Defense Logistics Agency workers in Richmond. “Losing a job in any situation is devastating. With thousands of Virginians facing layoffs, there will be a larger economic impact that will hurt every Virginian, but Sears doesn’t care.”
The layoffs already have disrupted essential services at facilities like the Hampton VA Medical Center, where 12 employees initially lost their jobs although one later was allowed to return, and the soon-to-open clinic in Chesapeake, where local lawmakers already are raising concerns about staffing levels.
“We were struggling before,” said Sheila Elliott, president of AFGE Local 2328. “We’re already seeing appointments being rescheduled because doctors and nurses can’t do their jobs because they don’t have the tools that they need to get that job done. Yesterday we received 50 messages, people are worried about what’s happening next.”
Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor, also weighed in.
“Virginia’s federal employees are real people with real bills to pay,” she said in a statement. “Now is not the time for the lieutenant governor to put blind ideology and allegiance to a political party ahead of the livelihoods of our neighbors and the strength of Virginia’s economy.”
Virginia is home to the Pentagon, multiple military bases and one of the highestveteran populations nationwide. Many of those veterans transition into federal civilian roles after their service — jobs that have become increasingly precarious as DOGE enacts mass terminations in the name of “efficiency.”
“I understand firsthand the importance of ensuring that our VAs are fully staffed and prepared to care for and support the men and women who have served our country. And right now, that’s all at risk,” said Ottis Johnson, AFGE District
14 vice president and a veteran himself.
“As VA and employees are facing layoffs, our veterans earned their benefits, and they deserve better than threats to their care. But it is not just veterans who are at risk because of these attacks on federal jobs. Virginia’s economy depends on federal jobs. People are going to feel this in every corner of the commonwealth.”
Less than a week after the leaked remarks were recorded, Earle-Sears appeared alongside Youngkin at a March 19 event in Richmond where both officials defended the job cuts as part of a larger plan for national economic health.
“Today, we know we have a federal government that is facing huge fiscal issues with $37 trillion in debt, with $2 trillion being added every year,” Youngkin said. “What that requires is real action quickly.”
Earle-Sears echoed the message, calling Virginia “resilient” and citing CNBC’s ranking of the commonwealth as the top state for business in 2024. Both touted the state’s Virginia Has Jobs platform, which they say lists over 250,000 available positions for displaced workers.
But union leaders say those promises don’t match reality.
“These workers can’t just walk into another job next week,” Surrette said. “Many are specialized professionals. Some are still waiting on severance. And in the meantime, veterans are waiting on appointments, prescriptions, and essential services.”
Surrette added that the disruption goes far beyond temporary economic turbulence, but that it strikes at the heart of the values many federal employees hold.
“These are people who dedicated their lives to serving others … many of them twice, first in uniform and then in federal agencies. They deserve more than lip service. They deserve respect, support and stability.”
This story originally appeared on VirginiaMercury.com.
Final water crisis report identifies training, communication failures
Miscommunication between members of City government and the Department of Public Utilities was another new insight.
HNTB highlighted a message from an “unclear” source that the plant’s backup generator was restored following the outage, which spread across regional leadership and “likely caused a false sense of security” in the crisis’ early hours.
The Mayor’s Office also was unaware of the extent of the crisis until an afternoon briefing at 1 p.m., hours after the outage.
The final report noted training and development for manag-
ers and supervisors also was lacking, alongside long delays in implementing planned capital projects.
New recommendations from the final report include implementing seasonal risk assessments with all plant staff involved to identify potential risks and refresh knowledge of emergency procedures.
HNTB also advised a procedure to manually shut down the plant’s SCADA control system in the event of imminent failures, regular training for management and reviews of the plant organizational structure.
An estimated $5 million is needed to cover total recovery costs. DPU Director Scott Morris said a re-evaluation of orga-
nizational, staffing and resource needs is underway, during a meeting with Richmond City Council on Monday.
Other changes based on HNTB’s recommendations also are in progress, according to Morris, with an eye toward clarity in the process for City officials.
“We’re going to add that additional layer of transparency, just so you can see that these activities are being done now and not in a back room,” Morris said.
A report from Hagerty Consulting on Richmond’s disaster planning and emergency response, including the water crisis, is expected to be completed by Friday, May 9.
Photos by Brian Palmer
Thousands of protesters flood Main Street and Capitol Square in Richmond during the ‘Hands Off!’ march, part of a nationwide demonstration against Trump’s policies on immigration, civil rights and other issues.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION OF VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES: 230 KV TECHNOLOGY BOULEVARD LINES, BUNKER SUBSTATION, AND SALTWOOD SWITCHING STATION CASE NO. PUR-2025-00042
On March 7, 2025, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) an application (“Application”) for approval and certification of electric transmission facilities in the County of Henrico, Virginia. Dominion filed its Application pursuant to § 56-46.1 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) and the Utility Facilities Act, Code § 56-265.1 et seq
Through its Application, the Company proposes to complete the following (collectively, “Project”):
Construct a new overhead 230 kilovolt (“kV”) double circuit transmission line originating at a cut-in location on the Company’s future 230 kV Chickahominy – White Oak Line #2294 at Structure #2294/116 near Technology Boulevard and extending approximately 4.6 miles within a new 100-foot-wide right-of-way, interconnecting the proposed Bunker Substation and Saltwood Switching Station, before terminating at a cut-in location on the existing 230 kV Chickahominy – Portugee Line #2091 at Structure #2091/64 near the existing Elko Substation (“Technology Boulevard Lines”). The proposed Technology Boulevard Lines will be supported primarily by double circuit weathering steel monopoles and will utilize three-phase twinbundled 768.2 Aluminum Conductor Steel Supported/Trapezoidal Wire/High Strength type conductor with a summer transfer capability of 1,573 megavolt amperes.
Construct a new 230-34.5 kV substation (“Bunker Substation”) and a new 230 kV switching station (“Saltwood Switching Station”) in Henrico County, Virginia, on real estate rights to be obtained by the Company.
Dominion asserts that the Project is necessary to provide service requested by two data center customers (collectively, “Customers”) in Henrico County, and to maintain reliable electric service consistent with North American Electric Reliability Corporation Reliability Standards for the overall growth in the load area surrounding the Company’s existing White Oak Substation (“Technology Boulevard Load Area”). For purposes of its Application, Dominion defines the Technology Boulevard Load Area generally as “an area in Henrico County, Virginia, encompassing the industrial-zoned lands along Technology Boulevard and bounded by Meadow Road to the north, Elko Road to the east, the CSX Railroad to the south, and Interstate 95 to the west.”
Dominion represents that the Customers have requested that the Company serve two new data center developments in the eastern area of Henrico County, within White Oak Technology Park (“WOTP”): Data Center Development A and Data Center Development B (collectively, “Developments”). Dominion further represents that to serve the Customers’ projected load identified in the delivery point requests (approximately 600 megawatts (“MW”)), the Company is proposing to construct the proposed Bunker Substation to serve Data Center Development A (300 MW), and the proposed Saltwood Switching Station to serve Data Center Development B (300 MW).
Dominion states that the Company identified an approximately 4.6-mile overhead proposed route for the Technology Boulevard Lines (“Proposed Route”). According to the Company, “[n] o viable alternative routes were identified that similarly maximize collocation opportunities and feasibly interconnect the proposed substations located on the Customers’ Developments . . . .”
Dominion further represents that it selected the Proposed Route because “it meets the Project’s need, avoids residential areas by routing within the WOTP, minimizes impacts to sensitive environmental features such as the Canal Swamp, and is compatible with existing and future land use plans including the planned data center developments driving the need for additional future substations in the Project area.”
Dominion represents that the Company’s proposed Bunker Substation initially will be constructed with four 230 kV breakers and two 230 kV lines, with six 230 kV breakers and four 230 kV lines at ultimate buildout. Dominion states that the Bunker Substation will be built to 4,000 ampere (“A”) standards, and that the total area of the Bunker Substation within the fenceline is approximately 5.7 acres.
Dominion represents that the Company’s proposed Saltwood Switching Station will be constructed with six 230 kV breakers and four 230 kV lines and will be built to 4,000A standards. Dominion states that the total area of the Saltwood Switching Station within the fenceline is approximately 2.6 acres.
The Company’s desired in-service target date for the Project is March 31, 2028. The Company estimates that it will take approximately 27 months after a final order from the Commission for detailed engineering, materials procurement, permitting, real estate, and construction of the Project. Dominion represents that the total estimated conceptual cost of the Project along the Proposed Route is approximately $58.2 million, which includes approximately $36.3 million for transmission-related work and approximately $21.9 million for station-related work (in 2024 dollars).
Description of Routes for the proposed Project Proposed Route The Proposed Route of the Technology Boulevard Lines is approximately 4.6 miles in length. Beginning at a cut-in location on the Company’s future Chickahominy – White Oak Line #2294 at Structure #2294/116 approximately 0.1 mile east of the intersection of Technology Boulevard and Techpark Place Road, the route travels east along the south side of Technology Boulevard before turning north and crossing Technology Boulevard. The route then turns northeast and continues for approximately 0.6 mile and passes Technology Substation before entering the proposed Bunker Substation, located approximately 0.1 mile south of Elko Road. The route leaves the proposed substation and heads southeast for approximately 1.7 miles, crossing Technology Creek Drive and paralleling the south side of Engineered Wood Way before entering the proposed Saltwood Switching Station, located 0.2 mile west of the intersection of Elko Road and White Oak Road. The route leaves the proposed switching station, continues southwest, and crosses Canal Swamp before turning south toward Portugee Road. The route then turns west and parallels the north side of Portugee Road for 0.7 mile and crosses Technology Boulevard before cutting into existing 230 kV Chickahominy – Portugee Line #2091 at Structure #2091/64, immediately north of the Elko Substation and Portugee Road.
The Proposed Route of the Technology Boulevard Lines will be supported primarily by double circuit weathering steel monopoles. For the Proposed Route, the minimum structure height is 100 feet, the maximum structure height is 145 feet, and the average structure height is 115 feet, based on preliminary conceptual design, not including foundation reveal and subject to change based on final engineering design.
All distances, heights, and directions are approximate. A sketch map of the proposals accompanies this notice. A more detailed map may be viewed on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/consumers/public-utility/electricity-faqs/transmission-line-projects A more complete description of the Project also may be found in the Company’s Application.
The Commission may consider a route not significantly different from the route described in this notice without additional notice to the public.
The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing on Dominion’s Application. On September 16, 2025, at 10 a.m., the Hearing Examiner assigned to this case will hold the telephonic portion of the hearing for the purpose of receiving the testimony of public witnesses. On or before September 9, 2025, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission: (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/case-information/webcasting; or (ii) by calling (804) 371-9141 to register. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/case-information/webcasting
On September 16, 2025, at 10 a.m. or at the conclusion of the public witness portion of the hearing, whichever is later, in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Hearing Examiner will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff.
To promote administrative efficiency and timely service of filings upon participants, the Commission has directed the electronic filing of testimony and pleadings, unless they contain confidential information, and has required electronic service on parties to this proceeding.
Electronic copies of the Application and other supporting materials may be inspected at: www.dominionenergy.com/techblvd An electronic copy of the Company’s Application also may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Vishwa B. Link, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or vlink@mcguirewoods.com Interested persons also may download unofficial copies of the Application and other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/case-information
On or before September 9, 2025, any interested person may submit comments on the Application by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia. gov/case-information/submit-public-comments Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00042.
On or before June 9, 2025, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation electronically on counsel to the Company, any other respondents, and the Commission’s Staff. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-2080 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq. (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00042.
On or before July 9, 2025, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served electronically on the Commission’s Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with their filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice, as modified herein, including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 5-20140, Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00042.
Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
The Company’s Application and other documents filed in this case, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing may be viewed on the Commission’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/case-information
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY
Richmond Free Press
Woman’s work
This year, it’s all but certain that Virginia’s next governor won’t be the best man for the job—because for the first time in the state’s history, both major parties have nominated women. Last week, Democrats and Republicans made it official, setting up a historical race that guarantees Virginia will finally elect its first female governor.
For the Republican nominee, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, being first isn’t a new thing. She’s the first Black woman to hold statewide office in Virginia. Back in 2001, she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, marking her as the first Black Republican woman to hold that position. She’s also the first female former veteran to serve as lieutenant governor in Virginia. The former Marine is also the first naturalized citizen to serve as Virginia’s lieutenant governor, having immigrated to the United States from Jamaica when she was 6.
Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee, also isn’t from around here, having been born in a far off land called “New Jersey.” She moved to Henrico County while a teenager and graduated from J.R. Tucker High School. She became the first Democrat since 1968 and the first woman ever to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in 2018 when she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Before entering politics, she served as a CIA officer, focusing on nuclear proliferation and terrorism until 2014. Prior to that, she held the extremely challenging position of substitute teacher. (If you’ve been there, you know.)
Both women are poised to make history on Election Day — and neither wants to be remembered as the first woman to lose a Virginia gubernatorial race — to another woman. Each presents a unique vision for the state’s future and carries the hopes of voters who see their candidacy as progress — not only for women, but for their parties as well.
History, it would seem, is on Spanberger’s side. In the past, Virginia voters haven’t selected nominees from the same political party that occupies the White House. It’s called the “Virginia Way.” One exception was the election of Terry McCauliffe, in 2013 who was elected while Barack Obama was in his second term as president. This year, there sits another transformative figure in American politics in the White House, but we anticipate that this “Virginia Way” trend may continue.
As for Sears, it appears that she has some important Republicans in her corner, besides the governor. Which may not seem to be a big deal, but for some reason it took awhile for some of the more prominent voices in the party to come around to supporting her candidacy. They made sharp criticisms of her campaign and her positions before falling in line, calling her “unelectable,” claiming that she had “already given up,” and that she was “not the strongest candidate.” As the saying goes, “it be your own people …”
The campaigns of Spanberger and Sears bring to mind another history-maker — Mary Sue Terry. Back in 1993, she was Virginia’s attorney general and the first woman nominated by a major party for governor. But things didn’t go her way. Some say party squabbling on the Democratic side hurt her chances. Others point to the campaign’s struggle to connect with Black voters. Whatever the reasons, a political rookie named George Allen became the next governor.
The Democratic Party and Spanberger have the opportunity to apply lessons learned and make the right kind of history in November. The stakes are high and the whole country is watching.
No matter who wins, Virginia will be turning a page in its history books — and writing a new chapter led by a woman. The question now is whose story voters want to tell.
Trump’s Smithsonian order mirrors tactics of Nazis, Soviets
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch and other staff members at the Smithsonian are upset, and they have every right to be. The Smithsonian network spans 21 museums and has become one of the latest presidential targets through an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The order directs the removal of “improper, divisive or antiAmerican ideology” from its museums.
heritage” in a message shared with staff members.
The order reads, “Once widely respected as a symbol of American excellence and a global icon of cultural achievement, the Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology.” Civil rights advocates, historians and Black political leaders have sharply rebuked the president for specifically calling out the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) by name in the executive order. About 60% of the Smithsonian’s funding comes from the federal government. Bunch, the first Black person to lead the Smithsonian, said the museum will “remain committed to telling the multifaceted stories of this country’s extraordinary
“This is a truly great museum. I’ve learned, and I’ve seen, and they’ve done an incredible job. What they’ve done here is something that probably cannot be duplicated. It was done with love and lots of money, right Lonnie? We can’t avoid that. But
it was done with tremendous love and passion and that’s why it’s so great,” Trump said in 2017. Trump is correct; it is a great museum. The president saw firsthand the true depth and struggle of the Black experience. He viewed several exhibits, including the “Paradox of Liberty.” Bunch mentioned how the 612 bricks surrounding a statue of Thomas Jefferson represented each of the 612 enslaved people Jefferson owned during his lifetime. Bunch explained, “You can’t understand Jefferson without understanding slavery. For us, this whole museum is about humanizing stories of people left out of history.” The president and members of his entourage also witnessed the exhibit featuring Ben Carson and his accomplishments as a surgeon.
Trump never returned to the museum, but his public views and opinions are much clearer now. Could it be that in 2017,
instead of witnessing something valuable and worth maintaining, Trump was taking note of something that MAGA needed to destroy? As part of the first Trump administration, Ben Carson is in a unique position. He is a Black Republican who is a Trump enabler, yet his legacy as a renowned brain surgeon, which is displayed at the NMAAHC, could be under threat. Obviously, the Carson exhibit didn’t sway Trump’s 2025 rhetoric and actions. Will Ben Carson publicly defend the NMAAHC or simply go along with the Project 2025 goals concerning the museum? Carson could be a powerful voice in coming to the museum’s defense and sounding the alarm against the authoritarian control of the nation’s premier museum complex. He could also be an influential voice to other Black Republicans, which is unlikely given his Project 2025 ties. The former HUD secretary authored a radical MAGA Project 2025 proposal to gut HUD by proposing a “wholesale overhaul” of HUD to undo “corrosive progressive ideologies” and “race-based policies.” It is unlikely Carson will have a Michael Cohen moment and turn against Trump. Where does that leave Sen. Tim Scott? He was there in 2017 as part of the president’s Black inner circle, but he, too, will likely remain silent. There is a long list of Trump enablers whose
Wealth gets votes, not victory
Lately Elon Musk has been looking like a good candidate for Washington’s unofficial “So Sorry to See You Go” award.
We used to hand it out annually on “The McLaughlin Group,” among other deliberately dubi ous honors, as a snarky salute to the formerly powerful and influential who, in the inevitable way that Wash ington cycles through its lu minaries, had outlasted their sell-by date.
With the passing of longtime host John McLaughlin in 2016, the show faded away, just before Donald Trump’s first presidency could provide us with a seemingly endless supply of new contenders for the Olympics of political stardom.
That process came back to mind as rumors began to circulate that Musk, the oligarch behind Tesla, X and SpaceX, among other business ventures, was going to exit his controversial role in President Trump’s administration and return to private sector concerns.
Musk, as everyone knows, dominated headlines this year after Trump empowered him to slash the federal workforce as head of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, which is not a “department,” since that would require confirmation by Congress. This came after Musk spent $290 million in 2024 to elect Trump and other Republican candidates.
As Trump’s right-hand man, he has wielded his unsupervised power like a chainsaw to eliminate thousands of government jobs
and sow chaos in many federal agencies. Unfortunately, Musk’s minions have given the boot to lots of long-tenured workers with what seemed to be shockingly little consideration for the valuable services those workers have provided. Unfortunately, Musk’s army of DOGE data wizards has shown questionable abilities to distinguish
real waste, fraud and abuse from what many of us would call essential services.
Horror stories abound of lawsuits filed by government workers abruptly locked out of their offices and email accounts, and Musk set off alarm bells with a series of false claims about “fraud” that DOGE discovered in the Social Security system.
Musk chose to propagate these falsehoods on his influential social media platform, X, which had already become notorious among Democrats and others of the political center and left for amplifying disinformation from right-wing extremists.
Not surprisingly, a backlash against Musk and his enterprises has spread like wildfire, even leading to vandalism against his best known business, Tesla. But the truly painful manifestation of distaste with Musk has been entirely legal, as consumers have shunned his cars. Owing to Tesla’s tanking sales, Musk reportedly lost more than a fourth of his total net worth since January as the company’s shares plunged.
Yes, losing $121 billion in three months is enough to put anyone in a bad mood. But Musk had more losing to do, as he traveled to Wisconsin to don the obligatory
foam cheesehead hat to campaign for conservative Judge Brad Schimel in a special election for the state’s supreme court. Why did Musk care enough about this election to blow $20 million and a lot of time and effort on it? Because the party that controls Wisconsin’s supreme court also controls the drawing of congressional districts, and thus (potentially) controls the U.S. House of Representatives after the next election. And thus, as Musk put it, it will control the fate of Western civilization.
Even though it was an offyear election, a surprisingly high turnout gave liberal Judge Susan Crawford enough votes to win handily. Thanks to Schimel’s unabashed fealty to President Trump and the patronage of Musk, who stooped to handing out milliondollar checks to supporters of a petition against “activist” judges, Wisconsin voters had the pleasure of articulating the nation’s evolving opinion of Musk and DOGE.
Musk’s defeat in Wisconsin last Tuesday night was a new sign of energy on the political left. Importantly, Democrats won special elections for state legislative seats in Iowa and Pennsylvania and defeated a handful of Republican-backed state referendums in Louisiana.
Wisconsin Democrats couldn’t be happier, as the state’s high court is expected to consider cases related to abortion rights, union rights and voting rules, in addition to congressional redistricting.
And what about Musk? The Beatles sang, “Money can’t buy me love.”
Perhaps Musk, more unloved than ever, has learned money can’t always buy you votes, either.
The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
failure to speak out continues to fail America. Sen.
Mitch McConnell and Supreme Court Chief Justice
are among a few on that shameful list. David Blight is a historian and professor of history and African American studies at Yale University. He regards the moves targeting cultural targets such as the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service as drawn from the authoritarian playbook. Blight noted, “It’s what the Nazis did. It’s what Spain did. It’s what Mussolini tried. This is like the Soviets: they revised the Soviet encyclopedia every year to update the official history. Americans don’t have an official history; at least we’ve tried never to have to.” The writer is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body.
Scott, Sen.
Roberts
Clarence Page
David W. Marshall
Commentary/Letter to the Editor
Hip-hop can document life in America more reliably than history books
Describing my 2017 appointment as a faculty member, the University of Virginia dubbed me the school’s “first” hip-hop professor. Even if the job title and the historic nature of the appointment might have merited it, the word was misleading.
Kyra Gaunt, a Black woman who is a foundational figure in the study of hip-hop, worked as a professor of ethnomusicology at the University of Virginia from 1996 to 2002.
Her book “The Games Black Girls Play,” which focuses on Black music practices, was published in 2006. I cited her in my work and in the interview I gave before accepting the job.
Also cited in my doctoral work, presented in my interview with the University of Virginia, was scholar Joe Schloss, who worked at the school from 2000 to 2001. In 2009, he wrote “Foundation: B-boys, B-girls, and Hip-Hop Culture in New York.” And in 2014 he wrote “Making Beats: The Art of Sample-Based Hip-Hop.”
After pushback from readers online, UVA Today, the school’s new site, amended its original headline documenting my appointment and added Gaunt’s contributions to the article.
As a rapper and scholar, I have experienced and seen misleading hip-hop stories that highlight an impulse to inaccurately document the genre’s history and present. I raised this issue recently in a TikTok “office hours” video – part of a series in which I respond to audience questions from the vantage of hip-hop art and research.
Misleading hip-hop stories
After Johns Hopkins University announced that Lupe Fiasco had been hired to teach rap there in fall 2025, some online platforms, including The Root, incorrectly reported on his assignment.
They described his upcoming job as the first instance of a rapper ever hired as a professor at a university.
This is obviously incorrect. I’m a rapper who since 2017 has worked as a professor of hip-hop while releasing music, which was part of the basis for my earning tenure in 2023. Besides this, I’m certain there were rappers with university teaching jobs before me.
The trend of misrepresenting hip-hop history isn’t unique to communications from places
such as Johns Hopkins University or the University of Virginia.
In 2024, the publisher of musician Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s “Hip-Hop is History” described it as “the book only Questlove could write: a singular, definitive history” of hip-hop.
Questlove’s book is not, as the publisher claims, a definitive history. It might more accurately be described as Questlove’s take on hip-hop history, or a
A.D. Carson
memoir. Without this necessary distinction, unknowing readers might misinterpret the publisher’s claims.
Questlove writes about finally coming to appreciate Southern rap in the 2000s. But Southern rap history predates Questlove’s appreciation by decades. It doesn’t begin when someone like him finally recognizes its importance.
Similarly, hip-hop doesn’t begin when it’s finally recognized by an exclusive institution or when someone gets a degree for it.
Making hip-hop history I published these concerns as academic questions in 2017 in an album called “Owning My Masters: The Rhetorics of Rhymes & Revolutions.” The project served as my doctoral dissertation.
“Owning My Masters (Mastered)” is the next phase of the dissertation album project. Published in 2024, it contains new audio, video, images and historical context. It’s published with University of Michigan Press through the same process of an academic book.
“Owning My Masters (Mastered)” demonstrates how hiphop resists the ways American history often excludes Black resistance, Black achievement, Black storytelling and, ultimately, Black people.
But the exclusion that my work highlights is muted when the seeming novelty of my job appointment or my dissertation album are the focus. When I’m asked if I’m the first person to earn a Ph.D. for making a rap album, I try to answer more expansively to avoid misleading anyone, or ignoring what might be more informative.
It’s also important to understand the barriers that might have made a project like mine impossible before 2017. These include technological barriers that made recording and releasing music prohibitively expensive. And, more specific to hip-hop, it involves a mistrust
based on racist history that prevented students from even proposing such a project.
No such “first” happens without the unsung work of others creating the conditions to make it possible.
Learning from hip-hop
Hip-hop’s documentation should not repeat the same flaws of the recording of American history, which can omit important people and events, and which can misrepresent the legacies of racism and systemic violence.
Undeniably, I believe important hip-hop texts, albums and moments should be studied and documented with academic rigor. But this should not solely focus on “firsts,” record sales or prestigious awards.
Such stories fail to accurately illustrate that hip-hop is as much about how people live day to day as it is about how institutions use it to bolster credibility or how companies make money off it.
Important aspects of hiphop’s diverse culture are excluded when the ordinary is overlooked.
Creating hip-hop is one among the many ways Black people have persevered in the U.S.
Universities and other exclusionary institutions helped sustain – and, in certain ways, continue to benefit from – hellish conditions like those created by slavery.
Hip-hop is, in part, a response to this history.
At its best, hip-hop documents American life more reliably than American history.
Some academic publishers have started to embrace this reality.
My 2020 album “i used to love to dream” may be noteworthy as the first rap album to be peer-reviewed and published with an academic press. More importantly, its contents are about historic erasure of Black people and Black history in my hometown, Decatur, Ill.
Hip-hop’s popularity, its constant revision and its accessibility make it a powerful vehicle for disrupting inaccurate, exclusionary and fabricated tales passed off as objective facts.
Hip-hop also has cataloged tragedies such as the 1921 Tulsa race massacre – a twoday assault by white mobs on their Black neighbors – and the 1995 Million Man March, a large gathering of Black men in Washington, D.C.
The media ecosystem in
The genre has documented events such as the Tuskegee syphilis study – the 40-year experiment, conducted without informed consent, on Black men by the U.S. Public Health Service to study the effects of the disease when left untreated.
which hip-hop has thrived is also steeped with the scapegoating of its art and artists. This scapegoating is weaponized by critics to devalue the culture. It seems unwise to me to trust institutions such as universities and the media to determine what’s deemed culturally significant. Along with influencers and podcasters who benefit from hip-hop, they can learn valuable lessons from it. Their ability to determine what’s deemed culturally significant is especially problematic if their choices are primarily in exchange for revenue or credibility. If hip-hop is viewed as a cultural inheritance, then its value – and what’s considered historically important – may be better arbitrated by people in the culture, not outside forces. The writer is an associate professor of hip-hop at the University of Virginia. This commentary originally appeared at Theconversation.com
The embarrassing and irritating recurrence of these Confederate markers makes plain the need for missionaries in this Southern land of benighted heathens.
Let us, “Praise Thee, O Lord, that we are not as other men,” and filled with the Holy Spirit of politically correct righteousness, let us seek to bring light and good works into this Southern land of darkness!
H. V. TRAYWICK, JR. Richmond
AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins
Then-Ph.D. student A.D. Carson, protests at Clemson University in 2016 with faculty, staff and students.
Who’s got next?
Women’s college basketball looking for next star
By Doug Feinberg
The Associated Press
Women’s college basketball has been on the rise these last few years, riding the wave of iconic players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins.
Now, with Clark and Reese in the WNBA, Bueckers headed to the league and Watkins sidelined for the foreseeable future with an ACL injury, it raises the question of who will pick up the torch and continue that momentum.
There may be no clear candidate to become the face of the game, though there’s no shortage of talented players, including UCLA’s Lauren Betts, UConn freshman Sarah Strong and South Carolina freshman Joyce Edwards. And there are more looming on the horizon, like high school sensation Aaliyah Chavez will be making her collegiate debut at Oklahoma next season.
The ratings for the women’s NCAA Tournament leading into the title game Sunday didn’t match last year’s record numbers, though they were better than nearly every other year in NCAA history.
“It’s a great sign that without Caitlin we’re still certainly on the ascent,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. “Hopefully, that’s the same
even without the star power next year of Paige Bueckers and JuJu. The game is at a place where it can still grow.”
The talent pool continues to get stronger, as was evident in the title game performances by Strong (24 points and 15 rebounds) and Edwards (10 points, five rebounds). As expected, both impacted the game though UConn came away with its 12th national championship, ending a nine-year drought with an 82-59 victory over South Carolina.
“Runs like this make you still feel relevant, you still have an impact. Kids still respond,” Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said. “Our coaching staff is really, really good at what they do. And I’m fortunate enough to coach great kids who want to win for each other.”
Even though UConn was back on top at the end, more teams showed this season they could compete with the best. UCLA, which held the No. 1 spot in the AP poll for 14 weeks, had no seniors on its team and coming off its first NCAA Final Four ever, could go a step further next season.
South Carolina will be back too with a young nucleus led by Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley.
“I’m excited for what our team will look like next year,” South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley said. “I am, because I do think they’ll be talented
enough to get here, especially with getting in the transfer portal and getting some experienced pieces that can help with this young group.”
Women’s basketball, like other college sports, has changed the last few years with the transfer portal. There are over 1,200 players currently in the portal, a person with access to it shared
Flying Squirrels stumble late, swept by RubberDucks in season-opener
The Richmond Flying Squirrels learned a hard lesson Sunday afternoon: no lead is safe against Akron’s red-hot Jorge Burgos.
After building a comfortable 4-0 advantage behind rookie Sabin Ceballos’ first DoubleA homer and Adrian Sugastey’s two RBIs, the Squirrels watched their early dominance evaporate in a crushing 5-4 loss to complete a franchise-first season-opening sweep at The Diamond.
Starter Jack Choate dazzled with nine strikeouts in just three scoreless innings, but the bullpen couldn’t preserve his gem. Burgos continued his opening-series rampage with a game-changing three-run shot in the seventh off Tyler Myrick — his third homer in as many games—to complete Akron’s comeback.
The Squirrels’ bats fell silent when it mattered most, mustering just one hit after Sugastey’s fifth-inning RBI single. Akron reliever Trenton Denholm shut the door with four strong innings before Magnus Ellerts’ perfect ninth sealed Richmond’s winless opening weekend.
Richmond looked to rebound Tuesday in Harrisburg with lefty Seth Lonsway taking the mound for the 6:30 p.m. series opener. The team returns home April 15 through 20 for a six-game set against the Chesapeake Baysox.
Virginia State’s Coach Blow earns spot on national coaching honor roll
Free Press staff report
Virginia State University head men’s basketball coach Lonnie Blow Jr. has been selected for the 2025 Achieving Coaching Excellence Honor Roll, recognizing his outstanding leadership this season. Only two Division II coaches made this year’s list, with Blow joining Fred Watson of Miles College as the small college representatives. Blow guided the Trojans to one of their most successful seasons in recent history, capturing the CIAA Northern Division Championship and the CIAA Tournament title before winning their opening-round NCAA Tournament game. The team finished with a 22-9 record, marking VSU’s first 20-win season since 2018-19. Now in its sixth year, the College Basketball Coaching Honor Roll recognizes coaches who demonstrate excellence both on and off the court, including community involvement and leadership in the profession. The honor roll includes coaches from all NCAA divisions. This year’s headliner was Memphis Coach Penny Hardaway, named to the “Head of the Class” category. Blow appears alongside other notable honorees including Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, Yale’s James Jones, Norfolk State’s Robert Jones and several other distinguished coaches.
Top basketball talent honored at Spring Maxie Awards
Free Press staff report
NOAH (Natives of African Heritage) Sports presented the annual Spring Maxie Awards on Saturday night, celebrating Richmond’s top high school basketball players, coaches and teams. The event was held at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia and emceed by NOAH Sports founder Clarence Kenney. Thomas Jefferson High School Coach Kendrick Warren received the Dave Robbins Boys Coach of the Year Award, joined by player Maurice Jefferson. Warren, a former Virginia Commonwealth University star, returned to coach at his alma mater in 2009. Rise Academy received the Pierce Callaham Boys City Champion Award, with Coach Tim Bracey and players Nathaniel Seaborne and
Trevonte Atkins accepting. Atkins also was honored with the Boys Maxie Award as the city’s top male player. Armstrong High School’s Cherish Daily earned the Girls Maxie Award and was named to the All-Maxie Team. The All-Maxie All-City Girls Team also included Yazmin Hall, Tierra Herron and Rah Janae Johnson of John Marshall High School, and Kamilliah Brown of Armstrong High School.
The All-Maxie All-City Boys Team featured Trevonte Atkins, Nathaniel Seaborne and Devonte Atkins of Rise Academy, Maurice Jefferson of Thomas Jefferson High School and Kaemon Smith of Huguenot High School. Raymond Neblett of Inner City Basketball delivered the keynote address, rounding out a night dedicated to celebrating excellence in Richmond high school basketball.
Champions on wheels
BlazeSports Jr. Hawks player Daniel Graham (21) takes the ball up the court during Game 7 of the varsity division at the National Wheelchair Basketball Junior Championships on Saturday, April 6, at Henrico Sports & Events Center. The tournament, hosted by Sportable in partnership with the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, Richmond Region Tourism and the Henrico Sports & Entertainment
Coach Blow
AP Photo/Chris O’Meara
UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) pulls in a rebound against South Carolina during the second half of the national championship game at the Final Four of the women’s NCAA college basketball tournament April 6, in Tampa, Fla.
with The Associated Press. Where some of those impact players — Olivia Miles, Cotie McMahon and Ta’Niya Latson — end up could not only shape which teams rise up to challenge UConn and South Carolina next season, but also which player separates herself from the rest.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Richmond Flying Squirrels pitcher Nick Morreale (50) delivers a pitch during the team’s game against the Akron RubberDucks on April 5 at The Diamond. The game was part of the Flying Squirrels’ opening weekend series.
Free Press staff report
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Warren, head varsity basketball coach at Thomas Jefferson High School, receives the Dave Robbins Boys Coach of the Year Award during the
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Stress is an unavoidable part of daily life for many. Economic uncertainty, political unrest, workplace pressures and unresolved trauma contribute to the chronic strain on individuals and communities. This ongoing toll fuels burnout, strains relationships and costs the global economy billions.
Systemic, historical and social factors disproportionately contribute to stress among African Americans, resulting in significant mental health disparities. Research from Columbia University indicates Black adults are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health issues, such as major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.
The Well Collective, founded by Ashley Williams, aims to restore well-being through education and community. She believes holistic health and wellness are key to addressing health disparities within the Black community. Williams, who arrived in Richmond in 2010 to work at the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, experienced a profound loss in 2013 when her aunt died. Her journey to combat grief and loss led her to holistic options. She learned tools for health and well-being that she believed could benefit others and inspired her to found The Well Collective. Richmond, once the epicenter of America’s economic growth through the slave trade, holds a deep significance for Williams. She views this pivotal history as sacred ground for healing the American story. This belief lies at the heart of The Well Collective’s mission, which focuses on community leaders, educators and grassroots workers by offering programming and training on resilience to foster healing and wellness.
In 2019, Williams joined Leadership Metro Richmond, a community leadership development organization, where she met her fiancé. Both sought to understand Richmond’s challenges and how to address them. Their shared commitment to serving the community quickly sparked a close friendship, which soon
Personality: Ashley Williams
Spotlight on president of The Well Collective
blossomed into romance. They are planning an intimate wedding in the coming months, followed by a friends-and-family celebration this fall.
Williams has a passion for creating inviting spaces. Recently, she teamed up with an interior designer to transform her home into a retreat-like sanctuary. She chose warm, cozy colors for the walls and filled the space with plants, books and artwork to create a calming and restorative atmosphere.
Meet an holistic wellness educator who loves art, adventure, finding new restaurants and travel, and this week’s Personality, Ashley Williams:
Date and place of birth: Sept. 4 in Tacoma Park, Md.
Where I live now: Church Hill.
Education: Bachelor’s in psychology, UVA; master’s in yoga therapy, Maryland University of Integrative Health.
Family: Mother, Wanda Bennett Williams; father, Franklin Williams; sister, Briana Williams; fiance, Brelan Hillman.
TWC is: A nonprofit focused on restoring well-being through education and community.
Mission: The Well Collective transforms the health and well-being of our community by making healing-centered practices accessible to all. We create inclusive and welcoming spaces where everyone belongs and thrives, and we envision a world where holistic wellness is a universal right, not a privilege.
Brief history: The Well Collective was born out of a decade-long movement in Richmond rooted in making wellness accessible and relevant to Black and brown communities. After operating under BareSOUL Wellness, we transitioned to The Well Col-
lective in 2021 to broaden our impact, deepen our commitment to collective healing, and create spaces that bring people of all backgrounds and experiences together.
Why the name: The name symbolizes a source of nourishment and replenishment and an active invitation for individuals, communities and organizations that strive to re-imagine and create a world in which everyone is well to intentionally act together.
“The Well” reflects a sacred space where people can return to themselves and each other to heal, grow, and rise together. It honors ancestral gathering practices at the well to share stories, wisdom and water — life itself.
How we are funded: TWC is a 501c(3) non-profit organization supported through individual donations, grant funding and partnerships with foundations and organizations aligned with our mission.
Well Collective programs: Our
programs support wellbeing and civic action by nurturing the leadership, well-being and voices of youth, caregivers, teachers, artists, and elders—often doing the quiet work of holding communities together. We offer community wellness classes that include yoga meditation, youth and adult leadership development programs and fellowships, educational training, restorative practice programs, healing arts services and professional development for organizations. These programs allow people to reimagine what’s possible and create solutions together. For example, we’ve trained youths to lead mindfulness practices in their schools and neighborhoods. We also offer spaces for city workers and community organizers to rest and restore because when people are well, they are more equipped to sustain the work of impactful change.
Main goal of TWC: Securing $4 million for Phase 1 to establish The Well Center for Healing and Humanity, a multicultural, intergenerational education and retreat center that will be a dedicated space for healing, learning, and community building in the heart of Richmond. The project involves the preservation of the historic Branch Building and the revitalization of downtown Richmond through sustainable development and programming to be a local and global destination site for those seeking communities of care, practice and education.
Strategy to achieve Phase 1: We’re building a broad base of support from foundations, major donors, and the community— sharing our vision, telling our story, and inviting others into the work.
Main challenge foor TWC:
Even with 10 years of community impact, our status as a newer, primarily grassroots organization makes it challenging to secure funding from larger foundations. Funding will support building capacity to scale our staff roster, expand youth and adult development programs, build community wellness resources and support the operational expenses to serve more people.
How TWC has impacted lives: I’ve seen teens discover their power and voice through mindfulness. I’ve seen adults cry during group programming because it was the first time they felt safe to let go. I’ve watched city leaders embrace rest as a strategy for sustainable leadership and healthy workplaces.
Jr. Middle School. Our Nourish Dinner: A Community Dinner and Fundraiser will be at The Well Collective, Saturday, June 21, at 5:30 p.m.
How I start the day: I start with silence, prayer and, most mornings, gentle movement.
Three words that best describe me: Grounded, visionary and joyful.
Dream dinner party guest: Maya Angelou, because her presence carries the wisdom, grace and fire that have shaped generations. As an ancestor, her insight, experience and wisdom continue to transform lives.
Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I earned my boating license in 2021 and take the boat out on the James River because it’s healing for me.
How to get involved with TWC: Visit our website,thewellcollective.org, to sign up for our newsletter, attend a class, volunteer or sponsor a program. To discuss programs, partnerships and donor opportunities, please email us: meet@ thewellcollective.space. Follow us on Instagram.
How to get involved with TWC : Visit our website, thewellcollective.org, to sign up for our newslettter, attend a class, volunteer or sponser a program. To discuss programs, partnerships and donor opportunities, please email us: meet@ thewellcollectivespace.space. Follow us on instagram.
Mental wellness and Richmond: With the complex history of Richmond, it is essential to note that mental wellness is public health and public safety. In a city working to heal from systemic injustice, shared spaces that involve storytelling, self-awareness and community care are essential strategies for transformation and equity.
Upcoming events: In addition to our regularly scheduled educational programs, group classes, and trainings, we do monthly tours at the Branch Building every first Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. We’re having a Community Wellness Block Party, Wednesday, May 28, 4 to 7 p.m. at Martin Luther King
Inspirational quote: “When you get to where you are going, don’t forget where you came from–it was God that brought you a mighty long way” by the Rev. Joseph D. Morrison of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Hopewell.
Most influential person: My Aunt Josephine Senora Bennett. Most influential book: “All About Love,” by bell hooks reminded me that love is an action, not a feeling.
My current read: “We Were Made For These Times: 10 Lessons for Moving Through Change Loss and Disruption,” by Kaira Jewel Lingo. My main takeaway is that times of darkness hold the power and potential for profound transformation, and the time for change is always now.
Next goal: To revitalize the historic Branch Building located in the Main Street Historic Financial District to be The Well Center for Healing and Humanity, a destination site and model for healingcentered, people-first spaces that intersect the acknowledgment of history and the purpose of healing through arts and culture, social engagement, education, wellness and economic opportunities for our local and global community.
Virginia Home Grown As VPM’s longest running program, “Virginia Home Grown” enriches growers and gardeners of all levels by connecting to new voices and fresh ideas while highlighting the unique richness of gardens and natural ecosystems throughout Virginia.
Photo Courtesy of Monica Pedynkowski
Documentary screening to honor culinary pioneer Edna Lewis at Library of Virginia
Free Press staff report
The Library of Virginia will host a free screening of “Finding Edna Lewis,” followed by a panel discussion on Thursday, April 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The event celebrates the Virginia-born chef during what would have been her 109th birthday week.
The documentary follows food historian Deb Freeman, host of the award-winning podcast “Setting the Table,” as she traces Lewis’ influence on American cuisine. With limited existing recordings of Lewis, Freeman pieces together her legacy through interviews with chefs, scholars and those who knew her personally.
Panelists will include Freeman; Nina Williams-Mbengue, Lewis’ niece; and culinary historian Leni Sorensen. The film also features commentary from notable chefs and writers including Dr. Jessica B. Harris, Adrienne Cheatham and Mashama Bailey.
Registration is required for the event in the library’s lecture hall. Free parking is available at 800 E. Broad St. For more information or to register, visit va-virginia.libcal.com
Richmond Poetry Fest celebrates community through verse
Free Press staff report
The
Poet Roscoe Burnems, (left) engages with the crowd at last year’s Richmond Poetry Fest. This year’s free festival, hosted April 11-12 at VisArts, features workshops, a youth anthology reading and Burnems hosting the 1-2-3 Slam
workshops, readings and performances. The event showcases Richmond’s literary community with former City Poet Laureate Roscoe Burnems hosting Saturday’s poetry slam. Friday night’s “Wild at Heart” series at The Basement will feature current poet Laureate Joanna Lee among its performers. The 7 p.m. program includes poetry, burlesque and music for adults.
Saturday’s main festival at VisArts begins at 11 a.m. with readings by students published in the new RVA Youth Voices anthology. The day continues with Drag Poetry Story Hour and a performance by interdisciplinary artist JJJJJerome Ellis. Burnems will host the 6 p.m. 1-2-3 Slam competition to conclude the event. Other activities include screenprinting, clay and letterpress workshops connecting visual and literary arts. All stage events will include ASL interpretation. The festival requires registration for some workshops at visarts.org, though most events are open to walk-ins.
This event honors
Courtesy Visual Arts Center
Rosa Gonzalez of Fredericksburg dons Frida Kahlo’s iconic floral headpiece at Frida Fest.
Edna Lewis
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
VCUarts Professor Jeannine Diego demonstrates backstrap loom weaving during Frida Fest.
Below, dancing to DJ Ray-Ray’s sounds, Samantha Trujillo (left) and Nahomi Cardenas celebrate Frida Fest at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on April 5, while Rodrigo Lopez Garciga and Lisa Chen (right) join in the fun. The lively event marked the opening of “Frida: Beyond the Myth,” honoring Kahlo’s artistic legacy and Mexican culture through music, dance and community.
Faith
Judge dismisses gender discrimination lawsuit against historic Harlem church
By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service
A federal judge has dismissed a gender discrimination lawsuit brought against Abyssinian Baptist Church by a onetime candidate to be the historic Harlem church’s senior pastor, the sole female candidate among finalists for the role.
The Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman, an associate professor at Yale Divinity School, filed the complaint in 2023. The church had asked a judge to dismiss the case on the grounds of “ministerial exception,” under which religious institutions are given more latitude in personnel and other matters.
“There is no way for this Court to resolve Dr. Marshall Turman’s employment discrimination claim without becoming entangled with Abyssinian’s ecclesiastical inner workings,” ruled U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho in a Monday (March 31) opinion for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
“It is therefore not premature to apply the ministerial excep-
tion at the motion to dismiss stage of this litigation. Accordingly, because the ministerial exception applies, Dr. Marshall Turman’s employment discrimination claim against Abyssinian is dismissed.”
The ministerial exception, in some cases, prevents courts from interfering with “the employment relationship between a religious institution and one of its ministers,” according to Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court case that Ho cited in his decision.
The judge wrote that Marshall Turman’s petition was “a somewhat close case,” noting her claim that ministerial exception did not apply because the church said in its advertisement for the pastoral position that “The Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City Inc. shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, or sexual orientation.”
But Ho determined that the “boilerplate antidiscrimination statement” was not sufficient
to demonstrate that the church was waiving its First Amendment rights under the ministerial exception, based on the facts of Marshall Turman’s case.
The judge also dismissed Marshall Turman’s employment discrimination claim against Valerie S. Grant, the pulpit search committee chair, saying the ministerial exception also applied to that claim.
The church welcomed the judge’s ruling.
“We are grateful that the members of Abyssinian can continue to worship, heal and embrace their new senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson, who has already helped to grow the historic church,” said spokesperson LaToya Evans in a statement.
“Under the Rev. Dr. Johnson’s leadership, Abyssinian’s congregation has already experienced meaningful growth and renewed spiritual connection.”
Evans said 255 people have joined the church, which has about 3,000 members, since Johnson’s first sermon as the 21st senior pastor on July 14, 2024.
Johnson succeeded the Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, who died in
Faith, business leaders gather for final T.D. Jakes leadership conference
Free Press staff report
T.D. Jakes’ International Leadership Summit, presented by Wells Fargo, will hold its final gathering April 10-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, bringing together faith and business leaders for a last time under its current format.
This year’s theme, “Changing of the Guard,” emphasizes equipping leaders while preserving wisdom from previous generations. Though the summit concludes after 14 years, organizers revealed next year will introduce a reimagined series of high-level leadership
The event features prominent speakers including Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Advisors and a 2015 Time Magazine most influential person, who joins Jakes on April 11. Other participants include Dr. Myron Rolle, a Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon and former NFL player; James Meeks, founder of Chicago’s Salem Baptist Church; and Carla Harris of Morgan Stanley. The final International Leadership Summit runs April 10-12 in Orlando. Individual registrations are $300. For more information, visit thisisils.org.
2022 after serving as minister at the church for 50 years.
Marshall Turman, who served for about 10 years in ministerial positions at Abyssinian, including as an assistant minister from 2010 to 2012, told RNS in a Wednesday statement that she is “prayerfully preparing” an appeal.
“The case was not dismissed on its merits but on a technicality — religious exception — which contends that the church has a right to discriminate, even though the Bible says, ‘in Christ there is neither male nor female,’” she said in the statement. “My moral claim still stands: Gender discrimination, against me or anyone else, has no place in God’s house.”
In a Tuesday statement on
her Facebook account, she added her gratitude for those who have offered her support.
“To the Black women who, even in their silence, have rallied behind sexism and misogynoir; and to the Black men who have viciously and thoughtlessly attacked me in their attempt to maintain aspirational patriarchy in the Black Church, ‘the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23),’” she wrote.
Abyssinian is the subject of another lawsuit filed in October by some members of the church seeking to have the “purported election” of Johnson annulled.
A GoFundMe page, titled “Help
Us To Restore Integrity at Abyssinian,” has raised more than $104,000 toward a $200,000 goal to pay for the legal costs of that suit.
A March 25 update on the page referred to the funeral of Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack, held at the church earlier in the month, and noted that Johnson had called the church the “Black Vatican” on that occasion. The update added: “A wellattended celebrity funeral does not erase or correct the many wrongdoings that have occurred over the past year concerning the pastoral election process.”
Duke Divinity School via AP
The Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman, speaks at Duke Divinity School in 2016. She filed a lawsuit in December 2023 accusing Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York of sex discrimination for rejecting her application to become Abyssinian’s senior pastor.
DIVORCE
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER SHERIKA MADISON-HALL, Plaintiff v. TOMICKA MADISON-HALL, Defendant. Case No.: CL25000691-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months. It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident, appear here on or before the 30th day of April, 2025 and protect her
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at 2:00 P.M., COURTROOM #3.
VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re ELIJAH VENABLE, JR. & IZIAH VENABLE, a juvenile RDSS, Plaintiff v. SHANTORIA VENABLE, CLIFTON VENABLE, SR., Defendant File No. JJ103825-08-00, JJ103825-09-00, JJ103826-10-00, JJ103826-11-00
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit
is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Shantoria Venable (Mother) and Clifton Venable, Sr., (Father) of Elijah Venable, child DOB 08/28/2021 and Iziah Venable, child, DOB 11/16/2022 , child. “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.
It is ORDERED that the defendants Shantoria Venable (Mother) and Clifton Venable, Sr., (Father) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before May 22, 2025, at 2:00 P.M., COURTROOM #3.
VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re CLIFTON VENABLE, JR., & SHARIYAH VENABLE, a juvenile RDSS, Plaintiff v. SHANTORIA VENABLE, CLIFTON VENABLE, SR., Defendant File No. JJ103821-09-00, JJ103821-10-00, JJ103822-10-00, JJ103822-11-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Shantoria Venable (Mother) and Clifton Venable, Sr., (Father) of Clifton Venable, Jr., child DOB 08/01/2020 and Shariyah Venable, child, DOB 11/20/2016 child. “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent;
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determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.
It is ORDERED that the defendants Shantoria Venable (Mother) and Clifton Venable, Sr., (Father) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before May 22, 2025, at 2:00 P.M., COURTROOM #3.
VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re JAYLA VENABLE, & EZEKEIL VENABLE, a juvenile RDSS, Plaintiff v. SHANTORIA VENABLE, CLIFTON VENABLE, SR., Defendant File No. JJ103823-10-00, JJ103823-11-00, JJ103824-08-00, JJ103824-09-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Shantoria Venable (Mother) and Clifton Venable, Sr., (Father) of Jayla Venable, child DOB 11/24/2017 and Ezekeil Venable, child, DOB 05/10/2018 , child. “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.
It is ORDERED that the defendants Shantoria Venable (Mother) and Clifton Venable, Sr., (Father) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before May 22, 2025, at 2:00 P.M., COURTROOM #3.
ABC LICENSE
4UJSUS LLC Trading as: ELY’s Pupusas & Tacos 321 N 2nd St Richmond, VA 23219 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application - Restaurant with Caterer, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Evelyn Liseth Fernandez Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or (800) 552-3200.
Greenwood Road Improvements County of Henrico, Virginia Public Hearing
The County of Henrico is proposing to improve approximately 1.2 miles of Greenwood Road from the Woodman Road roundabout to just west of the Branch Road intersection. The improvements will include a 10-foot paved shared used path on the north side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the south side, as well as the widening of Greenwood Road to accommodate turn lanes, intersection, and safety improvements. Additionally, the project intends to connect to the Woodman Road Extension paved shared use path enabling future connectivity to parks throughout the region, including Glover Park. At the public hearing, project plans and schematics will be available to view, and County staff will be available to answer questions. You will also have the opportunity to provide comments on forms provided at the meeting or via the online survey at the project webpage link below. Comments can be submitted to the capital projects manager listed below after the meeting until May 16, 2025. The meeting will be openhouse format. No formal presentation will be provided.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Hunton Community Center (Multi-Purpose Room), 11690 Old Washington Highway, Glen Allen, VA 23059 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Project information which includes the construction plans, project schedule, and funding information can be reviewed at the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, Administration Annex Building, 4305 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228. Telephone: (804) 501-4616. The project is being coordinated with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as part of the state environmental review process. Project information is also available at the following website: https://henrico.gov/ projects/greenwood-road-improvements/. Contact Sarah Briggs at the phone number above or at bri114@henrico.gov with any questions.
Ridge Road Sidewalk Phase 2 UPC 117045
Henrico County, Virginia Public Hearing
The County of Henrico Department of Public Works has scheduled an inperson, public hearing for the Ridge Road Sidewalk, Phase 2 project. The County is proposing to increase pedestrian access and connectivity through the addition of approximately 0.49 miles of sidewalk and shared use path along Ridge Road between N. Parham Road and Old Providence Circle. Adjacent improvements include a mini roundabout at the intersection of Glendale Drive and Ridge Road to be constructed as a separate project.
The purpose of this public hearing is to provide information about the project and receive public input. This will be an openhouse format in order to provide flexibility for participants to meet and discuss the proposed project directly with the project staff members.
Construction is currently planned for 2027. If unable to attend in person, project information which includes the construction plans, project schedule, and funding information can be reviewed at the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, Administration Annex Building, 4305 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228. Telephone: (804) 501-7505. The County and the design team are performing environmental reviews and coordinating with state and federal agencies to obtain information about environmental resources in the project vicinity; provide natural and historic resource agencies with an opportunity to review and comment on the project during its development; and identify opportunities for avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of environmental impacts. This process will include a review of the potential impacts to threatened or endangered species within the vicinity of the project.
The public hearing will be held on Monday, May 12, 2025, at the Tuckahoe Library, 1901 Starling Drive, Henrico, VA 23229, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Hakeem Blake at the above address or phone number or at bla098@henrico.gov with any questions.
Information related to the project can also be reviewed on the County’s website below or at the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, 4305 E. Parham Road, 3rd Floor, Henrico, VA 23228. Telephone: (804) 501-7505.
Ridge Road Sidewalk Phase 2 website: https://henrico.gov/projects/ridge-roadsidewalk-improvements-phase-ii/ VDOT UPC: 117045
FY 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets which will be posted online here by April 10, 2025. Instructions for submitting comments on the proposed budget: A 15-day public comment period on the proposed budget will be held from April 10, 2025, through April 24, 2025. Comments may be submitted via email at information@cvtava.org or through the online form that can be found here during the public comment period. Comments received before 3:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025, will be distributed to the members of the Authority.
The Authority will hold a public hearing on Friday, April 25, 2025, during its regular meeting at 9:00 am. Anyone wishing to submit general comments during the public hearing included in the meeting agenda may do so by either attending the meeting in person in the James River Boardroom at PlanRVA, 424 Hull Street, Suite 300, or by joining the Zoom webinar and submitting questions via the Q&A dialog box.
Zoom Webinar instructions for the Public Hearing will be available here ahead of the meeting.
The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to: RFP250006246: Benefits Consulting
For all information pertaining to this RFP, please logon to the Richmond website (www.rva.gov).
Proposals Due Date: May 9, 2025 at 11:00AM
Pre-Proposal Conference Call Meeting: April 23, 2025 at 11:00AM Information or copies of the above solicitations are available at the City of Richmond website www.rva.gov or https://procurement.opengov.com/ portal/rva. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Sarah Briggs at the above address, phone number or email.
VDOT UPC: 121402
