Black leaders alarmed, recall civil rights battles Federal power grab in D.C.
By Matt Brown Associated Press
President Donald Trump has taken control of the District of Columbia’s law enforcement and ordered National Guard troops to deploy onto the streets of the nation’s capital, arguing the extraordinary moves are necessary to curb an urgent public safety crisis.
Even as district officials questioned the claims underlying his emergency declaration, the Republican president promised a “historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse.” His rhetoric echoed that used by conservatives going back decades who have denounced cities, especially those with majority non-white populations or led by progressives, as lawless or crime-ridden and in need of outside intervention.
“This is liberation day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump promised Monday.
As the National Guard arrived at its headquarters Tuesday, for many residents, the prospect of federal troops surging into neighborhoods represented an alarming violation of local agency. To some, it echoes uncomfortable his-
torical chapters when politicians used language to paint historically or predominantly Black cities and neighborhoods with racist narratives to shape public opinion and justify aggressive police action.
“We have to be vigilant,” said April Goggans, who has coordinated local protests for nearly a decade. She worries about what a surge in law enforcement could mean for residents’ freedoms.
“Regardless of where you fall on the political scale, understand that this could be you, your children, your grandmother, your co-worker who are brutalized or have certain rights violated,” she said.
Other residents reacted with mixed feelings to Trump’s executive order. Crime and homelessness has been a top concern for residents in recent years, but opinions on how to solve the issue vary. And very few residents take Trump’s catastrophic view of life in D.C.
“I think Trump’s trying to help people, some people,” said Melvin Brown, a D.C. resident.
“But as far as (him) trying to get (the) homeless out of this city, that ain’t going to work.”
“It’s like a Band-Aid to a gunshot wound,”
Activists call on city to cut ties with ICE after wave of arrests
By George Copeland Jr.
More than 100 people gathered outside Richmond City Hall on Monday afternoon, urging city and state leaders to sever any cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a recent surge of arrests in the region.
For nearly an hour, chants and speeches in English and Spanish echoed over the sounds of Broad Street traffic as leaders from religious, social and immigrant groups condemned ICE arrests and called for immediate action.
“It is simply not enough for politicians to hold a press conference condemning actions taken by ICE without tangible plans to back it up,” said Fernanda Diaz-Castro of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality, who organized the rally. “We need to see elected officials take concrete measures to protect all community members.”
The rally included calls for laws banning coordination between local agencies and ICE, an end to covert ICE policing and surveillance methods such as Flock cameras — automated license plate readers that track vehicles’ movements — support for detained immigrants and their families, and the closure of detention centers in Virginia.
The rally was organized with endorsements from New Virginia Majority, Free Them All VA, the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights and others following multiple ICE arrests on July 30 in Richmond, including the deportation of Southwood resident Ricardo Martinez-Cantero.
Other ICE arrests have occurred across the metro area this summer, including several in Chesterfield County and a 19-year-old high school student in Henrico County, drawing criticism from local Democrats.
“All we want to do when we migrate is to work hard, find stability, to be with our
By Andrew Dalton Associated Press
has
Spencer died Monday in a Richmond hospital at age 60 after a yearslong battle with cancer, according to reports.
As Dee, Spencer was the smarter, more serious younger sister who offered a steady stream of deadpan roasts of big brother Roger “Raj” Thomas and his friends Dwayne Nelson and Freddie “Rerun” Stubbs.
“Ooh, I’m gonna tell mama,” would become Dee’s catch
phrase. The show, set in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts and among the first on television to focus on the lives of Black teenagers, was based on the movie “Cooley High” and ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979. It
Chesterfield County redeveloping historic Colbrook Motel site
into affordable housing
Press staff report
In 1946, a decade before the new Interstate 95 became the most heavily traveled north-south highway on the U.S. East Coast, a trio of African Americans — William E. Brooks, his wife, Audrey W. Brooks, and Dr. Cortlandt M. Colson — opened a motel along Route 1 in south Chester.
The business partners came up with the name for their Colbrook Inn by fusing the first three letters of Colson’s last name with the first five of Brooks. In addition to a brick main building, the property featured log cabin cottages, an air-conditioned restaurant and a service station.
From 1956 to 1967, the renamed Colbrook Motel was included in the Green Book, a segregation-era listing of hotels, motels and other hospitality-related establishments Black people could patronize without fear of discrimination. (Renewed interest in the publication followed the 2018 release of the Academy Award-winning film “Green Book,” starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali.)
William Brooks, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, and Audrey Brooks, who served as assistant principal at Chesterfield County’s Carver High School before becoming a professor at Virginia State University, owned and operated Colbrook Motel until 1982.
Now, more than 40 years later, a local housing nonprofit is redeveloping the abandoned, once-blighted site with a $60 million project that will bring 144 quality affordable multifamily units to Chesterfield.
“When I think back on my nearly 40 years of doing this work, I’ve been involved in almost $1 billion of affordable housing construction. This is the most special project because of the history of this property,” said Greta Harris, president and CEO of the Better Housing Coalition (BHC), during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. “It has been a labor of love for more than five years getting to this point. There were times I didn’t think we’d get across the finish line, but we did.”
BHC acquired the 10-acre Colbrook tract for $1.2 million in 2021, about two years after Dan Cohen, director of Chesterfield’s
Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at a news conference Monday, Aug. 11, about
President Donald Trump’s plan to place Washington police under federal control and deploy National Guard troops.
Sandra Jones via AP
This August 2019 image provided by Sandra Jones shows Danielle Louise Spencer posing for a photograph in Midlothian.
George Copeland Jr./Richmond Free Press
Virginia Defenders member Fernanda Diaz-Castro, center, addresses the crowd during a Monday afternoon rally at City Hall, where attendees called for a ban on cooperation with ICE.
Courtesy of Better Housing Coalition
The Colbrook Motel, shown here in its early years along Route 1 in Chesterfield, served as a safe stop for Black travelers during segregation. The historic site is now being redeveloped into a $60 million, 144-unit affordable housing community.
Richmond expands community outreach with new staff, offices
Free Press staff report
As Richmond neighborhoods face ongoing challenges related to housing, health and public safety, the city is expanding its approach to community engagement through new leadership and specialized offices.
The Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) has added several new positions this summer as part of a broader effort to strengthen outreach to priority populations. Some of the new hires will lead newly created offices within NCS.
Greg Hopkins, previously announced, now heads the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Additional appointments include Anna Jones as the city’s Opioid Response Strategist, Alyson Saylors as Manager of Homeless Services and Aneesah Smith, who began Monday as the Equity and LGBTQIA+ Liaison.
“These new roles and offices within the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services strengthen our ability to listen, respond and partner with Richmonders, especially those who have too often been overlooked,” Mayor Danny Avula said in a statement.
“Whether we’re supporting families, addressing public health crises or strengthening neighborhood leadership, our goal is always to build relationships rooted in trust, equity and action,” said Tiffany Ford, director of NCS.
The new additions join a department already overseeing several initiatives, including the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Experience, Office of Aging and Disability Services, Office of Children and Families, Office of Neighborhood Engagement and Office of Homeless Services.
Library of Virginia to honor Geter with Patron of Letters degree
Free Press staff report
The Library of Virginia will present its highest honor, the Patron of Letters degree, to acclaimed musician and composer Damien Geter during the 28th annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration on Sept. 20.
The award, granted by the Library Board, recognizes outstanding contributions in the arts, history, humanities, or information, library or archival science.
Geter, a Petersburg native who grew up in Chesterfield County, has gained national recognition for blending classical music with influences from the Black diaspora to create works that address social justice issues.
“Damien Geter’s contributions as a composer and performer have made an extraordinary impact on music and culture throughout the Commonwealth and beyond,” Library Board Chair Malfourd Trumbo said in a statement. “We’re proud to recognize him with the Library’s highest honor for his remarkable artistry.”
A graduate of Matoaca High School, Geter earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Old Dominion University in 2002 and a master’s in conducting from Indiana State University in 2004. As a bass-baritone, he has performed with opera companies across the country, including the Metropolitan Opera.
In May, the Virginia Opera premiered his new major work, “Loving v. Virginia,” concluding its 50th anniversary season. The opera, based on the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that struck down laws banning interracial marriage, was co-commissioned by the Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony and coproduced with the Minnesota Opera. Another opera, “The Delta King’s Blues,” will debut later this year.
“What a privilege it is to be recognized by my hometown team in such a profound way,” Geter said. “The Commonwealth of Virginia — the place where I was born and the place I carry with me in my heart — is an enduring part of who I am.”
Geter is owner of DG Music and Sans Fear Publishing, interim music director and artistic advisor at the Portland Opera, and composer-in-residence for the Richmond Symphony through 2026. His compositions include works for chamber and orchestra, vocal ensemble and opera.
Tickets for the Virginia Literary Awards Celebration are available at lvafoundation.org.
By Lyndon German VPM
Company I of the 36th Colored Regiment served during the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm and New Market Heights. Henrico County envisions a new trail project that would commemo-
rate the site of the battle and the 14 Black soldiers who earned Medals of Honor in it.
Henrico and state and federal partners are proposing to build the New Market Heights Trail, a $16 million project that would highlight the area’s history and help the county achieve its
Chamber of Commerce announces leadership
change
Free Press staff report
Cathie J. Vick has resigned as president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce after just four months on the job to pursue other opportunities, the Chamber announced this week.
Linda Stanley, chair of the Chamber’s board of directors, and Jennifer Siciliano, vice chair, will oversee operations during the transition. Barry DuVal, former president and CEO, will continue as a senior consultant to the board through the end of the year.
A national search for Vick’s successor will begin immediately. Vick joined the Chamber in April, succeeding DuVal, who led the organization since 2010. Before her brief tenure at the Chamber, Vick was vice president of corporate and government affairs at Transurban, a major toll road operator. She also served as chief development and public affairs officer at the Port of Virginia for 10 years.
Del. Betsy Carrlooks on as, the Wildlife Center of Virginia releases a Red-tailed Hawk—its 1,778th patient of the year—back into the wild Thursday, Aug. 7, at Maymont.
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
“Hawk #25-1778” was rescued May 26 in Forest Hill Park with the help of Julie Kacmarcik, a bird bander with the Richmond Audubon Society. The center’s rehabilitation team provided daily care and monitored its
progress. By mid-June, the hawk was completing daily flight exercises in a large outdoor enclosure.
The hawk also played a lifesaving role for another bird. Around the time of its rescue, a second hawk was admitted with severe internal bleeding. A blood transfusion from the hawk contributed to the injured hawk’s recovery.
City, shop owners weigh next steps for smoke shop regulation
By George Copeland Jr.
Richmond officials and smoke shop owners are weighing the future of the city’s tobacco and hemp stores, following the recent approval of restrictions on new shops. Council members say they now plan to work with state lawmakers to develop legislation addressing issues local authorities cannot regulate.
City Council Vice Chair Katherine Jordan said the next step is exploring potential bills with local state representatives to bring before the General Assembly. “I’m thrilled that we got through step one, but there’s a lot more work left to do,” she said.
The restrictions, shaped last year after years of City Hall debate, were approved during a recent evening meeting after Jordan successfully added the ordinance to the agenda. The measure bars new stores within 1,000 feet of schools, residential districts, parks, places of worship and other locations.
Jordan said she is driven to address the expansion of smoke shops by frequent complaints raised by residents and her 2nd District constituents over their presence and by small businesses struggling to establish themselves.
“It comes up in every conversation,” Jordan said. “People want to see something done to
conservation goals.
Local officials introduced the plan, which would create a paved walking path connecting Deep Bottom Park on the James River to New Market Road, at a meeting last week.
The 3.2-mile trail would feature signage that highlights the area’s Civil War-era history — including markers commemorating the journey of Union soldiers who broke through Confederate defenses at the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm and New Market Heights in September 1864.
The Union forces in that battle included three brigades of the U.S. Colored Troops, a military outfit made entirely of Black soldiers — 14 of whom earned Medals of Honor for their actions.
Chuck Laudner — a consultant with the American Battlefield Trust, one of the organizations partnering with Henrico on the project — stressed the importance of honoring the historic battle site.
“This place, as much as any, this land communicates what real courage is,” Laudner said at the meeting. “That’s why
rein it in.”
The City Council lacked the authority to address smoke shop locations until a law passed last year gave localities the power to regulate and restrict them. Richmond and other cities have moved quickly to take advantage of the new legislation.
Tad Edmonds, manager of Capitol Smoke Richmond, said stronger regulation of smoke shops would be welcome. While his store strives to follow the law, he said other businesses openly defy bans on certain products and sales.
Edmonds believes that
stricter enforcement of laws is needed to curb the increase in smoke shops, as his and other law-abiding businesses in the industry will be able to navigate any changes legally and safely.
“We’ve dealt with new waves of regulations before,” Edmonds said. “We’ll deal with them again.”
Jordan and Edmonds cited key issues that need addressing, including the sale of illegal synthetic products, sales to minors, and uneven enforcement of existing regulations.
But while Jordan is opti-
mistic that state lawmakers understand the issues localities face in regulating the industry, Edmonds is less sure, warning that rules could still be unfairly enforced.
Jordan is urging the Richmond community to help regulate the industry, encouraging local businesses to share concerns with their representatives and residents to report store issues and stay informed.
“I’m going to be looking to our General Assembly and our partners on these topics for ways we can continue to protect public health,” Jordan said.
we’re here to honor them by highlighting and protecting this battlefield ground — to protect the very place where that legacy was forged.”
Project manager Ryan Levering said the design of the trail has been finalized and funding secured; portions of the project are locally funded, while others will require grant assistance. Henrico hopes to begin construction next year.
“We’ve been working on this for two years,” Deputy County Manager Steve Yob said during the presentation. “This is a recreational opportunity that will have many facets. It will have history, it will have nature. It goes through a lot of natural areas, wetlands, forest and beautiful, really beautiful areas.”
Varina Supervisor Tyrone Nelson said the trail — like previous land purchases, includ-
ing Varina Farms and Wilton Farm — fits into the county’s goal of preserving natural and historic spaces.
“Here in Varina, we appreciate nature and history. Public access for recreation and education is important,” Nelson said. “These areas will not become office space or retail strip centers or town homes. They will be habitats along the James River.”
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Capitol Smoke Richmond’s storefront on Broad Street. City officials and shop owners are weighing next steps for regulating tobacco and hemp stores after new restrictions were approved.
Public Domain
Henrico County has proposed a new trail to commemorate the site of the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm at New Market Heights and the 14 Black soldiers from Company I of the 36th Colored Regiment who earned the Medal of Honor there.
Cathie J. Vick
Damien Geter
Becoming a homeowner sets your next generation up for success—that’s powerful. And it’s possible. Through guidance for first-time homebuyers and assistance programs, Truist can help make homeownership real—for you and your family.
• Down payment grants and assistance programs available1
• Mortgage options with 0 – 3% down2
• Loan options to help first-time buyers
• Knowledgeable support from the day you apply until your mortgage is paid Call 855-630-5377 to connect with a mortgage professional who can help secure your future.
Federal power grab in D.C. alarms Black leaders
Continued from A1
said Melissa Velasquez, a commuter into D.C. “I feel like there’s been an increase of racial profiling and stuff, and so it’s concerning for individuals who are worried about how they might be perceived as they go about their day-to-day lives.”
Uncertainty raises alarms
According to White House officials, troops will be deployed to protect federal assets and facilitate a safe environment for law enforcement to make arrests. The Trump administration believes the highly visible presence of law enforcement will deter violent crime. It is unclear how the administration defines providing a safe environment for law enforcement to conduct arrests, raising alarm bells for some advocates.
“The president foreshadowed that if these heavy-handed tactics take root here, they will be rolled out to other majority-Black and Brown cities, like Chicago, Oakland and Baltimore, across the country,” said Monica Hopkins, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s D.C. chapter.
“We’ve seen before how federal control of the D.C. National Guard and police can lead to abuse, intimidation and civil rights violations — from military helicopters swooping over peaceful racial justice protesters in 2020 to the unchecked conduct of federal officers who remain shielded from full accountability,” Hopkins said. A history of denigrating language
Conservatives have for generations used denigrating language to describe the condition of major cities and called for greater law enforcement, often in response to changing demographics in those cities driven by nonwhite populations relocating in search of work or safety from racial discrimination and state violence. Republicans have called for greater police crackdowns in cities since at least the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles.
President Richard Nixon won the White House in 1968 after
Activists call on city to cut ties with ICE
after
wave of arrests
Continued from A1
families,” Martinez-Cantero said in a testimony read by Virginia Defenders member Ana Edwards. “This should not happen to anyone, we are just people.”
When asked for a response to organizers’ demands, Mayor Danny Avula said Richmond “does not and will not coordinate with ICE on deportation” and that he and the Richmond Police Department will continue to support local communities.
“Richmond must be a city where every resident should feel safe accessing city services, reporting crimes, and engaging with local government — regardless of immigration status,” Avula said. Richmond City Council Chair Cynthia Newbille voiced her support for Avula and the RPD’s efforts to protect residents and visitors, saying “Richmond does not detain or arrest anyone due to immigration status,” but made clear that city government had no control over federal law enforcement.
Ice did not respond to requests for comment before publiction. Rally speakers and attendees vowed to step up and defend their communities if officials fail to take meaningful action. For Newport News natives Lei Syed and Shaila Ortiz, witnessing such strong solidarity on this and other issues was both emotional and affirming.
“This stuff impacts my community and it just made me want to cry,” Ortiz said, voice breaking and tears in her eyes, “because I feel like a lot of people don’t care, but they care.”
Danielle Spencer, who played Dee on ‘What’s Happening!!,’ dies at 60
Continued from A1
had a long legacy thanks to its memorable characters, including the geeky Raj, the catchphrase-spouting Dwayne, the red-bereted dancing phenom Rerun, and Dee with her eyerolls and icy stare.
Early in the production of the show’s first season, Spencer, then 12, was in a major car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, that left her in a coma for three weeks and killed her stepfather, Tim Pelt. She would have spinal and neurological problems that would require multiple surgeries in the years afterward.
In 2018, she had emergency surgery for a bleeding hematoma, which stemmed from that 1977 car crash. In the immediate aftermath, a family spokesperson said she could only speak slightly and had to use crutches to walk. She had been suffering symptoms from at least 2004, when she had to use a wheelchair and relearn how to walk. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy.
Spencer also appeared on a mid-1980s reboot of the show, “What’s Happening Now!!,” which ran for three seasons.
“The world has lost an icon today,” said James JJ Minor, president of the Richmond NAACP and Spencer’s cousin. “She was an awesome and phenomenal woman. May her footprints be forever imprinted in the sands of time.”
She went on to become a veterinarian and an animal advocate. She attended the University of California at Davis and UCLA and earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993.
Spencer continued to dabble in acting, including an appearance as a veterinarian in the 1997 Jack Nicholson film “As Good as it Gets.”
campaigning on a “law and order” agenda to appeal to white voters in Northern cities alongside overtures to white Southerners as part of his “Southern Strategy.” Ronald Reagan similarly won both his presidential elections after campaigning heavily on law and order politics. Politicians, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former President Bill Clinton, have cited the need to tamp down crime as a reason to seize power from liberal cities for decades.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called Trump’s takeover of local police “unsettling” but not without precedent. Bowser kept a mostly measured tone during a Monday news conference but decried Trump’s reasoning as a “so-called emergency,” saying residents “know that access to our democracy is tenuous.”
On the campaign trail, Trump threatened to “take over” and “beautify” D.C. and claimed it was “a nightmare of murder and crime.” He also argued the city was “horribly run” and said his team intended “to take it away from the mayor.” Trump on Monday repeated old comments about some of the nation’s largest cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland and his hometown of New York City. All are currently run by Black mayors.
“You look at Chicago, how bad it is. You look at Los Angeles, how bad it is. We have other cities that are very bad, New York is a problem. And then you have, of course, Baltimore and Oakland. We don’t even mention that anymore. They’re so far gone. We’re not going to let it happen,” he said.
Civil rights advocates see the rhetoric as part of a broader political strategy.
“It’s a playbook he’s used in the past,” said Maya Wiley, CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Trump’s rhetoric “paints a picture that crime is out of control,
even when it is not true, then blames the policies of Democratic lawmakers that are reform- and public safety-minded, and then claims that you have to step in and violate people’s rights or demand that reforms be reversed,” Wiley said.
She added that the playbook has special potency in D.C. because local law enforcement can be directly placed under federal control, a power Trump invoked in his announcement.
Leaders call the order an unjustified distraction
Trump’s actions in Washington and comments about other major cities sent shock waves across the country, as other leaders prepare to respond to potential federal action.
Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement that Trump’s plan “lacks seriousness and is deeply dangerous” and pointed to a 30-year-low crime rate in Baltimore as a reason the administration should consult local leaders rather than antagonize them. In Oakland, Mayor Barbara Lee called Trump’s characterization of the city “fearmongering.”
The administration already faced a major flashpoint between local control and federal power earlier in the summer, when Trump deployed National Guard troops to quell protests and support immigration enforcement operations in LA despite opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass. Civil rights leaders have denounced Trump’s action in D.C. as an unjustified distraction.
“This president campaigned on ‘law and order,’ but he is the president of chaos and corruption,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. “There’s no emergency in D.C., so why would he deploy the National Guard? To distract us from his alleged inclusion in the Epstein files? To rid the city of unhoused people? D.C. has the right to govern itself. It doesn’t need this federal coup.”
Chesterfield County redeveloping historic Colbrook Motel site into affordable housing
Continued from A1
Community Enhancement Department, first pitched Harris on the possibility of redeveloping it as safe, secure housing for people with low to moderate incomes.
Construction is now underway on the project, which was delayed first by the COVID-19 pandemic, then by a funding shortfall exacerbated by inflationary pressures on construction materials and labor. The apartments will be leased to households with annual incomes between 30% and 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), ranging from $34,050 to $90,800 for a family of four.
“During an era when Black families couldn’t safely stop just anywhere to rest, the Colbrook Motel provided more than just shelter. It offered dignity and respect to those who stayed here,” said Jim Ingle, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Today, the promise of dignity and opportunity is still alive. These new affordable housing units will provide working families with the stability they need to thrive.”
Ingle called the need for quality affordable housing “one of the most urgent issues of our time.”
As demand for housing continues to outpace supply, along with the rising cost of land and construction materials, prices for town homes and condominiums and market-rate apartment rents have also risen faster than household incomes over the
past several years. That has created a significant shortage of residential units across the Richmond region that are affordable to people with even moderate incomes.
In response, Chesterfield has embraced a multifaceted approach to increase the diversity of its housing stock and has partnered with local nonprofits to expand opportunities for low- and moderateincome workers to reside in the county.
BHC has been investing in Chesterfield since 1997. Once the Colbrook project is finished, the nonprofit will have developed more than 800 units of quality affordable housing in the county and over 16,000 square feet of commercial space.
“There is no way we could accomplish any of that alone. Every successful project requires the help and collaboration of many public, private and community partners who provide materials, capital, sweat equity and goodwill along the way,” said Todd Waldo, chair of BHC’s board of directors. “It takes a village — a very large village.” Chesterfield allocated about $2 million in federal funding to the Colbrook project. County staff and members of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia also worked closely with BHC to ensure that the site is redeveloped with respect to its historical significance.
In 2022, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources approved a historical marker for the Colbrook site. The largest
remaining historic artifact from Colbrook Motel — the roadside sign that once greeted motorists along Route 1 — has been preserved and will be displayed on the property.
Earl Brooks, son of William and Audrey Brooks, has shared with BHC many photos and other artifacts he collected over the years. Each will be displayed in an onsite community center, as part of an interactive gallery highlighting the legacy of Colbrook Motel and the Green Book.
“The fact that the Colbrook community is keeping this history alive is massively important because history, whether it makes us feel good or makes us feel uncomfortable, is essential to building our future,” said Josh Epperson, who wrote and helped develop an exhibition on the Green Book for the Smithsonian. The exhibition traveled around the country for five years, ending its run in February.
“The Green Book and the stories of its businesses, including the Colbrook Motel, are a lesson that much is possible when we build for community,” Epperson added. “I hope the stories that are told about those who come to live here will be stories about people contributing to this county, this state and this country because of the dignity and support they received here.
“It may not change the world, but if it changes a few lives for the better, it will have been worth the building.”
Courtesy of Better Housing Coalition
An artist’s rendering shows the $60 million redevelopment of the historic Colbrook Motel site in Chesterfield. The project will feature 144 affordable apartments.
Associated Press writer River Zhang contributed to this report.
Danielle Spencer
After turmoil and no-confidence votes, Sierra Club terminates Ben Jealous
By Lee Hedgepeth Inside Climate News
Ben Jealous’ tenure at the Sierra Club has come to an end.
Leadership at the environmental organization announced the executive director’s firing to staff in an email Monday evening.
“Following an extensive evaluation of his conduct, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to terminate Ben Jealous’ employment for cause. This was not a decision we took lightly,” the email said.
Jonathon Berman, chief communications officer for the organization, confirmed Jealous’ exit to Inside Climate News.
“The Sierra Club values all of its employees, members, and volunteers, not just those holding influence and power,” Berman wrote in an email. “The Sierra Club will continue to look into concerns raised regarding misconduct irrespective of who they are raised against in furtherance of our policies, the law, and our mission.”
Jealous had become the subject of widespread criticism among the Sierra Club’s rankand-file after several years of budget cuts, layoffs and unfair labor-practice complaints at the organization. Both union and non-union members passed votes of no confidence in the former NAACP president. Robert Bullard, a prominent environmental advocate, had also called for a no-confidence vote.
Jealous did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
In its email to staffers, Sierra Club board members said they had made a “principled” decision to uphold the club’s values “and ensure every individual at the Sierra Club is held equally accountable, with no special treatment or favor for those
holding influence and power.”
The email said leadership would provide “all the information we can appropriately share” with staff and volunteers in a Tuesday meeting.
In a statement, Erica Dodt, president of the Progressive Workers Union, praised the board’s decision.
“We are heartened to see the Sierra Club take action to terminate Ben Jealous for cause,” Dodt wrote. “Over a year ago, our union members overwhelmingly voted no confidence in Jealous’ leadership, citing his mismanagement of our organization’s strategy and budget and his ongoing attacks on our union. We hope that his departure will open the door for
a stronger relationship between workers and management, and allow the Sierra Club to better focus our efforts on fighting the Trump administration and protecting the environment.”
Jealous had been placed on leave in July by the organization’s board, which had refused to answer press questions about the change. Loren Blackford, a longtime member of Sierra Club leadership, served as acting executive director in Jealous’ absence.
In a letter to the Sierra Club last month, two former board members defended him and said Jealous, who is Black, has faced a racist “pattern of misinformation, character assassination, and discrimination,” according to the Amsterdam News in New York.
But Mercedes Macias, an elected member of the Progressive Workers Union’s Sierra Club unit steering committee and a member of the PWU Sierra Club BIPOC Caucus, said Jealous “lost the confidence of a majority of his staff as well as prominent volunteer leaders within the organization.”
An Inside Climate News review of Jealous’ employment contract provided only limited reasons he could be terminated for cause, including “an act of gross negligence, dishon-
esty, fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, or any act of malfeasance of moral turpitude by Executive that is substantially harmful to the mission, interests, or reputation of Sierra Club; Executive’s willful failure or refusal to perform his duties or his material breach of this Agreement; Executive’s conviction of (or plea of no contest with respect to) a felony or other crime that substantially harms the mission, interests, or reputation of Sierra Club; or a severe violation of Sierra Club’s [equal opportunity] policy.”
Blackford will continue to “work in partnership with [the Sierra Club’s] leadership team,” according to the board’s communication with staff.
Patrick Murphy, the Sierra Club’s board president, called the leadership change a “moment of renewal” for the organization.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Acting Executive Director Loren Blackford and the leadership team to meet the critical moment America faces,” he said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment.
Henrico gaming venue announces job fairs
Roseshire Gaming Parlor, a new boutique gaming and entertainment venue, will hold job fairs Aug. 15-16 as it prepares to open this fall in the Staples Mill Shopping Center.
The $35 million venue will offer 175 historical racing machines, simulcast wagering, and food and beverage service.
in Henrico County. The casino is scheduled to open later this year.
Roseshire also announced Jeremy Callahan as its general manager. Callahan, a gaming industry veteran, most recently served as general manager of Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Emporia. He has worked for more than a decade in gaming and casino openings, including roles at Churchill Downs Inc. properties in Maine and Virginia.
“I’m excited to take on this new role and lead the team at Roseshire,” Callahan said. “We are committed to creating a positive, lasting impact in Henrico by providing job opportunities, delivering exceptional experiences and giving back to the community around us.”
Live! Casino Virginia to host info sessions for Dealer Institute
Free Press staff report
With hundreds of jobs set to open at a new casino, area residents have an opportunity to gain the skills needed for a career as a table games dealer. Live!
Casino Virginia will host information sessions for the Richard Bland College Dealer Institute.
The sessions are scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 at 201 W. Washington St., Petersburg.
Attendees will learn about the Dealer Institute curriculum, hear from casino professionals, and take an on-site math assessment. Successful candidates will qualify for enrollment in the institute. No prior experience is required, but a strong interest in gaming and willingness to learn are recommended.
Courses are taught by licensed instructors who prepare students for careers as table games dealers. Graduates will have the opportunity to apply for positions at Live! Casino Virginia, though completion of the course does not guarantee employment.
“This program is an important part of our ongoing commitment to workforce development in the Petersburg area,” said Debbie L. Sydow, president of Richard Bland College. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Live! Casino Virginia to further enrich our community and provide jobs and economic stimulus
to the region.” Penny Parayo, senior vice president and general manager of Live! Casino Virginia, said the sessions offer a “unique opportunity for individuals to gain valuable skills and pursue rewarding careers in gaming.”
The temporary Live! Casino Virginia facility is expected to create about 500 permanent jobs, including more than 100 table games dealer positions. The facility will feature 75,000 square feet of gaming space, 900 slot machines, 33 live table games, a casino bar, a quick-service restaurant, and 1,000 free parking spaces. Opening is pending regulatory approval. For more information, visit: Valive.casino or rbc. edu/rbc-dealer-institute.
The former NAACP president had a contentious tenure at one of the nation’s oldest environmental organizations.
Courtesy Churchill Downs, Inc.
An artist’s rendering shows Roseshire Gaming Parlor, a new boutique gaming venue in Henrico set to open this fall. The $35 million facility will feature 175 historical racing machines, simulcast wagering and food and beverage
Penny Parayo
Richmond Free Press
Statues of limitations
You may be aware that time is running out to share your opinion on what should be done with the statues of Confederate leaders that once stood on Monument Avenue and elsewhere in the city. It’s a poll called “Richmond’s Monuments & Public Art Survey,” which The Valentine museum, in partnership with the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, started in 2022. Its purpose is to “gather input on how the region should confront, interpret and reimagine its commemorative landscape.”
I had forgotten all about this survey, which closes on Aug. 17, perhaps in part because it seemed the people had spoken on this issue. After all, it was the people in the streets who began to tug on these pillars of bigotry and forcefully remove them during the night. Once it became clear that the remaining statues posed a clear danger to the public, state and local officials stepped in to do the right thing. But here we are, talking about those statues again.
Despite being symbols for a lost cause, they seem to find their way to the center of conversation, don’t they?
Three years is a long time to conduct a survey. If you haven’t noticed, the vibe in the country is substantially different now. Conversations about race, history and memory have shifted. What was once a loud, urgent demand for justice has morphed into something more complicated — and more contested.
But one thing remains clear: These statues are not harmless artifacts. They were built to intimidate, to remind Black Richmonders of their “place” and to warn anyone who thought otherwise. Perched on their pedestals, they served no good. That’s why it’s hard to understand how some still believe there’s a reason to salvage these avatars of white supremacy and reposition them as tools to provoke thought or inspire deep reflection.
It’s been eight years since Charlottesville became the backdrop for one of the ugliest eruptions of hate this country had seen in years. The Unite the Right rally drew white nationalists, neo-Nazis and other hate groups together to protect a statue of Robert E. Lee. It didn’t take long for the clashes with counterprotesters to turn violent, ending in tragedy when a man plowed his car into the crowd, killing Heather Heyer and injuring dozens more.
Fortunately, the protests in Richmond in 2022 didn’t have as violent repercussions. But whoever makes the final decision on these artifacts, or chooses to respond to the online survey, should look to Charlottesville for inspiration. The statue that hate groups came to defend was removed, melted down and is now part of a planned public art project overseen by the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. It plans to install the finished piece by 2027, the 10th anniversary of the Unite the Right rally.
Harboring these avatars of white supremacy, whether beside a wastewater treatment plant or the air-conditioned confines of a museum can’t be the final answer.
The survey will be over soon, and these troublesome artifacts are in need of an ending to their story. Let’s hope the people in charge are listening this time.
Dee
It’s been a few weeks since we mourned the loss of America’s big brother, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who portrayed “Theo” Huxtable on NBC’s “The Cosby Show.” Now, we’re remembering the contributions of actress Danielle Spencer, who played the wise-cracking kid sister on the “What’s Happening!!” sitcom. For those of us of a certain age, another pillar from our childhood memories has been taken away.
On the popular show, loosely based on the movie “Cooley High,” Dee was more than a smart aleck, she was often the voice of reason. With Mama often at work, her brother “Raj” needed Dee’s grounding to keep himself from getting into more trouble than he could handle. She was a child who demanded respect and wasn’t afraid to call out adults who stepped out of line. Television had a tradition of how younger sisters and brothers behave, but Dee didn’t follow the old rules and that kept us watching. After the show, Spencer continued to act and also proved she could do much more. She went to the University of California at Davis and later became a veterinarian. If you know anything about the trajectory of child stars in Hollywood, you know that getting a second act in life isn’t guaranteed. Spencer did and made the most of it.
For those of us who grew up with her, she will always be part of the foundation of who we were and who we aspire to be.
“When you have people that are this extreme, they will do anything and everything to maintain power. The only thing that will stop them is us.”
Rep. Jasmine CRoCkett
She speaks not for spectacle but for substance. She represents a new generation of Black leaders who combine deep community roots with legislative rigor and moral clarity.
We are living through a moment that demands clarity, resolve and truth. Across this country, communities are calling for leadership that understands the stakes, challenges the status quo and delivers for those most often left behind.
In Texas, that leadership has a name: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
Since stepping onto the national stage, Rep. Crockett has made it clear that she is not in Washington to warm a seat. She is there to fight for justice, for access and for the voices too often silenced in our democracy.
In the tradition of mayors like Brandon Scott in Baltimore and Justin Bibb in Cleveland, Crockett reflects a growing movement of bold and accountable public servants who are
shifting the center of gravity in American politics. They understand that justice is not an abstract idea. It is measured in policies, in budgets and in how power is distributed and shared.
Crockett’s background as a civil rights attorney, her experience in the Texas House of Representatives, and now her sharp, principled voice in Congress all point to one truth. She is ready. And she is meeting the moment.
In recent months, as political
Time for Dems to get serious
Gee, what’s happened to the “silly season” of U.S. politics?
That’s what many of us in the daily journalism trade used to call the periods, usually in late summer or near holidays, when news media put an unusually intense focus on lightheart ed or frivolous stories due to a shortage of more serious news.
We cur rently have no such short age. Even late-breaking investigations and speculation surrounding the suicide of President Donald Trump’s late friend Jeffrey Epstein have had to compete with a ferocious partisan war within some of the states over redistricting.
Consider Texas, where Republicans in the state legislature are attempting, at Trump’s urging, to redraw congressional districts in order to flip five more districts to Republican majorities. Democratic legislators have fled the state to deny the legislature a quorum, in hopes of preventing Republicans from carrying out their plan.
Some have taken refuge in Illinois, leading Texas Republicans to call for their arrest by the FBI. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has vowed to protect them.
”Donald Trump is trying to steal five seats from the people — frankly, of the country, not just the people of Texas — and disenfranchise people,” Pritzker said on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
“We’re talking about violating the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution.”
Pritzker also declined to turn away from the possibility of a mid-decade congressional
remap in his own state. He told Colbert: “It’s possible. I’ve said everything is on the table. We’ve gotta fight fire with fire.”
Are we starting to see the hardball attitude that many frustrated Democrats have been urging their national party to adopt?
Still smarting from the debacle of Joe Biden’s 2024
candidacy and the subsequent defeat of the Kamala Harris/ Tim Walz ticket, Dems appear increasingly ready to face a real threat to their ability to regain power in 2026 and beyond.
For their part, Republicans are not trying to hide their determination to gerrymander their way out of a midterm backlash in November 2026.
Vice President JD Vance visited Indiana to urge lawmakers to redraw their congressional map. It’s already a reliably Republican-voting state, but it appears the GOP wants to leave nothing to chance.
I find it to be no small irony that these battle lines are forming on the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Some of us are old enough to remember the feeling that a new page in American history had been turned when that law was enacted. We believed that it would finally end the denial and dilution of Black voting power.
That dream, once won, now must be defended once again. Frankly, it’s been a never-ending chore. The last time House Democrats held the majority, they introduced a sweeping package of goodgovernment reforms, including a centerpiece legislation to end partisan gerrymandering.
“The people should choose their politicians,” then-Speaker
theater has taken center stage in congressional hearings, Crockett has brought facts, law and moral urgency. Her lines go viral, yes, but her purpose is deeper. She challenges misinformation with precision. She demands answers on behalf of those who do not get a seat at the table. And she reminds the nation that Black women are not only the backbone of our democracy, they are its future. But her work is not only about rhetoric. It is about results.
She is a consistent advocate for protecting voting rights, advancing economic equity and defending public education from coordinated attacks. She is raising the alarm about housing, health care and the wealth gap, all while staying rooted in the needs of her district. She listens. She shows up. She leads with authenticity.
At the National Urban League, we believe in building pipelines of transformative leadership. We invest in civic engagement, economic oppor-
Nancy Pelosi said in 2021 before the House passed the For the People Act, which would later die in the Senate. “Politicians should not be choosing their voters.”
Of course, choosing their voters is precisely what Trump and Republican legislatures intend to do. Trump’s team has pushed Republicans to redraw maps “wherever redistricting is an option.”
Democrats can’t afford to respond with anything less. Indeed, some Democrats, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are switching from their past lofty positions in favor of bipartisan redistricting commissions to embracing the idea of fighting fire with fire.
Pelosi, who remains a member of the U.S. House, said that while Democrats favor nationwide independent commissions to draw congressional district maps, they “cannot and will not unilaterally disarm.”
Recent polling trends show eroding support for Trump’s actions and policies, which can aptly summed up as “reverse Robin Hood” with a police-state sideshow. This is especially the case among independents but is noticeable even among Republicans, many of whom no doubt realize their president is off the chain.
A big opportunity is opening for challengers who can show voters sanity, humanity and the backbone to stand up to the schoolyard bully in the Oval Office. And Democrats have shown before that they can rise from the slough of despond to win an electoral mandate.
This normally silly season has turned sinister, and the stakes to Democrats are existential. Their first step in winning back voters is showing they’re willing to fight.
The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
tunity and the power of Black communities to drive change from the ground up. Crockett embodies those same values in Congress, a fierce advocate who knows the law, knows the people and knows how to move policy forward.
As we continue to confront challenges to civil rights, reproductive freedom and democratic norms, we must also lift up the leaders who are lighting the path forward. Jasmine Crockett is one of them. She reminds us that democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires participation, vigilance and voices like hers — clear, courageous and committed.
To be equal, we must not only defend the progress we have made, we must expand it and invest in leaders who carry the struggle forward with vision and action.
The writer is the president of the National Urban League.
Clarence Page
Marc H. Morial
Commentary/Letters to the Editor
Sketchy groups send confusing Social Security mailers to seniors
My mother-in-law is all the rage with charitable groups, particularly the ones that are opaque at best and deceptive at worst in their snail mail. As public concerns mount about dwindling Social Security reserves, these mailers may be arriving in senior Virginians’ mailboxes more frequently.
Grandma, who’s 92 and lives with me, recently received three cash solicitations in a week regarding the solvency of Social Security. We’d never heard of the senders before and surmised their names could confuse people about their bona fides.
They all begged for money and signatures, as one letter called it, to help bolster “the payment of Social Security benefits well into the future.” That letter assigned my mother-in-law a registration number — how official! — as part of advocating for a Social Security guarantee. No sender, for example, was nearly as recognizable as AARP, the nonprofit that’s been around since 1958 and says it fights for the priorities of everyone age 50 and over.
Among the warnings from the National Campaign to Guarantee Social Security, a project of the Federation of Responsible Citizens: “There is no greater economic crisis facing our nation than the impending crash of Social Security.”
There are some nuggets of truth about the claims regarding Social Security, but they lack
vital context. Nor is there proof that these solicitors can deliver.
Similar letters arrived from the American Federation of Senior Citizens, another project of the FRC (why do you need two Social Security projects from the same umbrella group?), and the Senior Citizen Association of America, part of the National
Roger Chesley
Senior Citizen Committee.
The latter sought a signature for an enclosed Social Security amendment petition — and a contribution.
Red flags immediately went up for my wife and me. They should for you, too, especially if you have an aging parent musing about forking over cash to such sketchy outfits.
“Unsolicited mail asking for money, especially with urgent or emotional appeals, should be treated with caution,” a Social Security Administration spokesperson told me by email Thursday. SSA“encourages the public to not send money or personal information until they have verified the organization’s legitimacy,” the spokesperson said.
Such solicitations might be from 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups that indeed exist, but might have marginal clout. They are lobbying groups in which donors can’t deduct money for federal income tax purposes. Both FRC and NSCC fall into that category.
Are benefactors merely enriching the employees and board members of these organizations?
I’m betting the letters arrived so closely together because the
program’s viability was the subject of news articles this summer. The trust funds for Social Security and Medicare will run out of money in less than a decade, according to a report, and the programs’ trustees warned the depletion date is closer than predicted a year ago, The Washington Post noted. If Congress doesn’t overhaul the programs’ financing, automatic cuts will slash Social Security benefits by 23% and Medicare hospital benefits by 11% in 2033.
But there’s a huge caveat, The Post said in its June 18 primer: Decreasing benefits “would be so unpopular that Congress would face great pressure to act.” That’s correct.
“Lawmakers would probably need to consider a mix of benefit cuts plus new revenue — such as higher taxes to fund Social Security, perhaps taxing wages above the current threshold of $176,100,” the article continued.
Because retirees are such a dependable, consistent voting bloc, craven congressional members who have delayed tackling the problem for ages would feel the weight of self-preservation — and finally do something.
Spokespersons for both of Virginia’s senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, told me they hadn’t received complaints from constituents about the solicitors I’d mentioned. I phoned and emailed officials at FRC and NSCC. I asked about their purported value, what percentage of their donations goes to actual lobbying, and more. My messages weren’t returned. That left me to seek financial
Reimbursing language learners?
I have a question that needs to be answered — or at least thought about. Since President Donald Trump wants English to be the only language spoken and taught in the United States, then what is a person to do with all the foreign and international languages that they learned during middle school, high school or college?
What do they now do with all that knowledge — especially if it was a passion they wanted to learn or speak? Should they — or could they — get reimbursed? Just wondering.
SHARON DEANE Richmond
documents online, the groups’ websites, and message boards that mentioned the organizations — usually negatively by family members of letter recipients.
Charity Navigator, which rates nearly a quarter-million nonprofits, says FRC got its IRS ruling as a 501(c)(4) in 1990. But the ratings organization doesn’t cover such lobbying groups in detail. FRC is based in Alexandria, Virginia.
The ratings group said NSCC gained its IRS ruling in 2010. It’s also a 501(c)(4). It’s based in Reston, Virginia.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which monitors charitable groups seeking donations in the commonwealth, said FRC and NSCC register with it annually. It had no records of complaints related to the organization names I’d provided.
ProPublica, a nonprofit news-
room, said FRC had $12.4 million in revenues and slightly less in expenses on Form 990 for 2023. The only executive compensation was $60,000 for Denise Singleton, listed as president/ director. Professional fundraising fees were $530,600, or 4.3% of total expenses. You don’t find much about FRC on its website. Click on “accomplishments,” and it touts activities it completed in 2018.
ProPublica reports NSCC had $2.5 million in revenues and nearly $2.7 million in expenses for 2023. It listed no money for employee compensation. It showed $400,000 in professional fundraising fees, or 15% of total expenses. David M. Coyne, listed as a director, signed the letter to my mother-in-law.
I interviewed Social Security Works’ Linda Benesch, who said she follows relevant stories in the news and can’t recall the groups
I was writing about ever being quoted or mentioned.
I asked Benesch why even donate to such nonprofits, since our individual House and Senate members should be fighting for us — without having to pay them extra.
“I think there’s a place for both calling your members of Congress directly and supporting advocacy organizations that have capacity to build direct relationships with members of Congress,” Benesch said. “However, people should always do their research before donating.”
On the latter, we agree.
Our U.S. representatives and senators are there for a reason. If you’d like to also donate to nonprofits fighting for Social Security, make sure they’re legit and effective.
The writer is a columnist at VirginiaMercury.com, where this commentary originally appeared.
Thunder to host Spurs in Christmas Day debut as NBA champions
Associated Press NEW YORK
The Oklahoma City Thunder felt slighted last season when they were left off the NBA’s Christmas schedule.
That won’t be an issue this year.
MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the NBA champion Thunder will be working at home for Christmas this season, playing host to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs as part of the league’s annual Dec. 25 quintupleheader.
The other Christmas games, released by the NBA on Tuesday: Cleveland at New York, Houston at LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and Dallas visiting Golden State, and Minnesota playing at Denver.
Some NBA Cup games are scheduled to be released Wednesday, and the full schedule — 80 of the 82 games for all teams — is to be released on Thursday. The remaining two games for each club will be filled in December based on how teams fare in the NBA Cup.
“They make the schedule. We play it,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said last season when asked about his club not being picked for the Dec. 25 lineup. “Our players, I know, would have liked to play on Christmas because that’s such a staple day in the NBA season. But we can’t control that.”
Former Trojans guard joins VSU’s coaching staff as assistant
Free Press staff report
Virginia State head men’s basketball coach Lonnie Blow Jr. recently announced the addition of CJ Wiggins to the Trojans’ coaching staff.
Wiggins, a 2019 Virginia State graduate, returns to Ettrick after five seasons on the Fayetteville State men’s basketball staff. During his tenure with the Broncos, Wiggins helped the program capture four CIAA championships — one tournament title and three Southern Division crowns. He also earned his MBA from Fayetteville State in 2023.
At Fayetteville State, Wiggins worked under veteran coach Luke D’Alessio, gaining experience in the college basketball landscape.
As a player, Wiggins was a standout guard at North Carolina Central for three seasons.
As a freshman in 2015-16, he appeared in 23 games with 11 starts, averaging 14.5 minutes, 4.1 points and 2.2 assists per game. He earned MEAC Rookie of the Week honors after a season-high 17-point, six-assist performance against Montreat on Dec. 29. He led the team in assists seven times and recorded six assists in three games.
Wiggins transferred to Virginia State for his senior season, where he helped lead the Trojans to a 28-5 record — the best under Blow. That season, VSU won the CIAA Northern Division and captured the CIAA Championship. Wiggins averaged 9.0 points and 5.4 assists per game during his season in orange and blue.
Well, they sort of did control their Christmas scheduling fate this season.
The NBA champions typically get invited to play on Christmas the following season; Oklahoma City beat Indiana in a seven-game NBA Finals last season. The Eastern Conference champion Pacers are among the Christmas snubs this year, after losing Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles tear that will sideline him for the entirety of this season and seeing Myles Turner opt to sign with Milwaukee in free agency.
The Knicks will be playing their 58th Christmas game, extending their NBA record. The first Christmas game in league history was at Madison Square Garden in 1947.
Boston, Philadelphia and Phoenix played on Christmas last season and didn’t make the Dec. 25 cut this season, replaced by Cleveland (which was the East’s No. 1 seed), Houston (which landed Kevin Durant in an offseason blockbuster from the Suns) and the Thunder.
Cleveland and the Thunder are playing on Christmas for the first time since 2018. The Rockets have a Christmas game for the first time since 2019.
James, if he plays on the holiday, will be making his 20th Christmas appearance in his record 23 NBA seasons. Only 12 NBA franchises have 20 Christmas games, and James could soon have that many as a player.
Thursday,
And it’ll be a big NBA holiday in Texas: All three of the state’s teams are playing on Christmas for the first time.
Opening night
NBC’s return to the NBA broadcast world officially starts with opening night on Oct. 21, when the Thunder will receive their championship rings before playing host to Durant and the Rockets in the first game of the season. That will be followed by Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Golden State taking on James, Luka Doncic and the Lakers in the second game of the NBC doubleheader. Those are the only two games on opening night. MLK Day Peacock and NBC will have four games on Jan. 19, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The matchups: Milwaukee at Atlanta on Peacock
New RPS youth baseball league set for spring 2026
Free press staff report
Virginia State University’s baseball team will help kick off a new elementary school baseball league organized by Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and set to debut in spring 2026.
The league will include eight RPS elementary schools and is part of a larger initiative to introduce baseball to younger students. Clinics to promote the league will begin Monday, Aug. 18, and run through Thursday, Aug. 21, at three schools: Fairfield Court, Cardinal and Oak Grove-Bellemeade. Each session will run from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Dr. Stefanie Ramsey, RPS coordinator of K-12 athletics and activities, is leading the effort. She said the league is aimed at building interest early while connecting academics and athletics.
“We want to get the kids excited about the new league coming this spring,” Ramsey said. “We also plan to provide the kids with a baseball-related book, as we always stress academics along with athletics.”
The clinics will feature support from the Trojans baseball team, whose head coach, Merrill Morgan, agreed to participate after being approached during a recruitment visit in Richmond.
“Our students get back on campus on Monday, Aug. 18,” Morgan said. “Once they get settled in, my players who don’t have classes during that time will be in Richmond to help work the clinic. The youth in our communities are the future of the game — count us in.”
oped with support from the SOLE (Sports, Opportunities,
Literacy and Enrichment) program, along with Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the Spirit of Baseball organiza-
Free Press staff report
The Richmond Flying Squirrels were held to five hits and lost to the Erie SeaWolves 4-0 on Sunday at UPMC Park.
Richmond (41-64-1, 20-18 second half) won four of six games in the series against Erie (63-44, 18-20) and remains 1½ games behind first-place Altoona heading into a series at home against the Curve this week.
Erie took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Nick Zwack (loss, 0-1). Max Clark led off with an infield single and later scored
Free Press staff report
With summer winding down, the 2025 college football season is just weeks away. The HBCU Preseason All-America team was announced Tuesday, with three CIAA student-athletes earning recognition. The list was released by BOXTOROW, has named All-America teams since 2007, voted on by national media covering HBCU football.
Johnson C. Smith University wide receiver Brevin Caldwell was named to the offensive team. A senior from Charlotte, N.C., Caldwell earned First-Team All-CIAA honors in 2024 following a standout junior season for the Golden Bulls.
Virginia State University placed two defensive linemen on the honorable mention list: Cameron Davis and KJ McNeil.
Free Press staff report
The Black College Football Hall of Fame has announced a new partnership with the John Madden Foundation, which is now an official partner of the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl.
The collaboration will support historically Black colleges and universities through career development and access initiatives, including transportation to the country’s largest HBCUfocused career fair.
“John Madden was a true champion of the game and an advocate for historically Black colleges and universities,” said Doug Williams, Super
on a triple by Kevin McGonigle, who then scored on a sacrifice fly by Justice Bigbie.
After the first-inning runs, Zwack held Erie scoreless over the next five innings with five strikeouts. In four starts since returning to Richmond, Zwack has posted a 1.86 ERA.
Erie starter Kenny Serwa (win, 5-4) made his second scoreless start of the series, pitching five innings with five strikeouts Sunday.
In the sixth inning, Bel Malgeri hit a two-out, two-run homer off Manuel Mer-
Kevon King, Norfolk State, Sr., Chesapeake, Va. RB: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State, Gr., Natchez, Miss. OL: Charles Davis, Florida A&M, R-Sr., Marianna, Fla.
OL: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M,
OL: Korion Sharpe, North Carolina A&T, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
OL: D’Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State, Sr., Willow Grove, Pa.*
TE: Marvin Landy, Jackson State, Gr., Lakeland, Fla.
WR: Brevin Caldwell, Johnson C. Smith, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
WR: Nathan Rembert, Jackson State, Jr., Eustis, Fla. Defense
DL: Bryce Cage, Grambling State, R-Sr., Baton Rouge, La.
DL: Ckelby Givens, Southern, Sr., Shreveport, La.*
DL: Davion Westmoreland, Florida A&M, Gr., Griffin, Ga.
DL: Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State, R-Sr., Lexington, Miss.
LB: Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State, Gr., Hollandale, Miss.
LB: Erick
LB:
DB: TJ Huggins,
Bowl XXII MVP and Black College Football Hall of Fame co-founder. “We’re truly grateful for this support, which allows us to continue opening doors of opportunity for HBCU students.”
As part of the partnership, the John Madden Foundation will provide funding for the HBCU Career Fair Caravan, now officially renamed the John Madden HBCU Caravan. The program will provide charter bus transportation for 800 students from 16 HBCUs within a six-hour radius of New Orleans to attend the Legacy Bowl Career Fair.
“My father was a strong believer in the mission and impact of HBCUs,” said Mike Mad-
den, son of John Madden and board member of the John Madden Foundation. “He had the honor of coaching Black College Football Hall of Fame legends like Art Shell, Willie Brown, Henry Lawrence and Raymond Chester. I know he would be incredibly proud to support such a meaningful and impactful initiative.”
The Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, established by the Black College Football Hall of Fame, is a postseason all-star game showcasing the top NFL draft-eligible HBCU football players. The event also includes a week of professional development and networking opportunities for participating students.
Belcher, also director of innovative partnerships at Virginia Wesleyan University Global Campus, is helping coordinate resources, including a $44,000 IMPACT STEM scholarship for a qualifying RPS senior through VWU. The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL), which launched SOLE in 2007, will lead the kick-off clinics. MJBL Central Virginia Commissioner Micah Crumm will bring high school-age players from MJBL’s summer league to assist.
“I was excited to hear that we will now be able to introduce baseball to our youth at an early age,” Crumm said. “I can’t think of a better way to do it than through our public school system.”
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Alumni Association have also pledged support for the spring launch of the league. For more information, contact Larry Barber at (336) 379-7219.
cedes to extend Erie’s lead to 4-0.
Jack Choate entered with two runners on and no outs in the seventh but escaped the inning with a strikeout and a double-play groundout.
The Flying Squirrels returned home to start a series against the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on Tuesday night.
Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press via AP
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander listens to remarks during a ceremony honoring the NBA basketball champion,
Aug. 7, in Hamilton, Ontario.
Nick Zwack
John Madden
Courtesy of VUU/by Chris Waugaman
Virginia State University outfielder Marquis Smith rounds the bases during a recent game. VUU baseball will support Richmond Public Schools’ new youth league launching in spring 2026.
CJ Wiggins
The league is being devel-
tion, led by Larry Belcher.
Drawing on her own life experiences and a steadfast commitment to justice reform, Sheba Williams founded Nolef Turns, a nonprofit working to provide second chances in what she views as an unjust penal system. Her goal is to break down barriers for people affected by the criminal justice system through holistic support services.
Nolef Turns provides guidance before incarceration, resources during re-entry and post-conviction assistance to help clients secure housing, employment and emotional stability. Williams also uses her platform to push for policies that reduce recidivism and support the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated people into society.
“Our policy work gets the most exposure,” Williams said. “But we need help with direct services like jobs, housing, food and other important life skills, which have the most impact.”
Formerly incarcerated people are about 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general public, according to a report by the Prison Policy Initiative. Hiring discrimination, low wages and high unemployment rates continue to hinder formerly incarcerated people, making it harder for them to successfully re-enter society.
Williams, a Richmond native, grew up with firsthand knowledge of the criminal system; both of her parents spent time in prison when she was a child. Later in life, she found herself implicated in an embezzlement case at her workplace. Williams professes her innocence and frustration with what she believes is an unjust criminal justice system, especially for those relying on court-appointed legal represen-
Personality: Sheba Williams
Spotlight on the founder of Nolef Turns Inc.
tation. Although she did not serve jail time, the resulting felony conviction has remained on her record, shaping her understanding of how labels can follow someone for decades.
Virginia’s Clean Slate Law, passed in 2021, marks a major milestone in Williams’ advocacy. The measure allows certain felony records to be sealed from public view rather than fully expunged, offering hope to many. For Williams, it means her record will be suppressed next July, opening new personal and professional opportunities.
“I connected with people who could help get this law passed,” Williams said. “Now, I’m part of a group that holds expungement clinics. It’s part of my life’s work.”
Williams is a proud mother of three children, all of whom have been inspired by her work. Her eldest son is a clinical social worker, and her daughter recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in criminal justice. Both are following her example of helping others. Her youngest is in his final year at Hampton University as an architecture major.
Through her work, advocacy and example, Williams is proving that past mistakes don’t define a person’s destiny and that, with the right support, second chances can transform lives.
Where do you live?
Eastern Henrico. What’s your educational background?
I graduated from John Marshall High School, and I hold a bachelor’s degree in business management from Norfolk State University. I also became a licensed master barber, stylist and instructor. Tell us about your family.
I have three adult children.
My mother passed in 2021, but my father lives in Richmond. I am the youngest of three siblings.
What is Nolef Turns?
Nolef Turns Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Richmond. We provide direct service and support for individuals leaving long-term incarceration. We also do policy and advocacy work that supports improving the lives of those impacted by crime, trauma and mass incarceration.
What is Nolef Turns’ mission?
Our mission is to reduce recidivism by supporting and advocating for court and justice involvement.
Why did you create Nolef Turns?
I founded Nolef Turns in 2016 because incarceration has plagued my life since childhood. After a wrongful conviction, despite being a college graduate, my ex-partner and I put in
over 1,000 job applications between the two of us without a single callback. That was the spark that led me to start the organization. Why the name? Nolef is Felon backward. Initially, the tagline was “Turning Felons Around,” but to change the narrative of how we treat individuals impacted by incarceration, we use humanizing language. The name hasn’t changed, but our tagline is now “Home for Good.”
What services does Nolef Turns provide?
We provide re-entry support for individuals leaving the Virginia Department of Corrections or the Bureau of Prisons, pretrial support, an advocacy training program, CASE (a dual mentorship program), harm reduction services, restoration of rights and voter education and expungement support. Give us an example of how you’ve seen Nolef Turns make a difference.
We maintained a 0% recidivism rate for our first seven years; we now hover around a 3% recidivism rate. We invest in the whole person, making policy strides that directly improve the quality of life of the people we serve. That includes the historic expungement/record sealing bill, probation reform and leading the right-to-vote constitutional amendment. Most importantly, we provide the resources that people need to be successful upon release from long-term incarceration. What are the biggest challenges facing Nolef Turns?
Funding is always our biggest challenge. Donors are willing to support policy, but
few fund direct service support, which is most critical in getting to the policy piece. We need support for housing for individuals with past convictions as well as funding to support holistic care and to encourage all Virginians to take elections seriously and vote in November, so our constitutional amendment has a better chance of passage.
How is Nolef Turns funded?
For the first four to five years, I worked four jobs, and we received support through small-dollar donations from community members. We now receive grant funding from a handful of donors. We ensure alignment with organizations that share our mission.
Who are Nolef Turns’ partners?
We partner with many organizations, including Justice Forward Virginia Foundation, REFORM Alliance, ACLU of Virginia, Virginia Civic Engagement Table, Virginia League for Safer Streets, Ketchmore Kids, Henrico NAACP, Richmond Community Bail Fund, Blue Ridge Detention Center, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, Uhuru Foundation and the Legal Aid Justice Center.
How do people in need get in touch with Nolef Turns?
We have an online intake application on our website, nolefturns.org.
Are there volunteer opportunities with Nolef Turns?
We have opportunities for housing support navigators, second-chance partner researchers, second-chance phone banking, advisory board members and youth advisory board members listed on our website, nolefturns.org
Do you have any upcoming events?
We are hosting the Virginia
Justice Conference Sept. 1112 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. There will also be awards and a sneaker ball on Sept. 20. Details are on the conference website, virginiajusticeconference.com.
How do you start the day? I do a power hour each morning where I turn off all access to my phone calls, so no texts, emails, social media or news consumption. One hour a day is dedicated to centering myself to prepare to take on all the challenges of the world for the remaining 23 hours.
Who is your dream dinner party guest?
Dick Gregory. What is a quote that inspires you?
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free,” by Fannie Lou Hamer.
Who has influenced you the most in your life? My mother, because she never met a stranger and was kind to everyone. Her heart was way bigger than her stature, and she taught us that we are on earth in the service of others. What is a book that has influenced you?
“Between the World and Me,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. What are you currently reading?
“Dying to Self,” by Tashera Simmons.
What’s next for you?
Getting through our firstever Virginia Justice Conference in September, then getting through elections. I’m considering housing development to serve our population because we’ve tried to leave it in the hands of other housing developers, but most still legally discriminate against people who have past convictions.
Richmond Ballet to open season with Frida Kahlo-inspired premiere
Free Press staff report
Richmond Ballet will launch its 2025-26 season next month with “Piensa en Mí” (“Think of Me”), a new work by artistic director Ma Cong inspired by the life and art of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
The ballet will debut during “Moving Art One: Passion & Power,” which runs Sept. 1121 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The program will also feature the Virginia premiere of “Wild Sweet Love” by choreographer Trey McIntyre, known for his playful, pop-infused approach to dance.
Ma described “Piensa en Mí” as a tribute to Kahlo’s “passion, resilience and unflinching self-expression.” The piece coincides with the museum’s exhibition “Frida: Beyond the Myth,” which closes Sept. 28.
This marks the first new ballet Ma has created specifically for the company’s “Moving Art” series at VMFA since becoming artistic director in 2024. Richmond Ballet will present McIntyre’s work for the first time in the company’s history.
Tickets for “Moving Art One” and the full season are available at etix.com or through the Richmond Ballet box office at (804) 344-0906, ext. 224.
The season will continue with “Moving Art Two: Director’s Choice” in October, “The Nutcracker” in December, “Giselle” in February, “Moving Art Three: New Works” in March and “Moving Art Four: Legends” in May.
Jazz and Music Celebration
The 43rd annual Carytown Watermelon Festival returned Sunday, Aug. 10, filling Cary Street with more than 100 vendors and artisans offering crafts, food, fresh watermelon and watermelon-flavored treats and drinks. The event featured music on five stages and entertainment acts throughout the street. Activities for all ages included face painting, a children’s area and carnival rides.
Free Press staff report
Radio One Richmond’s stations will host their annual Prep for Success Back to School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 16, offering free school supplies, haircuts and family resources to help students prepare for the 2025-26 academic year.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Speaking Spirit Ministries, 4205 Ravenswood Road. It is open to the public, and children in kindergarten through 12th grade must be present to receive supplies.
Participating stations include iPower 92.1/104.1, Kiss 99.3/105.7, Praise 104.7 and The Box 99.5/102.7. The event will feature games, giveaways and more than 20 local vendors offering services ranging from health care and insurance to youth and social services.
Haircuts will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis with parental consent. Waivers must be signed for participation in activities.
“For the past nine years, our team has collected and distributed over 14,000 school supplies that help to equip students and support families across the Richmond metro area,” said Stacey Trexler, vice president and general manager of Radio One Richmond stations. “We are excited to partner with Speaking Spirit Ministries again this year to create an event where families can get ready for back to school and enjoy a fun day in their community.”
More information is available at www.ipowerrichmond.com kissrichmond.com or www.praiserichmond.com.
Chris Hardy Cassidy Isaacson and Smuin dance company artists perform in “Wild Sweet Love,” by Trey McIntyre. Courtesy Smuin Contemporary Ballet.
Jazz guitarist Norman Brown performs during the Richmond Jazz & Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 9. October London, a rising talent known for blending soulful vocals with contemporary jazz, performs during the festival.
Known for hits such as “I Need a Dollar” and the Grammy-nominated “Wake Me Up,” Aloe Blacc brings his soulful voice and blend of R&B and jazz to the festival.
One festival-goer dressed for the annual event — and the drink specials might have caught her eye, too.
Run the Ride performs the event’s noon set on the Melon Stage.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
First Union Baptist pastor retiring after four years of service
Pastor Fleming
Free Press staff report
First Union Baptist Church on Derwent Road is preparing to bid farewell to Pastor Tommy Fleming, who will retire Aug. 31 after four years of service.
Fleming described his time at the church as “one of the greatest honors” of his life, noting that First Union has long been a
spiritual home for him and his family.
“My wife and I consider First Union Baptist Church as our ‘home,’” Fleming said. “We raised our children and grew in grace at First Union. To return and serve as pastor has been more than I could have ever imagined.”
The congregation recently voted to elect the Rev. Roberta Young-Jackson as the church’s 18th pastor, effective Sept. 1. Details of her installation service and First Union’s 150th anniversary celebration will be announced soon.
Stage play ‘Father Figure’ coming to Richmond
Free Press staff report
“Father Figure,” an awardwinning stage play by playwright Garrett Davis, will be performed Saturday, Aug. 23 at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church North, 4247 Creighton Road, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The production tells the story of Robert, a man seeking redemption after years of absence from his son Marcus’ life. Through drama, humor and music, the play examines fatherhood in the African American community, as well as themes of brokenness, forgiveness and reconnection.
Davis, known for creating socially conscious works, describes “Father Figure” as more than entertainment — it is intended to encourage audiences to confront generational cycles and work toward family healing.
The play’s blend of emotion and music aims to inspire fathers, sons and families to choose love, restoration and purpose.
“I have full confidence that Reverend Jackson is the shepherding visionary whom God has called to guide this church into its next chapter.” Fleming said.
Young-Jackson, who has served the church in multiple roles including Christian education director, earned degrees from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology.
Cast members of the stage play “Father Figure” gather ahead of its Aug. 23 performance at St. Paul’s Baptist Church North in Richmond. The playwright, Garrett Davis, is seated at right.