Meet this week’s Personality
By George Copeland Jr.
They
the 2020 General Assembly session authorized localities to adopt such taxes and provided legislative guidelines. The tax will apply to disposable bags provided in Richmond grocery stores, convenience stores and drugstores. The tax will have a revenue split 20%-80% between retailers and the City, and will be included alongside other costs when customers
City leaders confront water system failures, plan treatment plant upgrade
By George Copeland Jr.
Frustration is mounting among Richmond area officials and residents following a series of water service disruptions, as City of Richmond leaders weigh long-term plans to modernize the aging water treatment plant responsible for much of the region’s supply.
A discussion Monday over a modernization plan for the water treatment plant’s infrastructure between Richmond City Council
Walkathon raises funds for Gaza children’s mental health care
By George Copeland Jr.
About 70 residents from across the Richmond region gathered at Byrd Park on Saturday morning for a 5K walkathon and breakfast in support of the children in Gaza amid the ongoing war.
Joggers, strollers and dog walkers of many ages, races and religions mixed with other park guests and locals as they moved along the winding, looping path of the Vita Course Trail.
While some attendees completed the trail three times to reach five kilometers, others opted to stay at the trail’s start, where conversation, fun and a wide variety of food lent the event a warm and friendly atmosphere for hours.
The event was organized by the Richmond-based Team Hind as
and Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Director Scott Morris was filled with concerns over the recent water issues.
“For the past 21 years, I’ve not seen this kind of interruption of services except in the past six months,” Ellen Robertson, 6th District, said. “It raises all kinds of questions.”
Council members cited residents’ complaints throughout the discussion, including high utility bills and issues with the payment system. They also raised questions about DPU’s efforts to ensure reliability and the plant modernization plan, which is
expected to be completed by 2034.
The discussion followed the lifting of Richmond’s second boil water advisory this year and came months after an accident caused a temporary spike in fluoride levels. Just hours after the advisory ended, a water main break on Canal Street disrupted water service in Henrico County for several days.
During a press conference last Friday, Henrico officials praised
Va. free health clinics strategize survival after state, federal funding cuts
By Charlotte Rene Woods
Amid federal and state funding cuts, freezes and delayed payments, the outlook is grim for free clinics in Virginia that have had to trim or halt some services, but there is hope, Health Brigade Executive Director Karen Legato said Thursday evening.
“Care is resistance,” she reiterated during a speech outside the clinic’s Thompson Street location in Richmond.
Opened in 1970 as the Fan Free Clinic, what is now known as Health Brigade was the first free clinic established in Virginia. It is one of about 70 free clinics currently in the state that provide care to uninsured or underinsured people.
The May 29 gathering brought workers, volunteers, supporters and patients of several Richmond area free clinics together for a town hall to express concerns and frustrations and to brainstorm ways to keep doors open and patients served.
Before her calls to action, Legato shared that Health Brigade alone has lost $1.8 million in state and federal funding over the past year. Programs that have taken a hit include ones that offer HIV/AIDS treatment and testing for diseases like Hepatitis C and tuberculosis, as well as a clean syringe program that also provides naloxone kits — the medication that reverses
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Beginning in 2026, Richmond shoppers will pay a 5-cent tax on disposable plastic bags. City Council approved the ordinance establishing the fee during a meeting Monday, June 2.
George Copeland Jr./Richmond Free Press
William and Robin Allman walk and talk with Team Hind organizer Adeeb Abed along the Vita Course Trail during Saturday’s Gaza solidarity walkathon in Byrd Park. The event raised funds for mental health support for Palestinian children.
Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury Health Brigade Executive Director Karen Legato speaks at a town hall on May 29 to discuss state and federal funding cuts to Virginia’s network of free clinics.
Brian Palmer
Pride in our city
The Progress Pride Flag flies outside City Hall in recognition of National LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The flag’s design includes the traditional rainbow along with black, brown, pink, light blue and white stripes to honor LGBTQ+ people of color and the transgender community. More photos, A10.
Chief Justice Goodwyn honored with state’s top judicial service award
Free Press staff report
The Judicial Council of Virginia recently named Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn of the Supreme Court of Virginia as the recipient of the 2024 Harry L. Carrico Outstanding Career Service Award.
Goodwyn was presented the award May 15 during the Judicial Conference of Virginia’s annual meeting.
Justice Cleo Powell said Goodwyn’s career “is a testament to the very essence of professionalism embodied by Justice Carrico,” adding that Goodwyn’s dedication to fairness, equal access to justice and the judicial system’s integrity “resonates deeply with the spirit of this award” in presenting the honor.
The award honors Harry L. Carrico, the longest-serving chief justice and member in the history of the Supreme Court of Virginia. It recognizes a Virginia judge who demonstrates exceptional leadership in court administration and embodies integrity, courtesy, impartiality, wisdom and humility. All appellate, circuit and district court judges are eligible for the award.
Goodwyn currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Conference of Chief Justices and chairs its Criminal Justice Committee. He formerly co-chaired the Virginia Access to Justice Commission. He also has received the Virginia Bar Association’s Gerald L. Baliles Distinguished Service Award.
Appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine in 2007, Goodwyn was unanimously elected by the General Assembly in 2008 and re-elected in 2020. His fellow justices elected him chief justice in 2022.
Before joining the Supreme Court, Goodwyn served 10 years as a judge on the Chesapeake Circuit Court and two years on the Chesapeake General District Court.
Earlier in his career, he practiced law privately and was a faculty member at the University of Virginia School of Law. He earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his law degree from the University of Virginia.
The Judicial Council of Virginia is responsible for studying and evaluating the state’s judicial system and recommending improvements to the General Assembly and the Supreme Court.
Early voting
Early in-person voting for the June 17 primary election continues through Saturday, June 14. Richmond voters can cast their ballots at the Office of Elections at 2134 W. Laburnum Ave., City Hall at 900 E. Broad St., and Hickory Hill Community Center at 3000 E. Belt Blvd. Voting hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with additional Saturday hours on June 7 and June 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Henrico County residents can vote at the Henrico Western Government Center at 4305 E. Parham Road and the Eastern Government Center at 3820 Nine Mile Road from Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Varina Library at 1875 New Market Road is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All locations also will be open on Saturday, June 7, and June 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Five mail drop boxes are accessible at the Administration Annex building at the Henrico Western Government Center, the Eastern Government Center, Deep Run Park Recreation Center at 9900 Ridgefield Pkwy., the Varina Library and the Tuckahoe Area Library at 1901 Starling Drive. Chesterfield County is hosting early voting at the Central Library at 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd. until Saturday, June 14, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 7, and June 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A drop box for mail-in ballots and curbside voting for those with disabilities or those age 65 and older is also available. Another drop box is available at the Office of the General Registrar at 9848 Lori Road from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m on weekdays until Friday, June 13, on Saturdays, June 7 and 14, and Monday, June 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Early voting in Hanover County is held in the Wickham Building at the Hanover Courthouse Government Complex at 7497 County Complex Road from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday, June 7, and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Curbside voting options available for handicapped and voters over the age of 65 is available.
A ballot drop off station is on site at the Wickham Building until Tuesday, June 17, at 7 p.m.
No excuse is needed to vote early in Virginia. Bring an acceptable form of ID or be prepared to sign an ID confirmation statement. For more information, visit elections.virginia.gov
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
initiative aimed at enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety in the area surrounding Linwood Holton Elementary School.
Minus named president at Eastern Shore Community College
Free Press staff report
Daryl Minus has been named president of Eastern Shore Community College, effective July 1, the Virginia Community College System announced last Thursday.
Minus, currently vice president of enrollment management and student success at Southside Virginia Community College in Alberta, will begin his new role July 1. He succeeds Jim Shaeffer, who is retiring after six years at the helm.
His selection follows a national search that drew 59 applicants.
“I’m confident Minus will build on the vital service that ESCC provides for its students and community,” CCS Chancellor David Doré said in a statement. “Our
months long search attracted exceptional candidates, and we are grateful to all of the talented educators who expressed interest in the Eastern Shore presidency.”
Minus brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education, with leadership roles in Virginia, North Carolina and California’s community college systems. His past positions include education services officer with the U.S. Marine Corps in Jacksonville, N.C.; vice president at Cape Fear and Craven com-
munity colleges; and dean at Tidewater Community College, Chabot College and Bakersfield College.
Minus earned a bachelor’s from Hampton University, a master’s from New York University and a doctorate in education from the University of Phoenix. He said he’s honored to take on the role and looks forward to serving the region.
“ESCC is an exceptional institution, with a dynamic history of creating expanded learning and earning pathways for the citizens of Accomack and Northampton counties,” he said. “I am honored to join this vibrant community and prioritize strategic efforts that position students for success and enhanced economic mobility.”
Tucker’s lasting contributions to medicine and patients’ rights
By Danielle Pierce
A new Virginia historical highway marker honoring Bruce Oliver Tucker was unveiled during a private ceremony Friday, May 30.
The dedication brought together members of Tucker’s family, local officials, community members and health system leaders.
Tucker, who grew up in nearby Dinwiddie County, died on May 25, 1968. Without the consent or knowledge of his family, surgeons at the Medical College of Virginia removed his heart and kidneys and transplanted his heart into a white man—Virginia’s first and the world’s 16th human cardiac transplant. The case raised questions about medical consent and contributed to greater awareness of ethical standards in medicine.
The highway marker is in Tucker’s hometown of Stony Creek, near his family’s church, Little Bethel Baptist Church.
Members of his family were present for the unveiling.
“It is important, not just for VCU and VCU Health, but for the broader community to know and understand the significance of Mr. Tucker’s life and legacy,” said Michael Elliott, chief operations officer at VCU Health. “This journey has been about learning from the past and understanding how to move forward together—ensuring that we serve everyone with respect, and that we use the lessons of history to build a better future for everyone.”
Approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the marker outlines the events that occurred in May 1968 and acknowledges Tucker’s role in the broader
conversation about medical ethics and patients’ rights.
“The marker now serves as a public reminder of the importance of informed consent and transparency in health care,” said Gayle Turner, a Tucker family representative. “It also serves as a permanent acknowledgment and memorial tribute to the life and legacy of our beloved Bruce Oliver Tucker and the impact his story continues to have on medicine and ethics today.”
The dedication is part of VCU Health’s efforts to recognize Tucker’s legacy. Earlier this year, a mural and auditorium dedicated to Tucker were unveiled at the VCU School of Medicine. Additional initiatives include commemorative plaques throughout VCU Medical Center, a healing garden, scholarships in his name and programs aimed at educating future medical professionals.
Civil rights, legal trailblazer Jerrauld C. Jones dies at 70
By George Copeland Jr.
Jerrauld C. Jones began making history before his 10th birthday, becoming one of the first Black students to integrate Ingleside Elementary School in Norfolk in 1961. It was the start of a lifetime of breaking barriers in Virginia’s courts and legislature that extended his family’s civil rights legacy and served the Commonwealth for more than four decades.
Jones, who went on to become the Virginia Supreme Court’s first Black law clerk, a state delegate and a Norfolk Circuit Court judge, died Saturday, May 31, 2925, at age 70.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Jerrauld C. Jones,” his family said in a statement Saturday. “His legacy of service, integrity and dedication to justice will continue to inspire all who knew him.” Jones also helped integrate Virginia Episcopal School in Lynch-
burg in 1967. After earning degrees from Princeton University and Washington and Lee University School of Law, he served as the state Supreme Court’s first Black law clerk in 1980. He entered politics in 1988, representing the 89th District in the House of Delegates and serving as chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Though he lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 2001, Gov. Mark Warner appointed him director of the Department of Juvenile Justice in 2002.
“Jerrauld Jones was more than a judge or a legislator — he was a giant,” House Speaker Don Scott said in a statement. “A presence. A mentor. A friend. For so many of us, he was a guiding light.”
In 2005, Jones was appointed a judge in the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Jones’ role in Virginia’s court system would shift again in 2008 when Gov. Tim Kaine elevated him to the Norfolk Circuit Court, where he served two eight-year terms before retiring in 2024. The Jones family’s legacy of civil and legal service continues through his wife, Lyn M. Simmons Jones, a judge in Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, and his son, Jay Jones, who served in the House of Delegates in the seat his father once held and is currently a candidate for Virginia attorney general.
Jones is survived by his wife; son Jerrauld “Jay” and his wife, Mavis; grandsons Charles and Zachary; and brothers Hilary H. Jones III and Darryl C. Jones. Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 4, at Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk.
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Richmond residents Alexis Fryar and Kathryn Settle contribute to a community mural at the intersection of Hermitage and Laburnum during a volunteer paint day. The collaborative artwork is part of a traffic calming
Allen Jones
Gayle Turner, a member of the Tucker family, stands beside the newly unveiled highway marker honoring Bruce Tucker. In 1968, Tucker’s heart was removed without his family’s consent and transplanted into a white man, marking Virginia’s first heart transplant and the 16th in the world.
Daryl Minus
Jerrauld C. Jones
Chief Justice Goodwyn
During a City Council meeting Monday, June 2, left, Reva M. Trammell, 8th District, speaks in favor of speed camera installation. Right, Laura Thomas, Director of the Office of Sustainability, answers questions from Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District, about the proposed plastic bag tax.
Council approves 5-cent fee on plastics
Continued from A1
purchase items.
All City revenue from the tax will be used for environmental education programs and cleanup, mitigating pollution and litter, providing reusable bags for SNAP and Women, Infants and Children Program recipients, or other purposes authorized under state law.
City analysis expects the tax to generate about $400,000 in revenue in its first year, and between $100,000 and $150,000 each year after. The tax won’t apply to durable, reusable plastic bags; waste disposal bags; or bags used for prescription drugs, dry cleaning, and unwrapped or perishable foods.
While supporters of the tax expressed optimism about its environmental benefits, opponents voiced concerns about the pressure it could place on residents.
Trammell cautioned the added cost could strain seniors on fixed incomes, while Robertson raised concerns about the impact on residents already facing economic inequities and a high cost of living, saying it might drive them to shop outside Richmond.
“Who’s going to pay the most are going to be the communities that we’ve neglected all along that don’t have a quality grocery store,” Robertson said. “We’re missing the inequitable burden.”
Richmond Office of Sustainability Director Laura Thomas addressed these and other concerns during the council discussion, noting that some retailers might choose to absorb the tax
City leaders confront water system failures, plan treatment plant upgrade
Continued from A1
Richmond’s improved communication during recent incidents but emphasized the need for changes to ensure reliable service.
“It is frustrating that we again find ourselves having to resolve a major issue stemming from a water treatment plant and distribution system that is not in our county,” Henrico Board of Supervisors Chair Tyrone Nelson said.
Proposals at the press conference included having Henrico water staff assist onsite at Richmond’s plant and creating a regional water authority. Henrico officials said some of these ideas also have been discussed with Hanover County leaders.
When City Council members brought up the idea of a regional authority, Morris said his discussions with other DPU directors have focused on improving collaboration. He noted that any shift toward a regional entity is being considered by higher-level regional leaders and would come with challenges.
“Frankly, I don’t know where those conversations are going to go,” Morris said, “but my overall end goal is to make sure that this (plan) is both protective of the City of Richmond’s residents but also our regional partners.”
Council members also discussed their role in addressing the incidents — a point raised again hours later by Richmond resident Andre Tolleris during the evening meeting, where he urged them to take greater responsibility for the water system’s future.
“Clean drinking water is not a luxury,” Tolleris said during public comments. “It’s a fundamental expectation of a functioning city, and if you can’t guarantee that, then we have a much deeper problem than sediment at a water plant.”
Continued from A1
part of their local fundraising effort for UNRWA USA’s National 5K, which has worked for years to raise awareness and money for mental health and trauma support for refugee Palestinian children. Similar events to the Byrd Park gathering have been held across the country recently, and more are planned in the months to come.
“I’m so proud of each and every one of you that have heard and responded,” Team Hind organizer Adeeb Abed said as he addressed the crowd. “Your presence here today is a clear and loud message that we stand with the oppressed.”
Team Hind, named for a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli military gunfire last year, had raised more than $13,000 of its $5,000 goal at the time of publication, while the national campaign had raised more than $644,000 of its $600,000 goal.
The funds raised as part of the event will support programs such as trauma counseling, psychological support and safe learning environments. Attendees expressed hope that the event’s community impact will foster greater connections and solidarity around this and other conflicts affecting marginalized groups.
“Right now we live in a time where a lot of people are very isolated and realizing that there are like-minded people who care about the same things,” Richmond Democratic Socialists of America member Elisabeth Waldron said. “I think that’s what really helps me move forward, is realizing there’s people who think like us, who care about the same things and care about humanity.”
cost themselves.
Officials plan to use the six months before the tax goes into effect for outreach and education efforts with Richmond businesses and the community.
In other council business Monday evening, council members unanimously appointed Foster Curtiss as interim inspector gen-
eral after his previous role as the
investigations manager.
of
Va. free health clinics strategize survival after state, federal funding cuts
opioid overdoses.
“We are witnessing the largest cut in the health care safety net that’s ever been made,” Legato said.
In March, President Trump’s administration announced it was planning to pull back $11.4 billion in COVID-19-related funds for state and local public health departments. Virginia’s Department of Health had to prematurely end three such grants, resulting in a loss of $219 million and about 500 employees, according to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Mercury.
Among the crowd was Delegate Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, and a staff member representing Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, DChesterfield. Hashmi serves as the chair of the Senate’s Education and Health committee while Willett had carried a budget amendment hoping to boost funding for Virginia’s free clinics that did not survive legislators’ negotiations.
Both lawmakers have noted they’re monitoring how federal actions are affecting Virginia. Willett said last week the state legislature could reconvene for a special session later this year — particularly if Congress and Trump achieve the steep cuts in federal Medicaid funding GOP lawmakers are pursuing as part of a “big, beautiful bill” designed to shave trillions from the country’s budget. The measure has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and will be debated in the U.S. Senate this summer.
At Thursday’s town hall, some speakers recalled Gov. Glenn Youngkin held back $900 million of Virginia’s budget surplus pending federal government actions, and posited that some of that funding could bolster Virginia’s free clinics or help support any federal Medicaid losses. Meanwhile about $1 billion is earmarked in the state budget for tax relief to Virginians — resulting in $200 for individuals or $400 for joint filers. While that cash
could be beneficial to families in the short term, Legato said that money could be better spent investing in public health.
“While we’re gutting this safety net, we’re worried about getting some chump change back to people in Virginia. I think it’s disgusting,” Legato said. Her organization reached out to the Youngkin administration in recent weeks, she said, to nudge the state government about $300,000 in reimbursement payments it owes the clinic. She added the Health Brigade almost couldn’t make payroll earlier in May.
“Some of the struggle we have had in the past year … is when you’re having grants from the state … the safety net has to finance the state services until you get paid from the state.”
A Youngkin spokesman didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time.
As Health Brigade handles several public health services, it fronts the cost for testing and treatment and then seeks repayment from the state.
“When we run out of cash because we’re waiting for the state to pay, we have to go to a line of credit to float us until those payments come in,” she said. “What that means for us is that our line of credit bottoms out. So we’re at $500,000 on our line of credit right now. We can’t get any more.”
Other speakers included representatives from neighboring clinics, like CrossOver, which has lost $935,000, and Daily Planet, which is facing $1.3 million in cuts from federal grants and state-administered payments.
In recent days, the Daily Planet learned federal funding for its “Every Woman’s Life” cancer screening program has been frozen, Dr. Patricia Cook, a chief medical officer, said. The program is meant to help uninsured and underinsured people catch breast or reproductive organ cancers early on.
Detecting and treating illnesses early is something Dr. Jeffry Reihl, an emergency medicine doctor, said is paramount to
avoiding costly ER overflows and poorer health outcomes.
“I feel that this is going to flood our emergency departments with more and more patients who are sicker because they haven’t gotten care as an outpatient they should have gotten,” he said. “It’s just going to make an overburdened system even more overburdened.”
Democrats warn of dire impact to state if Medicaid cuts materialize
His argument echoes that of U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, who has recently cautioned her congressional colleagues against cutting Medicaid. Without preventative care within reach, people will likely flood emergency rooms when they need care, McClellan said at a press conference last month. As hospitals are federally required to provide care, uninsured patients who cannot pay can become a shared financial burden on taxpayers.
“These cuts are impacting multiple nonprofit health clinics, public health departments, hospitals and medical providers across the state,” Legato said Thursday as she connected the dots between how state and federal funding helps local health care providers serve the public. “We are now on the verge of the feds taking a chainsaw to Medicaid, which will exacerbate the crisis of access to primary care for low-income residents and vulnerable community members.”
To counter the current losses, Health Brigade plans to put the building it owns up for sale. It will lease space to operate from the future owner while it secures a new location down the line, she said.
The organization also plans to host future town halls with other local health partners to discuss intersectional health issues like housing and homelessness, and to make calls to action for fundraising.
“Now is the time for courage, creativity and turning caring into action,” Legato said. This story orginally appeared at VirginiaMercury.com.
Office
Inspector General’s
However, the vote was preceded by a dispute between Trammell and Council President Cynthia Newbille over how the council handled the removal of former Inspector General Jim Osuna last month.
George Copeland/Richmond Free Press
Nidal Mahayni raises a peace sign while walking the Vita Course Trail in Byrd Park during Saturday’s walkathon supporting mental health care for children in Gaza.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Youngkin sets Sept. 9 special election to fill Connolly’s seat in Congress
By Markus Schmidt
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday set a special election for Sept. 9 to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Gerry Connolly, a longtime Democratic fixture in Northern Virginia who died May 21 after a recurrence of cancer.
The writ of election, issued by Youngkin’s office, triggers a high-stakes contest in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, a region that leans solidly Democratic and is home to a large population of federal workers. Candidates hoping to compete must file by July 11, with eligibility details available on the Department of Elections website.
Connolly, 75, died weeks after announcing he would not seek re-election. First elected to Congress in 2008 after a decade on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, including five years as chair, Connolly became known as a detail-oriented legislator with a focus on government oversight and civil service protections.
His death set off a cascade of questions about how and when the seat would be filled. Virginia law requires the governor to call a special election to replace a congressional representative, but offers flexibility on timing. Elections must be held on a Tuesday and cannot occur within 55 days of a regularly scheduled general or primary election — a restriction that ruled out much of the summer due to Virginia’s June 17 congressional primaries.
Manisha Singh, chair of the 11th District Democratic Committee, said last week her group has been preparing for this moment while awaiting Youngkin’s decision. She described the task ahead as urgent but clear — to ensure a transparent and accessible nomination process.
“Our voters will have plenty of opportunity to have their voice heard,” Singh said. She added the local party’s role is not to favor any one candidate, but to oversee a fair election process.
Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, said last week the party intentionally held off on finalizing its plans out of respect for the governor’s timeline. With the election date now set, he said, urgency will be key. “I want to see a nomination process that gives voters time and space to be heard,” Bagby said.
Democrats are expected to hold a “firehouse primary” in mid-July to select their nominee. The Fairfax County Democratic Committee has already begun lining up polling locations, with plans to offer at least one site in each magisterial district.
Several candidates have already stepped forward or signaled interest in the Democratic nomination.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, who once served as Connolly’s chief of staff and already had received
the late congressman’s endorsement, is seen as a frontrunner. Also weighing bids are state Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax; Fairfax Planning Commissioner Candice Bennett; and attorney Amy Roma, a Vienna resident who specializes in global energy policy.
Singh acknowledged the difficulty of replacing a lawmaker as experienced and deeply rooted in the community as Connolly. “It is a humongous void that we are feeling right now, and it’s some really big shoes to fill,” she said. Still, she voiced confidence in the
emerging field of candidates.
“We have some excellent candidates who I am very sure are up to the challenge.”
On the Republican side, Mike Van Meter, a former law enforcement officer who lost to Connolly in 2024 by a 67-33% margin, has announced
plans to run again. No other Republican contenders have entered the race.
Connolly’s legacy looms large over the upcoming contest.
In his final message to constituents, delivered just weeks before his death, he reflected on his 30 years in public service
and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve: “My extended family — you all have been a joy to serve.” The full writ of election is available on elections.virginia. gov. This story originally appeared onVirginiamercury.com.
Judge dismisses murder charges against Atlanta officer in 2019 shooting of unarmed man in closet
By Jeff Amy The Associated Press
A federal judge has thrown out murder charges against a former Atlanta police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man hiding in a closet.
U.S. District Judge Michael Brown ruled Tuesday that Sung Kim, a 26-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department, acted in self defense and shouldn’t face charges in the 2019 killing of 21-year-old Jimmy Atchison.
“The evidence for self-defense is so overwhelming it is hard to understand how Georgia could have brought these charges in the first place, much less continued with them over the two-and-a-half years since,” Brown wrote in his ruling. “Defendant’s shooting of Mr. Atchison was textbook self-defense.”
Kim was indicted in state court in 2022, but moved his case to federal court because he was assigned to an FBI fugitive task force when the shooting happened and thus was a federal officer.
Atlanta activists have cited Atchison’s death as an example of unjustified police violence against Black people. His name was often chanted by Atlanta protesters during Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020.
The shooting also sparked policy changes. The Atlanta Police Department withdrew its officers from federal task forces because task force members weren’t allowed to wear body cameras, meaning there is no video of Atchison’s shooting. Officers returned after federal agencies began allowing local task force officers to wear cameras.
Atchison was killed on Jan. 22, 2019, after Kim and other task force members tried to arrest him on charges that he stole a woman’s purse and cellphone in an armed robbery. Kim retired from the Atlanta Police Department several months later. A Fulton County grand jury indicted Kim on charges that included felony murder and involuntary manslaughter.
Officers forced their way into an apartment, prompting Atchison to jump out of a window, run through a second building and hide beneath a mound of clothes in a closet in another apartment. In his ruling, Brown rejected claims by a state witness that officers violated generally
accepted police practices by entering the other apartment and the bedroom where Atchison was hiding.
Testimony showed Kim shot Atchison in the face after Kim either yelled for Atchison to not move or show his hands. Atchison suddenly moved his hands from under the clothes. Family members say Atchison was raising his hands to surrender when Kim shot him in the face.
Kim and other officers testified they believed Atchison’s move was threatening, as if he had a gun. Brown ruled that fear was reasonable and justified a shooting in self-defense.
“Nothing required defendant to hold off shooting until he literally saw a gun in Mr. Atchison’s hand,” the judge wrote. “He had a reasonable belief Mr. Atchison was armed and was going to shoot him. That is all that matters.”
Nabika Atchison, Jimmy Atchison’s sister, said in a statement that relatives are “deeply disappointed” by Brown’s decision, “but with today’s climate surrounding police brutality, I can’t say we are surprised.”
Tanya Miller, a Democratic state House member and lawyer representing the Atchison family, said the decision is a “painful subversion of justice.”
“This decision underscores the troubling gap in accountability when local officers operate on federal task forces — a no-man’s land where they can violate their own department’s policies, the Constitution, take a young life, and still avoid standing trial,” Miller wrote in a text message.
Don Samuel, a lawyer for Kim, said via email that the ruling was correct.
“It is hard to celebrate when a young man died,” Samuel wrote, “but there is no doubt that the decision of the Fulton County DA’s office to compound the tragedy by prosecuting Sung Kim was an inexcusable abuse of prosecutorial discretion.”
The Georgia state conference of the NAACP called on Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to appeal the ruling, saying it unjustly shields officers from accountability when they kill unarmed people.
“This ruling is not just a blow to the Atchison family’s pursuit of justice — it’s a threat to civil rights and public safety across the nation,” said Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP.
Protesters rally in Minneapolis after federal operation sparks immigration raid fears
By Steve Karnowski and Mark Vancleave The Associated Press
Dozens of protesters converged in the heart of the Latino community in Minneapolis on Tuesday after a large force of federal and local authorities wearing tactical gear conducted what they called a law enforcement action.
The protesters flocked to the area near a Mexican restaurant and other Latino-owned businesses after seeing livestreams that claimed an immigration raid was underway, reflecting opposition to such raids in a city that has declared itself a sanctuary for migrants. However, statements from local authorities said it was not an immigration enforcement matter, but a criminal case.
“While we are still gathering details, this incident was related to a criminal search warrant for drugs and money laundering and was not related to immigration enforcement,” Mayor Jacob Frey said in a Facebook post soon after the police action. “No arrests were made.”
But several dozen protesters remained at the intersection occupied by federal agents hours earlier, using cars to block traffic. A few held signs saying “abolish ICE” and “stop the deportations.”
A driver went through the crowd. At least one person appeared to have been knocked to the ground but got up and said they were OK. Protesters deflated the car’s tires; police moved in to take the driver away, and a scuffle ensued. At least one man was taken into custody. Bystander video showed officers wearing logos from local agencies but also federal ones, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. An armored vehicle at the scene bore the initials of Homeland Security Investigations.
COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025
The County Manager’s recommended amendments to the budget for fiscal year 2024-25 are prepared and published in synopsis form solely for the purposes of fiscal planning and public information. Publication of this proposed amendments does not constitute an appropriation of funds for those purposes by the Board of Supervisors. Funds cannot be allocated or distributed until they are appropriated by the Board. The amendments consist of estimates and are requests submitted to the County Manager with his recommendations concerning the requests.
The Board of Supervisors of the County of Henrico, Virginia, will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed amendments to the budget at a meeting on June 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., in the Board Room at the Henrico Government Center, Hungary Spring and East Parham Roads. The public hearing will be held pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-2507, and is for the purpose of allowing the public to question and comment on the proposed amendments to the budget. All citizens have the right to attend and share their views on the proposed amendments within such reasonable time limits as shall be determined by the Board of Supervisors.
At the June 10, 2025, meeting, after the public hearing, the Board will consider approving the amendments to the Annual Fiscal Plan and appropriating funds, as applicable, for fiscal year 2024-25.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Minneapolis’ police chief also was present.
Michelle Gross, president of the local Communities United Against Police Brutality group, said the show of force appeared designed to “terrorize people into submission.”
“This is jackbooted thuggery, and we aren’t having it in our city,” she said.
Onlooker Jennifer Davila, who works in the community, said it already had been on edge because of raids. It’s tight-knit, and “if something happens, we know about it,” she said.
“They had a white van, a black van and a tank. For a raid, that’s pretty excessive,” Davila said. “And then coming into a brown community and doing this, because we have all kinds of immigrants, not just Latinos.”
While the mayor said there were no arrests, a few protesters were at least temporarily detained as tensions grew between the crowd and law enforcement officers. A Minnesota Public Radio photographer was pepper-sprayed and had his camera broken.
A Facebook post from the sheriff’s office said it “partnered with federal agencies on a criminal investigation and part of that investigation included the execution of multiple search warrants at multiple locations in the metro area.”
Frey said the police department’s only role was helping with crowd control, and the department was not involved in “anything related to immigration enforcement.” Both the police department and sheriff’s offices have policies against cooperating with immigration enforcement actions.
The sheriff’s office said in conducting criminal investigations, “We work with federal partners regularly.” A local FBI spokesperson, Diana Freedman, declined in a text message to provide details about the operation.
Tanya N. Brackett, Clerk Henrico County Board of Supervisors
Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP Protesters confront ICE, ATF and FBI officers as federal agents conduct an operation June 3 in Minneapolis.
WSBTV via AP
This image taken from video shows Jimmy Atchison’s family holding a vigil June 4 in
Atlanta, insisting they get some answers three years after he was shot and killed when Atlanta police tried to arrest him.
Democratic candidates highlight education, equity and justice in LG primary
Virginia’s Democratic primary for lieutenant governor features several candidates, with the Richmond region playing a prominent role as two of the leading contenders have strong Central Virginia ties. Former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and state Sen. Ghazala
Why are you running for lieutenant governor, and what unique perspective would you bring to the role?
I am running for lieutenant governor for many of the same reasons that I first ran for the state Senate in 2019: to speak out and stand up for those individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized. Given the reality of the chaos that is happening in Washington, D.C., the role of state leaders has become even more important and critical. By default, protecting public education, access to health care, protections for civil rights, the environment, our children from gun violence and more are the full responsibilities of state leaders and state legislatures. Virginia needs an executive team that is ready to respond effectively to the Trump administration on Day One. With six years of experience in the Virginia Senate, I am prepared to serve as the president of the Senate. What are your top three priorities if elected, and how would you work with the General Assembly to achieve them?
1. Fully funding public education and lowering the costs of postsecondary credentials and college degrees: All children in Virginia should be guaranteed quality public education that prepares them for well-paying jobs or higher education. I will continue to work to invest in schools, students, educators and support staff. I will also continue efforts to ensure that we develop paid internships, apprenticeships and workforce training. I will work to lower tuition costs to make college more affordable.
2. Ensuring access to health care and reproductive health care rights: Given federal threats, protecting Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act is a top priority. The loss of Medicaid funding will leave vulnerable Virginians without access to critical health care and impact our entire health system. I will continue my efforts to provide all children with health care coverage, regardless of documentation status. I will work to address health care disparities by continuing to support the work of doulas, midwives, community health workers and remote patient care. I will fight to protect women’s reproductive freedom, including abortion care, contraception and affordable fertility treatments while also improving perinatal care for moms and babies. I am proud to be the author of the Right to Contraception Act and the only candidate endorsed by abortion rights groups.
3. Fighting for housing as a basic human right: All Virginians deserve safe, habitable and affordable housing. I will continue my work to expand higher-density housing development, more affordable housing, financial products that help first-time homebuyers, protections for tenants and to decrease eviction rates.
As a current two-term state senator, I have already been focused on legislative and policy work in each of these areas. I have successfully passed legislation in these priority areas and have built a record of working with a wide range of organizations, state agencies, national partners and my colleagues in the General Assembly to make progress in creating an equitable future for all Virginians.
How do you plan to address educational disparities and underfunded public schools across the Commonwealth, particularly in underserved communities?
As a recent statewide audit highlighted, our state has underfunded public education by more than $6 billion. For many localities, this underfunding results in restrictions on teacher aides, larger class sizes, a loss of counselors and limitations on resources. For the past several General Assembly sessions, I have worked to address educational disparities by introducing legislation and budget amendments to improve outcomes for all students, including those with special needs, English-language learners and those in Title I schools. I will continue to focus on investing in schools and students. I will also continue my efforts to ensure that we develop paid internships, apprenticeships and workforce training. I will work to lower tuition costs to make college more affordable. We can pay for these initiatives through a variety of approaches, including closing corporate tax loopholes and “rightsizing” our tax structures that currently place the greatest burden on middle class and working families.
What is your stance on criminal justice reform and what policies would you support to improve equity and accountability in Virginia’s justice system?
In 2020, I supported numerous criminal justice reform measures that sought to address issues of racial and economic disparity in Virginia. That year, I successfully passed legislation to allow localities to establish civilian review boards. Additional legislation successfully passed that year included a ban on no-knock search warrants, implementation of crisis response teams, elimination of the jury penalty, elimination of the death penalty and more. These actions were a start to addressing disparities in the criminal justice system. Additional meaningful changes that I will tackle as lieutenant governor include the challenges that come with the intersectionality of poverty, systemic structures of racism and the loss of jobs and opportunities.
Hashmi bring extensive public service records and deep local connections to a competitive field vying for the state’s second-highest office. Both candidates responded to questions from the Richmond Free Press covering critical state issues,
How do you propose Virginia can better address housing affordability and displacement, especially in cities such as Richmond?
As a member of the Joint Commission on Housing, I have worked on our need to increase affordable housing and also to strengthen tenant protections. Amending zoning regulations to expand options for higher-density housing are good initial steps. Over the past several years, I have sought to strengthen various tenant protections, prevent evictions and give tenant rights to residents of mobile home parks. I also wrote the Faith in Housing Act to allow the development of affordable housing on land or property owned by religious and nonprofit organizations, and I plan to continue to build support for that bill as lieutenant governor.
What steps would you take to expand access to affordable health care, including mental health services, for Virginians?
As the chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, I have introduced legislation focused on addressing implicit bias in health care, remote patient monitoring services for pregnant individuals, expansion and support for community health care workers and mental health, protections for Medicaid expansion in light of recent federal actions, expansion of psychiatric hospital beds, telehealth services, equity in access to contraceptive care and more. I also focused on addressing expansion of mental health services by passing legislation to ensure that Virginia joins interstate compacts for licensed counselors and licensed social workers. I will continue to work on these issues as lieutenant governor.
How would you support economic development in historically marginalized communities, including Black and rural populations?
Having grown up in a rural community in Georgia, I’ve seen the challenges so many of our rural regions are facing. We need to make comprehensive investments in rural and Black communities, including in education, child care, opportunities for small businesses and incentives for larger ones. One of the jobs of the lieutenant governor is to serve on the board of the Center for Rural Virginia, and I will engage in that role to build economic development opportunities within rural communities, such as focusing on the development of a workforce ready for modern manufacturing and the emerging technology industries.
You were the first Muslim woman elected to the Virginia Senate. How has that experience shaped your leadership style and policy priorities?
As the first Muslim elected to the Virginia Senate and the first Muslim woman in the General Assembly, I see a direct correlation between my faith and my policy priorities. My faith places emphasis on social justice: feed those who are hungry; take care of children and the elderly; provide shelter to those in need; treat those who are ill; and respond to everyone with compassion. Translating these concepts of faith into policy priorities is evident in my legislation and my work in the General Assembly. My legislative record shows my commitment to the efforts to improve housing, health care, education, the environment and civil rights. My leadership style is defined by listening, collaborating, learning, researching and mentoring others.
As an educator and former college administrator, how would your background help shape state education policy, particularly around higher education access?
My professional background and my work as chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee help shape many of my efforts on education policies. As lieutenant governor, I will continue my efforts in the following areas:
• Reduce barriers to access by advocating for targeted financial aid and wraparound support services, and by pushing for policies that address structural inequities such as expanded support for first-generation and underrepresented students.
• Focus on workforce development and work-based learning by championing partnerships between community colleges, industry and workforce boards and by supporting investments in career and technical education and pathways that integrate academic and career preparation.
• Bridge PK-12 and higher education by promoting early college and dual enrollment opportunities and by aligning PK-12 standards with college readiness expectations to reduce remediation.
You’ve introduced legislation around environmental justice. What future legislation in this area would you push as lieutenant governor?
The effects of human-caused climate change are happening now, and Virginia must lead on critical environmental policies to address the concerns of the climate catastrophes that face us and ensure that we protect our precious natural resources for future generations. Key priorities include reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy, shoring up coastal resiliency programs, protecting communities from the threats of flooding and addressing the concerns of environmental justice.
including education, economic equity, criminal justice, and housing, along with inquiries tailored to their backgrounds and experiences. Their answers provide insight into their leadership approach and the principles that would guide their work as lieutenant governor.
Why are you running for lieutenant governor, and what unique perspective would you bring to the role?
I’m running for lieutenant governor because I believe every Virginian deserves a fair shot at success and I know what it’s like to need one. I was raised by my grandmother on Social Security and a father who worked construction and cleaned schools. I didn’t come from power or privilege. I came from a people who taught me the value of hard work, compassion for the least and the courage to stand up for what is right. As mayor of Richmond, I led with those values. We cut poverty by 33%, raised school funding by nearly 60%, built new schools, invested in nearly 9,000 affordable homes and fixed Richmond’s broken roads. I brought down every Confederate monument in the former capital of the Confederacy and stood up to Donald Trump when it counted. I am the only candidate in this race with executive leadership experience and a record of delivering real change. I am a proven fighter who will deliver results and give workers and families the fair shot they deserve.
What are your top three priorities if elected and how would you work with the General Assembly to achieve them?
My top priorities are investing in public education to help children recover from the pandemic, expanding housing that is abundant and affordable and defending working Virginians from attacks on our economy and values. I will push to fund the true cost of education, including high-dosage tutoring and support for students with the greatest needs. I will champion a statewide housing strategy that boosts supply, cuts red tape and removes barriers to construction to lower housing costs. And I will stand up to Donald Trump’s agenda by protecting federal workers and those most at risk if the social safety net is ripped away because everyone deserves a fair shot.
How do you plan to address educational disparities and underfunded public schools across the Commonwealth, particularly in underserved communities?
Every child in Virginia deserves a great education, no matter their ZIP code. That starts with fixing the state’s outdated funding formula so schools in higher-need areas get the support they deserve. As mayor of Richmond, I increased local school funding by nearly 60 percent and financed five new schools. I’ll bring that same urgency statewide, fighting to fund the true cost of education, more high-dose tutoring and modern school facilities. Our kids only get one shot at childhood. We owe it to them to invest in their future now, not someday, not later but now.
What is your stance on criminal justice reform and what policies would you support to improve equity and accountability in Virginia’s justice system? I believe in a justice system rooted in fairness, accountability and transparency. As mayor, I worked to reimagine public safety by updating our ban on chokeholds, partnering with City Council to establish Richmond’s first Civilian Review Board and implementing the Marcus Alert to improve responses to mental health crises. Since then, behavioral health teams have been paired with officers on over 1,000 emergency calls. We also expanded transparency by committing to the timely release of body camera footage in officer-involved shootings and increased public access to data. As lieutenant governor, I’ll build on that progress: protecting safety, ensuring accountability and rebuilding trust.
How do you propose Virginia can better address housing affordability and displacement, especially in cities such as Richmond? Virginia is in the middle of a housing shortage. We have over 1 million renters across the Commonwealth and nearly half spend more than a third of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. As mayor of Richmond, I did not just talk about the problem, I delivered results. We created a long-term growth plan, invested over $70 million in affordable housing and helped add nearly 9,000 new homes. I proposed the RVA Stay Plan to help residents stay in their homes as neighborhoods changed. As lieutenant governor, I will fight for a Marshall Plan for housing that cuts red tape, boosts supply and lowers costs. And I will stand up to the Wall Street raiders buying up single-family homes that should belong to Virginia’s working families. Everyone deserves a fair shot at housing.
What steps would you take to expand access to affordable health care, including mental health services, for Virginians? Health care is not a privilege—it is a lifeline. I was raised by a grandmother who depended on Social Security and a father who worked without health care coverage, so I know what it means to rely on the basics to get by. Nearly
2 million Virginians count on Medicaid or FAMIS, but Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” would rip that care away and put lives at risk. As mayor, I created Virginia’s first Health Equity Fund to close gaps in care. As lieutenant governor, I’ll fight to repeal the Medicaid trigger law, crack down on pharmacy benefit managers who drive up drug prices and support the creation of a Drug Affordability Board to deliver real relief. I’ll lead with compassion and courage because protecting people’s health is a moral obligation, not a political calculation.
How would you support economic development in historically marginalized communities, including Black and rural populations? We can and must use economic development to give historically marginalized communities a fair shot. As mayor, we made equity a requirement, not an afterthought. Every major project proposal, including the Diamond District, the largest development in Richmond’s history, prioritized a commitment to inclusive opportunities for Black and brown owned businesses and set clear local hiring goals. We invested in underserved neighborhoods and supported small business growth because opportunity should never depend on your ZIP code. But today, those values are under attack. Donald Trump is rolling back DEI programs, putting marginalized communities at risk of being shut out. As lieutenant governor, we will fight for continued broadband investment in rural areas, prepare workers for emerging technologies and support local entrepreneurs with grants and streamlined permitting.
How do you reflect on your tenure as mayor of Richmond? What accomplishments were you most proud of and what would you do differently?
Over eight years, I led Richmond through a global pandemic and a national reckoning on racial justice, and we made bold, consequential decisions to improve people’s lives. We reduced poverty by 33%, brought down every Confederate monument in the former capital of the Confederacy and secured Richmond’s first AAA credit rating, a reflection of sound fiscal management and long-term investment. We increased school funding by nearly 60% and built or financed five new schools. We invested over $70 million in affordable housing and created or preserved nearly 9,000 affordable homes. Violent crime fell by 25%. We improved bus service, made transit fare free and transformed our streets. Where 70% of roads were once rated poor, 75% were rated good when I left office. Were there setbacks? Of course. But I stood by my values, took on tough fights and delivered real results. How did leading Richmond during the racial justice protests in 2020 shape your view on public leadership and police accountability? Leading Richmond during the 2020 protests was the most difficult and defining moment of my time in public service. I remember being told to pick a side—between those defending law enforcement at all costs and those calling to abolish it. I chose Richmond. A Richmond that wants police in their neighborhoods but expects the same dignity, respect and accountability every community deserves. That summer, I marched with protesters and stood before angry crowds, both demonstrators and officers. Sometimes, you don’t choose the moment—the moment chooses you. That’s why I brought down every Confederate monument in the former capital of the Confederacy. We updated our ban on chokeholds, created Richmond’s first Civilian Review Board and launched the Marcus Alert system. Albeit difficult, that summer made me a better leader.
Richmond faced criticism over public housing and city infrastructure under your administration. What did you learn from that experience and how would it inform your work as lieutenant governor? I spent a lot of time visiting Richmond’s public housing communities and saw conditions no Virginian should have to endure. That experience taught me a hard truth: the issue isn’t just concentrated poverty—it’s the aging, neglected infrastructure residents are forced to live with. That’s why we made transforming Creighton Court a top priority. We began by replacing the old Armstrong High School with the first phase of mixed-income housing. As those homes were completed, we began razing Creighton itself and building new, dignified homes on the same land. In total, we committed over $26 million to this effort. I also championed the creation of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, which gave our region the ability to invest in transportation infrastructure like Richmond’s long-neglected roads—where the share rated good rose from 30% to 75%. As lieutenant governor, I’ll fight for that same level of partnership and investment across the Commonwealth to give Virginians a fair shot.
Ghazala Hashmi
Levar L. Stoney
Running for the dunker’s spot in Virginia politics
If you’re reading this in the state of Virginia, there’s a good chance that you — or someone you know — is a candidate for lieutenant governor. OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. But the field is so crowded this year, you might want to check and make sure. Again, only kidding there, but there are quite a few people who think they’re the right person for the job. At last count, there were six Democratic candidates on the ballot and one Republican, officially.
This isn’t the first time this has happened in our state. Back in 2013, the Republican nomination was sought by seven candidates. Eventually, the party decided on E.W. Jackson, a minister and former Marine from Chesapeake. He was defeated by a Democratic doctor named Ralph Northam, who would go on to become governor in 2017.
Northam’s ascension to the governorship gives us some insight into why so many people are interested in this position that is mostly ceremonial. It’s similar to what’s known in the basketball world as the “dunker’s spot.” If you haven’t been watching the NBA playoffs this year, please allow me to explain. It’s a spot near the basket that, if you position yourself at the right time, puts you in place to receive a pass from a teammate and attempt a high-percentage shot — which may involve some rim-hanging afterward, if performed successfully.
Several individuals have served as both lieutenant governor and governor of Virginia. Tim Kaine, Doug Wilder, Bob McDonnell, Charles Robb, John Dalton, the aforementioned Northam and James Hubert Price all benefited from being in the right place and being able to execute when called upon. Not everyone can pull off the transition, despite the advantage that positioning yourself near your goal provides. The last person to find this out was attorney Justin Fairfax, who was defeated in a primary election in 2021 after serving as lieutenant governor.
We can rule out financial gain as a reason for the crowded ballot. The pay for lieutenant governor is $50,000 per year and hasn’t increased since 2021. That salary is comparable to what some schoolteachers and state troopers make, but they likely don’t receive an extra $15,000 for expenses. Still, Virginia ranks as one of the lowest-paying states for the position. Lieutenant governors also have to find their own place to live, as the governor’s mansion, with its nine bedrooms, doesn’t have the space.
The lieutenant governor’s day-to-day duties include presiding over the state senate and casting tie-breaking votes. But the real value of the position lies in its proximity to power and the political connections it provides.
So when considering a candidate for lieutenant governor, we should keep in mind the spot we’re putting them in. They’re going to be close to a position of power. They’re going to know how the game is played and how the team works.
That makes this more than just a warm-up job. It’s a test run. And in a commonwealth where governors are constitutionally limited to one consecutive term, the lieutenant governor becomes an obvious next pick when the buzzer sounds. So pay attention to this race now — because you’re not just choosing a lieutenant governor. You’re likely choosing Virginia’s next gubernatorial candidate.
Daisies at Ancarrows Landing
Summer learning loss a crisis we can’t ignore
When schools let out for summer break, usually between mid-May and mid-June, millions of students will be disengaged from learning and will experience significant learning loss. In math, they may lose as much as three months’ worth of knowledge. That means when they return to school in late August or early September, they are effectively back to March in terms of academic progress. Studies suggest students experience the most learning loss in math, but reading skills can also suffer — by as much as two months — unless students are engaged in supplemental education.
Many students are enrolled in summer school or other enrichment programs, but many of these come with a cost. Children from the lowest-income families often don’t have access to them.
The attack on the Department of Education and this president’s indifference to education have affected some of the programs previously funded by the agency. The so-called “Big Beautiful” — let’s call it the Big Ugly
— eliminates after-school and summer learning programs, such as the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which serves 1.4 million children. Black students are especially vulnerable to learning loss. They have less access to summer enrichment due to cost, transportation, and availability. According to the Afterschool Alliance, 2.3 million Black students would have enrolled in a summer program in 2019 if one had been available.
That was before the COVID-19 pandemic. The need is likely greater now. Parents can’t depend on the government to prevent learning loss. While one in seven students participated in summer enrichment programs in 2024, there is still significant unmet need. Bloomberg Philanthropies has a Summer Boost program that funded efforts in Baltimore, Memphis, and Washington. Many school districts will offer summer school programs, as will recreation centers and civic organizations. In Washington, the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center runs an engaging summer program that includes reading and athletics. In
Indiana, summer learning labs provide supplemental education in English, language arts, and math. Parents — talk to a teacher, go online, and find a program for your child.
There aren’t enough opportunities for every child who needs one, but parents can piece together programs for their young ones. Children should be exposed to museums, libraries, theater, concerts, and reading. Can’t afford it? Consider pooling resources with other parents to hire a teen or young adult to work with a group of children once or twice a week. And why not, parents, read with your children — and let them read to you. Learning loss has major equity and civil rights implications. It widens the achievement gap and affects high school graduation, college attendance, and longterm income and wealth.
Another activity Black parents should prioritize is water safety. There are many reasons why Black people historically haven’t learned to swim. Some are cultural; others are rooted in systemic racism. Many public pools were drained or filled in to prevent integration. Some Black women avoided swimming to protect their hair. But Beverly Iseghohi, an Atlantabased triathlete and swim coach,
Hey men, Dems want your votes—they really do
Where are the Democrats?
What are they doing about the damage President Trump is doing to … everything?
I hear that a lot from my liberal friends these days, ever since Trump swept the battle ground states six months ago and proceeded to dismantle government as we Americans used to know it. With the fury of a man who is trying to make up for the time he lost on the sidelines after losing to Democrat Joe Biden, Trump has been rolling out radical changes almost daily that seem to be aimed at retribution — one of his favorite words — more than decent governance.
As a self-described moderate liberal, I’m dismayed but not surprised by that angst-driven reaction. Trump’s slash-andburn approach to reform — on issues as varied as immigration enforcement to Medicaid to Veterans Affairs and COVID-19 shots, just for starters, will take a strong pushback just to land
somewhere near the ever-elusive sensible center.
Where are the Dems now?
Of particular interest this time around, the party is trying to woo young men — diligently.
In the face of the onslaught, Democrats sound about as depressed as the party’s approval ratings — 27% in a recent NBC News poll.
That’s the party’s lowest positive rating in the network’s polling data since 1990. Only 7% say their support is “very positive.”
Throwing more salt into their wounds is the simmering discontent among the party’s core constituencies, upon whom the party has come to count for decades: young people, Black voters and Latinos, in particular.
Self-identified Democratic voters say by a 2-to-1 margin in the NBC poll that they would rather see their party “hold the line on their positions, even if it leads to gridlock,” instead of looking for areas of compromise to, as the old Capitol Hill saying goes, get things done.
The harsh Democratic reality includes downward long-term trends for Democrats while Republicans have been gaining ground in recent decades, particularly among noncollege graduates.
Working-class voters have been turning away from the Democrats, long viewed as the party for working families but increasingly perceived as the party of college-educated “elites.”
Which leads us to the most significant new moves by the Dems’donor class and strategists: a $20 million “strategic plan” called “Speaking with American Men,” or SAM for short.
That’s right, guys. Like an old Uncle Sam poster, today’s Democrats want you! Perhaps more than ever.
The decline of men and concomitant rise of women in Democratic voting ranks has been observed for decades and is not expected to change drastically soon.
Democratic pollsters are advising the party leaders to avoid taking the wrong lessons
from the 2026 midterms, when many of them hope President Trump’s excesses will backfire in favor of the Dems.
That’s wise. Trump’s successes, including his victory last year, have tended to be larger than expected after the Democrats underestimated his popularity.
As Anat Shenker-Osorio, a Democratic consultant told The New York Times, “Voters are hungry for people to actually stand up for them — or get caught trying.”
In other words, she said, “The party is doing a lot of naval-gazing and not enough full-belly aching.”
I, too, have heard that lament, particularly from Democrats in cities like Chicago who remember an era when the party seemed less concerned with trying to sound polite and more concerned with delivering the goods to its constituents.
Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU and a prominent commentator, has gained a measure of fame for his speeches and research on the feeling of abandonment by the Dems that has been a major turnoff for the audience of the so-called “Manosphere” of male podcasting.
He argues that the party’s focus on other demographics, like women voters, is important, but has fed a feeling of neglect and abandonment among young men.
This development caught little attention in the era before podcasting. But today’s electorate, like the news, is not what it used to be. Democrats will have to keep up with changing times before the party’s candidates are overwhelmed by them.
The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
suggests life is more important than a hairstyle. She is passionate about getting more Black people to embrace water safety and learn to swim.
Iseghohi also points to a connection between swimming and cognition. Perhaps swimming can help reduce learning loss. We must take learning loss seriously, and the entire community must step up when government education programs fall short. The Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools have operated for decades in 26 states, including the District of Columbia. They are fighting learning loss — and we all share that responsibility. Learning loss has long-term consequences for our community.
The writer is an economist, author and educator.
Clarence Page
Julianne Malveaux
City urged to focus on water fixes, not distractions
The ongoing issue of not having access to safe drinking water is unacceptable. How many times do we have to go through this?
While the City Council debates the use of plastic bags, more urgent matters, like addressing the recurring failures at the water treatment plant, are being overlooked. It feels like the city is prioritizing the wrong problems.
Perhaps it’s time to bring in an external investigative panel to determine why we can’t seem to get this right. It’s shameful
Who will protect Jackson Ward?
Jackson Ward, Richmond’s National Landmark and Historic District of brick row houses, churches and museums, small black-owned businesses, murals and parks, porches and gardens, is under attack.
Witness “The Penny.” This six-story, 166-unit apartment building occupies one-third of the north side of West Marshall Street between 1st Street and Adams and, according to its website, “ushers in the next 100 years of Jackson Ward living.”
Anyone walking past these apartments is rebuffed by a fitness center (tenants only, no trespassing), cage-style fenced courtyard and finally the “restaurant space” with mirror windows that houses its developers, SNP Properties.
Those same visionaries are now breaking ground for “The Admiral” in the parking lot at North 2nd Street and Marshall. This 12-story, waffle-iron-style mixed-use tower twice the size of The Penny plops 254 apartments with nearly 11,000 square feet of commercial space and 190 parking spots into the heart of the Historic Jackson Ward business district. How does a developer get City approval for a project in our Old and Historic District that snubs neighborhood residents and sneezes at the City’s own Richmond 300 Plan? “By right” is not an answer. It’s a passing of the buck.
Did the Department of Planning and Development—the Land Use and the Zoning Administration—ignore their own guidelines to “protect the character, quality, and history of the city,” and to “support, protect and enhance neighborhood character”?
Will the City of Richmond do anything to stop the ongoing degradation of this National Historic Landmark Black neighborhood? Are there no actual protections in place?
Is there no political will to preserve and nurture the architecture, history and culture of the Black Wall Street and Harlem of the South?
Since the end of World War II, Jackson Ward has managed to survive political betrayal and public works—interstate highways and housing projects. What needs to be done for Jackson Ward to survive now?
LAURANCE WIEDER Richmond
LEGAL NOTICE
that residents and businesses must deal with these disruptions while City leaders focus their attention elsewhere.
City officials must allocate the necessary resources to ensure this problem doesn’t keep happening. These ongoing water issues are an embarrassment and cast the City of Richmond in a negative light. If it takes new leadership to solve this, so be it.
Businesses should receive full compensation for the income they lose each time the water system fails—especially when
the fault isn’t theirs. Some business owners say they were only partially reimbursed after the last incident forced them to shut down. City leaders, do the right thing. Don’t forget the people and businesses affected. Richmond deserves better. No more excuses.
ERNEST PARKER JR. Richmond
Rising temperatures, poor planning fuel wildfire crisis
The smoke has already arrived. This past week, thick plumes from wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan drifted into the U.S., triggering air quality alerts across the Midwest. Cities like Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago are experiencing hazy skies and dangerous air conditions, with the Air Quality Index reaching levels unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Fire has always helped shape our forests, especially in the West. But those forests have evolved around natural frequencies and intensities of fires. What we are seeing now is new. This early-season smoke is a stark reminder that fire season is no longer confined to the West or wild areas, and more intense and longer-lasting fire seasons are the new normal.
Megan Paxman says she lives “in a state of constant anxiety every wildfire season.”
A mother to a son with asthma in Alberta, Canada, she wrote on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.’s website about her experience on Mother’s Day 2023.
“My 4-year-old son has been sleepy and unwilling to eat all morning. I notice that the skin between his ribs and at the base of his throat is pulling in between every inhale.”
When Paxman called the local general health information service, a nurse told her, “Get him to the hospital now.”
“The second I get a whiff of that telltale smell, I go into
super-watchful mode,” Paxman says. “I’m obsessively checking the local air quality levels and his breathing while watching for haze on the horizon or an orange tint to the light.”
That haze and orange tint are becoming more familiar for Americans from California to the Great Lakes to the East Coast.
As of May 30, the U.S. had recorded more than 27,700
wildfires this year — 33% more than the 10-year average for this time of year. The devastating fires in Southern California this past January reminded us that the areas threatened directly by wildfires are increasing, with major cities no longer safe. The conditions that gave rise to those fires — including the Palisades and Eaton fires, which destroyed more than 18,000 structures and claimed at least 30 lives — were exacerbated by climate change. That’s how it is around the world as well, where the global area considered “fire-prone” is projected to grow by 29% by the end of the century.
Aside from fires’ destructive impacts, the health effects of wildfire smoke are profound. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from these fires can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to respiratory issues, heart problems and other serious health concerns. Children, older adults and individuals with preexisting conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, high winds and certain extreme weather
events create the perfect condi-
tions for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly. But despite the growing risks, recent decisions by the Trump administration have undermined our ability to respond effectively.
Staff and budget cuts to key agencies responsible for forest management and wildfire prevention threaten to leave us even more vulnerable and less prepared. Additionally, harmful legislation like the Fix Our Forests Act threatens to weaken environmental protections and prioritize logging over sustainable forest management that could actually help address forest fires.
We need a comprehensive approach to address this crisis. This includes investing in forest restoration, supporting fire-resistant and resilient infrastructure, and policies that drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Public education campaigns also can play a crucial role in promoting fire safety and preparedness. There is no safe level of
exposure to wildfire smoke. It is 10 times more toxic to our health than standard air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels. According to multinational studies reported in the journal “Nature”, wildfirespecific PM2.5 increases the risk of hospitalization for a range of respiratory illnesses, from asthma to the flu. That’s especially true for people under age 19 or older than 60. Compared to PM2.5 from other sources, wildfire-specific PM2.5 leads to a greater risk of hospitalization for all respiratory diseases. Communities across the country must come together to demand action. We must hold our leaders accountable and push for policies that prioritize public health and environmental sustainability. The challenges are immense, but with collective effort and determination, we can build a more resilient future. The writer is the executive director of the Sierra Club and a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF A PROPOSED UPDATE TO THE RATES , TERMS, AND CONDITIONS OF A UNIVERSAL SERVICE FEE TO BE PAID BY RETAIL CUSTOMERS TO FUND THE PIPP CASE NO. PUR-2025-00075
On May 1, 2025, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed an application (“Application”) with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) requesting approval of a proposed update to the rates, terms, and conditions of a universal service fee (“USF”) to be paid by retail customers to fund the Percentage of Income Payment Program (“PIPP”). Specifically, Dominion proposes to continue a USF to fund the PIPP of $0.00 per kilowatt hour (“kWh”) effective November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026 (“Rate Year”).
The PIPP was established as part of the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act as a mechanism designed to limit the electric utility payments of persons or households participating in certain, specified public assistance programs, based upon a percentage of their income, for customers of Dominion and Appalachian Power Company (“APCo”). The General Assembly further addressed the PIPP, its funding, and implementation, as part of the 2021 legislative session with the passage of Chapter 308 of the 2021 Virginia Acts of Assembly, Special Session I (“Chapter 308”). Among other things, Chapter 308 updated eligibility to be based on income thresholds relative to the federal poverty level. A PIPP-eligible utility customer is defined as “any person or household whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.” Eligible participants in the PIPP are customers of Dominion and APCo.
The Commission issued an Order on July 29, 2021 directing, among other things, that Dominion begin collecting the USF from statutorily designated customers to fund the estimated start-up costs that the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) needed to establish the PIPP, calculate a USF on a per kWh basis to recover $2.4 million on an annual basis, file tariffs reflecting such fee with the Commission, begin making payments to the state treasury to enable DSS to undertake the actions necessary to establish the PIPP, and defer its PIPP administrative costs and seek their recovery at a later date.
In its most recently adjudicated PIPP update filing, Dominion sought and was granted Commission approval of a USF to fund the PIPP of $0.00 per kWh based on Dominion’s projections that revenues collected through October 31, 2024, would be sufficient to fund the PIPP through October 31, 2025. Among other things, the Commission approved the Company’s Rider PIPP True-up Mechanism Form as a means to compute Rider PIPP revenue requirements going forward. The Commission also concluded that $532,533 of audited PIPP-related administrative costs incurred between January 2022 and December 2023, could be appropriately recovered by the Company from the PIPP Treasury Fund.
In support of its request in the instant proceeding to continue a zero rate for the USF to fund the PIPP, Dominion states that it projects that the revenues collected through October 31, 2024 from the previously approved USF will be sufficient to fund the PIPP through the end of the Rate Year. The Company also requests that the Commission, pursuant to its general authority and Code § 56-585.6 C, ensure that the Company receives adequate and timely compensation from the PIPP Treasury Fund for its reasonable administrative costs by issuing an order directing disbursement from the PIPP Treasury Fund to the Company for the Company’s administrative costs from January 2024 through March 2025 in the amount of $2,105,180 to be audited by the Commission Staff in this proceeding. The Company also states that it respectfully reserves the right to file an interim update within the Rate Year, if necessary, to request Commission approval of any adjustments to the rate proposed in this proceeding. In order to implement the USF rate on November 1, 2025, the Company respectfully requests the Commission enter an order in this proceeding by October 15, 2025.
Further details are set forth in the Company’s Application and supporting exhibits, and interested persons are encouraged to review these documents.
The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Comment that, among other things, directed the Company to provide notice to the public and provided interested persons an opportunity to comment on the Company’s Application, to file a notice of participation and to request a hearing in this matter.
Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”), 5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq., the Commission has directed that service on parties and the Commission’s Staff in this matter shall be accomplished by electronic means. Please refer to the Commission’s Order for Notice and Comment for further instructions concerning Confidential or Extraordinarily Sensitive Information.
An electronic copy of the Company’s Application may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Nicole M. Allaband, Esquire, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or nicole.m.allaband@dominionenergy.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 July 15, 2025, any interested person may file comments on the Application by following the instructions 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 comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00075.
On or before July 15, 2025, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation with the Clerk of the Commission 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, the Commission’s Staff, and all other respondents. Pursuant to 5 VAC 520-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the 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-2025-00075.
On or before July 15, 2025, any interested person may file a written request for a hearing with the Clerk of the Commission at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a request for hearing electronically may file such request by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. The interested person simultaneously shall serve a copy of the hearing request electronically on counsel to the Company, the Commission’s Staff, and all respondents. A request for a hearing shall include: (i) a precise statement of the filing party’s interest in the proceeding; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; (iii) a statement of the legal basis for such action; and (iv) a precise statement why a hearing should be conducted in this matter. All requests for a hearing shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00075.
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 Comment, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice.
The Company’s Application, the public versions of other documents filed in this case, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Comment may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/case-information
Ben Jealous
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File
Members of a Los Angeles County Fire crew make a stand to protect a home from advancing fire on Sept. 18, 2020, in Juniper Hills, Calif.
Submitted photo Jackson Ward
Pride on display in the city
Month. Right, Narissa Rahaman, executive director of Equality Virginia, speaks during the event celebrating the raising of the Progress Pride Flag at City Hall. Below, Virginia Pride organizers, in partnership with artist Scott Csoke, opened the Gayest Room Ever at Quirk Hotel on May 29 to kick off Pride Month. Created with a grant from Richmond Region Tourism, bookings of the room will help support Virginia Pride.
WILLINGNESS TO HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING
Scott’s Addition BRT Station Streetscape Project State Project: U000-127-062, UPC 115555
the half-mile walkshed of the BRT station. T he project aims to increase accessibility and improve overall pedestrian/public safety in the neighborhood.
Plan Review: Project plans, and the National Environmental Policy Act document can be provided for review by request. Please contact Olayinka Bruce at Olayinka.Bruce@rva.gov or 804-6462312 or call Andrew Smith at Timmons Group (804) 200-6491. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate staff to answer your questions.
Written Request: By this notice, the City of Richmond is indicating its willingness to hold a public hearing for the project if individual concerns cannot be addressed. A request for a public hearing to be held may be made by sending a written request stating your concerns to the address below on or before June 9, 2025
Olayinka Bruce Richmond Department of Public Works 900 E. Broad Street, Room 603 Richmond, VA 23219
Further Notice: If a request for a public hearing is received, and the concerns addressed in the request cannot be adequately resolved, a public hearing will be scheduled at a time and place to be advertised in a future notice.
Questions or Special Assistance: Questions regarding this project should be directed to Olayinka Bruce using the contact information above. The City of Richmond and VDOT ensure nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Any persons with questions on the accessibility of the facility or need reasonable accommodations should contact Olayinka Bruce at 804-646-2312.
Brian Palmer
Brian Palmer
Julianne Tripp Hilllian/Richmond Free Press
Pacers’ 25-year Finals drought is over as they look to overcome snakebitten history
By Michael Marot Associated Press
The Pacers have finally ended the franchise’s 25-year NBA Finals drought, achieving the unthinkable after starting the season 10-15 and looking like anything but a title contender. Now, Indiana will try to exorcise the demons of its decades-long, snakebitten history and win its first NBA championship when it takes on Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals.
“It is really a special thing that happened 25 years ago, I wasn’t even 6 months old,” Tyrese Haliburton said after Indiana’s series-ending victory over New York. “There’s a lot of fans who have never seen success from this organization, especially people around my age. They weren’t alive for it. So it’s really special what we’re doing, and we’re just trying to keep making this a special place, a place where people want to come.”
The Pacers play in a state where basketball is treated like religion, championship teams become royalty, and players and coaches are revered when they achieve the unexpected. But Indiana hasn’t always been a dream destination for NBA players, instead carrying the label of a snakebitten franchise for most of its 48 seasons in the league.
After winning three ABA titles, it took a telethon to save the financially floundering NBA newcomer in July 1977. The Pacers made just one playoff appearance during their first
decade in the NBA, losing both games to Philadelphia. Fans booed loudly when the Pacers used a first-round draft pick on Reggie Miller in 1987 instead of Indiana favorite Steve Alford. Their pathway to a championship in the 1990s was routinely blocked by Michael Jordan’s Bulls or Patrick Ewing’s Knicks, until a breakthrough run in 2000. That run ended with a Finals loss to Shaquille O’Neal, the late Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Even with Miller still performing at a high level, it has taken another quarter-century for Indiana to return to the league’s biggest stage.
The road back hasn’t been easy.
This Pacers team rallied to eliminate several other longsuffering franchises. They knocked out the 2021 NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and the rival Knicks. The second final chapter begins Thursday in Oklahoma City. Expectations were different 25 years ago.
Donnie Walsh revamped Indiana’s roster by surrounding Miller with younger players following the 1999-2000 season, and four seasons later, the Pacers posted the league’s best record in 2003-04. But they lost the Eastern Conference final in six games to Detroit. Then came the franchisechanging brawl in November 2004, known as the “Malice at the Palace.”
Several lengthy suspensions gutted the team, derailing Mill-
Flying Squirrels held hitless into eighth in 5-1 loss to Senators
Free Press staff report
The Richmond Flying Squirrels were held without a hit until the eighth inning and dropped their series finale to the Harrisburg Senators, 5-1, Sunday afternoon at The Diamond.
With the loss, the Flying Squirrels (15-36) dropped four of six games in the series against the Senators (24-27). Harrisburg starter Bryce Conley (1-1) tossed seven hitless innings, striking out six and allowing just one baserunner on a walk in the fifth. It marked his third consecutive scoreless start.
The Senators struck early, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-out, tworun double by Kevin Made off Richmond starter Seth Lonsway (2-4). In the third, Joe Naranjo added an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.
Cayden Wallace drove in another run with a double in the seventh, and Murphy Stehly followed with a run-scoring single to make it 5-0.
Richmond ended the no-hit bid in the eighth when Jairo Pomares led off the inning with a single off reliever Erick Mejia. Later in the inning, Aeverson Arteaga delivered a two-out RBI single to bring home the Squirrels’ lone run.
Dylan Cumming worked 2.1 scoreless innings in relief for Richmond, striking out two. Michael Stryffeler and Trent Harris each pitched a scoreless inning.
The team returned to The Diamond for a six-game homestand against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Met, through June 8.
In other team news, the Flying Squirrels announced Friday that longtime fan Ray Edwards has been selected as the winner of the #1 Fan Bobblehead Contest. Edwards will be featured on a custom bobblehead to be given away to the first 2,000 fans at the club’s regular season finale Sunday, Sept. 14.
A season ticket holder since the team’s inaugural 2010 season, Edwards has missed just 13 home games. The Lakeside resident, a lifelong fan of the Squirrels’ major league affiliate, the San Francisco Giants, is known for being the first fan through the gates and has collected every team giveaway. He also owns a collection of mini helmets signed by all but two Flying Squirrels players.
“There are many die-hard Squirrels fans, but none have been more dedicated than Ray over the past 15 seasons,” said Flying Squirrels General Manager Anthony Oppermann. “He has become part of our family, and we couldn’t be more excited to honor him with his very own bobblehead.”
The #1 Fan Bobblehead is part of the Diamond Through the Decades Celebration series. Other scheduled giveaways include a diamond ring on June 12, a Chipper Jones R-Braves bobblehead on July 24, and a classic R-Braves 1980s T-shirt on Aug. 28.
er’s last title run and sending the franchise into a downward spiral. Larry Bird fired coach Rick Carlisle, his friend and former teammate, two years later. His departure was followed by a rash of devastating injuries.
Danny Granger’s promising career was cut short by knee tendinitis. Paul George suffered a compound fracture in his right leg in 2014 and was traded to Oklahoma City in 2017. Two years later, All-Star guard Victor Oladipo ruptured his right quadriceps tendon and was later traded as well.
Myles Turner experienced much of the last decade’s highs and lows from inside the Pacers’ locker room. That made his opportunity to hug Miller and Nancy Leonard, the widow of longtime coach and broadcaster Bobby “Slick” Leonard, all the
more meaningful after winning the Eastern Conference title.
“It was just pure excitement, pure validation,” Turner said.
“Just all the years, all the hate, all the love, everything in be-
tween. So, man, in that moment, it was just pure exuberance.” Turner was a pivotal piece — though not the central one — when president of basketball operations Kev -
Betting odds
Oklahoma City (-700) is a big favorite to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Indiana’s odds are set at +500.
The Thunder is an early 9.5-point favorite over the Pacers for Game 1. The most likely series outcome, according to BetMGM’s odds, is the Thunder in five games (+200).
NBA Finals schedule
All games of the NBA Finals will be
on
Norfolk State to face
in Pritchard launched a rebuild midway through the 2021-22 season to form the core of this year’s squad. He started by dealing All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento for Haliburton. Five months later, Indiana acquired forward Aaron Nesmith from Boston for Malcolm Brogdon. And when Pritchard sent Bruce Brown to Toronto for Pascal Siakam in January 2024, he believed the Pacers finally had their big three. Fans were skeptical. But the Pacers ushered in a new era of basketball, one that blended Indiana’s favorite sport with the state’s auto racing tradition, creating a fast-paced, trackstyle brand of play. In many ways, these Pacers are a throwback to their ABA roots — fast, high scoring, flurries of 3-pointers and made-for-TV entertainment, right down to the dance team.
“The pace, it just fits who I am as a person, like the way I play the game,” said Siakam, who won a championship ring with Toronto. “We have a lot of people who look down on us as an underdog and that’s my style. I like that because that’s been me my whole life.”
The Pacers will open as underdogs against the Thunder — the same team George joined after leaving Indiana. Two former ABA powers, San Antonio and Denver, have won NBA titles. If the Pacers capture the Larry O’Brien Trophy, they would become the only team to win both ABA and NBA championships. “This is not the time to be popping champagne,” said Carlisle, who led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2010-11 title. “Getting to the NBA Finals is an accomplishment. But if you start looking at it that way, you’ll go into it with the wrong mindset. When you get to this point of the season, it’s two teams, it’s one goal — so it becomes an all-or-nothing thing.”
Rutgers in Vick’s first road game as head coach
The Michael Vick era at Norfolk State will include a nationally televised road game against Rutgers, with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, the Big Ten Conference announced Thursday.
The game will mark the first road test of the season for the Spartans and will air live on the Big Ten Network.
The 2025 campaign will be Vick’s first as head coach at Norfolk State, a hire that has drawn historic attention throughout Hampton Roads. The Spartans open the season at home against Towson on Thursday, Aug. 28.
The Rutgers matchup is the second confirmed game time on Norfolk State’s schedule. The Spartans also are set to face longtime rival Hampton in the Battle of the Bay at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Norfolk State and Rutgers have met four times since 2007, most recently in 2015.
Kickoff times and television details for the remainder of the Spartans’ 2025 schedule will be announced at a later date.
VUU’s DJ Mitchell ballin’ at legendary Rucker Park
Free Press staff report
Virginia Union University 6’5” guard DJ Mitchell has been selected to play in the HBCU All-Star Dream Classic, set for Saturday, Aug. 9, at Rucker Park in Harlem, N.Y.
Mitchell, a senior from Catonsville, Md., led the Panthers in scoring during the 2024-25 season with a 13.2 points-per-game average. He also topped the team in 3-pointers, connecting on 56 shots from beyond the arc.
“I’m really happy for DJ,” said VUU Men’s Basketball Coach Jay Butler. “He was our leading scorer and one of the best players in the CIAA this year. I know he will represent the program and the conference very well in New York.”
DJ Mitchell
Mitchell will be one of 40 standout athletes representing HBCUs
from across the CIAA, MEAC, SIAC, SWAC, Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, NAIA, and independent programs. The event will merge the tradition and excellence of HBCU athletics with the energy and history of urban streetball culture.
Rucker Park, often referred to as the mecca of streetball, has long been a proving ground for basketball talent. Located in Harlem, the park gained fame in the 1950s and ’60s for its summer leagues, where NBA legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving and later Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant showcased their skills alongside local streetball icons. Playing there is seen as a rite of passage for many aspiring basketball stars. Admission is free and tickets can be reserved at eventbrite.com
Girard going global with sports diplomacy program in Bulgaria
Free Press staff report
Mallori Girard, a longtime volunteer with the Richmondbased nonprofit Jacob’s Chance, has been selected by the U.S. Department of State to take part in the Sport for Social Change exchange program this month in Bulgaria. Girard is one of only nine professionals chosen nationwide for the program, which is run in partnership with PH International and uses sports diplomacy to
equity and international
collaboration.
While in Bulgaria, she will work with local groups to explore how adaptive sports are used to empower individuals and communities. The two-week program includes visits to the National Sports Academy, Unified Basketball programs and the Parallel World Association.
“It is an incredible honor to represent Jacob’s Chance and to learn from our international colleagues who are making meaningful strides in adaptive sports,” Girard said. “I’m excited to bring
back insights that can help strengthen our Richmond community and ensure everyone has the chance to live an active life.”
Girard holds a doctorate in recreation, park and tourism sciences, with research focusing on the developmental benefits of sports for youths, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.
Jacob’s Chance supports youths and young adults with disabilities through inclusive sports and recreation programs in the Richmond area.
Jairo Pomares
Courtsey NSU Athletics
Michael Vick at William “Dick” Price Stadium during Norfolk State’s April spring football game, marking the official start of his tenure as head coach.
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton celebrates May 31 after a teammate made a 3-pointer during the second half of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks in Indianapolis.
President,
Personality: William Hamm
Spotlight on board president of Virginia Down Syndrome Association
When parents learn their child has Down syndrome, they often go through a spectrum of emotions—from shock and disbelief to fear and guilt. For some, the diagnosis comes during prenatal testing; for others, it may arrive weeks after the baby is born. William Hamm and his wife, Teresa, received their son David’s diagnosis when he was two weeks old.
“We found out in prenatal testing that David had an atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), which is a heart defect that is common in people with Down syndrome,” Hamm said. “It was a roller coaster of emotions.”
Down syndrome, which occurs randomly, is a genetic condition that occurs when a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21. The additional genetic material affects the development of the body and brain, leading to a range of physical and intellectual challenges. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it occurs in all racial and ethnic groups, but is most common among Hispanics, followed by white people, with Black infants having the lowest rates. The CDC estimates that about 1 in every 640 babies in the U.S. is born with Down syndrome.
Hamm said he was afraid when they received the diagnosis. He thought about his son’s future and what their lives as a family would be like. They also have a son, Michael, who is 3 years older than David. He searched online for any information he could find. He came across the Virginia Down Syndrome Association (VDSA).
“It was the first organization that we reached out to after receiving David’s diagnosis,” Hamm said. “A volunteer reached back out to us the same
day, and we’ve been off and running with VDSA ever since.”
Hamm had reason to be fearful about David’s diagnosis. His aunt, who died young, had Down syndrome, marking a family history. Knowing that Down syndrome is not hereditary, he believes it’s likely a coincidence.
Medical and technological advances that have allowed people with Down syndrome to live longer have put some of Hamm’s fears to rest.
“VDSA had a group for dads, and one reached out to me that same day, too,” Hamm said. “He told me about the good life experience he was having as a parent of a child with Down syndrome, which immediately made me feel better.”
David, now 5, plays soccer, loves ice cream and gets along with his older brother. He’s looking forward to his birthday this week, when the family will have a party with a Slip ‘N Slide in the backyard.
“David is the easiest kid to raise,” Hamm said. “He’s very loving and empathetic. He consoles his brother. He’s quick to laugh when everybody’s laughing, even when he doesn’t understand the joke.”
What’s your hometown?
I was born in Goldsboro, N.C., and I currently live in Henrico. We moved to Richmond in 2016 because we didn’t want to raise kids in New Orleans.
Where did you go to school?
I attended North Carolina State University, where I earned a bachelor’s in Spanish language and literature.
What do you do for a living?
I’m an actuary. I enjoy working with numbers and finance.
What is Down syndrome?
It’s a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra full or partial copy of chromosome
21. Humans typically have 46 chromosomes in each cell, arranged in 23 pairs, but individuals with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes.
What is the Virginia Down Syndrome Association?
VDSA is a nonprofit focused on improving and enriching the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, founded as the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond in 1983. One of the founders has a daughter who now serves on the board. What kind of programming and assistance does VDSA provide?
Education, outreach, early childhood development, job training, awareness and fun. We have about 10 staff members who work with the community. They coordinate with local organizations to host art projects that encourage people to get out of the house. We work with schools to provide advice. Our staff members reach out to parents to
Dancing with the Local Stars
Date: June 12
Location: Altria Theater
Description: Local celebrities dance alongside individuals with Down syndrome in choreographed routines by Miracles in Motion, a nonprofit dance group offering classes for people with disabilities.
Event features: Cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner with family testimony, games and dance routines.
Ticket price: $125
Raffle tickets available and donations accepted online at virginiadsa.org
educate them about Down syndrome—whatever it takes to bring people into the fold. What has it been like working with VDSA?
I got involved after my son David was diagnosed with Down syndrome two weeks after he was born in summer 2019. It’s been incredibly meaningful to see the direct impact of programs like our Summer Employment Academy, where we work with local businesses to provide on-site job and skills training to adults with Down syndrome. In October 2023, I was elected board president.
What is your goal as board president, and what’s your biggest challenge?
My top priority is outreach to all individuals with Down syndrome across the state. Our connections to our community are what make us successful. Fundraising is our biggest challenge. Are you looking for volunteers at VDSA?
Yes! We always need volunteers and committee members! There are several ways to get involved. Anyone interested in working with us or helping with fundraising can call us. Our amazing staff can get you involved in a number of ways. There’s also information about
volunteering on our website, virginiadsa.org.
What is “Dancing with the Local Stars?”
It’s our third annual event on June 12 at the Altria Theater, where individuals with Down syndrome will dance alongside a local celebrity to raise funds for VDSA.
The evening begins with a cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by dinner. A family is chosen to give testimony during the dinner, which is always a heartwarming moment. We have games to keep people entertained, and then there’s the five-minute dance routines, choreographed by the nonprofit dance group Miracles in Motion, which offers specialized dance classes for individuals with disabilities. People can vote with their dollars. We end the evening with an open dance.
It’s one of my favorite nights of the year. The energy at this event is through the roof. It brings business leaders together with our Down syndrome community in an outpouring of support, excitement and slick dance moves. How can people support “Dancing with the Local Stars?” Tickets are $125, and raffle tickets (payout is half the pot)
are available. People can donate to a team of dancers on our website, virginiadsa.org.
Who are some of your favorite recording artists? Smashing Pumpkins, Outkast and Amy Winehouse. How does your day begin? Focused, but I need coffee. How would you describe yourself?
Analytical, independent and stubborn.
Who is your dream dinner party guest?
My Aunt Lila, who had Down syndrome. She passed away when I was just 4 years old. Knowing what I know now, I would have loved to have had a better chance to know her.
What is something you love to do that most people would never imagine?
I love to bake, especially sourdough boules.
What’s a quote that inspires you?
“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm” by Winston Churchill. Who inspired you the most?
My parents.
What book influenced you the most and how?
“Mere Christianity,” by C.S. Lewis. It’s the best introspection on the Christian faith that I’ve read.
What are you reading now?
“2666” by Roberto Bolaño. It’s a tedious novel about a mysterious German author hiding in Northern Mexico amidst a string of murders.
What’s your next goal?
For June, my goals are to help finalize VDSA’s fiscal year budget, prepare for our quarterly reporting cycle at my day job, run a lot of miles and successfully transition my kids from the school year to summer camps.
‘Ultimate Dinosaurs’ exhibit reveals prehistoric predators from distant continents
Free Press staff report
The roar of the past echoes through the halls of the Science Museum of Virginia this summer, as visitors encounter the strange and spectacular creatures of a lost world. “Ultimate Dinosaurs,” a touring exhibition, reveals discoveries about prehistoric predators that lived millions of years ago on continents far from the North American landscape.
The exhibit features dozens of fossil specimens and 17 lifesize skeletons made from fossil molds, showcasing dinosaurs that evolved in isolation in South America, Africa and Madagascar. These creatures display unique features — crests, frills, sails and feathers — that set them apart from their North American relatives.
“From the tiny and fast Eoraptor to the massive and menacing Giganotosaurus, our planet was inhabited by fascinating theropods, abelisaurs, spinosaurs and other dinosaur species long before humans ever came along,” said Timshel Purdum, Virginia C. Ellett, deputy director for education at the Science Museum.
The exhibition explores the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea and how continental drift influenced dinosaur evolution during the Mesozoic Era.
Among the featured dinosaurs is Giganotosaurus, the largest carnivorous dinosaur from Gondwana and possibly the largest land predator ever. The exhibit invites visitors to imagine how it might have fared against the Tyrannosaurus rex, despite living millions of years apart on different continents.
Visitors will also encounter Spinosaurus, a carnivore from 112 million years ago that has attracted recent scientific attention as a possible first known aquatic dinosaur. Cryolophosaurus, the “frozen crested lizard” from Antarctica, is a new addition to the exhibit.
Complementing the exhibit, the Science Museum is showing the giant-screen film “Dinosaurs of Antarctica” in The Dome all summer. The 45-minute feature follows scientists as they uncover the secrets of the ancient creatures that once roamed the icy continent. The film is shown at least once daily, with showtimes available on the museum’s website.
Throughout the summer, the museum will host dinosaurthemed events, including a sensory-friendly Minds of All Kinds program on July 12, a 21+ Science on Tap event on July 24, and a Sunrise Science presentation by paleontologist Jennifer Anné on Aug. 25. Additional programming will be offered in labs and live demonstrations.
“Ultimate Dinosaurs” is presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota and produced by the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. It will be on display through Labor Day. Tickets are $25 for adults; $22 for youths ages 6 to 12 and seniors 60 and older; and $17.50 for preschool children ages 3 to 5.
Juneteenth events highlight Black history
June 14
Juneteenth 2025, A Freedom Celebration at Manchester Dock, 1308 Brander St., 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and along the Trail of the Enslaved from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Presented by the Elegba Folklore Society, the event features live music, dance, community rituals, a youth summit, food, a Freedom Market and a sacred walk along the Trail of the Enslaved. Attendees are encouraged to wear white and may bring ancestral offerings such as flowers, water or fruit. Free. elegbafolklore.org
June 15
Film Screening and panel discussion at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture at 3 p.m. The program features documentaries The Black West and The Abolitionists, followed by a panel with historians. Tickets $10. vamhc.org
June 18
the
Juneteenth Dinner and Movie at Mount Carmel Baptist
Church, 3200 E. Broad St. at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is followed by the documentary “Faith and Freedom” at 6:30 p.m., followed by a discussion. Event is free but registration is required. tmcbc. churchcenter.com.
June 19
Juneteenth Free Community Day at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden at 9 a.m. Free garden admission, live music by DJ B-Rice and Ban Caribe, art installations, storytime and performances by
Library of Virginia
Tev’n Powers discusses his “Fugitive Data Portraits” project, revealing stories of self-emancipation from Virginia’s archival records during a virtual talk hosted by the Library of Virginia.
Shauntae Lilly. Food vendors onsite. lewisginter.org
Juneteenth Community Celebration at the Branch Museum of Architecture and Design at 6 p.m. Two new exhibitions open: (re) Framing Protest (Now) and Echoes of Us. Features a live DJ, book signing, pop-up print shop, and Memory Lab @ Richmond Public Library capturing personal stories. Open bar and light snacks provided. Free. branchmuseum.org
June 20
Juneteenth Legacy Unearthed: The Living Lineage of Carter G. Woodson at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia at 7 p.m. This free event explores Dr. Woodson’s legacy through descendants’ stories and includes a panel moderated by former state Secretary of Administration Viola Baskerville. Seating limited; no registration required. bhmva.org
June 21
Juneteenth “Boots on the Ground” Celebration at RandolphMacon College from noon to 5 p.m. Food trucks and entertainment by Hattie Weatherless, William Carter, Unity Gospel Band, Kemel Patton, Soul Unlimited, Burning Fire and DJ MJ. Free. hcbnaacp.org Henrico County Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park, from 4 to 10 p.m. Family-friendly event with Go-Go music from EU featuring Sugar Bear and the Chuck Brown Band, 160 vendors, kids zone and fireworks. Free. henrico.us/parks.
Free Press staff report
Rows of names, dates and notations in dusty county records may seem like dry data points. But to researcher Tev’n Powers, they reveal stories of resistance and freedom once left out of Virginia’s historical narrative.
On Wednesday, June 18, at noon, the Library of Virginia will host a free virtual talk featuring Powers, a Virginia Humanities fellow, software engineer and independent researcher. He will present findings from his project, “Fugitive Data Portraits: Self-Emancipation in Virginia,” which documents enslaved people who freed themselves during the Civil War.
Using archival records from across the state, Powers created a website featuring interactive data visualizations that highlight patterns in documented escapes from slavery. Contextualized with individual accounts, these “data portraits” offer a fuller picture of the lives and decisions of some of Virginia’s earliest freedom seekers — people often reduced to footnotes or left out of the historical record entirely. The event is free, but registration is required at va-virginia.libcal. com. For more information, contact education@lva.virginia.gov.
On Saturday, May 31, crew members Ahmed Bouazzaoui, above left, and Tray Bien worked with Journey for Change and 5 Rivers Film to document 25 students from Richmond Hill’s Armstrong Leadership Program as they walked the Trail of the Enslaved from Ancarrow’s Landing to Lumpkin’s Jail. The walk and filming were part of the students’ graduation retreat. Right, students listen and prepare before walking the trail. The film project began four years ago and is scheduled to be released in 2026.
Honoring heritage, creating harmony
In May, Richmond youths honored the past and celebrated their talents. Armstrong Leadership students took a reflective walk along the Richmond Slave Trail, while young musicians from Music Orchard Richmond and Peter Paul RVA performed a spring concert showcasing their growing skills.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Above, Orchard Richmond and Peter Paul RVA program participants, Isoke Chandler, Gilbert Carter, Marquise Oliver and Nina Chandler (from right) pluck their violin strings during a spring concert May 22 at Peter Paul RVA. Left, Jer’Miah Bing and two fellow Music Orchard Richmond and Peter Paul RVA musicians received free violins from 725 Arts and Culture’s Trumpeting for the Arts at the concert. Right, Qmaya-Leigh Owens, a Music Orchard Richmond and Peter Paul RVA participant, plays during the concert that showcased the talents of young musicians with one or more years of practice.
Telus World of Science
This fossil specimen is part of the “Ultimate Dinosaurs” exhibit now roaring through the Science Museum of Virginia, featuring 17 life-size skeletons and dozens of fossils from South America, Africa and Madagascar.
Elegba Folklore Society
Members of
Elegba Folklore Society.
Faith leaders, health care advocates arrested while protesting GOP budget bill at U.S. Capitol
By Jack Jenkins Religion News Service
A group of clergy, faith-based protesters and disability advocates were once again arrested in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday, June 2, while praying against the Republican-led federal budget bill, including a wheelchair user who said potential cuts to health care programs would imperil her future.
Suvya Carroll, a disability rights advocate born with cerebral palsy, was among those who prayed in the Rotunda, asking that God would “not let this happen,” referring to the bill. She spoke clutching a Bible as fellow demonstrators laid hands on her shoulders, calling on the Almighty to allow her and others “to be free to live, be healthy, well and safe.” Carroll was arrested by Capitol Police a few minutes later, along with eight other demonstrators, according to police. Faith leaders arrested with her included activist the Rev. William Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach; the Rev. Della Owens, pastor of Saint James Christian Church in Wilson, N.C., and Barber’s wife;
and the Rev. Franklin Golden of Durham Presbyterian Church in North Carolina. Most, including Carroll, were handcuffed as they were led away by police. In an email, a Capitol Police spokesperson said the nine people arrested were charged
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
New Generation Church RVA’s new building at 1700 Blair St. in Richmond’s Randolph neighborhood will be dedicated Sunday, June 8. The church, founded in 2008, recently purchased the property as its second campus location.
New Generation Church RVA to dedicate new building
Free Press staff report
New Generation Church RVA will host a building dedication ceremony Sunday, June 8, at its newly opened campus in the Randolph neighborhood.
The ceremony is set for 3:30 p.m. at the church’s new location, 1700 Blair St., near Byrd and Maymont parks. The event is free and open to the public, though attendees are asked to register at tinyurl.com/NGbuildingdedication.
Founded in 2008 by the Rev. Mike Hathaway and his wife, Danielle Hathaway, New Generation Church RVA recently purchased the Blair Street property, marking its expansion into the city. The Randolph location is the church’s second campus, with its original site in Hopewell.
Church leaders say the new location will serve as more than a place of worship. Plans include launching an adult day care and an after-school program for neighborhood youths. Weekly worship services are held Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
More information about the dedication and the church’s programs is available at myngchurch.com.
with “crowding, obstructing and incommoding.”
It was the third time since April 28 that faith-led Moral Monday protesters were arrested while protesting the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” House Republicans passed last month that is currently being debated in the Senate. Republican leaders such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget director, have said people either won’t lose Medicaid coverage under the bill or will only lose it if “they choose to do so.”
But last month, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office concluded the bill will reduce federal Medicaid spending by $723 billion and ultimately increase the number of uninsured people by 7.6 million. That discrepancy was brought up repeatedly at the Moral Monday rally June 2, organized by Repairers of the Breach outside the U.S. Supreme Court building. Taking
place before the arrests, activists and faith leaders from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions decried the Republican-led budget and potential Medicaid cuts. “They don’t want us to talk about the particular people who will die,” Barber told the crowd. “They say they’re cutting waste, fraud and abuse. So what they’re saying is, it’s wasteful to lift people, it’s fraudulent to help people live, and it’s abusive to make sure people have health care. Well, the truth is, it’s a waste not to do it — it’s fraudulent not to do it, and it’s a form of political abuse.”
Barber also commented on remarks made by Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, during a recent town hall. After an attendee shouted that the budget bill will lead to deaths, Ernst replied, “We all are going to die.”
Ernst, a Lutheran, later doubled down on her comments, posting a video to social media in
which she sarcastically mocked her detractors and invited people to embrace “my Lord and savior Jesus Christ” in order to have “eternal and everlasting life.”
“(Ernst) said something about wanting to introduce people to Jesus,” Barber told the crowd on Monday. “Well, let me introduce you to Jesus: the Jesus I know never charged a leper a co-pay.”
Disability rights activist
Sloan Meek, who also is a worship leader, addressed the crowd using an automated voice device.
“Without Medicaid support in my home and my community, I will be forced into a nursing home to spend the rest of my life in a hospital bed until I die,” Meek said.
Carroll also addressed the crowd.
“I want the people that are trying to take this away from us to put yourself in our seats and understand what we have to go through as people with disabilities,” she said. “It is not easy waking up with our bodies in pain.”
She added: “When we have a procedure that needs to be done, how will that be paid for?”
The Rev. Tony Larson, co-moderator of Presbyterian Church (USA), a denomination that sponsors the Moral Mondays effort, also led a prayer.
“We ask that through this gathering, we might wake people up to the immorality of this bill, that we might help our leaders remember that they have a special obligation to the poor and the least among us,” Larson said.
Sponsors of the event included the National Council of Jewish Women, Masjid Muhammad, the National Council of Churches, Fellowship of Reconciliation, the AME Zion Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Presby-
terian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, Indivisible and the National Urban League. The protest comes days after news broke that Barber is facing a legal battle with his ex-wife, Rebecca Barber, who has asked a judge to investigate whether the pastor used funds from Repairers of the Breach, the nonprofit he founded, to make alimony payments. Barber has denied the allegations, and representatives for Repairers of the Breach have said they believe the allegations “to be baseless.” The group has launched an internal investigation into the matter.
Demonstrators at the Moral Monday rally seemed unmoved by Barber’s legal situation. One speaker, the Rev. Brian R. Thompson, bishop of the AME Zion Church’s Mid-Atlantic District, made a joking reference to controversy surrounding Barber, saying someone had warned him not to be associated with the pastor. But the AME Zion bishop appeared to dismiss the suggestion, adding that the broader cause is a moral one that transcends any individual.
“I ain’t standing with Bishop Barber — I’m standing with Jesus,” Thompson said.
RNS photo/Jack Jenkins
Suvya Carroll, seated, and others pray in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, Monday, June 2, 2025, in Washington.