Protest challenges Trump policies
By Brodie Greene
Hundreds gathered in Capitol Square on Tuesday for the “March 4th Democracy,” protest march, a show of resistance aimed against the Trump administration’s policies that threaten reproductive rights. The march, organized by 50501, stood as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s bodily autonomy. The march, one of many across state capitals nationwide, highlighted growing concerns over the erosion of freedoms many thought were secure.
Governor grants clemency to police officer convicted in fatal shooting
By Olivia Diaz The Associated Press
Days after a judge sentenced a Virginia police officer to prison in the fatal shooting of an unarmed man accused of stealing sunglasses, the state’s Republican governor granted the fired officer clemency, meaning he won’t have to serve further time behind bars. Wesley Shifflett, 36, was sentenced Friday to three years in prison after he was convicted of recklessly handling a firearm during the Feb. 22, 2023, shooting of Timothy McCree Johnson.
The jury acquitted him of involuntary manslaughter.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin granted Shifflett clemency Sunday, removing his prison requirement but keeping intact his felony conviction.
“I am convinced that the court’s sentence of incarceration is unjust and violates the cornerstone of our justice system — that similarly situated individuals receive proportionate sentences,” Youngkin, a Republican, said Sunday.
In his statement, Youngkin referred to sentencing guidelines recommending no incarceration for Shifflett that were
Henrico County native embraces new life in Ghana’s Eastern Region
This article is the second in a three-part series exploring the growing movement of African Americans seeking refuge and reconnection in Ghana.
By Jennifer Robinson
Henrico County native Indee Jordan first visited Ghana in 2006, searching for a place to surround herself with “people who looked like her.” It took years of planning before she and her husband decided to make the West African country their new home. In 2022, they settled into a small resort town in the Eastern Region of Ghana called Atimpoku. Located along the Volta River, about two hours north of the capital city of Accra, she said her family’s new home provides a profound sense of belonging and peace.
“We like the slower pace near the resorts on the water,” Jordan, a Saint Gertrude High School alumna, explained. “My husband chose this place. It’s serene. The people have welcomed us and treated us well.”
Just before their move, after all the years of planning and preparation, the couple found out they were pregnant. They decided to pull the trigger on the move anyway, meaning Jordan would have to seek prenatal care in Ghana.
“The clinics give days and timeframes for prenatal appointments, and I never knew when I’d get seen by the doctor,” Jordan said. “You just have to wait. It could take all day.”
Finances were an essential part of the couple’s planning. In Richmond, the couple started several small businesses while working as mental health providers. Embracing African culture early on, their businesses included Wavonyagele Shule, an African-centered homeschool cooperative, The Association For Revitalizing the Interests and Concerns of Africans (A.F.R.I.C.A), Products by Africa, mobile merchandise vend-
Atimpoku, Ghana.
proposed by a probation and parole officer, which is a routine practice in felony criminal sentencing.
Johnson’s mother, Melissa Johnson, said she felt Youngkin’s decision validated Shifflett’s killing of her son.
“Why now do we find it necessary to vacate or not consider the jury’s verdict, and to think that this honorable and fair judge did not sentence within the guidelines that he was afforded to?” Melissa Johnson said at a Monday news conference. “I don’t know where
5 (left) dances with her best friend Koi, 6, at the Black AF event Feb. 28 at Diversity Richmond.
and music.
By George Copeland Jr.
Poor communication, a lack of preparation and decades of deferred maintenance projects worsened a crisis that began with an outage at Richmond’s water treatment plant and left residents without running water for days last month, according to a new report released Monday.
“The above concerns … all contributed to the escalation of the event,” the report by engineering firm HNTB states. “These factors revealed several concerns and opportunities for improve-
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Marching from Monroe Park to Capitol Square, hundreds of protesters in Richmond on Tuesday, March 4, took to the streets in a demonstration organized by the Virginia chapter of the 50501 movement.
AP Photo/Steve Helber/file
Gov. Glenn Youngkin gestures as he delivers his annual State of the Commonwealth address Jan. 13 before the General Assembly at the State Capitol.
Photo courtesy Indee Jordan
Indee Jordan stands at the Pine & Ginja Smoothie Cafe in
She and her husband opened the cafe as part of their move to the Eastern Region, where they have established themselves in the local community.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
motion
Woodford announces bid for Virginia’s 73rd House District
Free Press staff report
Justin Woodford recently announced his candidacy for Virginia’s 73rd District in the House of Delegates, focusing his campaign on issues affecting working and middle-class residents.
According to his campaign announcement, Woodford decided to run due to concerns over what he described as a “billionaire-led assault” on the federal government. He said he supports pro-democracy reforms, including reducing the influence of money in politics and policies aimed at economic justice.
His campaign said his platform includes support for workers’ rights, universal health care, affordable housing and environmental protections. He also has called for expanding civil rights protections in Virginia’s constitution, creating a
in Richmond, while levels in Henrico County plateaued.
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations.
• Thursday, March 6, 2 to 4:30 p.m. – Calvary United Methodist Church, 1637 Williamsburg Road.
• Friday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Southside Women, Infants and Children Office, 509 E. Southside Plaza.
• Wednesday, March 12, 2 to 4:30 p.m. - St. Luke Apartments, 117 Engleside Drive.
RHHD’s Resource Centers are providing free at-home tests for pickup at select locations:
• Creighton Court at 2150 Creighton Road, call 804-3710433.
• Fairfield Court at 2311 N. 25th St., call 804-786-4099.
• Gilpin Court at 436 Calhoun St., call 804-786-1960.
• Hillside Court at 1615 Glenfield Ave., call 804-230-7740.
• Mosby Court at 1536 Coalter St., call 804-786-0204.
• Southwood Court at 1754 Clarkson Road, Unit B, call 804-230-2077.
• Whitcomb Court at 2106 Deforrest St., call 804-786-0555. For Virginia Department of Health testing locations, visit vdh. virginia.gov. Additional testing site information can be found at vax.rchd.com. Residents also can order four free at-home COVID test kits at covidtest.gov, while supplies last. Want a COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are approved for those 6 months and older, while Novavax is for individuals aged 12 and older.
To schedule an appointment with the Richmond and Henrico health districts, call 804-205-3501. A list of pharmacies and clinics offering the vaccine is available at Vaccines.gov Additional locations can be found by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or calling 1-800-232-0233. Compiled by George Copeland Jr.
VMI board votes against contract renewal for first Black superintendent
Virginia Military Institute Superintendent, Cedric T. Wins, addresses the class of 2021 during a ceremony at the school in Lexington, Friday, May 14, 2021.
us will ensure VMI continues to fulfill its vital mission of educating future leaders.”
The board’s meeting was preceded by multiple statements of support for Wins from state officials and groups, including the Virginia NAACP. The vote sparked immediate criticism.
“This decision by the VMI Board is not based on performance or character — it is purely political,” Virginia House Speaker Don Scott said in a statement. “This is deeply disappointing, and it is time for a serious conversation about VMI’s commitment to progress and the Commonwealth.”
Wins was selected as interim superintendent in 2020, succeeding J.H. Binford Peay III, before being approved for the permanent role. He took the position as VMI faced allegations of racism, including lynching threats against Black cadets, as well as reports of racial and gender disparities.
Wins’ tenure saw him work to expand
VMI’s diversity, inclusivity and equity efforts while also improving school admissions, performance and operations.
The vote was the latest development in a broader political battle over Wins’ position and the future of VMI’s leadership. Weeks earlier, Rep. Ben Cline called for an ethics investigation into VMI graduate and state Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, alleging she was trying to influence the decision to extend Wins’ contract.
Similar allegations over Wins’ contract have emerged around Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s nominees for the VMI Board after state Democrats blocked two of his four nominees in January. Youngkin’s appointees now account for 13 of the board’s 17 members.
It is unclear when and how the board
will select its new superintendent, and some of Wins’ supporters are calling for greater scrutiny of the process following the vote.
“Given the public spectacle this has become, there are concerns that the board may have already pre-selected a candidate to serve as the next superintendent,” said Carroll Foy in a statement where she called for an independent evaluation of the board’s decision.
“Following the board’s questionable handling of Gen. Wins’ contract, it is essential for the General Assembly and the Governor’s administration to investigate the matter.”
At the time of publication, Wins had not issued a statement regarding the board’s decision.
Richmond SCLC elects new officers, board members
Free Press staff report
The Richmond chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference chose new officers and board members during its election Feb. 27.
William F. McGee was elected presi-
dent, while Dr. Derrick L. Peterson Sr. will serve as vice president. Lavern Wrenn was elected secretary, Jacqueline Snow as treasurer, Cassandra Shaw as chaplain and Robert Lester as parliamentarian. Additionally, Donna Waddell, Robert Brown, Luther Anderson, Archie Keys and
Sylvia Wood were chosen as board members. The new leadership is committed to advancing the cause for equal rights, opportunity, diversity, inclusion and equity, continuing the struggle against injustice and inequality in the United States and worldwide, according to a press release.
Protesters in Jefferson Park denounce treatment of immigrants
By George Copeland Jr.
About 50 Richmond area residents gathered Sunday afternoon at Jefferson Park to support immigrant communities facing state and federal investigations, detention and deportation.
Under clear, sunny skies, activists and members of groups such as Indivisible RVA, the 50501 Movement, Legal Aid Justice Center and Sunrise joined community members at the park’s pavilion, speaking out against the treatment of marginalized people and its broader societal impact.
“Do we stay silent? Do we continue to let this happen?” activist Elijah Lee asked the crowd. “Or do we stand up, decide that enough is enough, and say ‘no longer will we let one person in our country decide what we can and cannot do’ with our community?”
The rally followed Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order directing state police and corrections officials to assist U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement in removal and enforcement operations and requesting localities to do the same.
“As Governor, protecting our citizens is my foremost responsibility and today we are taking action that will make Virginia safer by removing dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement announcing the order.
For rally speakers, the decision and similar federal orders carry dire consequences not only for immigrants but also for all people who lack the social, economic or political power to be shielded from their impact.
“If you’re not part of that ingroup, that elite group, they’re gonna come for you next,” said David Robbins, rally moderator and member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s Virginia section that organized the event. “We have to stand together.”
Stories of the impact these orders have had on schools, teachers and students were shared, along with
chants, personal accounts from immigrant descendants, and speeches linking the treatment of immigrants to broader issues such as climate crisis and global exploitation.
Although the speakers came from diverse backgrounds, with attendees from Church Hill to Chesterfield County, all emphasized that the threat faced by immigrants would ultimately harm many others in the long run.
“This is an issue that if we do not address it right now, right here from all sides, it will have profound impacts on our community in ways that we have never seen before,” Lee said.
In response to these threats to immigrants and others, speakers and attendees proposed ways to protect the vulnerable and prevent further harm, such as electing politicians who align with their priorities, increasing community outreach and other actions.
“Organize, get involved, do something,” Robbins said. “That’s why we’re out here today.”
Justin Woodford
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Elijah Lee, 17, addresses a crowd of about 50 people March 2 at Jefferson Park during an emergency defense rally organized by Virginia’s Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Construction workers at the VPM headquarters pause their work to observe the “March 4th Democracy” protest March 4. The five-story, 54,000-square-foot facility at 15 E. Broad St., will
feature news and radio broadcast studios, podcast and music recording studios, offices and a 1,500-square-foot retail space.The project is scheduled for completion in 2026.
Steve Helber/The Associated Press File
Celebrating Black History
Students from Richmond Public Schools gather for a selfie with Superintendent Jason Kamras after the MLK Oratorical Contest held at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Shyla Scott, right, a senior at Richmond High School for the Arts, wins first place with her poem “Too Black,” analyzing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press History continues this month with Elegba Folklore Society’s concert “May the Ancestors Be Pleased,” at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The performance interprets Kristine Mays’ “Rich Soil” exhibition, currently on view. The performance, free to attend, begins 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, and features African dance, music and oral traditions, amplifying the themes of reckoning and ancestral recognition in Mays’ work.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
An image of Kirkland Cogbill working at his press circa 1965, is displayed in the window of Glave Kocen Gallery. This was one of 20 large-scale historic photographs featured in windows throughout Shockoe Bottom as part of the public art project “Portals,” which celebrates the lives of Black Richmonders from the early 1800s to the 1980s.
Highlights from Richmond’s Black History Month events, capturing moments of reflection, pride and community celebration.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Ebony Blake of E Boutique shows customers one of her sweatshirts at the Black AF event on Friday, Feb. 28, at Diversity Richmond.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
A mural celebrating Arthur Ashe and commemorating 50 years since his historic Wimbledon victory is added to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Displayed at the Henrico Sports & Events Center, this artwork by local artist Hezekiah Baylor portrays Ashe’s journey to becoming a global tennis icon.
Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Protest challenges Trump policies
Continued from A1
Jess Anderson, a Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 71st District, addressed attendees in Capitol Square, pointing out that Virginia is the only Southern state yet to enact any form of abortion ban since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2017.
“We have so many different neighbors that are traveling here and are even becoming criminalized, to seek out reproductive access that is their right and their bodily autonomy to have,” Anderson said.
The Right to Contraception Act, which would have guaranteed Virginians’ rights to access birth control, was passed by the General Assembly last year but vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Virginians will vote on a constitutional amendment to guarantee reproductive freedom in November.
Rae Pickett, a representative of Planned Parenthood Advocates for Virginia, warned the crowd that the Republican Party intends to use the Comstock Act to eliminate access to abortion medications and codify the Hyde Amendment, potentially restricting abortion access for low-income individuals.
“But we are tougher. We are stronger than any attack and
Poor communication, delayed maintenance blamed for water crisis
Continued from A1
ment regarding the WTP to mitigate the risk of a similar event occurring again.”
The report follows a preliminary version released weeks earlier and precedes the final version. It expands or revises previously presented information, including a correction to the outage timeline. The updated report notes a Virginia Department of Health representative entered the plant to inspect it and assist staff at 6:50 p.m. on Jan. 6, rather than at 12:30 p.m. as originally stated.
New Department of Public Utilities Director Scott Morris attributed these changes to the “cursory” nature of how the first timeline was made, during a virtual press conference Monday afternoon with Mayor Danny Avula and HNTB Vice President Robert Page.
Communication breakdowns also affected VDH, which first learned about the outage hours after it occurred. A representative arrived at the plant at 5:30 p.m. that day but left after being unable to enter or contact staff.
The draft report also stated Richmond “did not adequately convey the severity of the situation” to Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties when the outage occurred, and quicker communication would have allowed them to better prepare. Avula continued to defend Richmond’s regional communication despite the report’s findings, which align with the conclusions of independent reports commissioned by Henrico and Hanover officials on the outage.
“What I’m looking at shows that there was a good-faith attempt to say, ‘Hey, we’re down, we’re working on it,’” Avula said. “I don’t know how else to comment outside of that.”
The report also highlighted a lack of preparation. Plant leadership took “little proactive action” ahead of the winter storm that caused the outage, even after state and local emergency declarations. Additionally, HNTB found projects in the plant’s Water Master Plan “that were slated for implementation from 2001 to 2007,” but have only recently been carried out or are now in progress. As a result, HNTB said there could be “substantial amounts of deferred replacement” for plant equipment, particularly since DPU didn’t have an “asset management plan” in place.
Minutes after the press conference, City Council’s Organizational Development Standing Committee raised further questions about preventing future outages and addressing community concerns while discussing the report with Page and Morris.
“What do we need right now? Because right now, we’re getting ready to go into the budget,” Reva Trammell, 8th District, said. “So we need to know, because this is the most important thing right now that should be on all of our minds.”
The final report will be released Thursday, April 3, followed by a presentation to the committee Monday, April 7.
we will keep fighting for the future we deserve,” Pickett said. “And while we fight at the federal level, we must also focus on the state and local levels where we have the power to make change, where we can enshrine reproductive freedom in Virginia’s Constitution.”
Cynthia Beck, who studied mathematics at Texas Tech in the early 1970s, shared her experience as one of the few women in her classes. She recalled how women in certain careers were often discouraged, a reflection of the gender norms of the time.
The 50501 movement also opposes the SAVE Act, a bill that would require people to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, in order to vote. Beck pointed out the bill’s vague language could pose difficulties for married women whose last names differ from those on their identification documents.
“If you’re married and you don’t have all your documentation, your marriage certificate or your divorce papers, and your birth certificate to prove that you’ve taken your married name, then you’re still that person and you’re a citizen and you have the right to vote,” Beck said.
Despite the progress women have made since her time at Texas Tech, Beck expressed concern that the Trump administration is
attempting to undo those advancements. “They’re going after everything. Wanting us to just be brood mares, just keep our mouths shut and go back to the old ways, where women were absolutely miserable,” she said.
Governor grants clemency to police officer convicted in fatal shooting
Continued from A1
everyone’s coming from — if it’s because my son was Black, or because it was attempted shoplifting, or because he’s not here to defend himself.”
Steve Descano, the Democratic commonwealth’s attorney for Fairfax County whose office prosecuted the case, said at the news conference that Youngkin “stuck his face in where it didn’t belong.”
“If you care about having a fair justice system of Virginia that’s untainted by outside influence, Glenn Youngkin just spit in your face,” he said.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Shifflett, then a sergeant with Fairfax County Police, acted recklessly when he shot and killed Johnson after a short foot chase outside Tysons Corner Center. Shifflett and his team at the police department received a report from security guards that Johnson had stolen sunglasses from a Nordstrom department store.
After identifying Johnson, Shifflett and another officer chased him into a densely wooded area near the mall, where Shifflett fired twice at the man.
Shifflett testified that he shot Johnson, who was 37 years old, in self-defense after
he saw Johnson reach into his waistband after falling.
The dimly lit bodycam video played during his trial shows Shifflett yelling “Get on the ground,” and then firing two shots at Johnson two seconds later. After the shots were fired, Shifflett immediately shouted, “Stop reaching,” and told other officers that he saw Johnson putting his hand in his waistband. During the trial, Shifflett testified that his “motor functions were operating more quickly than I could verbalize.”
Body-camera video from officers that night showed people gathered around Johnson while he cried, “Hurry.”
Soon after, Johnson can be heard saying, “I’m not reaching for nothing. I don’t have nothing.”
The legal battle leading to Shifflett’s clemency came with twists and turns. Following the shooting, the police department fired Shifflett. Initially, a grand jury declined to indict him, but Descano’s office received court approval for a special grand jury to reinvestigate. The second panel indicted Shifflett last October.
After his conviction, Shifflett’s attorneys filed a motion for Bellows to set aside the verdict. In a January court memo, Bellows
denied Shifflett’s request, writing there was “sufficient evidence in the record for the jury to find the defendant guilty of this offense.”
Melissa Robey, executive director of We Black Blue, a police advocacy organization, said Monday that Shifflett’s mother called her three weeks ago about her son’s looming sentencing hearing, asking for help. Robey, who said she previously worked in Youngkin’s administration, said she contacted Shifflett’s attorneys, who ultimately pioneered lobbying the governor for clemency.
“Somebody’s got to say ‘Enough is enough,’ Robey said, adding: “These guys put that uniform on every single day — they’re there for your worst day. When is it time to stand up for them?”
Robey stood with the crowd of reporters gathering around Descano and Melissa Johnson as they described their reaction to Youngkin’s actions. While Descano argued that the governor was siding with a “white officer that was convicted of a crime ended in a Black man being killed,” Robey shouted: “That’s not true.” Johnson called back: “It is true. You’re entitled to your own opinion, but keep it to yourself.”
Henrico County native embraces new life in Ghana’s Eastern Region
Continued from A1
ing and Sankofa Holistic Services, offering holistic wellness and care.
Jordan also was a state and Medicaidcertified full-spectrum doula, so she networked with Ghanaian doulas before moving there to facilitate setting up a practice when they arrived.
With business setup costs significantly lower in Ghana, the couple opened a small cafe called the Pine & Ginja Smoothie Cafe, which her husband spent months preparing before the family’s move. The strong community connections they established while visiting made opening a cafe easier and community members helped them with renovations at no cost. They also opened a small primary school where her husband teaches, also with the help of the community.
“Ghana can be very expensive if you’re unprepared,” she said. “The cost of living is comparable to the U.S., but the money goes further in outer areas. Our cost of living outside of the city is significantly lower than what it was in the States.”
Jordan and her husband saved for several years before their move, even moving in with her mother to cut expenses. They sold their cars, most of their furniture and eliminated unnecessary spending. They’re renting a home while building a house on land they purchased.
“Looking back, I realize we should have started saving much earlier,” Jordan said. “It’s challenging with a large family like ours.”
Despite the connection with ancestral roots that African Americans seek in Ghana, the cultural divide is quite large. Jordan advises anyone contemplating a move to Ghana to visit several times because she’s met expats who make the move without even visiting the country. Extensive research and preparation, Jordan believes, have successfully integrated her family into Ghanaian life and culture. Still, she concedes that basic things she took for granted in the U.S. require more patience in Ghana.
“There were a lot of inconveniences to get used to. All systems are different here, so everything takes more time,” she said. “Paperwork is filed by hand, written in notebooks. It’s antiquated. The schools use canes to discipline students. Mechanics who aren’t trained will insist they can fix your car. You have to be discerning.”
Without big-box stores like Walmart or Target, Jordan warns that shopping is different in Ghana than in the U.S.—something many expats have trouble getting used to. However, she likes the community building that the open-air markets offer when she shops on Mondays and Thursdays.
“You may have to go to different stores,” she said.
“There’s a meat store,
and then there’s the lady who sells eggs, for example. You see the same people. It’s a community, and I like that the money goes directly to them and their household.”
Jordan now has dual citizenship. Her path to Ghanaian citizenship was a six-month process, including a recommendation from a Ghanaian-Caribbean organization to bolster her application. There were background checks, biometrics, trips to Accra for interviews, and a lot of waiting. Her efforts culminated in a historic swearing-in ceremony in November 2024, which was part of the “Beyond the Return” campaign to celebrate the bond between Ghana and its global diaspora.
“It wasn’t such a bad process. I just wasn’t sure about everything the process entailed,” Jordan explained. “The work of earlier cohorts helped make the process a bit smoother because they’ve worked with legislators to improve it.”
Despite the cultural differences and bureaucratic challenges in gaining citizenship, Jordan believes moving to Ghana was the right decision for her family.
“Nothing anyone said would have deterred me from moving to Ghana,” she said. “But if you’re moving with your family, come as a couple first, then bring your children. Interact with other diasporans who live here. Don’t stay at a hotel. Stay with a family. I’ve let people stay with my family for months.”
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Pixie Curry joins protesters Tuesday in a march from Monroe Park to Capitol Square in Richmond.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press City workers unload cases of emergency drinking water Jan. 7 at Pine Camp Community Center. The site was one of 10 water distribution locations set up after a boil water advisory was issued following a storm-related outage that caused a failure at the water treatment facility.
Hundreds march from Monroe Park to Capitol Square in Richmond on the morning of March 4 in a protest organized by the Virginia chapter of the 50501 movement opposing actions by the Trump administration.
RPS proposes $30.8M spending increase in budget
By Keyris Manzanares Virginia Public Media
The Richmond School Board unanimously approved a revised fiscal year 2026 budget increase of $30.8 million over the previous year at Tuesday’s meeting, following weeks of deliberation and public input.
The administration crafted the approximately $546.8 million operating budget around the district’s five Dreams4RPS priorities: academics, talent, wellness, engagement and operations. Talent will receive the highest budget investment at just over $17 million due to collective bargaining agreements.
“Two days ago, I was prepared to vote no this evening, but I believe in the work that we’re going to do,” board member Shonda Harris-Muhammed, 6th Distrtict, said after the vote. “I’m going to trust the process.”
She continued: “We have many needs in the area of literacy, which impacts every facet of instruction for our students. If we get additional funding or not, we’re going to have to be courageous about the cuts that we’re going to have to make.”
The district originally was set to ask for a $43.7 million increase in spending.
Superintendent Jason Kamras noted from the start of the budget process that hard
choices were coming for the district as funding from the state and city are expected to decrease.
During a School Board work session last week, representatives asked Kamras to reduce the request for additional funding to $30 million.
The newly approved budget retains its focus on multilingual learners with a $5.5 million investment planned to improve student-teacher ratios. The district also plans to expand its student mentorship program — which helped increase graduation rates last year for English learners.
“I just want to say thank you to the board for a truly collaborative effort and look forward to continuing our advocacy for every last dollar for our students — which I think we can all agree … they certainly deserve,” Kamras said.
About $4.8 million will go toward maintaining relationships with existing in-school mental health partners — a response to growing concerns over student well-being — as well as increasing the salary of RPS care and safety staff to compete with neighboring districts.
In addition to academics, the district will meet its obligation of a 3% increase in pay for RPS teachers, bringing the average salary to more than $73,000 — just over a
40% increase during the past eight years.
A contested $4 million proposed reduction in the budget, which would have left district employees to cover 50% of their health care premium costs, was eliminated.
Melody Winters, who serves on the board of the Richmond Education Association, thanked the panel for removing that language from the budget.
“[This] honors the real life struggle that many RPS workers deal with to pay their bills and make ends meet. We cannot afford any new expenses,” Winters said.
The board also approved its Capital Improvement Plan budget for FY26, which covers major facility investments. These projects are included in the City’s capital budget.
The proposed CIP budget increased from $13.6 million during January negotiations to the approved $14.8 million — due to a change in HVAC needs. In the newly adopted budget, Martin Luther King Jr. Preschool is listed as needing an HVAC replacement system that’s estimated to cost $1.2 million.
The RPS budget will now head to Mayor Danny Avula’s desk for consideration. The mayor will then incorporate the schools’ request — in part or in full — in his budget submission to City Council.
Shaban Athuman/VPM News
Sixth District School Board member Shonda Harris-Muhammed and 7th District School Board
member Cheryl Burke chat after voting on the budget during a Richmond School Board meeting Tuesday, March 4, at City Hall.
Richmond Free Press
Clemency for a cop
We believe the dying words of Timothy McCree Johnson. We don’t think he was reaching for anything when he was shot by a “fearful” Fairfax County police officer as he ran away from him on a March evening in 2023. We do think the governor of Virginia is reaching when he states that freeing the former officer who killed Johnson is “in the interest of justice.”
Earlier, this week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, commuted the sentence of Wesley Shifflett. He was sentenced for recklessly discharging a firearm by a Fairfax County Court, after a long trial process that saw him acquitted of voluntary manslaughter. Fired from his job before the conviction, Shifflet was serving a five-year sentence, with two years suspended and an additional five years of probation, until the governor got involved, reversing a decision he called “unjust.”
What kind of “justice” are we talking about here? The kind that lets a police officer, whose reckless actions caused the death of a man, walk away without facing the consequences? It’s hard to see this as anything but another slap in the face to those seeking accountability in law enforcement.
The governor continues, “I am convinced that the court’s sentence of incarceration is unjust and violates the cornerstone of our justice system—that similarly situated individuals receive proportionate sentences.” So what’s the governor really saying? Is he suggesting when a police officer takes a life, the rules shouldn’t apply the same way they do for everyone else? Or that since other police officers have dodged consequences for killing black men, this one should as well?
If that’s the case, then the message is clear: some lives matter more than others, and some people are allowed to escape the consequences of their actions because of the uniform they wear. That’s not justice. Whoever thinks so, is doing some serious reaching.
A chorus of goodbyes
The hits just keep coming, for people who love music and the people who make it. This year, we’ve already said goodbye to a remarkable group of artists across genres who each left a lasting impact on music and culture.
R&B
Sam Moore, known for his powerful tenor voice and as part of the duo Sam & Dave with hits like “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin.’”
Angie Stone, famous for hits such as “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and “Brother,” Stone was also the mother of a son, Micheal, whom she shared with Virginia native and R&B singer D’Angelo.
Roberta Flack, renowned for her soulful voice and timeless hits and remembered eloquently elsewhere on this page.
Gwen McCrae, known for her soulful voice and hits such as “Rockin’ Chair” and “90% of Me Is You.”
Jerry Butler, some called him “The Iceman,” and he was a founding member of The Impressions and a successful solo artist.
Brenton Wood, known for his classic songs “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign.” Wood’s last tour was called “Catch You on the Rebound” and paused in May due to health issues.
Chris Jasper, member of The Isley Brothers, and later Isley-Jasper-Isley, known for his keyboard skills and songwriting.
Hip-Hop
Irv Gotti, founder of Murder Inc. Records, who helped shape the careers of Ja Rule and Ashanti.
DJ Unc, Atlanta-based DJ and contributor to Southern hip-hop, known for promoting the “Unc” sound.
Rock
Joey Molland, last surviving member of the classic lineup of rock band Badfinger.
David Johansen, frontman of the New York Dolls and a pivotal figure in early punk rock, who later assumed the persona of a lounge singer called “Buster Poindexter.”
Beej Chaney, singer and guitarist for The Suburbs, a Minneapolis punk/New Wave group.
Jazz
Roy Ayers, a legendary figure in jazz, soul and funk, known for his mastery of the vibraphone and the hit “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.”
The transitioning of these artists is a reminder of how music can transcend time, leaving us with memories that continue to resonate. We celebrate their legacies, knowing their influence will echo for years to come.
Roberta Flack’s music and message
“I’m deeply saddened that many of the songs I recorded 50 years ago about civil rights, equal rights, poverty, hunger, and suffering in our society are still relevant in 2020. I hope that people will hear these songs in a new way as they connect to their lives today, to this pandemic, to the growing economic disparities, to Black Lives Matter, to police brutality, to activism versus apathy, and the need for each of us to see it and address it.”
– Roberta Flack
From the time she was a 4-year-old girl in Black Mountain, N.C., Roberta Flack dreamed of having her own piano. But her parents couldn’t afford one.
When she was 9 and her family was living in Arlington, Va., her father spied a beat-up old upright piano in a junkyard. He brought it home and painted it green.That green piano – later immortalized in Flack’s chil-
dren’s book, The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music –launched the child prodigy into one of the most remarkable and influential careers in American music history.
Flack, who died last week at the age of 88, was perhaps best known for her chart-topping
romantic ballads, “Killing Me Softly” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” But her defiant performances addressing war, racism, sexism, LGBTQ rights and other social issues led Rev. Jesse Jackson — whose Operation Breadbasket she supported — to call her “socially relevant and politically unafraid.”
The first track on her debut album, “First Take,” released at the height of the Vietnam War in 1969, was the protest ballad, “Compared To What.” On that same album – recorded before the Stonewall Riots – she turned the campy musical theater number “Ballad of the Sad Young Men” into a gay rights anthem.
“There is no way to fully emphasize the political risks
Roberta Flack may have faced as an R&B singer in the late ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, performing and discussing songs advocating human rights for gay men and women.” music critic Eric Weisbard wrote.
She was one of the many guest performers on the feminist children’s entertainment project “Free to Be … You and Me,” performing “When We Grow Up” with Michael Jackson on the 1974 ABC television special. Her commitment to creating opportunities for children — especially Black girls — was rooted in her own challenges. When she had the opportunity to produce her own records — one of the first Black women ever to do so — she used the pseudonym “Rubina Flake” — a glamorous “concert artiste” alter ego she’d dreamed up during her childhood.
“Rubina helped Roberta endure the indignities faced by gifted black children in the South, as when she’d sing “Carry Me Back To Old Virginny” for contest judges in hotels where she wasn’t allowed to stay the night,” NPR music critic Ann Flake wrote.
Don’t ‘reverse’ our national progress
Marlean Ames of Akron, Ohio, is not gay or a member of a racial minority.
But, please, she points out, don’t hold that against her, as she alleges her employers have, as she takes her “reverse discrimi nation” case all the way to the Supreme Court.
I wish her well. As an Af rican Ameri can male, I strongly op pose unfair discrimination against any race, gender or sexual preference, although I also know the charge can be very difficult to prove.
Or, at least, it has been. Ames’ case aims to change that and, considering how much the high court and official Washington have shifted to the right in recent years, she could hardly have chosen a more opportune time to try.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in her case, Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, which has drawn a lot of attention since it could redefine how discrimination claims of all types are handled under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The core issue is whether so-called “majority-group plaintiffs,” legal language for white or heterosexual employees who allege discrimination, are so unusual that they must meet a higher standard of evidence than other plaintiffs in such cases.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund argued in a friend-of-the-court brief in the case that different standards were appropriate for majority and minority groups because minorities are historically the
target of discrimination.
Before Ames’ suit went to trial, lower courts ruled against her, finding that she was unable to meet that standard. Ames’ lawyers argue that the standard is unconstitutional. So do the Trump administration and other conservative legal groups.
The Biden administration
Clarence Page
also filed an amicus brief in support of Ames’ position, as JURISTnews reported, “with former Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar agreeing that the background circumstances requirement is not supported by the text of Title VII.”
On the other side were conservative groups like America First Legal, founded by prominent Trump aide Stephen Miller, which has campaigned nationwide against DEI programs as vigorously as his better-known campaign to tighten border restrictions.
“It is highly suspect in this age of hiring based on ‘diversity, equity and inclusion,’ ” he has said, that minority groups face more discrimination on the job than majority groups do.
That faint praise is a backhanded tribute to the success of DEI campaigns, even as many Americans still scratch their heads in confusion over what DEI really is.
Having covered civil rights debates off and on for about a half-century, I am reminded of perhaps the most famous reverse discrimination case: Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, the 1978 landmark Supreme Court case that challenged the use of racial quotas in college admissions.
The court ruled in favor of
Bakke, finding that the university’s affirmative action program violated the Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment.
When the high court ruled against specific racial quotas, many defenders of such policies mourned the beginning of the end for civil rights reforms. Instead, the effort to protect and defend civil rights continues despite periodic pushbacks yet also with many refinements and improvements.
As more people than ever seem to be quoting Martin Luther King Jr.’s immortal plea for “all men” to be “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” I am reminded that he was not being descriptive about the present as much as hopeful for a better future.
Our best way to get there as Americans is to help each other up, as we work together despite our many divisions, and not to waste too much energy trying to put each other down.
In that spirit, I wish Marlene Ames well, and I hope the Supreme Court will be wise in its judgment. There’s nothing simple about our racial, gender and other conflicts, but finding solutions together despite our petty differences has served us well in the past and it still can work again, if we can build faith in each other.
Marlean Ames has taken on a complicated task, trying to work her way through our national tangle of history, group conflicts and tribal rivalries, looking for what most of us want: peace and justice.
I only hope the Supreme Court comes up with a decision that, even if we don’t love it, we can work with it.
Let’s hope.
The writer is a columnist with the Chicago Tribune.
Even against those odds, she earned a full music scholarship to Howard University when she was just 15, graduating at 19. She later founded the Roberta Flack School of Music, to give students in The Bronx, New York, the opportunity to receive free music lessons.
She was a pioneer of the blend of jazz, blues, soul, and pop music that became known as “Quiet Storm,” but she continued to defy categorization until ALS, sometimes called “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” cruelly robbed her of her voice in the last few years. Her artistic, activist, and philanthropic legacy is endless, but best summed-up by her advice in Green Piano: “Find your own ‘green piano’ and practice relentlessly until you find your voice, and a way to put that beautiful music into the world.”
The writer is the president of the National Urban League.
Marc H. Morial
Commentary/Letters to the Editor
Virginia’s public workers deserve a voice — it’s time to act
Last year, my City of Richmond co-workers and I came together to make history and negotiate one of the first-ever union contracts for front line City workers. Now, we need to expand the freedom to collectively bargain to all public service workers around Virginia, so that all workers and all communities can share in the benefits that come when we empower working people.
partially repealing the ban. A new law made historic progress, empowering cities and counties to allow their workers to collectively bargain for the first time.
For nearly 75 years, Virginia public servants were banned from coming together to negotiate contracts. And the reason why shouldn’t surprise us: Jim Crow.
In 1943, 28 Black nurses at the University of Virginia staged a walkout after their hospital refused to negotiate raises. These workers were denied even the job title of “nurse,” instead segregated as “ward maids,” which essentially meant doing the most work for the least pay.
Then, the hospital fired the nurses.
For three years, Black hospital workers and their community organized, campaigning for fair wages and hours and respect for their work. But in 1946, the Virginia General Assembly banned all state entities from recognizing public employee unions. Without recognition for their union, the Black workers’ campaign was cut off at the knees.
And for nearly a century, that ban stood, denying us the voice on the job that other private sector workers have, and denying countless Black Virginians the pathway to the middle class that comes with a union card. That changed five years ago, when working people succeeded in
I have worked for the city of Richmond for nearly 30 years. When I first saw a flyer for SEIU Virginia 512, I knew
Felicia Boney
almost nothing about unions. But I knew that there were a lot of problems my co-workers and I faced on the job, and that we didn’t have much power to solve them. So I went to a meeting, and I talked with City workers in other departments. And I realized we all had a lot of the same struggles. I had conversations with workers who’d been with the City for 10 or 15 years, who still had to fight for the tools and information they needed to do their jobs well and deliver quality service for our community.
For about 25 years, I’ve worked for the same department: The Department of Social Services in the Division of Children, Families and Adults. I serve Richmond kids in foster care and their families, working to ensure their funding is correct. It’s vital work to our community. We are making sure taxpayer money is spent and used correctly, and that resources go to local kids who need them.
But we are constantly running short of employees, meaning everyone is stretched too thin. When there simply aren’t enough workers to do the job, quality is going to suffer, no matter how hard we work. And unsurprisingly, we have problems with retention. High turnover stretches workers even further and is less efficient for county taxpayers. It means more time spent on training and
less time doing the actual work of serving Richmond families.
It’s why my co-workers and I came together, organized, and won our seat at the bargaining table. The result is a historic contract that finally gives workers like us a voice for our community, and for fair pay, benefits, and working conditions.
We negotiated the creation of new committees that allow frontline workers to give expert input on decision-making – not only to bring up problems, but to suggest solutions. If you work for a living, you probably know what it’s like to be ignored by management or to not have your ideas for improvement taken seriously. Empowering workers allows the City’s government to work more efficiently and to better serve Richmond families.
Now, we need to grant all workers around Virginia the same freedom to negotiate a fair contract, which will mean good union jobs and quality public services for all our communities. And it will mean more Virginia workers – including Black and Brown workers who have been left behind and excluded too often in our history – will have a path to the middle class.
It’s time to put Virginia on the right side of history.
The governor must sign new legislation passed this year by the Virginia Assembly to expand collective bargaining rights to more public service workers in Virginia, including state workers, local government workers in all localities, higher education workers at public universities and home care workers.
When workers thrive, our communities thrive.
The writer is a 30-year employee of the City of Richmond. She serves as the Chapter Chair of SEIU Virginia 512.
On January 23, 2025, pursuant to § 56-585.1 A 5 e of the Code of Virginia, the directive contained in Ordering Paragraph (7) of the Final Order issued by the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) on September 19, 2024 in Case No. PUR-2024-00013, and the Commission’s Rules Governing Utility Rate Applications and Annual Informational Filings of Investor-Owned Electric Utilities, 20 VAC 5-204-5 et seq., Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed with the Commission a petition (“Petition”) for an annual update with respect to its rate adjustment clause, designated Rider E, for the recovery of costs incurred to comply with state and federal environmental regulations at the Company’s Bremo, Chesterfield, Clover, and Mt. Storm Power Stations. Dominion states that it is filing this annual update to inform the Commission of the status of the environmental project located at the Mt. Storm Power Station, including projected expenditures, and to present costs associated with other environmental projects previously approved by the Commission. The Company also provides the proposed cost allocation, rate design, and accounting treatment for service rendered during the proposed rate year, which commences on November 1, 2025, and extends through October 31, 2026 (“Rate Year”), as related to the proposed Rider E.
Dominion proposes a total revenue requirement of $37,243,743 for the Rate Year. If the revised Rider E for the Rate Year is approved, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage. According to the Company, implementation of its revised Rider E on November 1, 2025, would decrease the monthly bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month by approximately $0.72, compared to the current Rider E.
Further details of the Company’s proposal are set forth in the Company’s Petition. Interested persons are encouraged to review the Company’s Petition, testimony and supporting documents.
TAKE NOTICE that the Commission may adopt rates, charges and/or terms and conditions that differ from those appearing in the Company’s Petition and supporting documents and may apportion revenues among customer classes and/ or design rates in a manner differing from that shown in the Petition and supporting documents.
The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing on Dominion’s Petition and assigned a Hearing Examiner to conduct all further proceedings in this matter on behalf of the Commission. A hearing for the receipt of testimony from public witnesses on the Company’s Petition shall be convened telephonically by the Hearing Examiner at 10 a.m. on June 25, 2025. On or before June 18, 2025, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission: (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or (iii) by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting
Beginning at 10 a.m. on June 25, 2025, the Hearing Examiner will telephone sequentially each person who has signed up to testify as provided above.
On June 25, 2025, at 10 a.m., or at the conclusion of the public witness portion of the hearing, whichever is later, in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Hearing Examiner will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Petition from the Company, any respondents, and the Staff of the Commission (“Staff”).
To promote administrative efficiency and timely service of filings upon
Time to recognize Pauli Murray’s legacy in Richmond
Thank you for your recent Personality feature on Russell W. Scott, current president of the Howard University Alumni Club of Richmond. It’s vital to highlight the achievements, both local and universal, of HBCU alumni, not only during Black History Month, but throughout the year.
It should be noted, however, that in his tally of notable Howard alumni, Scott neglected one whose legacy is particularly noteworthy to both Richmond and Petersburg, while having national significance. Dr. Pauli Murray, who was featured on a U.S. quarter as part of the American Women Quarters Program in February of last year, was a Howard University alumna.
In March 1940, Murray staged a protest against segregated seating on a Greyhound bus in Petersburg. The action echoed Maggie L. Walker’s boycott of Richmond streetcars four decades earlier and preceded the efforts of Rosa Parks.
Additionally, Murray’s master’s thesis at Howard University was the basis for the argument in Brown vs. Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision which forbade segregation in public education. It’s high time Murray’s work be honored locally. The Howard University Alumni Club of Richmond has a vested interest in ensuring this oversight be corrected.
The most obvious course of action would be the renaming of 3rd Street, between the honorary Maggie L. Walker Way and Oliver Hill Drive in honor/memory of Murray. Visual upgrades affirming this designation also should be undertaken.
During this dangerous time, when the history of all marginalized groups is under attack, it’s crucial that every effort be expended to assure the full truth be researched, affirmed and preserved.
KENNETH C. DECKER Richmond
Former judge Willard H. Douglas
participants, the Commission has directed the electronic filing of testimony and pleadings, unless they contain confidential information, and required electronic service on parties to this proceeding.
An electronic copy of the public version of the Company’s Petition may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Elaine S. Ryan, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or eryan@mcguirewoods.com. Interested persons may also download unofficial copies of the Petition and the public version of other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/ case-information/
On or before June 18, 2025, any interested person may submit comments on the Petition by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00017.
On or before April 11, 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, if available. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company, any other respondents and Staff electronically as described above. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq. (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-202500017. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.
On or before May 14, 2025, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served electronically on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with their filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Rules of Practice, as modified herein, including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 5-20140, Filing and service and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00017.
Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice.
The public version of the Company’s Petition, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, and the public versions of other documents filed in the case may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/case-information/
Carolina Digital Library and Archives
Dr. Pauli Murray
Olympic champions, amateurs flock to Kenya for world-class training
By Moses Ndungu and Mutwiri Mutuota The Associated Press
As dawn breaks over the sleepy town of Iten, its dusty tracks come alive with packs of runners keeping rhythm, often followed by cheerful children headed to school.
Some of the athletes are elite Kenyans. Others travel from farther afield.
All are here because this unassuming little town lies at about 8,000 feet above sea-level and has produced some of the best long-distance runners in the world.
To cater to the ever-growing interest from both professional and amateur athletes, hotels, lodges and short-stay rental apartments continue to spring up around the town, located 217 miles northwest of Nairobi.
“I came to Kenya to feel this elite running community here,” said Ryan Mex of Malta.
Mex, a semi-professional runner and coach, brought three athletes with him to get a competitive edge ahead of Malta’s marathon season.
It’s his first time here.
“Next time I want to come with a larger group since we really like the training environment here,” Mex said. “This is the best place in the world to come for a training camp.”
Town produces champions
Iten is home to some 42,000 people, mostly subsistence farmers, and it has also been a temporary home to plenty of world champions, including two-time Olympic gold medalists Eliud Kipchoge (marathon) and David Rudisha (800 meters), both of Kenya. British four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah would train in Iten for months at a time.
The town was declared a World Athletics Heritage Landmark in 2019 and proudly calls itself the “Home of Champions.”
Lornah Kiplagat, a Kenyan-born three-time Olympian for the Netherlands, attended high school in Iten and now runs a training center here for runners who want to up their game.
“If you train at 2,400 meters, your lungs expand, your red blood cells increase, and so when you go to low altitude you feel like you are flying,” explained Kiplagat, the 2008 world half-marathon champion.
Amanal Petros, a top marathoner from Germany, spends six months at Kiplagat’s center every year. Born in the Eritrean highlands, he was accustomed to running at high altitude but
Iten’s elevation isn’t the only reason why he keeps coming back.
“I’ve trained in many places in the USA and Europe,” he said. “Organizing a training partner in Europe is not easy. But in Iten, the home of champions, wherever you go you find a lot of athletes who can train with you.”
Jean Paul Fourier opened the Kerio View Hotel in 2002 starting with a few rooms. It now has capacity for 50 guests and includes a fitness center.
“I made a small investment and it has really grown,” he said.
The main season runs from April to September.
“We see many foreigners flocking to not only my hotel but also neighboring hotels. There are many hotels springing up around the area, but we still get our share of visitors,” he said. Before the boom
One man here still remembers what Iten was like before all this happened: Brother Colm O’Connell, former headmaster at St. Patrick’s High School, whose alumni include Rudisha, Vivian Cheruiyot, Matthew Birir and Brimin Kipruto.
O’Connell first came to Iten to teach in 1976.
“It was just a scattering of houses and a school called St. Patrick’s,” he said. “That was really the starting point of what Iten eventually became, what we see today.”
The town’s transformation started “when the sport became professional,” he said.
“Before that, athletes were confined to their place of work. But when professionalism came in, athletes could now sit down with their managers and with shoe companies and decide no, I can become a full-time career athlete.”
The rest, as they say, is history. O’Connell went on to transform the athletics program at St. Patrick’s, and 25 of his students became world champions, some of whom came back here to run their own athletics programs.
The town around the school boomed, as runners from all over the world discovered its training potential. O’Connell estimates that in peak season there are around 500 visiting runners in the town at any one time.
“We see fun runners, we have runners with personal goals, we have people running a marathon to fundraise,” he said. “In other words, running is a sport for everybody and it has something to offer everybody.”
Virginia State captures CIAA title, awaits NCAA selection
Free Press staff report
Virginia State claimed its first CIAA men’s basketball championship since 2019 with a 71-64 victory over Bluefield State in the 2025 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore.
The Trojans fell behind early as CIAA Player of the Year Jordan Hinds led Bluefield State to a seven-point advantage. Virginia State responded with a 14-4 run, tying the game before Jacob Cooper sank two free throws to give the Trojans a 3-point lead. Hinds answered with a jumper just before halftime, cutting the deficit to 36-35.
Cooper, who finished with a game-high 16 points, opened the second half with a jumper and an and-one free throw to extend the lead to four. Bluefield State’s balanced offense kept the game close, with Terrell Williams contributing 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. His presence in the paint kept Virginia State on edge as Larry Howell’s baskets helped the Big Blue regain the lead, growing their advantage to five.
Virginia State tightened its defense and capitalized on the fast break, scoring three consecutive layups, including two from Jaedan Jefferson, to pull ahead by one. The Trojans never trailed again, fending off Bluefield State’s late push and sealing the win at the free-throw line.
Also at the annual tournament, Virginia State’s Jacob Cooper and Jared White were named to the 2025 CIAA Men’s All-Tournament Team, while Virginia Union’s KeySean Smith also earned a spot on the list. The Trojans also were recognized with the 2025 CIAA Men’s Team Sportsmanship Award. Virginia State now turns its focus to the NCAA tournament, awaiting its seeding in the selection show 11 p.m., March 9.
Eryn Byrd, Lauryn Taylor help VCU
secure second at A-10
Free Press staff report
VCU placed second at the 2025 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships, earning eight medals across all events on the second day of competition. The Rams were led by Lauryn Taylor, who won three gold medals, and Eryn Byrd, who earned her fourth career gold in the shot put. Taylor made a memorable exit from her indoor career, capturing gold in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.41 seconds. The victory marked her third overall medal and second gold in the event. She added another gold in the 200-meter dash, setting a meet record with a time of 23.96 seconds. In the 400-meter dash, Jaliyah Person secured a silver medal, clocking a personal best of 55.41 seconds. Her time also ranks third in VCU history. Asia Powell earned bronze in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.50 seconds, just shy of her personal best set at last year’s championships.
In the throws, Byrd dominated the shot put with a throw of 14.75 meters, earning her fourth career gold in the event. Teammate Like Matalatala finished fourth with a mark of 13.79 meters, while Desi Akaolisa added three points for VCU with a sixth-place finish (13.46 meters).
In the jumps, senior Sydney Carr shattered her personal best in the triple jump, earning silver with a distance of 12.27 meters. In the high jump, Nayome Shipp claimed silver, clearing 1.70 meters. Damilola Ogbeta placed fifth in the triple jump with a personal best of 11.85 meters.
Sophomore Myzhane Solomon earned bronze in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing in 8.79 seconds, just 0.01 seconds off her personal record set earlier this year.
“We’ve built a championship culture, and while we fell just short of our fourth straight title, we’re proud of the way we competed,” said Assistant Coach Ethan Tussing. “Lauryn Taylor’s two-event win in her comeback season was a huge moment for us, and Eryn Byrd’s four-year dominance in the shot put is a testament to her hard work and consistency. This isn’t the outcome we wanted, but it’s fuel for what’s next. We’ll take this experience, learn from it, and come back even stronger for the outdoor season.”
Virginia State’s Jacob Cooper makes a layup during the 2025 CIAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship game, helping lead the Trojans to a 71-64 victory over Bluefield State.
Free Press staff report
A night at a Richmond Flying Squirrels game is about more than baseball.
Whether it’s fireworks lighting up the sky, fans walking away with unique giveaways or special theme nights transforming The Diamond, the Squirrels have built their reputation on making every game an event.
On Friday, the team released its promotional schedule for the 2025 season, featuring 20 fireworks shows, bobblehead giveaways, theme nights and a celebration of The Diamond’s 40th anniversary. The schedule includes a mix of fireworks shows, giveaways, happy hours and familyoriented events.
The team will celebrate The Diamond’s 40th anniversary with five “The Diamond Through the Decades” nights. The series will include a Diamond replica figurine
giveaway April 17, a Brandon Crawford bobblehead May 1, a commemorative “Diamond” ring June 12, a Chipper Jones Richmond Braves bobblehead July 24 and a classic R-Braves T-shirt Aug. 28. Each event also will feature a specialty jersey auction, with proceeds benefiting Flying Squirrels Charities. Fireworks return with 25 shows throughout the season, including displays after every Saturday home game, opening night on April 4 and a two-night Independence Day celebration July 3 and 4.
Fans can also look forward to themed giveaways such as a River City visor on April 29, a mesh trucker cap on May 30, a Nutzy planter on June 10 and a scarf for Harry Potter Night on Aug. 29. Other promotions include a lederhosen T-shirt, a Pride fan and a neon aloha shirt for Parrothead Night.
Las Ardillas Voladoras, the team’s alter-
nate identity celebrating Hispanic culture, returns with themed giveaways and special events on select Fridays. The rebrand launch is set for April 18, and fans can pick up a luchador wrestling mask Aug. 15. The team also will host community-focused nights, including HBCU Night on April 5, Women and Girls in Sports Night on May 31, Negro Leagues Heritage Night on June 28 and Richmond 34 Legacy Weekend on July 18 and 19. Players will wear special jerseys for select games, including The Diamond Through the Decades series, Star Wars Night on May 4, Negro Leagues Heritage Night on June 28 and Richmond 34 Legacy Weekend. The team also will hold its annual ASK Night on Sept. 13, benefiting the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. The Flying Squirrels open the 2025 season on Friday, April 4, against the Akron RubberDucks.
Lauryn Taylor Eryn Byrd
Randy Singleton
AP Photo/Peter Njuguna
Athletes undergo a training session Jan. 31 at Kamariny Stadium in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya.
Personality: Bernette Hardy-Keyes
Spotlight on Richmond area president of the
Bernette Hardy-Keyes saw an opportunity when a stranger knocked on her door, inviting her to help charter the National Coalition of 100 Black Women -Richmond Metropolitan Area Chapter (NCBW-RMAC). She had been searching for a community service organization to join, and a neighbor, aware of her work with the local homeowners association, recommended her.
“I don’t usually answer the door when I’m not expecting someone,” Hardy-Keyes said. “But I did that day, and I’m glad I did.”
As Black women in Virginia face disproportionate health and social challenges, NCBWRMAC is committed to driving change. Through advocacy, leadership development and promoting gender equity in health, education and economic empowerment, the organization makes a meaningful impact— particularly for those affected by poverty, mental illness and domestic violence. Chapter members embrace their role as voices for the voiceless, working to improve the lives of Black women and girls in the Richmond area.
A retired IT professional, Hardy-Keyes moved to Richmond from Williamsburg in the 1980s to work for Dominion Energy, where she retired four years ago. Raised in Surry, she planned to study art at Howard University but chose Virginia State University instead, paving the way for a career in IT.
“I didn’t think the career prospects were that great in art,” she said. “I chose Virginia State because I liked the campus and it was closer to home. I also had friends who were going there.”
Since retiring, Hardy-Keyes has pursued a career in real estate, earning her license and advocating for homeownership.
Her passion for architecture and design, combined with the flexibility of her new profession, allows her to continue learning while spending quality time with her husband doing what they enjoy.
“We eat out a lot, and we like trying new restaurants,” she said. “He likes golf and football, so I watch that with him now.”
Meet an advocate for social change for women and girls of color who serves her church and community, this week’s Personality, Bernette Hardy-Keyes:
Occupation: Realtor with Keller Williams Richmond West.
Date of birth: Nov. 28.
Where I live now: Henrico County.
Education: Master’s in organizational leadership; bachelor’s in business information systems.
Family: Husband, Robert Keyes.
What is the National Coalition of 100 Black Women: We are a 40-year-old nonprofit with over 3,200 members advocating for social change to empower women and girls of color in our community and neighboring metro areas by influencing those who make policy decisions. Our advocacy work complements efforts to address discrimination in all forms, strengthening capacity for self-help and providing relief in emergencies. Our legislation supporting advocacy agenda includes voter education/rights, civil engagement, increasing the number of women candidates running for political office and issuing position papers on public policy platform issues.
Mission: To advocate on behalf of Black women and girls to
promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education and economic development.
Founding and purpose: NCBW was founded in New York in 1970 by Edna Beach. She wanted to bring like-minded women together to address problems that impacted their families and communities and to promote racial and gender equity. Jewell Jackson McCabe, one of the original founders, became president of the New York chapter in 1977 and built a national coalition. By 1981, the organization had grown to over 500 members, gaining national recognition.
Founder(s): Edna Beach and 24 visionary African-American women.
When Richmond area chapter was chartered: March 28, 2015.
Founders: An organizing group led by Delta Bowers, chartering president. She was introduced to the National Coalition of
Want to go?
Event: “A Decade of Dedication: Celebrating Advocacy and Impact”
When: 6 to 11 p.m. April 26, 2025
Where: Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center, Virginia Union University
Highlights include: Cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, entertainment and a scholarship awards ceremony for Virginia State University and Virginia Union University students.
Tickets: $85. Sponsorships are available. Register on Eventbrite.
100 Black Women by the late Diane Flannigan Montgomery. Bowers admired the strength and the courage of the women who had undertaken the mission to establish such an organization that empowered women of color. She went on to establish an organizing group whose meetings led up to the March 28, 2015, Chartering Ceremony of NCBW RMAC.
Number of NCBW-RMAC members: We currently have 31 active members.
Membership requirements: Membership is initiated through referral of active members of the organization or response during recruitment season. A completed application, available on our website, is the first step to becoming a member.
When elected president: October 2021, and I am currently serving my second term, which ends October 2025.
Why I accepted the position: I am a charter member and believe in the mission of the organization. Serving as president allows me to lead efforts in making an impact in the lives of the women and girls we serve, create a sisterhood and encourage leadership
development amongst members of the chapter.
Our 2025 top project: Our 10th year Phenomenal Women Gala, “A Decade of Dedication: Celebrating Advocacy and Impact,” will be held April 26, at Virginia Union University. Phenomenal women in the community whose work aligns with our initiatives will be honored. We will award college scholarships to VUU and Virginia State students.
Our biggest challenge: To complete all the program initiatives and activities, compile results into a standards report, as outlined by National, and submit it before the end of our fiscal year. We’ve been awarded the “Model Chapter” designation for three years.
How I plan to meet it: Committee chairs and their committees commit to planning and scheduling the required programs at the start of the fiscal year. The community is invited to attend the advocacy and awareness programs. Compilation of the Standards Report is ongoing and it all comes together with review and submission of the report.
Ways I have seen NCBWRMAC make a difference: We made a big impact on a local high school student recently. She participated in one of our
Economic Empowerment workshop series and wants to be an attorney. While there she was introduced to a local attorney and offered to work in their office this summer and next summer. We have gotten persons registered to vote through our voter registration campaigns. We have awarded over $80,000 in college scholarships, to date. We have recognized and honored over 40 phenomenal women in the community for their work that aligns with our program initiatives.
Ways readers can get involved: Donate via our website, ncbw-rma.org, follow us on our social media platforms and attend any of our events, most of which are free to the public (virtual and in-person).
How I start the day: Start with a daily devotional and prayer. I check to see what the weather forecast is for the day.
Three words that describe me: Analytical, honest and kind.
Top three on my music playlist: Whitney Houston, Frankie Beverly and Hezekiah Walker. Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I like word find puzzles, drawing and playing mahjong online.
A quote that inspires me: Honesty is the best policy.
Person who influenced me the most: Aside from my parents and grandparents, an aunt (my mother’s sister) was very influential with a strong personality. I often find myself quoting some positive “nugget”she instilled in me growing up.
What I’m reading now: “Be Ready When Luck Happens” by Ina Garten Next goal: Finish my term as NCBW RMAC president.
Richmond to host Broadway hits, including ‘The Wiz,’ ‘The Outsiders’
Free Press staff report
Broadway in Richmond recently unveiled its 2025-2026 season lineup, which will feature four Richmond premieres, two returning family favorites and the return of an iconic musical.
The season opens in November with “Kimberly Akimbo,” winner of five Tony Awards in 2023, including Best Musical. January 2026 will bring the Virginia premiere of “Back to the Future: The Musical,” followed by “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” in March 2026. Richmond will also see the debut of “The Outsiders,” winner of four 2024 Tony Awards, in March 2026. Other highlights of the season include “The Wiz” in April 2026 and “& Juliet” in May 2026. Additionally,
“Les Misérables” will return in December.
Ashley Gibson, regional marketing director for Nederlander National Markets, expressed excitement about the new season.
“We heard you, Richmond! We’re thrilled to bring you a season of fresh-from-Broadway blockbusters, thoughtful and artistic awardwinners and family favorites,” Gibson said.
“Each year, our subscription base grows—and that’s because more and more people expect and enjoy quality entertainment.”
Season subscriptions start as low as $35 per ticket, with packages available for Tuesday through Sunday performances. Ticket sales for individual shows will be announced closer to each performance. For tickets, visit the official websites, BroadwayInRichmond. com and AltriaTheater.com
Sigma Gamma Rho to host youth symposium focused on girls’ empowerment
Free Press staff report
In response to growing concerns about the safety and well-being of young girls, the Iota Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority will host its annual Youth Symposium on March 8 at Fairfield Middle School.
The event, themed “For the Girls,” will begin at 9:30 a.m. and offer mentorship, leadership development and personal safety awareness for girls ages 8 to 18. Interactive workshops will cover topics such as selfcare, cyber safety, healthy relationships and leadership skills.
The Youth Symposium, which has been held annually since 1996, is a community-driven initiative to support and empower
young girls. The event is open to the public and offers opportunities for sponsorships, partner-
ships and volunteer involvement. For more information, visit iotagamma1935.org
Orchard House Middle School to host screening of ‘Daughters’
Free Pres staff report
Orchard House Middle School will host a public screening of “Daughters” on March 20 in partnership with Girls For a Change. The documentary follows four young girls as they prepare for a Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, examining the impact of separation on their relationships.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m., with doors opening and refreshments available for purchase. The screening starts at 6 p.m., followed by a Q&A with co-director Angela Patton at 8 p.m., moderated by Adrienne Cole Johnson.
Directed by Patton and film-
maker Natalie Rae, “Daughters” explores the challenges families face due to incarceration, highlighting the experiences of young girls working to maintain connections with their fathers. The film has been featured at multiple festivals and received recognition for its portrayal of
and family
The screening is free and open to the
Families are welcome, though the film is rated PG-13, and attendees are encouraged to consider its suitability for younger viewers.
Calendar-Ray honored for a lifetime of community service
Free Press staff report
Cassandra Calendar-Ray was honored Feb. 22 for her dedication to improving the lives of Virginia families at a ceremony held at The Betty J. Queen Intergenerational Center in Louisa. The NAACP Branch #7085 recognized her with the NAACP Phenomenal Woman Plaque and the Harry Leroy Nuckols Memorial Certificate of Recognition for her exceptional community service.
As executive director of The Family Matters Family Resource Center in Louisa, Calendar-Ray has been a strong advocate for families, working to ensure access to resources for safe and healthy
living. She also has received the NAACP Image Award for her significant impact on the community.
In addition to her work in Louisa, Calendar-Ray has supported families in Richmond through her involvement with the Richmond Opportunities Industrialization Center and her leadership of Virginia One Church One Child. The nonprofit recruits foster and adoptive families, with a focus on African American children.
Jeremy Daniel
“The Wiz,” seen here with Kyle Ramar Freeman as Lion, Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, Phillip Johnson Richardson as Tinman and Avery Wilson as Scarecrow, is among the productions scheduled for the next season of Broadway in Richmond.
Cassandra Calendar-Ray
Two-day event to bring women together for inspiration, community
Free Press staff report
Women seeking encouragement, spiritual renewal and community support will come together for “Empowered Women of Faith: Inspiring Change and Breaking Barriers.”
The two-day gathering at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 3200 E. Broad St., will feature motivational speakers, workshops and personal testimonies to foster empowerment and mental wellness.
The event begins Friday, March 7, with registration and vendors from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. where attendees can shop from local woman-owned businesses.
Praise and worship led by Ashley Dowd and a guest preacher follows from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, March 8, the event continues with check-in and vendors from 9 to 9:30 a.m. where attendees can enjoy breakfast, coffee and juice. Praise and worship will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a panel discussion from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. hosted by Ashley Dowd. At 11:30 a.m., counselor Lakeisha Gordon, who has more than
20 years of experience, will deliver the keynote address on mental wellness. Lunch will be served from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. followed by “Praying From My Pain” from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The Prayer War Room will be led by the Rev. Kelli Sweat from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. followed by the event’s closing from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Proceeds from the event will support scholarships for women attending a Women’s Healing House Retreat.
St. Peter Baptist Church
A ONE YEAR SEPARATION PURSUANT TO §20-91.
It appearing from an affidavit that the defendant is: that diligence has been used without effect, by or on the behalf of the plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city defendant is. It is ORDERED that Glenn Winston Thompson II appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before April 17, 2025.
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MICHAEL HAWKINS, Plaintiff v. MALEISIA HAWKINS, Defendant. Case No.: CL22000923-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 18th day of April, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER HEATHER RATLIFF, Plaintiff v. LUTHER RATLIFF, JR., Defendant. Case No.: CL25000085-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 21st day of April, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR.,
Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Esquire Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER ROSA MENDEZ, Plaintiff v. JOSE HERNANDEZ
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE
OF HANOVER AJIA RILEY, Plaintiff v. CAMERON MACLIN, Defendant. Case No.: CL25000514-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
of
bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 15th day of April, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER SCARLET HOLT, Plaintiff v. JOSEPH HOLT, Defendant. Case No.: CL25000575-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 15th day of April, 2025 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests. A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
CUSTODY
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF CHESTERFIELD LINDSAY VICTORIA KIRKLAND, JAMEZ WESLEY KIRKLAND, Petitioners
V DONOVAN LAMONT GINGER, II Case No.: CA24-56 January 31, 2025 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a Final Order of Adoption of Jaxon William Kirkland by Lindsay Victoria Kirkland and Jamez Wesley Kirkland. An affidavit having been filed that diligence has been used by the Petitioners without effect to ascertain the location of Donovan Lamont Ginger II. it is ORDERED that Donovan Lamont Ginger II appear before this Court on the 23rd day of May, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. at the Historic 1917 Courthouse located at 10011 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, Virginia and protect his interest herein. A Copy Teste: Amanda L. Pohl Clerk of Circuit Court Anne L. Roddy, Esuire BARNES & DIEHL Boulders VI,
Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or (800) 552-3200.
WX Restaurant, Inc. Trading as: Nomu Ramen 2925 W Clay Street, Richmond, VA 23221-3515 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Restaurant Wine and Beer On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Gang Xu Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the
providing service in the Cities of Charlottesville, Colonial Heights, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News, Petersburg, Richmond, and Williamsburg, Virginia, and the Counties of Albemarle, Amelia, Buckingham, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Essex, Fluvanna, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Louisa, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, Spotsylvania, Surry, and York, Virginia and; 2. The transportation of Medicaid recipients throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Carrier as defined in Section 46.2-2000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia. Any person who desires to protest the application and be a party to the matter must submit a signed and dated written request setting forth (1) a precise statement of the party’s interest and how the party could be aggrieved if the application was granted; (2) a full and clear statement of
Bioanalytical Chemist (Altria Client Services, LLC)(Richmond, VA) – Verify or initiate validation of anlytc mthdlgs used by anlytcl testing labs in spprt of clncl & toxiclgy studies. Req a Master’s deg or frgn eqvlnt in Chem, Biochem, or clsly rel quant fld & 5 yrs of exp in analytical chemistry & data analytics w/in a tobacco- testing laboratory. Telecommuting Permitted. To apply please send resume to Careers@ altria.com and reference job title.
The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to: RFP No. 250005384: Utility Financial Consulting For all information pertaining to this RFP, please logon to the Richmond website (www.RVA.GOV).
Bid Due Date: April 17, 2025/Time: 11:00 AM Pre-Bid Conference Call Meeting: March 20, 2025 /Time: 11:00 AM Information or copies of the above solicitations are available at the City of Richmond website www.rva.gov or https://procurement.opengov.com/ portal/rva. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process.
The Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, also known as PlanRVA, has developed a regional Strategic Plan as required by Code of Virginia section 15.2-4209. The region covered by this Strategic Plan includes Richmond, Ashland, and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and Powhatan. To promote orderly and addresses subjects of regional importance including transportation, economic development and environmental management. The PlanRVA Commission will consider adoption of the Strategic Plan at its meeting on June 12, 2025, from 9:30-11 a.m. More information about this Strategic Plan and other regional planning initiatives you can give input on will be shared at a Regional Symposium on March 13, 2025. To review and comment on the Strategic Plan or register for the Regional Symposium, visit: https://planrva.org/get-involved/.
Data Engineer, Altria Client Services, LLC (Richmond, VA) – Work cross-functionally w/dvrse prtnrs to udrstnd bsnss needs & collaboratively dvlp high impact data & tech solutions. Req Master’s deg in Comp Sci, Analytics, Data Sci, or rel fld & 2 yrs of exp working in a Software Developer or Data Engineering role. Telecommuting Permitted. To apply please send resume to Careers@altria.com and reference job title.
Associate, Quality Systems, Grade 11, Altria Client Services, LLC (Richmond, VA) – Enhance & maintain Altria’s quality systems through data centralization, automation, & adv anlaytics. Req Master’s degree or frgn equiv in Data Mngmnt, Info Tech, or a clsly rltf fld & 3 yrs of exp in a supply chain based data analyst role. Telecommuting is permitted. Domestic travel req 10% of the time. To apply please send resume to Careers@altria.com and reference job title.
Data Scientist, Grade 10, Altria Client Services, LLC (Richmond, VA) – Utilize advanced big data cloud comptng resources to dsgn, dvlp, and implmnt cutting-edge anlytcl & mdlng solutions to quantify cnsumr behaviors & predict business outcomes. Req a mast degr or frgn eqvlnt in in, Data Sci, Bus Anlytcs, Info Tech or clsly rel fld & 2 yrs exp in a data & anlytcs role within the Cnsmr Pckged Goods or other gvrnmnt reg indstries. Telecommuting is permitted. Domestic travel req 5% of the time. To apply, please send resume to Careers@altria.com and reference job title.
