SPANBERGER WINS
Virginia’s first female governor elected in clean blue sweep
Democrats dramatically expand control over General Assembly
MOLLY MANNING
News Editor
SARAH HAGEN
Managing Editor
Democrats flipped 13 House of Delegates seats through the statewide election on Nov. 4. The party came out of the night with an impending trifecta — only several seats shy of a supermajority.
Before Election Day, Democrats held 51 seats in the House compared to Republicans’ 49, a slim margin. Democrats now hold 64 seats compared to Republicans’ 36 — the best position the party has held in decades
The General Assembly, the legislative branch of Virginia’s government, is made up of 100 members in the House of Delegates and 40 members in the Senate. With a slim 21 seats in the Senate, Democrats have expanded their control over the centuries-old legislature.
Last year, Del. Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, was chosen as the first Black Speaker of the House in Virginia. The 2024 session also included other historic markers of diversity, including the highest number of female members in the Senate, according to Virginia Mercury.
VA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
SAL ORLANDO Staff Writer
MOLLY MANNING News Editor
Abigail Spanberger defeated Winsome Earle-Sears by an overwhelming margin on Tuesday to make history as Virginia’s first ever female governor. Spanberger — a former CIA agent and Representative for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District — ran a hyperforced campaign addressing citizens’ concerns on the cost of living, health care access and threats to democracy under the Trump administration.
Four years after Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s claim to power, Democrats dramatically flipped control of the Governor’s Mansion and expanded their grip on both chambers of the General Assembly. “Tonight we turned a page. We turned that page by listening to our neighbors, focusing on practical results, laying out a clear agenda, and leading with decency and determination,” Spanberger said at her rally.
SPANBERGER
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We must protect student media, because student media protects us
THE COMMONWEALTH TIMES STAFF
The Commonwealth Times, despite being a newspaper run by and for the VCU community, has few ties to actual university administration outside of our funding.
The CT — like other outlets hosted by VCU’s Student Media Center — runs on a percentage of the student activity fee all Rams pay. But VCU cannot censor The CT, and it cannot cut The CT’s funding because of the content we publish.
STUDENT MEDIA
BLUE WAVE
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OPINIONS STAFF EDITORIAL
Illustration by Yenni Jimenez Acosta.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger meets VCU students in Monroe Park on Nov. 3. Photo by Burke Loftus.
Graphic by Milena Paul.
Stories of the week
national: Today marks the 35th day of the government shutdown. It is now tied with the 2018-2019 shutdown, and will become the longest in history tomorrow as the standoff between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders continues.
international: Thousands fled their homes and over 26 were killed in the Philippines Tuesday after Typhoon Kalmaegi damaged much of the region.
Richmond, state leaders take action to fill SNAP gap
HECIEL NIEVES BONILLA Assistant News Editor
Officials and food aid organizations in the Richmond region are taking action to prevent hunger amid an end to funding for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, at the federal level.
The funding pause is the result of what is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, and will continue despite court rulings deeming the service freeze illegal.
WHAT IS SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides a monthly stipend to low-income families to purchase healthy foods. Around 41.7 million Americans participated in SNAP in 2024, receiving an average of $187.20 per participant per month, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Around 828,000 Virginians depend on SNAP benefits for some or all of their groceries as of 2024, according to USAFacts. In September 2025 this included 38,492 Richmonders, 37,236 in Henrico and 31,305 in Chesterfield, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services.
Stringent work requirements and income limits apply to most who register — currently, a single-household individual who is able to work must make less than $1,255 a month to keep their benefits.
FOOD MONEY CAUGHT IN FEDERAL LIMBO
SNAP is funded by the Department of Agriculture, which is affected by the lapse in funding that occurs when a shutdown prevents a new budget, or a ‘continuing resolution’ on an existing budget, from passing the U.S. Congress. The current
shutdown was caused when the Senate failed to pass a resolution, according to a previous report by The CT.
Democrats put forward a spending bill extending health care spending under the Affordable Care Act while reversing Medicaid cuts. Republicans tried to pass a seven-week stopgap funding plan. One month later, no compromise has been reached.
On Friday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP on a federal level, shortly after another federal judge found the service cut unlawful, according to the New York Times.
The White House has since said Americans would get partial SNAP benefits as a response to the orders, despite claims by Trump to the contrary, according to Politico.
YOUNGKIN,
AVULA
MOVE TO KEEP SNAP
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a state of emergency in Virginia in October that allows his administration to use emergency funds to keep the SNAP program running through November, as federal dollars ran dry after Halloween.
Youngkin announced on Oct. 28 that the state supplement will be called Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance and will release benefits weekly, with $145 million covering November, according to VPM.
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula announced in a press conference last week, Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield would contribute over $200,000 to the central Virginia food bank Feed More. Later in a press release, the mayor’s office implored Richmonders to donate money, time or food to Feed More to help alleviate people from food insecurity.
Local organizations like FeedMore and RVA Community Fridges regularly work to
address food insecurity in addition to the city’s efforts, both with and without state support, according to a recent report by The CT.
Feed More spokesperson Rodrigo Arriaza told The CT their organization “has seen an approximately 12% increase in need” in its service area. Feed More does not expect the governor’s VENA plan will fully offset the need caused by the cuts.
“In addition to working with state agencies, Feed More is in close coordination with our local government partners in Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, and the City of Richmond to allocate emergency funds toward additional food purchases and bolster distributions to help meet the growing need for food assistance,” Arriaza said.
Feed More is providing a tool called Agency Locator for area residents to find nearby food pantries and their hours.
Arriaza also encouraged readers to visit the 211Virginia site for other emergency resource needs.
RICHMOND LEADERS ATTRIBUTE HUNGER TO CORPORATIONS, POOR CONDITIONS
Del. Michael Jones, D-Richmond, spoke to his constituents’ use of SNAP benefits during an event hosted by VCU’s NAACP Chapter on Oct. 29. He blamed large corporations for the economic conditions that lead to people needing food assistance.
“60% of people on SNAP have jobs,” Jones said. “And they work for companies that benefit from us having jobs and spending money […] Why isn’t Walmart paying a liveable wage so that their employees won’t have to be on SNAP? Those are the questions that aren’t getting asked.”
Jones challenged the idea that broad SNAP usage is characterized by people unwilling to work, or seeking a hand-out.
“No one wakes up in the morning saying, ‘I wanna go to jail, I wanna go five-ten, I wanna be poor, I wanna be a prostitute, sell crack, whatever,’” Jones said. “No one does that. But our capitalistic society and some greedy rich folk really make it impossible for Americans to live.”
Richmond Sheriff Antoinette Irving said she often interfaces with some of its poorest residents through her job: people who are incarcerated, homeless or in mental health crises, as well as their families.
She pointed to the sheriff’s offices’ monthly food distribution as an example of how her department helps mitigate food insecurity.
“It’s not so much we knowing how many people that are actually in the SNAP program,” Irving said. “The thing that we deal with is making sure that individuals in our community — whether it’s in Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, wherever it is — that people are well nourished and they have the food that they need.”
Irving noted some Richmonders, such as seniors and relatives of incarcerated people, live without key sources of income that the department attempts to address, like through their fourth Saturday food drives. She said the goal of the initiatives is to ensure people can be ‘well nourished and they can have a good day’ — regardless of whether or not they are on SNAP.
“We know that if individuals don’t have the SNAP program, or they don’t have those benefits to be fed, then that’s gonna increase the amount of criminal activity, because if you don’t have then you’re gonna go get it,” Irving said. “Because you know that you have to manage your life the best way that you possibly can, and it’s unfortunate that a lot of people will turn to different activities, whether they be criminal or bad behavior, in order to be able to feed their families.”
A worker restocks the shelves at VCU’s Ram Pantry, which aims to address food insecurity for college students on Oct. 30. The federal government’s funding for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, has ended amid the government shutdown. Photo by Bri Stevens.
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Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears ran on fighting crime, limiting abortion access and repealing Virginia’s controversial “car tax.” She failed to distinguish herself from President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts federal workforce cuts — which have been unpopular with Virginians.
“I think I learned more in a loss than I ever do in a victory, and I think there’s something about that,” Earle-Sears said in her concession speech. “It’s either gonna tear you apart or it’s gonna build you. Well, I don’t tear apart. I have God.”
Rebecca Weil, political affairs director of the Young Democrats at VCU, stated she believes Spanberger won by avoiding culture wars with her campaign and focusing on what is affecting the commonwealth.
“I’m personally relieved and excited by her win because I know she can both stay true to her values and work across the aisle to bring about change,” Weil stated. “I’m also grateful for her staunch support of reproductive rights and same-sex marriage, two issues that have and will come up this session.”
Every single county in Virginia shifted to the left compared to how they voted in 2021, according to the Virginia Public Access Public.
Spanberger spent one of her final campaign stops at Monroe Park talking to VCU students about high tuition prices and entering the workforce after college. Students said they supported her for protecting abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights.
Spanberger said during an October debate that she opposed sanctuary policies in Virginia, which would provide safety to undocumented immigrants.
Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th District, has been a staunch advocate for Spanberger and spent time with her on the campaign trail. She said at Monroe Park that Spanberger will “make sure our colleges and universities have academic freedom and can focus on you.”
McClellan told The CT she believes Spanberger would take actions as Governor to safeguard student protesters from suppression and amend the process by which governors appoint members of university boards — the main governing bodies of public schools in Virginia.
A BALLOT OF MANY FIRSTS
“In terms of Virginia having its first woman governor, it presents an interesting dynamic,” said Jaita Wrighten, assistant professor of political science at VCU. “Virginia is home to one of the most diverse state legislatures. Scholarship shows that the more diversity exists in a Democracy, it can result in more inclusive policy and increased benefits to a polity.”
Wrighten said she hopes Spanberger’s victory is not the last time a woman is elected for governor in Virginia.
Blaine Bryant, a veteran and lifetime Virginian, said food prices and the education system were the main issues influencing
his vote. He also supports Virginia having a female governor and thinks the United States should have a female president.
“It’s time for change,” Bryant said. “What we’re doing right now is not really working, so a female governor is great.”
Spanberger’s running mates Ghazala Hashmi — for lieutenant governor, and Jay Jones — for attorney general, also won their races by comfortable margins.
Hashmi will also make history as the first Muslim woman elected into a statewide office in the United States.
Hashmi’s campaign focused on protecting workers, abortion access and Virginians from the Trump Administration.
“I think Hashmi won because of her government experience, something her opponent is lacking,” Weil stated. “She was a force in the General Assembly and one of my personal heroes, so I am really happy about her win.”
Jones, a former delegate, overcame multiple scandals regarding his texts and a speeding ticket to win the attorney general’s office over the Republican incumbent Jason Miyares.
Jones’ campaigned on protecting abortion access and civil rights, as well as fighting for Virginia’s environment. He refused to take money from Dominion Energy — the state’s largest polluter and political donor — during the primary.
“Despite his texting scandal, I think Jones was able to win mostly because of
what he’s not: a Trump supporter,” Weil stated. “Virginians are tired of Trump, and I think it would have taken a lot to elect a vocal Trump supporter to office, even in the face of a scandal.”
CJ Roberts, a voter new to Virginia, said she was raised to understand the rights she has were fought for. She voted for Democrats because she believes Republicans are causing issues.
“I’m very strongly of the belief that politics is like a chess game,” Roberts said. “You don't necessarily vote for the person you love, but you vote for the thing that’s going to get you closer to winning the game. I don’t think Virginia’s on a great path. I don’t think America’s on a great path, but I have to believe that we can fix it.”
The Board of Elections will certify results on Dec. 1.
VCU Capital News Service contributed to this article.
Continued from front page
The new cast of the General Assembly reflects Democrats’ statewide ticket: Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones — who just became the first female governor of Virginia, first Muslim woman to hold statewide office and first Black attorney general of Virginia respectively.
Much of Democrats’ legislation did not pass the General Assembly under Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who set a record number of vetoes during his third year in office, opposing 201 bills, according to VPAP.
With Youngkin out and Spanberger in, some lawmakers and lobbyists are already preparing to introduce more ambitious legislation during the next session in January.
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, pointed to four amendments
midway through the legislative process, which he said may not have gone anywhere in the new session should the House be controlled by Republicans.
“This would be removing the ban on gay marriage from the Constitution of Virginia, the automatic restoration of felon voting rights, the codification of Roe v. Wade in the Virginia Constitution, and the new redistricting amendment,” Farnsworth said.
Members of United Campus Workers unions from multiple universities, as well as the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights have drafted bills for the General Assembly to give professors and students voting power on the governing boards of universities and cap salaries for university presidents, according to a previous report by The CT.
FIVE KEY DISTRICTS THAT TURNED BLUE
House District 71, previously held by Del. Amanda Batten, R-James City County,
will now be represented by Democrat Jessica Anderson, who won on Tuesday with 52.68% of the vote, according to VPAP.
Democratic civil rights attorney Leslie Mehta flipped House District 73 with 51.54% of the vote, beating out incumbent Del. Mark Earley, R-Chesterfield.
“I ran for the House of Delegates because families like mine deserve a voice that listens and leads with empathy,” Mehta stated in an X post. “Tonight, you gave me that chance — and I’m ready to fight for you.”
While Jones was elected in spite of scandals on violent text messages he sent, the Republican delegate who initially shared the messages, Carrie Coyner, was unseated in House District 75, which represents Hopewell City and parts of Chesterfield and Prince George.
Coyner’s Democratic replacement Lindsey Dougherty said she looks forward to serving the district “holistically” by ensuring that legislation and the budget reflect the community’s needs alongside
other female government officials.
“We’ve been waiting 400 years and I’m really excited to not only serve alongside an expanded majority in the House with more women, but also to have a female lieutenant governor and governor,” Dougherty said.
House District 57, previously held by David Owen, R-Goochland, will now be represented by Democrat May Nivar after she won with 55.26% of the vote.
Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams flipped House District 82 with 53.64% of the vote, defeating incumbent Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg.
“I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful to the people of the 82nd District for placing their trust in me,” Pope Adams stated. Del. Joshua Cole, D-Fredericksburg, will continue to represent House District 65 after winning reelection with 58.42% of the vote against Republican Sean Steinway.
VCU Capital News Service contributed to this article.
BLUE WAVE
Spectators chat at Republican lieutenant gubernatorial hopeful John Reid's election night watch party on Nov. 4 as results come in. Reid's opponent Ghazala Hashmi won by double digits.
Photos by Burke Loftus
Stat of the week
Third-year forward Lazar Djokovic scored 21 points, grabbed five rebounds and swatted two blocks in his debut for the Rams.
Black and gold turn Seahawks black and blue
offensively, only making one of its last eight field goals four minutes into the half.
VCU second-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. made his presence known as he splashed in a three to push the Rams to a six point lead at the 15-minute mark.
VCU took on Wagner College at the Siegel Center on Monday for its home opener under new head coach Phil Martelli Jr.
“I’ve been on the other side hearing the fans, but when they get going you can feel it.” Martelli Jr said.
The black and gold started the game off hot, winning the ball and sinking a three from redshirt fourth-year guard Jadrian Tracey for the first points of the game.
The Seahawks tried to put together an offensive drive to try to add points to the scoreboard but were shut down by VCU second-year guard Brandon Jennings.
The Rams put together a brilliant drive with a jumper from Jennings, who was assisted by third-year forward Lazar Djokovic — extending the Rams lead 9-4 three minutes in.
Wagner continued to struggle
VCU second-year guard Ahmad Nowell recorded a steal and got the ball up to Hill who finished the drive with a layup.
Hill continued his dominance with a three through contact, Wagner’s sixth foul halfway through the first.
First-year guard Nyk Lewis continued to make his name known in the Siegel Center, shutting down a Wagner run after a previous layup.
The Rams put together a freakish display of talent, halting a Wagner drive with a rebound from Jennings, who assisted a dunk from third-year forward Michael Belle.
Wagner clawed back to a 29-29 tie with six minutes to play before Belle snatched it back with a deep three.
The Seahawks tried to counter and close the gap again, but were stopped at the rim with a Belle block as he showed his dominance on defense.
Hill sank another three, shooting 75% from behind the arc and extending the Rams lead to 40-33 with two minutes left in the first.
VCU closed out the first half leading 51-40, making their last five field goals. Hill led with 12 points, an impressive half from the second-year.
Wagner started the second half with momentum after a strong put-back drive by Fitch.
VCU shut down Wagner’s run quickly — getting two back-to-back dunks by Djokovic and Evans.
The Rams hit two consecutive three pointers, making the score 62-45 three minutes into the second half.
Fouls piled up from both teams with 11 minutes remaining as the ball went back and forth.
Djokovic made his second three of the night to halt a Rams dry spell halfway through the second, leading the team with 17 points.
“Everybody is so good and we don’t feel crowded,” Djokovic said. “Every player is a weapon so everybody can do their own thing, because the defense can’t worry about just one guy when there’s five of us on the floor.”
Jennings hyped the black and gold up after knocking down a second-chance three pointer, putting the team up by 20.
“We felt good, we had a good week of preparation and two good exhibitions where we learned a lot.” Jennings said.
Nowell finished off a shifty fastbreak drive, keeping the Rams’ lead at a strong 91-64, with five minutes remaining.
VCU continued to bully Wagner with two minutes left, as first-year guard Jordan Tillery got a steal and Jennings finished it off with a dunk.
Tillery showed off with a tough drive to the basket receiving a foul to give the Rams their hundredth point of the night at the line.
VCU destroyed Wagner, finishing the game with 103-74. Djokovic led the Rams in scoring with 21 points, while Jennings led in rebounding and assists with eight and six.
VCU will play its next game against Utah State University in Frisco, Texas, at the Comerica Center on Friday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.
Field hockey gets a heartbreak on Halloween against Richmond
MARCUS LEARY Contributing Writer
The Rams lost to the University of Richmond Spiders 2-1 on Friday in a double overtime matchup.
In a game with heav y playoff implications the Rams and Spiders will share the regular season championship.
VCU will be the No.2 seed in the Atlantic 10 Tournament at Richmond, which starts on Thursday, Nov. 6.
VCU head coach Stacey Bean said the regular season championship means something to her and she is happy with the growth she has seen this season, but they are not finished.
“We’re in a position to win a Championship. That’s the bottom line,” Bean said. “It doesn’t matter what seed you’re in, you have to find a way to win two games.”
VCU will play the No.3 seed St. Joseph’s University in the A-10 semi-final, a team it beat 1-0 in October.
“Every year you always have to play somebody twice,” Bean said.
The Rams dominated the time of possession through the first seven minutes of the first quarter.
However, the Spiders struck first when third-year forward Clara Larripa netted the first goal of the game eight minutes in. Richmond turned defense into offense when it pressured hard on a VCU clearance and stole the ball deep in VCU territory.
The rest of the first quarter was highlighted by multiple Spider penalty corner shots, but the Rams’ defense held strong with the quarter ending 1-0.
The second quarter saw both defenses tighten up. Neither offense was able to make things happen with three of the four goal scoring opportunities coming from penalty corner attempts, according to statbroadcast.
VCU redshirt second-year goalkeeper Emma Clements prevented Richmond from going up 2-0 late in the half when she saved the only shot on goal of the quarter. Richmond led VCU in every major statistical category other than saves through the first half. The Spiders tallied one more goal, three more corners, and three more
ETHAN YORK Staff Writer
JENNY ALLEN Staff Writer
Photos courtesy of VCU Athletics.
VCU field hockey. Photo by Kendall Lott. Story continues on next page
shots, according to statbroadcast.
The beginning of the third quarter followed a similar trend to the second, with both teams going tit-for-tat up-and-down the field.
The back half of the third belonged to VCU. Although it did not put any shots in the cage it posted three shots on goal and two penalty corners, according to statbroadcast.
The highlight of the fourth quarter came less than five minutes in when VCU fourth-year Morena Macera scored the 1-1 equalizer breaking the two quarter scoring drought.
Both teams had opportunities to put the
game away but defenses continued to be stout, and regulation ended with the Rams and Spiders knotted up at one.
VCU came out of the gates hot in the first overtime period applying defensive pressure which led to a quick steal after Richmond started the period with the ball.
The Rams tried to turn their defensive pressure into offense taking multiple shots on goal early in the first overtime. However, Richmond third-year goalkeeper Amanda Cimillo put up four saves across both overtime periods, according to statbroadcast.
Cimillo was a difference maker in the Spiders win tallying a total of nine saves,
a majority of which came in the fourth quarter or overtime.
The black and gold continued on track with their offensive pressure in the second overtime putting up three penalty corners.
The game-winning goal was scored by Richmond third-year forward Valen Luna Paratore, when she broke the VCU lines and Larripa found her on a fast break.
Third-year VCU player Josefina Ventimiglia believes the Rams can learn something from its loss.
“They were in our circle five or four times and they scored twice,” Ventimiglia said. “We were in their circle the whole time. We didn’t finish the play.”
You can bet sports betting has gotten out of hand
KYLER GILLIAM Staff Writer
One year ago I wrote a press box about how much I despise sports betting and the culture it brings into the sphere of athletics. I said we were too far gone then, and recent developments in the NBA have proven my point.
Former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested for their connection to an illegal sports gambling operation on October.
The pair was allegedly involved with the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese crime families of New York. All three are notorious crime syndicates part of the “Five Families” that dominate organized crime in New York.
This feels like only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to shady practices in sports betting. The large amounts of money involved can lead to questionable decisions.
This betting culture holds the sports community hostage with large corporations and casinos’ large investments in the business — funding constant advertising during games, daily shows and podcasts.
Every game that is discussed has a betting line and an over/under line right under it. We are constantly told by corporations to burn our money on the
game of odds.
It would be naive to think the athletes who are even more involved in their respective sports are not influenced by sports betting culture. Their participation is hazardous to the sanctity of the game.
Billups and Rozier allegedly passed along non-public information to the three crime families. Their connection to inside information and their ability to fix games can directly lead to a compromised product.
The NBA has faced this problem before.
Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and altered his play for betting purposes and received a lifetime ban from the NBA for it in 2024.
Professional sports leagues need to combat the growing culture of sports betting for the safety of their product. However, they will not cut the cash cow that is sports betting.
The sports betting industry generated $13.7 billion in revenue in 2024, marking another record year for the industry. That trend is expected to continue.
Everyone involved in gambling is supposed to be getting rich, except the athletes we are betting on. There is a disproportionate situation where athletes do all the work and gamblers make all the money — unless the athlete partners
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL AT DAVIDSON COLLEGE WON 3-0
WOMEN'S FIELD HOCKEY AT UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND LOST 1-2
WOMEN'S SOCCER AT UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND LOST 1-2
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (GAME ONE) WON 3-1
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (GAME TWO) LOST 2-3
MEN’S SOCCER VS. DAVIDSON COLLEGE WON 3-1
MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. WAGNER COLLEGE WON 103-74
with a sportsbook on one of their shows, continuing to blur the line of impartiality.
Current and retired athletes have sponsorship deals with DraftKings, Prizepicks and Underdog. They promote gambling apps to a wide and easily influenced consumer base — giving their “expert” advice on which lines to bet.
How are we supposed to believe as consumers that these athletes, who have unprecedented access to private information, are the best vehicles to deliver sports betting sponsorships?
Athletes should not be heavily involved in the sports betting industry and culture; however, it would be unfair for them to be excluded.
Hindering their earning potential while sports gamblers and sportsbooks rake in boatloads of cash off their labor will continue the disproportionate situation and open the leagues to more ridicule from concerned fans.
Sports betting has been a stain on the world of athletics for years. Billups’ and Rozier’s arrest indicate the culture around sports betting has gone too far.
I already said we couldn’t go back, and nothing proves I was wrong. The sports community is in freefall from the top-down, and the root of it starts with sports betting.
PRESS BOX
Illustration by Zoë Luis.
On This Day
On this day, Nov. 5,
Unveiling Gabriel’s Rebellion
VCU alumni honor Richmond history through music
SAANVI VOOTLA Contributing Writer
People gathered at the historic Hanover Tavern, prepared to learn about one of the forgotten slave rebellions of Virginia’s history in a musical depiction.
VCU alum Jerold Solomon wrote and starred in the musical “Gabriel: The True Story You Were Never Told,” covering one of Virginia’s most buried slave uprisings, at Hanover Tavern, which has been around since the time of the uprising. It will play from Sept. 26 through Nov. 16.
Gabriel’s Rebellion was supposed to occur in the late 1800s in Virginia as a means for enslaved people to overcome their pain and suffering.
Lights were dimmed as actors took to the stage in historical clothing while displaying graphic images from the rebellion on the screen. The combined impact of the introductory song and the spirit of the actors was enough to send chills down the spines of the audience. The songs and dialogue encapsulated the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness of enslaved people during that time, while the choreography replicated the movement’s intensity.
Each character was played with passion to accurately tell the story. For some actors, it meant replicating the harsh treatment of the slave masters in that time. For others, it was questioning God for the unjustness that occurred.
“The original Gabriel musical was more focused on getting the historical aspect out rather than driving a story narrative,” Solomon said, who played Gabriel. “When Foster — my cousin — and I joined the team to rewrite it, we latched onto the idea that not many people know about the rebellion and made adjustments.”
Rebellions like this have been lost, buried and forgotten in history, Solomon said.
“I’m from Virginia and went to school in Richmond, and I didn’t even know about Gabriel’s Rebellion,” Solomon said. “It’s important that we tell the story that needs to be told for people of all ages and backgrounds to know.”
Replicating the essence of the rebellion was possible due to the selection of the location for the show, Solomon said.
“The idea to have the show in Richmond, specifically Hanover Tavern, was from ATLAS, the production company,” Solomon said. “Hanover Tavern had been
‘Where music meets healing’: ‘Therapy Live’ tour comes to Richmond
RACHEL NICHOLAS Contributing Writer
“Therapy Live,” an open mic and multiartist event by David Lamont, kicked off the second stretch of its tour at the venue CNTR on Nov. 2.
Lamont, the headliner and organizer, has been a recording artist for more than a decade, working in and around the music industry in multiple roles.
Lamont’s inspiration for the tour and album came from a personal experience, he said.
“Three years ago, I went on a vacation and had an experience, almost like a spiritual awakening,” Lamont said. “I was getting my understanding of why we’re here, which I believe is for love and togetherness.”
Black men are significantly less likely to seek treatment for their mental health than other groups, according to the National Library of Medicine. The suicide rate for Black men is four times greater than the rate for Black women, and it is the third leading cause of death for Black men, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“Black men and masculine-identified individuals may experience various tensions and struggles in their lived experiences,” VCU Health counseling stated on their website. “Persistent systems of injustice and oppression subsequently impact the overall
around at the time of the Movement and some of the slaves had worked at the tavern.”
The enslaved people’s voices were suppressed for so long that, besides using them to scream and shout in moments of pain and agony, using them for freedom was seldom a thought, as shown in the musical.
Ditcher, played by David Lyve Watkins, is a cellmate to Gabriel and ignites the fire within Gabriel to start the rebellion and use his voice. Watkins said he was not aware of Gabriel’s Rebellion until he became a part of the musical.
“I just recently learned about the slave trail along the James River in Richmond,” Watkins said. “Hearing about all the stories and being in the place where this rebellion took place was overwhelming.”
The number of audience and cast members who knew about the rebellion before the show was slim, showcasing the significance of telling this forgotten story.
“We tried our best to at least capture the spirit of the slaves during the rebellion and pay homage to the actual story,” Watkins said. “We’re only taught one side of history and it makes you wonder what else has been buried or forgotten?”
Throughout the story, attendees watch
health and safety of Black masculineidentified persons in America.”
The word therapy was chosen to express the “cleansing” and growth from that trauma, Lamont said. His album, the start to a musical trilogy, is about the overall spiritual illumination he hopes others will experience when listening.
“Everyone has so much trauma, and I’ve had a lot of trauma in my life,” Lamont said. “There have been a lot of things that have happened where we carry and internalize.”
Lamont said his goal was to focus on the trauma that many African Americans experience and the stigma surrounding the conversation, especially with men.
When putting together the acts for his tour, Lamont had to look no further than past participants of his open mic nights. Their mutual understanding of spirituality and music helped grow the event, Lamont said.
“Everything for me the last three years has been about alignment, and it’s just all coming together,” Lamont said.
As guests listened to the many stories and experiences of the performers, they took in the full might of the music, allowing themselves to truly feel the lyrics, attending “therapy” throughout the night.
“I hope they are able to feel the words,”
the progression of Gabriel gaining his fighting spirit, inspiring the others to finally let the fire rise from within their souls.
As the slaves started to gain that spirit, the slave masters — Lucy Hilton and Thomas Prosser Jr. — and Monroe did everything in their power to silence them once again.
The musical allowed for the subject matter to be told in a way that maintained accuracy and emotional impact for the audience.
“I think this format heightened the emotional tone of the story, and it was really effective in conveying the urgency and intensity of fighting for freedom for the slaves in that time for me,” attendee Naila Smith said.
Feelings of shock, rage and sympathy washed over the audience’s faces as they tried to navigate the gravity of the experiences that African Americans faced during that time.
The audience was moved by the lyrical merit, silenced by the story and many ultimately left in tears.
To learn more about the Gabriel Musical and other future productions, visit hanovertavern.org.
Lamont said. “I understand that when we’re busy and listening in our car, we’re not really paying attention to what’s being said. As a writer, what I say is intentional and takes time to understand.”
Fellow musician Kiara, who will be performing alongside Lamont on his tour, further addressed the significance of mental health in the Black community.
“I think mental health in general is something that should be discussed,” Kiara said. “But being a Black man in this world, their mental health matters too and it is often overlooked.”
Kiara, originally from Minnesota, went to school for dance before pursuing a serious career in music in 2019. She met Lamont back in 2023 after he reached out on Instagram to possibly collaborate on a project.
“I respect Lamont’s grind and his passion,” Kiara said. “He’s been a part of my music journey, and I get to be a part of his. I admire his ability to keep going when things get tough.”
As the night wrapped up, “Therapy Live” offered more than a concert — it created space for reflection, connection and healing.
The tour will continue to several other cities in the Virginia area, aiming to spread the same message of love and understanding.
1872, Susan B. Anthony voted (illegally) for Ulysses S. Grant in a presidential election.
The cast of 'Gabriel: The True Story You Were Never Told,' performing the musical at Hanover Tavern. Photo Courtesy of Gabriel: the Musical.
Cover photo for the Therapy Live tour. Photo courtesy of David Lamont.
‘Witch’: Richmond Shakespeare gives a modern twist to a tragic feminist story
DAIJAH HINMON Staff Writer
As the lights dimmed, the room fell silent. The story of isolation, love, acceptance and regret left the audience laughing and applauding. Whispers drifted around the venue as the crowd gossiped amongst each other. One single candle was continuously lit until the very last breath of the story.
Richmond Shakespeare is presenting a contemporary retelling of “The Witch of Edmonton,” called “Witch” by Jen Silverman, from Oct. 23 to Nov. 9 at the Virginia Repertory Theatre’s Theatre Gym.
The play tells the story of Elizabeth Sawyer, who was tried and executed for witchcraft in England, according to Richmond Shakespeare artistic director James Ricks. Silverman’s adaptation focuses on a variety of characters, not only Elizabeth.
The rendition includes a devil character who arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes, according to the Richmond Shakespeare website.
“What happens when you get everything you want, and what does it mean to live authentically in your community?” Ricks said. “When very often, you’re punished for doing the right thing.”
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Most people have entertained the idea of what it would be like to make a bargain for an hour or so of fantasy, Ricks said. That has far-reaching implications for how they think about themselves and how they want to live and be remembered.
“An inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama, this sharp, subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by,” according to the play’s website.
The play’s content can be a lot to understand, but it is wrapped in a comedic atmosphere that makes the topics more digestible for audience members, Ricks said.
The play was phenomenal, original and enthralling, attendee Cheryl Dulog said.
“I want to say that the demon devil will give you Andy Cohen,” Dulog said. “Housewives of Edmonton.”
Marco, Cheryl’s husband, said he enjoyed the play, and he thought it was very indicative of the time period.
“I can definitely see why my wife has been talking about patriarchy and struggles for women, so I can definitely see that point of view,” Marco said.
Performances will run until Nov. 9 at the Theatre Gym on 114 W Broad St. Those interested can buy tickets at richmondshakespeare.org/witch.
Katrinah Carol Lewis as Elizabeth performing in ‘Witch.’ Photo courtesy of Richmond Shakespeare.
Features
RVA Spotlight
Richmond’s beloved “Gun Hole” has a new home at The Valentine Museum! The sidewalk impression in the Fan became an internet sensation last year, but was eventually removed. However, the Gun Hole was preserved and is a new artifact in the Valentine’s “This Is Richmond, Virginia” exhibit.
Hardore bands spend Halloween moshing to support Gaza
CORA PERKINS
Assistant Spectrum Editor
The walls shake as bass booms through the speakers. The pit is a storm — possessed by bodies colliding to the rhythm and arms and legs swinging and kicking around and into each other in a blur. Full of fans dressed as ghouls and goblins, madness envelops the crowd, getting rowdier and rowdier as the night continues.
Halloween at The Hole, a benefit show featuring seven local hardcore and alt-metal bands, brought many fans to Richmond on Halloween night — all to support the Gaza Soup Kitchen, where proceeds for the show went.
The rowdy energy at the show was one familiar to regulars at The Hole, according to Hunter Johnson, drummer for Auto-Icon.
“It’s very tough to keep that energy up the whole time, and it seems like from beginning to the end people were just having fun, letting loose, giving energy and then the bands [were] throwing it back and it was just a nice exchange throughout the night,” Johnson said.
The bill was filled with a diverse array of bands and subgenres of alternative metal and hardcore — bouncing from grindcore to screamo, turning swiftly from emoviolence to post-hardcore; the show’s sound shifted all night.
All the music was harsh in different flavors, but the scene is not very divided, Johnson said.
“There’s definitely some unity, and coming together for a great cause is a great way to get everybody together, despite maybe not sounding the same or liking the same music or playing the same music,” Johnson said.
Halloween at the Hole is not the only benefit show to hit the scene, with different DIY venues and bands constantly organizing. Auto-Icon is currently working
when they had something happen and they weren’t able to really do bigger shows anymore, immediately Studio Two Three somehow jumped in and became a beacon for shows that would be at the warehouse to otherwise happen there,” Johnson said. “Same with The Hole, it just sort of popped up when the scene sort of needed more of a DIY connection, because I mean, there’s a bunch of houses that people don’t know about.”
Ashley Pearson, guitarist and backup vocalist for grindcore band Bacteria, also believes The Hole provides a community connection.
“The Hole specifically is really big on
according to Pearson, as they all found it wonderful.
To Sonny Malario, Nico Delgado and Jordan Barte of Athera, a post-hardcore band from the area, performing a benefit show is extremely important.
“It does feel good cause often times, I feel like the stuff in the scene isn’t necessarily addressed as it should be,”
Sonny Malario, Athera’s guitarist, said.
“Playing a benefit show brings attention to the situation while also doing a good thing, as providing money for the Soup Kitchen.”
Jordan Barte, one of Arthera’s vocalists, said they think it is important to bring attention to these issues, as well as the
of community care and caring about the general well-being of other people baked into the music,” Caldwell said.
What makes the scene in Richmond interesting is that those involved are happy to be there, and are not just looking to move on to a different city or venue, Caldwell said.
“I feel like most of the people I know in Richmond who are in DIY are there for the right reasons and don’t see it as a stepping stone in their next career move or something,” Caldwell said. “I really value the kind of interconnectedness.”
Quote of the week
“People can cry much easier than they can change.”
— James Baldwin
We must protect student media,
because student media protects us
No faculty oversee The CT. It is purely written, photographed, illustrated and edited by students.
The Indiana Daily Student did not have that same luxury.
Last month Indiana University fired Jim Rodenbush, the director of student media and advisor to the century and a half old student newspaper. IU directed the paper to stop printing news coverage.
While the university claimed the decision came down to addressing financial deficits, Rodenbush and the co-editors-in-chief of the Indiana Daily Student, Mia Hilkowitz and Andrew Miller, argued the move constitutes blatant censorship.
Thankfully, weeks of bad publicity and criticism from across the country put immense pressure on IU, and the Indiana Daily Student announced their printing capabilities have been restored.
The restoration of IU’s print edition is a victory for student media organizations nationwide and is a bright light of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape of censorship and suppression.
The situation at IU was a small-scale example of a larger issue plaguing journalism and free speech in the U.S. and around the world.
The global state of press freedom in 2025 was classified as a “difficult situation” for the first time in the RSF World Press Freedom Index history — with the U.S. specifically being classified as “problematic” — citing both physical attacks against journalists as well as economic attacks.
Publicly funded outlets like Voice of America and the Public Broadcasting Service have faced grave cuts under the current administration. Journalists have been barred from the White House, the Pentagon and other vital sites of operations.
President Donald Trump’s policies are blatant acts of censorship — intimidation tactics being carried out by Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Trump has a famous hatred for the media, having brought the phrase “fake news” into our lexicons.
The widespread disdain for journalism is not only concerning, but dangerous — especially for smallscale news outlets; student-run publications like The CT and the Indiana Daily Student.
Student media is the heart and soul of journalism. Most reporters get their start in a mass
communications class, their college newspaper or their campus radio station. It offers students an opportunity often untethered by a budget to pursue diverse perspectives and uncover the stories of their communities.
Our coverage of events that directly impact the classmates we see every day — such as VCU’s pro-Palestine protest movements, stripping of academic freedoms and controversies over free speech rights — offers intimate perspectives rare to find elsewhere.
Furthermore, student media outlets operate as forums for individuals who are either silenced or not taken seriously by society.
As more and more institutions cave to the Trump administration’s demands, as more cash-strapped universities fall in line with the president’s fascistic policies, the threats to student media are only becoming more frequent.
If we truly want to protect our First Amendment rights, we must first start by protecting the training ground for those who exemplify it: student media. Our future depends on it.
Editor’s Note: Staff editorials by The Commonwealth Times are written and edited by all members of staff. The content of editorials is voted on by staff members and must be unanimously agreed-upon ahead of publication.
Continued from front page
STUDENT MEDIA STAFF EDITORIAL
Illustration by Yenni Jimenez Acosta.
Opinions
Free
will is a myth. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
ABIGAIL MESEROLL
Contributing Writer
We like to think of ourselves as free — able to choose right from wrong, to triumph over temptation or to shape our destinies through sheer force of will. The belief in free will feels sacred — underpinning our moral judgments, our legal system and even our sense of identity.
SCIENCE TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.
“Reciprocal determinism,” coined by psychologist Albert Bandura, challenged the notion that people act purely out of free will or are simply products of their environment.
“Reciprocal determinism” can be defined in simple terms: our surroundings influence how we act, our actions can alter our surroundings and both feed back into who we are and how we think.
Modern psychology explains this dynamic using the biopsychosocial model, which broadens “reciprocal determinism” to include the full range of factors that drive human behavior such as:
Biological influences — genetics, brain chemistry and physical health.
Psychological influences — thoughts, emotions, beliefs and coping mechanisms.
Social influences — family, culture, relationships and broader environmental conditions.
Reciprocal determinism is the engine that powers the biopsychosocial model.
The analysis of these omnipresent phenomena reminds us that no single cause explains human behavior. In reality, it is an ongoing feedback loop of constantly-
interacting forces creating the complex, ever-changing reality of who one is.
Despite these concepts being widely accepted in academia, the very idea of determinism frightens people.
If our actions are shaped by forces beyond our control, does that mean accountability disappears? Will society collapse if no one is to blame?
There is no reason to fear determinism. In fact, embracing it could make us not only more compassionate, but more just.
A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE
In his groundbreaking book “Determined,” neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky dismantles the myth of free will — showing how every decision, from the mundane to the monumental, can be traced to biology and circumstance.
For example, studies have shown that judges hand down harsher sentences when they’re hungry, yet they remain unaware of this bias. If a judge’s decision can be swayed by lunch, or a lack thereof, what does that say about the rest of us?
Understanding this has made me more gentle. I take better care of my body, knowing I’m most ethical and empathetic when I’m well-cared for.
Determinism hasn’t robbed me of agency — it’s taught me how to nurture it. Success no longer feels like proof of moral worth nor failure. I see no justice in choosing punishment over rehabilitation.
JUSTICE WITHOUT VENGEANCE
Our criminal justice system is built on the illusion of free will, the belief that people choose to commit crimes and therefore
deserve punishment. But if criminal behavior is shaped by biology, trauma and environment, then punishment begins to look not just cruel, but irrational.
Norway understands this. Its government-run prisons are designed for rehabilitation and reintegration, not revenge. The result? One of the lowest re-offense rates in the world. The United States, by contrast, warehouses millions in privately-contracted concrete cells, disproportionately made up of people of color, and labels it justice.
Black Americans are incarcerated at more than four times the rate of white Americans. Low socioeconomic status is closely tied to crime, yet instead of addressing poverty, we moralize it.
If we actually want reparations and to heal the harm that’s been done, we need to create a system designed to heal.
If we truly understood behavior as determined, we would stop seeing criminals as monsters and start seeing them as the products of broken institutions. Rehabilitation is not only more humane, it’s more effective.
Our justice system and society at large blame individuals for crimes shaped by systemic forces, creating the illusion of moral action while ignoring the structural roots of the problem.
A MORE COMPASSIONATE FUTURE
Determinism doesn’t erase morality — it refines it, urging us to replace judgment with understanding, vengeance with prevention and guilt with gratitude.
When we accept that every act, good or bad, is shaped by countless unseen causes, we gain something more profound than control — empathy.
Rehabilitation is not naive idealism. It’s the logical conclusion of scientific truth and moral clarity.
We’re living in a time when humanity is finally learning the reality that is determinism. Free will was the myth we told ourselves to fill the silence of what we didn’t understand, but science has begun to speak in that silence.
The GOP’s aesthetics are just as ugly as their actions
MAYA SUNDERRAJ
Assistant Opinions Editor
While everyone was counting down the clock to losing their food assistance benefits, President of the United States Donald Trump hosted a lavish, massive “Great Gatsby” themed party at his private residence at Mar-a-Lago.
I’ve never considered myself a style puritan. I’ve never held strong opinions on fashion and cosmetic surgery. But the aesthetics of the Republican party and its allies are executed poorly for particularly unethical, power-hungry purposes … and it pisses me off.
The hedonism these people exhibit while the world falls apart is abhorrent. I don’t usually enjoy poking fun at people’s stylistic choices, but elements of the GOP’s aesthetics are sinister — they apply gold sheens over their rotten, immoral words and actions.
The gap in the intended aesthetics — such as strength, fertility, fortune, exclusivity, pride, traditionalism and being made-to-last — and the future the GOP is creating for the rest of the world — made up of economic recession for all, discrimination, violence and the loss of personal freedoms — does not add up.
These people can pour millions into an image, but without any guiding ideology beyond wealth and power, every attempt to reflect their ambitions is overtly obvious and gluttonous.
Because of this, I discovered a distaste for those who tactlessly wear opera gloves for a meager press op — I’m looking at you, Casey DeSantis.
Now, out of anger, I’m stuck bearing a hoity-toityness for others’ fashion
choices because the people in power are malintentioned and so irritatingly tasteless. No matter how useless, when I see members of the GOP attempting to assert their influence through methods such as fashion and cosmetic surgery, I’m going to critique them.
This critique isn’t limited by gender, either.
In what looks like an attempt to create a poignant, intimidating and more open stare, former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz’s eyebrows seem to have been permanently frozen in a trigonomically-satisfying look of surprise, perhaps at the fact that gay people can still legally marry.
On Instagram, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s mocha eyebrows are so densely filled in that she is effectively sharing her border-control policy through facial symbolism. Noem’s love for injectables is clear to everyone. Her puffed-
up, migrated filler epitomizes the recently coined “Mar–a-Lago face.”
This spite of mine is justified — look at what’s happening in Washington, D.C.
While I don’t particularly care about renovating the White House, I still wonder what the symbolism says when people who show such disrespect for the Constitution and democracy at large happily tear down the physical manifestation of said institutions.
The overwhelming supernova of glamour and gold laid against the backdrop of a cringe-worthy, newly gilded Oval Office is a striking combination.
Simultaneously, they are promoting a regime defined by aggressive and stubborn international relations, a disregard for the legitimacy of lower governments and other branches, mass deportation practices and a general dislike of foreign individuals and corporations.
In the background of this mess, Trump’s portrait hangs, its shadowed background and post-stroke-esque glare ominous as it overlooks these tactless shifts from democracy to autocracy in the United States.
The lack of care and strategy in the execution of their aesthetics is intriguing to me — with all of the wealth and resplendence that the GOP holds, the party still does not seem to fully understand what they are styling or hold any personal sentiment beyond sociopolitical ambition.
Injecting plastic into your face and slapping gold onto every surface does not tell people you are a community that cares about curation or finding meaning within art. Instead, it reveals that the GOP are not elephants, but dragons — actors who wish to hoard wealth, welfare and well-being for themselves and those they deem worthy: the wealthy and white.
I am not knocking on their style for no reason — the GOP is using imagery in such a sinister manner that I feel it must be talked about, analyzed and understood alongside their actual policies and goals. While there must be more focus on their actions than looks, these flimsy choices reveal how dark, greedy and egotistical the goals of the GOP are.
Aesthetically, Republican politicians are making an attempt to hearken their supporters to a fantastical era of power, peace and perfection — built on a foundation of white supremacy and nationalism. This cheaply-constructed veneer of refinement, class and courtesy is especially unfathomable when spoken in context with what the rest of the world is going through at the moment.
Illustration by Jayden Smirnova.
Illustration by Ivy Saunders.
Sal Orlando Daijah Hinmon
Illustration by Theo Norton.
Puzzles
RETRACE YOUR STEPS
By Marc Goldstein
ACROSS
1 Comforting touches 5 Perceived
76 Flag
Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle
DOWN
9 Puck’s flagship restaurant
Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle
Edited by Patti Varol
77 MLB team playing in Sacramento ahead of their move to Las Vegas
1 Sauce made with basil and pine nuts
RETRACE YOUR STEPS
14 Wound remnant
18 2-Down’s love interest
By Marc Goldstein
19 Long skirt
ACROSS
81 Mathematician Lovelace
Edited by Patti Varol
82 Spotless
1 Comforting touches
20 Classic quilted handbag maker 21 Goddess of marriage
5 Perceived
85 Israeli airline
76 Flag
86 Give kudos at a poetry slam
9 Puck’s flagship restaurant
87 Stressful position
14 Wound remnant
22 Dance of the moonlighters?
25 Garden spot
18 2-Down’s love interest
19 Long skirt
26 Many a first-time
2 Rebellious mermaid 3 Helped through hard times, with “over”
4 Set crew’s responsibility
77 MLB team playing in Sacramento ahead of their move to Las Vegas
89 Tolkien’s Shepherds of the Trees
20 Classic quilted handbag maker
DOWN
5 Arrogant 6 Support for a work in progress
81 Mathematician Lovelace
82 Spotless
92 Surrounded by 94 Evergreen with upright cones
85 Israeli airline
95 Tennis icon Arthur
1 Sauce made with basil and pine nuts 2 Rebellious mermaid
27 Night, in the Eternal City
28 Blow up, in a way
21 Goddess of marriage
29 Wiser companion?
30 Terra firma
96 King or queen
22 Dance of the moonlighters?
32 Dance of the anglers?
35 Tear
25 Garden spot
86 Give kudos at a poetry slam 87 Stressful position
98 Dance of the flamboyant?
101 Principles
26 Many a first-time voter
37 Upper limb
39 Blessed event?
7 Over-the-top 8 World Cup score, maybe 9 Closes 10 Angel hair and linguine 11 Radio receiver 12 Take shape
89 Tolkien’s Shepherds of the Trees
104 Musician and peace activist Yoko
105 Once while
27 Night, in the Eternal City
40 Dance of the mothers-to-be?
28 Blow up, in a way
3 Helped through hard times, with “over” 4 Set crew’s responsibility 5 Arrogant 6 Support for a work in progress
13 World Cup “Score!,” maybe 14 Fruity, frozen desserts
92 Surrounded by 94 Evergreen with upright cones
106 Dance of the investigators?
29 Wiser companion?
30 Terra firma
46 Middle
32 Dance of the anglers?
35 Tear
37 Upper limb
95 Tennis icon Arthur 96 King or queen
110 Biblical mariner
113 Insider parlance
98 Dance of the flamboyant?
117 Not moving
101 Principles
118 White Rabbit follower
120 Silica gel packet target
39 Blessed event?
40 Dance of the mothers-to-be?
53 Poet’s “at no time” 55 Troubled
104 Musician and peace activist Yoko 105 Once while 106 Dance of the investigators?
122 Undershirt, briefly 123 Dance of the pickpockets?
46 Middle sch. math class
57 “Whiskey Lullaby” singer Paisley
110 Biblical mariner 113 Insider parlance
126 Put in stitches
47 Temporary repair material
51 __ cube
59 Prefix with -pathic
61 Savor 63 Work unit 64 Coin from the Royal Mint
127 “__ percent of the game is half mental”: Yogi Berra quip about baseball
52 First-year student working toward a JD
128 How to get in on a deal?
53 Poet’s “at no time”
55 Troubled
66 Roman garb
67 Concern
129 Natural balm
117 Not moving 118 White Rabbit follower 120 Silica gel packet target 122 Undershirt, briefly 123 Dance of the pickpockets?
130 Tantalizing
57 “Whiskey Lullaby” singer Paisley
131 “Hedda” actress Thompson
69 Dance of the homebodies?
59 Prefix with -pathic
61 Savor
73 Sleepy housemate
63 Work unit
132 Drive up a phone bill, in a way
15 Surrendered 16 Final Four venue 17 H.E.R.’s genre 20 Margaret of “Drop Dead Diva” 23 Big name in gummy bears 24 Evasive maneuver 28 Toon devil 31 Catch 33 India Gate city 34 “L’Absinthe” painter 36 Less sizable 38 Butterfly honorific, for short 40 Lobster dinner accoutrements 41 Prefix with -polis 42 Wally’s sitcom bro 43 Combat caregiver 44 Predicaments
126 Put in stitches 127 “__ percent of the game is half mental”: Yogi Berra quip about baseball
133 Longings
64 Coin from the Royal Mint
66 Roman garb
67 Concern
69 Dance of the homebodies?
73 Sleepy housemate
128 How to get in on a deal?
45 “Evita” name 48 Some Belgian blondes 49 Cradle of the Inca Empire 50 Slight advantage 54 Jamaican genre 56 Gleam
129 Natural balm 130 Tantalizing 131 “Hedda” actress Thompson
132 Drive up a phone bill, in a way 133 Longings
Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk
7 Over-the-top 8 World Cup score, maybe 9 Closes 10 Angel hair and linguine 11 Radio receiver 12 Take shape 13 World Cup “Score!,” maybe 14 Fruity, frozen desserts 15 Surrendered 16 Final Four venue 17 H.E.R.’s genre 20 Margaret of “Drop Dead Diva” 23 Big name in gummy bears 24 Evasive maneuver 28 Toon devil 31 Catch 33 India Gate city 34 “L’Absinthe” painter 36 Less sizable 38 Butterfly honorific, for short 40 Lobster dinner accoutrements
41 Prefix with -polis 42 Wally’s sitcom bro 43 Combat caregiver 44 Predicaments 45 “Evita” name 48 Some Belgian blondes 49 Cradle of the Inca Empire 50 Slight advantage 54 Jamaican genre 56 Gleam
By The Mepham Group
Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle
58 “Nosferatu” actress Lily-Rose 60 Not remote 62 Racer’s final chance to win 65 Rolls-__ 66 Precursor to overtime 68 Some military figs. 70 Small but loud songbirds 71 Hula Hoop maker 72 “Fighting” team of the Big Ten 73 “Ur so funny!” 74 Kerfuffles 75 Trail 78 Facts, for short 79 Abel’s brother 80 Chipper 83 “Se español” 84 Devoured 88 Harshness 90 E’en if 91 Many a Petrarch poem 93 King or queen 97 Holds back 99 Curry favor with 100 Not quite (there) 102 Court fig. 103 Ointments 106 Candle threads 107 Silly 108 New version of an existing song 109 Michelangelo masterpiece 111 __ acid 112 Shade-loving perennial 114 Cunning 115 “Citizen Kane” director Welles 116 Heads of France 119 Get teary 121 One thing alone or two people together 123 Que. neighbor 124 Whopper 125 “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” band
58 “Nosferatu” actress Lily-Rose 60 Not remote 62 Racer’s final chance to win 65 Rolls-__ 66 Precursor to overtime 68 Some military figs. 70 Small but loud songbirds 71 Hula Hoop maker 72 “Fighting” team of the Big Ten 73 “Ur so funny!” 74 Kerfuffles 75 Trail
78 Facts, for short 79 Abel’s brother 80 Chipper 83 “Se español” 84 Devoured 88 Harshness 90 E’en if 91 Many a Petrarch poem 93 King or queen 97 Holds back 99 Curry favor with 100 Not quite (there) 102 Court fig. 103 Ointments 106 Candle threads 107 Silly 108 New version of an existing song 109 Michelangelo masterpiece 111 __ acid 112 Shade-loving perennial 114 Cunning 115 “Citizen Kane” director Welles 116 Heads of France 119 Get teary 121 One thing alone or two people together 123 Que. neighbor 124 Whopper 125 “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” band
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk © 2025 The Mepham Group. Distributed by
Edited by Patti Varol
Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle
Retrace Your Steps by MARC GOLDSTEIN