March 27, 2017 • Vol. 58, No. 22
The independent press of Virginia Commonwealth University
NEWS Dominion lawsuit • 3
SPORTS Weber signs • 5
SPECTRUM UTMOST CO. • 8
Sports
ALL RHOADES LEAD HOME
OPINION Will Wade • 11
News
Former assistant coach Mike Rhoades takes the helm of VCU basketball, brings final-four guard Joey Rodriguez with him
Judge:
PHOTO BY PILAR CURTIS
Dominion coal ash ponds violate federal Clean Water Act
This is a dream come true, to me and my family, to be the head coach at VCU ... I'm home. This program has been, and always will be, about the players."
HIBA AHMAD Online Editor A federal judge ruled Dominion Virginia Power is violating the Clean Water Act by dumping coal ash wastewater into designated coal ash ponds on March 23. The ruling rejected Dominion’s claims that the coal ash ponds, which contain arsenic and other products, were not contaminating the groundwater around their Possum Point power plant in Dumfries, Virginia. The Southern Environmental Law Center represented the Sierra Club and Potomac Riverkeeper Network, the environmental organizations who filed the original complaint against Dominion in 2014. The two organizations accused Dominion of not disclosing the coal ash ponds were damaging not only the groundwater, but also the Elizabeth River which flows into the Potomac. —see "DOMINION," page 4
Mike Rhoades, Head Coach VCU Men's Basketball story on page 5
Spectrum
News
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCUS INGRAM JR.
Virginia Union University student sues Richmond police for 2014 assault
Utmost Co. celebrates California store opening KEYRIS MANZANARES Contributing Writer Richmond streetwear and skateboard shop, Utmost, is bringing its unique urban-style feel to the “City of Angels." —see "UTMOST," page 8
Opinion
AMELIA HEYMANN Contributing Writer Maurice Neblett, a criminal justice major at Virginia Union University, is suing the Richmond Police department for $2.3 million, claiming an illegal search of his apartment, committed battery and common law conspiracy. The case has been ongoing since 2015. “I’m here, I’m breathing, a lot of people that have been in similar
situations aren’t here today,” Neblett said. According to court papers, the police officers received a warrant for building two, apartment 2120 at 610 W. Bacon St. after an officer reported he smelled marijuana in the area. This address doesn’t actually exist. Instead, the officers raided 531 W. Bacon St. – Neblett’s apartment. – see "ASSAULT" page 2
ILLUSTRATION BY SKYE ALI
ILLUST RATION BY GARET H BENTA
LL
Will Wade's feeble fade-away
page 11