RICHMOND FREE PRESS 04 JANUARY 22-24, 2026 EDITION

Virginia makes history

By Alessandra Caceres Mendoza and Paige Frey Capital News Service

Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Jan. 17 as Virginia’s first female governor. She took the oath of office around noon, pledging to “work tirelessly” for a more unified Commonwealth.

Spanberger’s new position was not the only first of the day. Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi became the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office, alongside Jay Jones, now Virginia’s first Black attorney general.

The traditional exchange of keys to the Executive Mansion took place before the inauguration, marking the transfer of power from outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Spanberger delivered a speech on history, hardship and promises before more than 5,000 guests, according to her press office.

Her campaign focused on overall affordability, advancing public schools and stricter gun laws. She emphasized overcoming division and working together — a theme she repeated in her inaugural address.

“We do not have to see eye to eye on every issue to stand shoulder to shoulder on others,” Spanberger said.

She called on Virginians to “write the next chapter of our Commonwealth’s history” and highlighted unity as the core of a democratic state.

“Because Virginia has always been a place where we confront challenges, where we build coalitions and where we prove that democracy still works,” Spanberger said.

The new governor listed three main priorities for her administration: affordability, advancing public schools and security. She also plans to address housing and energy costs, strengthen the state’s education system and protect all Virginia residents, including immigrants.

Spanberger, wearing all white in a nod to Virginia suffrag-

Gun rights and gun safety advocates rally at Capitol on Lobby Day

By George Copeland Jr.

Gun rights and gun violence prevention groups gathered at the Capitol in large numbers on Monday’s Lobby Day to rally support and meet with legislators.

Under the Bell Tower, about a hundred gun violence prevention advocates from across the state gathered to share stories, remember the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and urge action as part of the 34th annual Virginia Vigil & Advocacy Day to Prevent Gun Violence.

General Assembly members, Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Attorney General Jay Jones joined the vigil, organized by the Virginia Center for Public Safety, and pledged to work toward preventing future gun deaths.

“Virginia, we’re ready to return to the table now with our new administration,” Hashmi said. “We’re called upon to act not because it’s politically expedient, but because the lives and safeties and securities of our communities are absolutely critical.”

Many at the afternoon vigil wore blue Superman beanies to remember local actor Adam Turck, who was shot and killed last

Be ready Winter storm may bring heavy snow, dangerous travel conditions

Richmond is bracing for a winter storm this weekend that could bring significant snowfall, hazardous travel and a sharp drop in temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, a developing system is expected to arrive late Saturday and linger into Sunday, with snow becoming the dominant precipitation as colder air settles over Central Virginia.

By George Copeland Jr.

“Where

or community?” This was the question on

“We

Forecasters say the storm has the ingredients to produce accumulating snow, with Richmond likely to see 8 inches or more, and some areas could receive up to a foot if the system tracks favorably. Light precipitation may begin as rain or a rain-snow mix before transitioning fully to snow as the system strengthens. Once colder air sets in, untreated roads and bridges could become slick quickly, creating dangerous driving conditions.

Meteorologists warn that gusty winds may further reduce visibility at times, compounding the risk for commuters and travelers. Snowfall totals remain uncertain, and even small shifts in the storm’s track or temperature profile could influence the final amounts and which areas see snow versus sleet or freezing rain.

“Chances for a major winter storm and very cold temperatures continue to increase this weekend,” according to a report from the NWS. “Significant uncertainties remain regarding coverage, timing and precipitation type. Keep a close eye on the forecast over the coming days.”

Behind the storm, bitter cold is expected to persist, with daytime highs early next week struggling to rise above freezing. Snow that falls this weekend is likely to linger, impacting travel and daily routines into next week. Officials advise residents to monitor the latest forecasts, adjust travel plans, check heating systems and stock up on essentials.

Chef Leah Branch named James Beard Award semifinalist

Free Press staff report

Richmond’s Leah Branch has been named a 2026 semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. Branch, a Chesterfield native, has worked at The Roosevelt in Richmond since 2022. There, she highlights Southern cuisine and honors African American culinarians, particularly those from Virginia.

This marks the first time since 2020 that a Richmond chef has been recognized by the James Beard Awards, often described as the culinary equivalent of the Oscars.

James Beard Award finalists will be announced March 3, with winners celebrated at a ceremony in June.

Home care workers back bill allowing collective bargaining

By Charlotte Rene Woods

SEIU Virginia 512 is part of the Service Employees International Union, which advocates for a range of service workers around the world. At Virginia’s Capitol on Tuesday, the group urged lawmakers to pass a bill that would allow home health workers to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

While the bill broadly applies to public employees, such as government workers, it would also create the Virginia Home Care Authority within the state’s Department of Medical Assistance Services.

SEIU leaders said the legislation would empower Joy Barnes, a home health worker who can’t afford to take a sick day when she falls ill.

After a medical emergency due to her anemia, Barnes relayed how she struggled “to play catch up” on bills afterward. Her job also puts her health at risk, and she has caught both minor colds and infections that have required hospitalization while caring for some of her clients. Each time she has had to take a break, she loses pay.

Workers like Barnes are the “backbone” of the health care industry and support all other types of workers, SEIU Virginia 512 member Athena Jones added during the group’s press conference Tuesday.

Jones and others said the bill is necessary because public employees are barred from collective bargaining at the state level. Some cities or counties have permitted it, but with home health care workers typically compensated through Medicaid, they have not had a seat at the table to negotiate alongside other types of public employees.

“We need the opportunity to be able to say what we need as home care workers — being able to thrive, not just survive,” Jones said, describing being treated as “invisible” among other types of health workers.

“We’re a part of the system that allows other people to be able to go to work, allows industries to thrive, allows opportunities where there may not be because the support isn’t there,” she said. Clients of home health workers, like Kate Olson of the Arc of Virginia, also support the bill.

Living with a genetic condition called Williams syndrome, Olson works with the Arc of Virginia as a coordinator. Assistance from a home health worker has allowed her to keep doing the work she loves, she said, which is why she supports the current bill and has spent nearly two decades advocating for other measures and providing insights to lawmakers who craft them.

“Me and my friends need services so we can live a life like yours,” she told the crowd at Tuesday’s press conference. “I want to be honest, I could not do the things I do without support.”

The collective bargaining bill is being carried by Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, in the House and Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, in the Senate. It will likely advance through the legislature again this year and may be less likely to face a governor’s veto, as it did under Republican Glenn Youngkin. New Gov. Abigail Spanberger campaigned on addressing affordability issues and could view the bill through that lens.

Surovell said he is “optimistic” about the bill’s success but noted that more nuance and details might need to be sorted out in the months ahead.

“It’s a complex subject,” he said, noting challenges in determining how it would apply to governmental entities around the state, along with public universities. “A lot of people assumed Youngkin would veto it before, so they didn’t spend a lot of time on it.”

Now, Surovell anticipates robust discussion in committees before the bill advances to both chambers, where it could be workshopped further or advanced without changes.

The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to run through mid-March.

This story originally appeared on VirginiaMercury.com.

Cityscape

Virginia General Assembly launches HBCU caucus

Free Press staff report

Members of the Virginia General Assembly announced the launch of the Virginia Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus on Tuesday, a bipartisan, bicameral legislative group aimed at promoting and protecting the interests of the state’s HBCUs and the students and communities they serve.

The caucus is co-chaired by Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, and Del. Alex Askew, D-Newport News, and brings together lawmakers who are HBCU alumni, represent districts with HBCUs or hold leadership

Rallies

By George Copeland Jr.

Over three days and at three Richmond locations, residents and organizations rallied to support immigrants, oppose the Trump administration and call for community defense.

“The fight is within us all,” Richmond Defensa organizer Violeta Vega said. “The fight is in the streets, and that’s where we’re going to stay.”

Vega was one of several speakers from groups such as RVA Indivisible and the Party for Socialism and Liberation who addressed a crowd of about 100 people at Kanawha Plaza on Tuesday.

The rally marked the first anniversary of Trump’s second inauguration and was one of many student and worker walkouts nationwide.

Speakers at the event condemned recent fatal shootings and deportations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, criticized U.S. foreign intervention in Venezuela and highlighted broader systemic issues in American policy.

Similar criticisms were made Sunday during a rally in Monroe Park organized by the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality and Virginia Immigrants for Life, Liberation, Autonomy and Solidarity.

“Today, we are here to denounce the abductions that are happening,” the Defenders’ Immigrant Support Committee leader Fern Diaz-Castro said as she addressed the crowd in the pouring rain. “They are kidnapping our people throughout the country and right here in our city.”

The rally was organized in response to reports of increased ICE presence in the

roles on higher education committees.

“The creation of the Virginia HBCU Caucus reflects our shared commitment to continued investment, affordability and accessibility,” Askew said. “By working collaboratively with institutional leaders, students and stakeholders, we can advance meaningful policies that strengthen HBCUs and the communities they serve.”

Locke said the caucus provides a focused, bipartisan approach to addressing longstanding inequities while positioning the institutions and students for long-term success.

HBCU leaders praised the caucus as a

step toward ensuring equitable investments in higher education. Darrell K. Williams, president of Hampton University, said the partnership is “essential to ensuring HBCUs have the resources necessary to continue serving students, advancing research, and strengthening workforce pipelines across the Commonwealth.”

Other priorities for the 2026 legislative session include increasing investment in the HBCU Partnership to address historic funding gaps, expanding state financial aid and TAG program support, and modernizing campus infrastructure at public and private HBCUs.

Richmond area.

While all three rallies called for action, RVA Indivisible’s Martin Luther King Day Vigil for Peace at the Virginia War Memorial on Monday also honored those lost and urged the community to follow King’s example.

“We gather today in the spirit of Dr. King, who taught us that peace is not passive,” ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer said. “Peace requires justice, and justice requires accountability.”

Speakers at all three events urged Virginia leaders to take stronger action on ICE and federal immigration policies. They acknowledged Gov. Abigail Span-

berger’s executive order ending Virginia’s collaboration with ICE but said further steps were needed.

“That was a great first step, but it’s not enough,” Bauer said. “We need courage from all of us and at every level of our government.”

Speakers at the events called for bans on local and state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, for Virginia to be declared a sanctuary state and for Richmond to avoid new contracts with surveillance companies such as Flock Safety. They also urged organizing, Know Your Rights training, collaboration to respond to ICE activity and, in some cases, a general strike.

Ladies and gentlemen … start your terms

Virginia turns a page as lawmakers take their oaths and Gov. Abigail Spanberger was inaugurated last week. The first day of the 2026 General Assembly session on Jan. 14 saw delegates and state leaders assume their roles. Days later, Spanberger took the oath of office at the Virginia State Capitol in front of thousands, joined by Attorney General Jay C. Jones and Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi. Performances followed, featuring members of Virginia’s Native American Tribes, the Hampton University Concert Choir and many others in The Inaugural Parade.

to be more inclusive to represent Virginia’s diverse constituents.

ists, said the suffragists “could only dream of a day like today.” She also recognized Virginia’s first Black governor, L. Douglas Wilder, who was in attendance and celebrating his 95th birthday.

Spanberger recounted her experience in law enforcement and the CIA, which she said gave her insight at both local and national levels.

“Growing up, my parents always taught me that when faced with something unacceptable, you must speak up,” Spanberger said. “You must take action, right what you believe is wrong, and fix what isn’t working.”

The inaugural parade after the address featured public safety, military, education and community groups. Multicultural groups also participated, including Virginia Pride and Expomundo USA, an organization celebrating and connecting Latin American cultures. Neither group participated in Youngkin’s inaugural parade.

“I was not raised in Virginia, but I think it’s really important for my kids to be here just to be part of it as a Virginia citizen,” said Kat Oros, a mother and Virginia Pride member. “It’s so incredible to be reminded of democracy.”

Expomundo performer Jennifer Ortiz said Spanberger is trying

Gun rights and gun safety advocates rally at Capitol on Lobby Day

bills introduced as a threat to their rights during a “No Queens” rally organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

The rally, which occurred hours before the gun violence prevention vigil, brought a larger group to the Capitol grounds and the streets outside it. Groups present included Gun Owners of America, BLM 757, the Oath Keepers and state and federal legislators, who voiced opposition to any restrictions and called for a united response.

“We need all hands on deck,” Rep. John McGuire said. “We’ve got the midterms coming up, and I need 10 people to get 10 people to get 10 people to vote.”

Gun-focused bills introduced in the 2026 General Assembly session include an assault weapons ban, removing localities’ ability to ban firearms from their parks and certain events, and competing measures that would restrict and expand concealed handgun permits.

Attendees expressed excitement about the historic moment and said they look forward to seeing how Spanberger governs.

Gwen Sarsfield, who started phone banking for Spanberger during her first primary election in 2018, said she knew Spanberger “was going to be someone special.”

“When I was 10 years old, I used to run home to hear JFK’s press conferences,” Sarsfield said. “I think I just never thought our country would be in this state; but Abigail, honey, she’s a beacon … she will represent us well.”

Emma Coffey, an attendee who aspires to work in politics, admires Spanberger’s persistence and transparency.

“It’s a new day for Virginia,” Coffey said. “We have a pretty blue House and Senate and now a blue governor. It’s pretty incredible. I think that we’re going to see immense progress.”

Attendee Kevin Hickerson criticized the previous administration for prioritizing the wealthy over the needs of Virginians.

“There’s been a lot of concentration on making sure that the well-heeled in society get an extra $100,000 to a million here,” Hickerson said. He said he believes families and those who struggle daily will be uplifted during Spanberger’s term.

Spanberger signed her first 10 executive orders after the

parade. The directives include identifying ways to reduce living expenses, improve educational instruction, coordinate a statewide response to federal workforce reductions, review appointments to university boards, and implement a nondiscrimination policy across “facets of state government.” Two orders detail state of emergency authority and chief of staff responsibilities.

Her final directive rescinded Youngkin’s order that directed state and local law enforcement to assist with federal civil immigration enforcement, emphasizing that law enforcement should focus on their core duties to protect public safety.

Virginia’s first family ended a long day of ceremony with the inaugural ball at Main Street Station. Guests enjoyed Virginia cuisine and music by Charlottesville-based musician Dave Matthews.

After a weekend of historic events and celebration, Spanberger delivered her first address to the General Assembly on Monday. Her four-year term begins with Democrats holding a governing trifecta.

She voiced support for four constitutional amendments that will appear on voter ballots this year: access to abortion, restoration of voting rights for the formerly incarcerated, same-sex marriage protection, and redistricting, which may have a spring referendum.

Leaders urge action, community service at VUU’s MLK celebration

“Stay focused on community.”

Federal, state and local leaders at the event cautioned attendees against using the celebration as a brief acknowledgment of the need for change. Instead, they urged people to follow King’s example by taking meaningful, consistent action and serving their communities.

“We must not come to this occasion simply to celebrate the aspirational but to be honest, up front with what we are facing in this moment,” VUU Board Chair Franklyn Richardson said.

The speakers’ calls for action came with recommendations and promises those gathered could or would do to continue King’s

work. Incoming Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Attorney General Jay Jones spoke of the responsibility political leaders have to use their power decisively and lead consistently.

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula and VUU CEO Hakim J. Lucas, meanwhile, saw local avenues for meaningful change in Richmond’s public housing communities, the city’s youth, and attendees’ own friends and family, pointing to them as examples of groups in need of enthusiastic support.

“Our work to create a more inclusive Richmond through housing, through policy, through storytelling, through reconciliation,” Avula said, “it is how we pursue the beloved community right here and right now.”

The event’s focus could also be seen in the Community Leaders Awards, which recognized the Richmond Free Press and other groups, individuals and organizations for their advocacy, community, civil rights and educational contributions.

King’s legacy remained the guiding principle for all. Keynote speaker Jeffery O. Smith, now the state’s secretary of education, said that legacy was built on King’s willingness to answer his calling over his own personal comfort.

“We’re called on this day and in this moment to do more than to admire the dream,” Smith said. “But rather, it calls us forward, it calls us into action and it calls us into places of responsibility for such a time as this.”

Voices raised for peace and change on MLK Day

Vigil and Advocacy Day for gun violence prevention

Richmond Free Press

Her morning jacket

One thing I’ve never been accused of in my years as a journalist is being an expert on fashion. Like many men my age, my idea of what looks good is shaped by what was popular when I was “hip” — which was longer ago than I care to admit. My clothing choices are guided by price, durability, and whether they can conceal a midlife bulge. Comfort matters more than style, and practicality usually wins over trendiness, although I’ve gotten used to the skinny jeans I bought a few months ago. I don’t dress to make a statement, but I can certainly recognize when somebody else does, such as Her Excellency, Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

As you may have heard, there’s a tradition that Virginia’s incoming governors wear a specific outfit to their inauguration. Protocol calls for a dark-colored morning coat for the occasion. I’ll bet whoever came up with that rule never imagined a woman leading the Commonwealth. On Saturday, one question among the press gaggle on the risers in front of the podium was what she would wear. That might seem like a superficial way to consider the first actions of the state’s first female governor, but it was more than a style question. It was a chance to see how she would navigate a tradition and protocol not designed for someone like her.

And how did she do? She appeared in a white jacket with gold buttons and matching white gloves. The look was clean and commanding. A gold pin on her coat read, “One country. One destiny.” The choice of white has been interpreted as a nod to the women’s suffrage movement.

The moment’s impact multiplied when she stepped to the podium after being sworn in. There she stood, the state’s leader, dressed in white, delivering her inaugural address with messages of hope and progress. In front of her lay the state seal, showing the Roman goddess Virtus standing over a man who symbolizes a despot, lying prone and defeated. It is a visual representation of the state motto: “Sic Semper Tyrannis” — thus always to tyrants.

While I may not be a fashionista, I think another message was sent with her wardrobe decision. Style isn’t just about what you wear — it’s about the courage to stand as yourself, even in a world built for someone else.

What King’s teachings reveal about America’s

crossroads

Americans of all walks of life are witnessing continuing political and cultural shifts in our nation. While these shifts began long before last year’s presidential election, the return of the Trump administration to power has accelerated the pace of changes impacting the nation economically, politically and culturally. The way Americans interpret these changes often comes down to political persuasion and alignment. Too often, politics overrides sound Christian doctrine, economic vulnerability and racial identity.

The term “Make America Great Again” has a specific meaning when viewed through a racial and moral lens. For many in the Black community, MAGA is more than a catchy phrase meant to excite a conservative movement. Through this moral lens, MAGA is seen as a political movement whose immoral goal is to rebrand discriminatory laws, racial violence and systemic barriers reminiscent of the nation’s dark past. On the surface, Christian talking points persist, but many refuse to be blind to the corruption, cruelty and hypocrisy beneath them. There is talk of salvation,

but no evidence of Christ-like discipleship in defending the poor, the oppressed and strangers, including immigrants. There is frequent talk of strengthening the border, reviving the economy and developing an “America First” posture in foreign policy. Yet, through this moral lens, there continues to be unjust harassment and suffering within the Brown community. The killing of Renee Good in Minnesota at the hands of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent is being covered up and justified

by Trump administration officials. Some conservatives deny that racist intentions exist within the MAGA movement, but claims of “reverse discrimination” continue to be voiced by a U.S. president who has said civil rights-era protections have “hurt” white Americans.

In an interview with The New York Times, President Donald Trump stated, “White people were very badly treated, where they did extremely well and they were not invited to go into a university to college,” referring to affirmative action in college admissions. Vice President JD Vance has also backed claims that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have harmed job prospects for white

men. He recently shared an essay calling DEI “a deliberate program of discrimination primarily against white men.”

When proponents talk about reverse discrimination, the goal of “Make America Great Again” is to return to a society with little or no protections against discrimination in public and private institutions. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, pushed back against those claims. Johnson said there is “no evidence that white men were discriminated against as a result of the civil rights movement, the Civil Rights Act, and efforts to rectify the long history of this country denying access to people based on race in every measurable category,” in a statement to The New York Times.

For those unfamiliar with the horrors of the Jim Crow era, the shift underway may not feel like a sufficient warning of what lies ahead in the months and years to come. Even more troubling, MAGA-driven misinformation and the rebranding of history may become effective with young Blacks beginning to believe and accept it. As the nation observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, questions must be asked: Are we fulfilling his legacy? Are young Blacks drifting away from his message? As the nation shifts as a result of the conservative MAGA movement, how is that shift being resisted?

Native tribes raise alarm over ICE tactics

In a nation as diverse as ours, immigration enforcement inevitably tests whether equal protection means what it says. Some tribal leaders in the Upper Midwest say that test is being failed in the wake of the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. By the end of the week, claims of ag gressive im migration enforcement actions, in cluding doorto-door operations in some neighborhoods, poured in concerning agents not only tracking down those without legal status to reside in the U.S. but also questioning and detaining others, whether they were legal residents or citizens. Social media platforms were filled with video clips not only of Good’s killing but also of federal agents doing sidewalk and parking lot interrogations of Black, Latino and other nonwhite residents. Masked and kitted out for combat, the agents give the impression of being a law unto themselves as they demand to see identification papers.

said on Facebook that ICE had detained four homeless members of his tribe in Minneapolis, CBS reported. The Department of Homeland Security disavowed any knowledge of detaining members of the Sioux Nation, and Star Comes Out did not give the full names of the detained men. DHS told The Wall Street

Journal that it could not verify that any tribe members were arrested.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that Jose Roberto “Beto” Ramirez, 20, a descendant of the Red Lake Nation of Ojibwe in Minnesota, was pulled out of a car in a Twin Cities suburb, roughed up, handcuffed and detained at ICE’s headquarters in Minneapolis.

Last year at this time, Navajo Nation officials were reporting that tribal citizens were being detained in Arizona and New Mexico.

For me, this reporting is not abstract. As an African American man, it has hit me like a blast from America’s past: the bad old days of Jim Crow segregation.

On Jan. 10, the tribal governing board of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, based in northern Wisconsin, stated it was “closely monitoring recent events that took place in Minneapolis, and around the country involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agents.”

That vigilance was not misplaced.

On Jan. 9, Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out

It also reminded me of the bad old days of being a reporter in South Africa in the mid-1970s during the era of racist apartheid before Nelson Mandela was released and elected president.

As a reporter who looked undeniably Black, I prudently carried my U.S. passport in my pocket just in case I was stopped by the authorities for the crime of reporting-while-Black.

Worse, as a longtime police beat reporter, I am appalled by the behavior of some federal

agents I have seen. The worst appear to be more interested in fulfilling quotas than fighting crime.

And then there’s the gaslighting by the Trump administration. Leave aside the question of whether Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who fatally shot Good, felt he was in danger when he pulled the trigger. Administration officials immediately set about characterizing Good as a terrorist, portraying other activists monitoring ICE actions as “paid,” and claiming that the door-to-door raids are really about investigating “fraud, human smuggling and unlawful employment practices.”

Racial profiling has long been a feature of law enforcement in the U.S., and it persists despite periodic attempts to root it out. I don’t need to detail here the stress, anxiety and other ill effects it is known to cause (including post-traumatic stress disorder). These are well-known.

What needs to be said is that these psychological wounds — the fear, alienation and mistrust they inspire in the victims — appear to be a central objective of Trump’s DHS at the moment.

Civil rights advocates argue that the Supreme Court’s stay in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo effectively allows immigration agents to resume practices that critics call racial profiling, intensifying concerns about unchecked enforcement.

Such raids are a grave threat to half a century of progress toward racial peace and understanding in this country, and an insult to the people who were on this land first.

The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

As discrimination is rebranded, these political and cultural changes are also being viewed through Dr. King’s perspective. While he promoted nonviolence, Dr. King was still radical. He confronted hypocrisy and respectfully held white counterparts accountable in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” a text every person of color should read. Members of the Black community cannot afford to view nationwide ICE raids as someone else’s fight. Dr. King made his position clear when he wrote, “It was illegal to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler’s Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers.” One reason the conservative movement has been able to shift the nation politically and culturally backward is that the nation has drifted away from Dr. King’s legacy. The writer is the author of “God Bless Our Divided America.”

Virginia’s new chapter begins with Spanberger’s confident address

I’ve watched every Virginia governor’s inauguration for the past 30 years. For most of those, I covered them on-site as a reporter or editor. They’ve ranged from perfectly serviceable to pretty doggone good.

Wilder, who is descended from enslaved grandparents and was in attendance on his 95th birthday. Wilder’s 1990 inauguration packed Capitol Square — a realization of King’s dream.

communities, cutting health care access, imperiling rural hospitals, and driving up costs,” she said. Affordability was the centerpiece of her campaign and is now the focus of her term.

escalate the vindictive president’s reprisals. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were spotted operating last week in Petersburg and Henrico County.

Venezuela’s oil should stay in the ground

But what Abigail Davis Spanberger did Saturday in the first minutes of her term as governor soared past them all. Not since the inauguration of L. Douglas Wilder as the nation’s first elected Black governor 36 years ago has the day been as heavily freighted with history as it was for Spanberger — the first woman to govern Virginia in more than four centuries as a colony or a commonwealth. Never had Virginians heard their leader speak as a daughter, a wife, a sister, a mother.

In content, tone and delivery, she comfortably and confidently rendered an address for the ages — one that rose to the importance of the occasion, rich in lines that will be quoted for generations to come.

For Virginians, it blended the sweet optimism of President Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on a hill” valedictory and President John F. Kennedy’s stirring “Ask not” exhortation to Americans’ collective and individual commitment to country.

Under leaden skies against a damp winter chill, her sunny 25-minute address took in the vast sweep of Virginia’s history — for better and for worse — and paired it seamlessly to today’s divisive strife and tomorrow’s daunting challenges for her and her government.

She noted the commonwealth’s first two governors, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, and cited Henry’s 1799 admonition in his final public speech — “United we stand, divided we fall” — that is as urgent now as it was at our republic’s birth.

Dressed in suffragette white and standing as the ultimate triumph of their cause, Spanberger saluted women who risked harassment and arrest on the same Capitol steps a century earlier advocating for women’s right to vote.

On the eve of the holiday celebrating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, she noted King’s daring 1960 speech in Richmond urging Gov. Lindsay Almond to end Massive Resistance, Virginia’s disgraceful and futile effort to defy the Supreme Court’s 1954 ruling to desegregate public schools.

Spanberger recognized

She honored the memory of Linwood Holton, Virginia’s first Republican governor, who served notice in his 1970 inaugural speech that Virginia would, at last, embrace racial

Lewis

equality, not just as the law but as a value. Seated nearby, Holton’s daughter, former first lady Anne Holton, fought back tears as her husband, U.S. Sen. and former Gov. Tim Kaine, comforted her.

When she shifted to the present, Spanberger confronted the administration of President Donald Trump and the “recklessness coming out of Washington” without once uttering his name. She addressed Virginians’ concerns head on.

“You are worried about policies that are hurting our

“You are worried about Washington policies that are closing off markets, hurting innovation and private industry, and attacking those who have devoted their lives to public service,” she said, referring to Trump’s schedule of punitive tariffs and federal job cuts in a state that is home to 330,000 federal government workers.

“You are worried about an administration that is gilding buildings while schools crumble, breaking the social safety net and sowing fear across our communities, betraying the values of who we are as Americans, the very values that we celebrate here on these steps,” she said. No elaboration is necessary.

Then she spoke without equivocation to the dispute roiling the nation, causing massive midwinter protests in cities across America, knowing her words might

Public Hearing Notice

“And in Virginia,” Spanberger said, “our hard-working, law-abiding immigrant neighbors will know that when we say that we will focus on the security and safety of all of our neighbors, we mean them, too.”

Does such a powerful oratorical start presage a successful term? Oh, were it so easy.

She has staked out an ambitious agenda, and she’s got 1,454 days and nights to achieve it. Many will be difficult, frustrating and thankless. There are unknown crises that, as often as not, hijack a governor’s term and define his — now her — legacy.

But at least for the moment, Abigail Spanberger has pointed Virginia toward a new destination, and she has inspired us to follow her there.

This commentary originally appeared on VirginiaMercury.com , where this writer is a columnist.

Please take notice that the School Board of the City of Richmond will conduct a public hearing during its meeting to receive public comment on the Superintendent’s proposed FY27 budget on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in School Board Chambers at 301 N. 9th Street, 17th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219. Additional details regarding this meeting will be available at the RPS BoardDocs website: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/Board.nsf/Public.

CHRIS WIEGARD Chester

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact the Clerk of the School Board no later than three (3) business days prior to the meeting at (804) 780-7716 or prichard@rvaschools.net. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency by calling the Americans with Disabilities Act Office TTY Relay Center at 711. PUBLIC NOTICE RICHMOND 2026 BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

Notices

monthly by VDOT. For additional informati on or questions, please contact haulingpermits@vdot.virginia.gov or the Load Rating Program Manager, Manjil Devkota at 804-786-4064

The Virginia Department of Transportation is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need further information on VDOT’s Title VI Program or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, please contact the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Title VI Program Specialist at 804-786-2730 or corina.herrera@vdot.virginia.gov

Public notice is hereby given that the Board of Equalization for the City of Richmond is authorized to meet at specified dates and times for the purpose of hearing complaints of inequities for 2026 real estate assessments. Upon hearing such complaints, either oral or written, the Board will give consideration and increase, decrease or affirm such real estate assessments. Before a change can be granted, the taxpayer or his agent must overcome a clear presumption in favor of the assessment. The taxpayer or agent must prove that the property is not uniform with similar property assessments or prove that the property is assessed in excess of its fair market value.

The Board of Equalization has scheduled the following hearings: Each Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, beginning at 10:00 am in Room 802 of City Hall. Meetings will commence on January 21, 2026 and continue until such time as all matters before the Board are resolved. All appeals will be via phone unless an in-person hearing is requested. For further information, please contact Mrs. Jennifer Sharpe, Liaison, for the Richmond Board of Equalization at (804) 646-4641, 900 East Broad Street, Room 802-City Hall, Richmond, VA 23219.

By order of the Richmond Board of Equalization (Va. Code§ 58.1-3378)

Date: January 15, 2026

For

VUU, VSU split Freedom Classic

Free Press staff report

Virginia Union and Virginia State split a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader Saturday at the VSU Multi-Purpose Center, with the host Trojans’ women rallying for a 68-66 victory before the Panthers’ men dominated 65-37.

Virginia State (11-4, 5-2) erased a 10-point third-quarter deficit to edge Virginia Union in the women’s game. The Trojans jumped ahead 12-3 on a 7-0 run capped by Tamia Darden’s bucket in the first quarter but trailed 33-32 at halftime.

Virginia Union continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 48-38 advantage before Virginia State went on a 9-0 run to trim its deficit to 48-47 with 2:17 left in the third.

The Trojans took a 51-50 lead into the fourth quarter on a Darden free throw.

Virginia Union took a 61-58 lead before Virginia State responded with a 5-0 run, finished by Kendahl Spearman’s layup, to seize a 63-61 lead with 3:30 remaining and hold on for the win.

Maya Ellis led Virginia State with 19 points, six rebounds and three steals. Spearman added 14 points off the bench. The Trojans’ bench provided 32 points, and the team knocked down six of 15 three-point attempts while forcing 22 turnovers.

For Virginia Union, Serenity Johnson led with 17 points, Bruni Martinez added 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Deaishjah Somerville finished with 12 points. The Panthers outrebounded Virginia State 36-32. “We talked all week about how the team

James Sweat, a Hall of Fame coach who led Hampton University and Norfolk State University to championships and helped define an era of women’s basketball in the CIAA, has died.

Sweat was among the most successful coaches in conference history, building titlewinning programs over nearly three decades and guiding teams through both NCAA Division II success and Division I transition. His career included conference championships, a national title and hundreds of victories, while influencing generations of student-athletes at historically Black colleges and universities.

Sweat coached at Hampton from 1981 to 1988, compiling a 183-44 record in seven seasons. His teams won CIAA championships in 1985 and 1987 and were regular contenders in NCAA Division II postseason play. Hampton’s 1987-88 team produced one of the most dominant seasons in conference history, finishing 33-1 and win-

ning the NCAA Division II national championship with a 65-48 victory over West Texas State.

During his tenure at Hampton, Sweat was named CIAA Coach of the Year three times and coached four consecutive CIAA Players of the Year. His teams were known for disciplined play and depth, and several former players went on to leadership roles in athletics and education.

Sweat became head coach at Norfolk State beginning with the 1988-89 season and spent 19 seasons guiding the Spartans. His teams won more than 340 games, captured five CIAA tournament championships and made multiple NCAA Division II regional appearances. The 1990-91 Norfolk State team posted a school-record 33 victories and advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four.

Free Press staff report

Dennis Pelfrey will return to manage the Richmond Flying Squirrels for a fifth season in 2026, the team announced Thursday, continuing the longest managerial tenure in franchise history.

Returning members of the Flying Squirrels coaching staff include pitching coach Paul Oseguera, fundamentals coach Lipso Nava, athletic trainer Tim Vigue and strength and conditioning coach Michelle Kuda. Tommy Everidge will join as hitting coach. The Flying Squirrels’ coaching staff is set by the San Francisco Giants. Since taking over as Richmond’s manager in 2022, Pelfrey has led the team to 260 wins, more than any manager in franchise history. In his first season, the Flying Squirrels clinched the Southwest Division’s first-half title to reach the postseason for the first time in eight years. In 2023, Richmond closed out a

Norfolk State transitioned to Division I competition during Sweat’s tenure. In 2002, the Spartans won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship, earning the program’s first NCAA Division I tournament berth in women’s basketball. The achievement marked a milestone for the program as it adjusted to a higher level of competition.

Sweat’s accomplishments were recognized with induction into the CIAA Hall of Fame, the Hampton University Athletics Hall of Fame, the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame and the Virginia State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker, who played for Sweat at Hampton, said his impact extended beyond wins and championships.

“Coach Sweat elevated the game across

even

Free Press staff report

Four former players, a coach and a journalist will enter the Black College Football Hall of Fame this year, the organization announced Wednesday.

The Class of 2026 features NFL veterans Jimmy Smith of Jackson State, Eddie Robinson Jr. of Alabama State, Nick Collins of Bethune-Cookman and Tyrone Poole of Fort Valley State, along with legendary Florida A&M coach Rudy Hub-

bard and NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche of Howard.

A nine-member selection committee chose the inductees from 28 finalists.

“What we have with the Class of 2026 is an incredible showcase of excellence, leadership, and impact that continues to come from Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said Doug Williams, Hall of Fame co-founder and 2011 inductee. Smith, drafted 36th overall

The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League celebrated its 60th anniversary with the 18th annual MJBL East-West All-Star Game during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

The tournament honored King’s legacy by bringing youth together for an all-star baseball competition in the Bahamas, using it as a platform to reflect on his key speeches, including his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech and final “Mountaintop” address in 1968.

MJBL Executive Director William

in 1992, won two Super Bowls with Dallas before becoming Jacksonville’s franchise leader in receptions and receiving yards over 11 seasons. The five-time Pro Bowl selection totaled 862 receptions for 12,287 yards and 67 touchdowns.

Robinson, the current Alabama State head coach, was a two-time All-SWAC defensive player at the school before an 11year NFL career that included an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV with Tennessee.

Forrester Jr. said the event provided an excellent opportunity to reflect on King’s accomplishments by engaging youth in athletic competition. The West All-Stars, featuring players from the Freedom Farm Baseball Club, dominated the East All-Stars in the 12U division, winning all three games with scores of 20-2, 14-1 and 21-1. Carmele Wallace, out of Noble Preparatory School in Nassau, was named 12U MVP with a .857 batting average, eight RBIs, six hits, three home runs and the highest on-base plus slugging percentages. In the 15U bracket, the West won three

second-half division crown and posted the secondbest regular-season record in franchise history. From the last four years’ Flying Squirrels teams, 30 players have gone on to make their MLB debuts, including 25 with the Giants.

“I am so thankful to be assigned back to Richmond for the 2026 season,” Pelfrey said. “To be part of a new chapter in Squirrels history with CarMax Park after having the opportunity to be there for the final game at The Diamond is something that will be engraved in my heart forever.”

Prior to his time in Richmond, Pelfrey led the High-A Eugene Emeralds to the Northwest League championship in 2021.

Oseguera will return for his fifth season as Richmond’s pitching coach. In 2023, Flying Squirrels pitchers set a franchise record with a .236 opponents’ batting average. In 2022, Richmond’s pitching staff set a team record with 1,367 strikeouts, the fourth-most for a team in Eastern League history at the time.

Everidge joins the Flying Squirrels’ staff for

Collins anchored Green Bay’s defense for seven seasons after being drafted 51st overall in 2005, earning three Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl XLV championship. He returned a Super Bowl interception for a touchdown and was inducted into the Packers’ hall of fame in 2016.

Poole, the first Fort Valley State player selected in the first round of the NFL draft, played 13 seasons and won consecutive Super Bowls with New Eng-

competitive games with scores of 6-3, 10-8 and 4-2. MVP Liam Eneas from St. Andrew’s High School in Nassau recorded an impressive 0.00 ERA across 10 strikeouts, allowing only one hit. The East All-Stars won the 18U bracket after losing the first game 6-5, bouncing back to win the second game 7-2 and claiming the championship based on run differential after the third game. Parker Daniels of Cornerstone Charter Academy in Greensboro, North Carolina, was named MVP with a .500 batting average, four RBIs and an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.100.

advantage before Virginia State went on a 5-0 run, finished off by William Hopkins’ jumper, to shrink the deficit to 33-26 with 15:30 to go in the contest. Virginia Union responded and outscored the Trojans the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 65-37.

Malachi Dark led all scorers with 18 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field, while adding four rebounds and three steals. Tahj Harding finished with 10 points.

For Virginia State (10-9, 3-4), Hopkins led with 12 points. Amare Wimbush added eight points and four blocks, and Jacob Cooper contributed four points, six assists and two steals.

“I think the game went well for us defensively,” said VUU assistant men’s basketball coach Robert Johnson. “We’re always preaching defense, and we know when we play our best defensive game that good things are going to happen.”

our HBCU community and raised expectations for what our programs could achieve with the support and the investment. His leadership, his standards, and his belief in his studentathletes helped shape generations of women who went on to lead in sport and beyond. His influence and legacy will be felt for years to come,” McWilliams Parker said. Sweat was known for demanding preparation and accountability while emphasizing opportunity and development. Former players have credited him with instilling confidence and discipline that carried beyond their playing careers.

Sweat and his wife, Phyliss LaVerne Sweat, a longtime collegiate track and field coach, were married for 66 years. The couple were widely known in Hampton Roads and the broader HBCU athletics community for their shared commitment to student-athletes, education and competitive excellence. They were inducted jointly into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame among other honors.

his first year with the Giants organization. He spent the last two seasons as the Washington Nationals’ minor league hitting coordinator. Everidge spent the previous 10 years with the Oakland Athletics, serving as a minor league coach from 2014 to 2021 before two years as their major league hitting coach. Nava will continue his third stint on the Richmond coaching staff, his sixth year overall with the team. He was the Flying Squirrels’ hitting coach in 2017 and the team’s fundamentals coach in 2019 before returning in 2023. This year marks Nava’s 19th season with the Giants organization. Vigue will return to Richmond as the team’s athletic trainer for a third season in 2026, his seventh season with the Giants organization. In her fifth season with the Giants organization, Kuda will return to Richmond for her third season as the Flying Squirrels’ strength and conditioning coach. Clubhouse manager Kee Stewart will also return for his third season in Richmond.

land in 2004 and 2005. He now coaches Alabama State’s women’s flag football team.

Hubbard compiled an 8348-3 record at Florida A&M from 1974 to 1985, winning the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA championship in 1978 and consecutive Black College national titles in 1977-78. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Wyche, a 1989 Howard journalism graduate, has covered the NFL for NFL Network and NFL.com since 2008 while con-

sistently advocating for HBCU athletics through broadcasts and national coverage. The 17th annual induction ceremony will be held June 6 in Atlanta. Inductees will also be recognized during the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on Feb. 21 in New Orleans. The Hall of Fame, founded in 2009 by quarterbacks James Harris and Doug Williams, has inducted more than 100 members and maintains a permanent exhibit at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Free Press staff report

Richmond High School for the Arts will induct four athletes into the George Wythe High School Athletics Hall of Fame during halftime of the

Personality: Valerie Cassel Oliver

Spotlight on the Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

As a student in Houston, Valerie Cassel Oliver took field trips to what she felt were magical places — the city’s museums. Years later, as an award-winning curator, she fills those magical spaces to celebrate the history and culture of African Americans.

“My parents discouraged me from going into the arts,” Oliver said. “They wanted me to have a job that would allow me to support myself.”

Oliver earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Texas at Austin, but fate led her away from the path her parents envisioned. She discovered her flair for visual storytelling at the Black Arts Alliance in Austin, where she helped organize programs across a range of art forms.

“The Black Arts Alliance was a very small arts organization, but I realized I liked giving artists a voice,” she said.

While working at the Black Arts Alliance, Oliver met the chair of Howard University’s art department, who recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue graduate studies there. During her master’s program, she immersed herself in art history, theology and anthropology. This interdisciplinary approach deepened her understanding of cultural contexts and storytelling in art and shaped her vision as a curator, presenting art as a dialogue that bridges history and cultural narratives.

“There was no language for what I wanted to do at that time,” she said. “I saw artists

bring the world into their work, and I wanted the background to give me context.”

After completing her graduate studies, Oliver worked with the National Endowment for the Arts. She also embraced teaching and became the director of the visiting arts program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The classroom became a space for her to work with art forms to inspire students.

In 2000, Oliver reached a turning point when she was invited to co-curate the prestigious Whitney Biennial, a major contemporary art exhibition organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. The opportunity gave her a platform to make an impact on the art world.

“When I got the call, I was like that’s not my job,” Oliver said. “I had been teaching. It was the first time I thought about art in a visual space since the Black Arts Alliance in Austin.”

It wasn’t long before Oliver was offered a curator position at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston — one of the magical spaces she visited as a student. There, she organized numerous exhibitions, garnering nationwide acclaim.

Oliver is now the Sidney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Since her arrival at the VMFA in 2017, her exhibitions have been recognized for their ambition, historical resonance and cultural significance.

“Culture can be used for good or bad,” Oliver noted. “We should be in positions of power where we control that.”

What are some of the exhibits you’ve been responsible for at the VMFA?

My debut at the VMFA was “Howardena Pindell: What Remains To Be Seen,” which I co-organized with Naomi Beckwith in 2018. In 2021, I opened “The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse,” which toured nationally. In 2023, I organized the “Dawoud Bey: Elegy” exhibit, which examines the artist’s preoccupation with histories of place. The work includes commissioned photographs of Richmond’s Historic Slave Trail exhibited

with previous bodies of work created in Louisiana and Ohio. It’s now on tour at the New Orleans Museum of Art until early 2026. I’ve also done the “Ted Joans: Drawings from Africa” that featured the complete portfolio of Joans’ drawings from 1956; “Theaster Gates: Wonder Working Power”; and “Robert Rauschenberg: Cardbirds.”

“Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” is the latest that you’ve had a hand in.

Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz, champion “artists supporting artists” through their renowned collection, featuring the works of nearly 40 diverse Black, African and diasporic creators like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gordon Parks, Barkley L. Hendricks, Nina Simone, Kehinde Wiley, Amy Sherald, Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson and Derrick Adams. It’s running until March 1 and features roughly 130 works, including paintings, installations, photos and sculptures. How did it come to the VMFA?

It’s a process because of the calendar. There’s a balance between internal exhibits and bringing in those that align with our mission. We want it to

align with our mission. Almost all the artists in “Giants” are in the permanent collection or are on view. We knew our audience would be excited. I’m proud of what they’ve amassed and presented. It’s extraordinary.

Where do you live now?

In the near West End.

What do you think of Richmond?

Richmond has a nice vibe. It’s beautiful. I had never lived in a place with such a strong consciousness of its history and a desire to keep it alive. It’s an interesting place and perspective to work from. We need to interrogate this history. We’re tired of the narrative that has emboldened some. I’ve felt a transformation in the nine years I’ve been here — in the way people move. The signs and symbols need to come down.

What do you think about the Richmond arts scene?

It’s burgeoning. I came to Richmond because I was invited to speak at Virginia Commonwealth University, which has a dynamic art department. Back then, there was a small arts scene, and there weren’t many African Americans in it. I turned around, and it was there! It’s starting to explode.

Do you create any art?

No. I feel that my career as a curator is my creative outlet. There’s a whole team, but laying out a vision for them is where my creativity lies.

What artists’ work have you collected?

Once you move into a collecting institution, there are

ethical concerns. I was able to acquire works by many artists through my job and in Chicago. It’s 26 years, but I have been able to acquire pieces by William Cordova, Carrie Mae Weems, James Van Der Zee and many others. What advice do you have for collectors?

Buy it because you love it and you want to live with it. The art world is so fickle and subjective. I wouldn’t buy for investment purposes. Determine what you can afford. Align with your vision. Try to find emerging to mid-career artists who are still affordable. Tell us about your family. I have 10 siblings, and my son will be 15 soon. What do you do in your downtime?

I love to read, although I don’t do enough. I love to shop. It’s the finest sport I know. I love vintage design, furniture, jewelry, books and clothes.

What’s your favorite hobby?

I love the idea of recreating photo albums. I do one every year for my son, which serves as a record of each year of his life. What’s next?

I want to visit Mary Lovelace O’Neal, an abstract painter from San Francisco now living in Mexico. We’re interested because there’s been a recent focus on her earlier work. I’m doing a major retrospective of Alvin D. Loving focused on his legacy. Also, I’m going to be very intentional about self-care.

Art, history and service mark

to celebrate former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder’s 95th birthday, exploring his watercolor paintings and enjoying a program honoring the recipients of the inaugural National Ovation to Wilder scholarships.

Boyz II Men to perform at VSU scholarship gala

Free Press staff report

The vocal harmony group Boyz II Men will perform during a scholarship fundraiser April 25 at the VSU Multi-purpose Center.

The Greater Scholarship Gala begins at 7 p.m. and will raise money for student scholarships at Virginia State University. The event also marks the 10th anniversary of Dr. Makola M. Abdullah’s presidency at the historically Black university.

Boyz II Men, known for hits including “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “Motownphilly,” “On Bended Knee” and “One Sweet Day,” has sold more than 60 million records worldwide and has won four Grammy Awards during its threedecade career.

The black-tie gala will feature dinner and dancing before the concert. Tickets and more information are available at vsu.edu

Elegba Folklore Society receives national ‘Walking Together’ grant

Free Press staff report

Elegba Folklore Society has been awarded a $50,000 grant through “Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color,” a national pilot program supporting traditional artists and cultural organizations rooted in communities of color.

Elegba Folklore Society is the only Virginia-based organization selected for the award.

The program is administered by Mid Atlantic Arts in partnership with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and provides nonmatching grants to traditional artists, nonprofits, local and Tribal governments, community organizations and culture keepers demonstrating a commitment to sustaining folklife.

The grant will support the society’s ongoing work and facilitate networking between traditional culture bearers and regional arts organizations, with the goal of advancing systemic change in arts funding.

Elegba Folklore Society provides educational opportunities through the arts, offering performances and classes, cultural history tours, festivals and exhibitions of art and artifacts. Its programming centers traditions of the African Diaspora and emphasizes experiential learning rooted in cultural history and community practice, according to a news release from the group.

Funding from “Walking Together” will allow the organization to invest in long-term sustainability and expand mission-based programming, strengthening its role as a cultural anchor in Metro Richmond and across Virginia.

“Our organization merited this important award in recognition of the value of our work, its impact, its preservation and its growth,” said Janine Bell, president and artistic director of Elegba Folklore Society.

Nationwide, $3.34 million was awarded to 96 grantees. Fiftysix organizations received grants of $50,000, while 36 individuals received $15,000 awards.

Rolling Rally celebrates unity, inclusion

Students, faculty and community supporters came together Jan. 16 for the first RPS Unified Champion Schools

Gladys West, mathematician whose work enabled GPS, dies at 95

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church to screen film on King’s Richmond legacy

of

Legacy in Richmond, VA” on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. The film explores a lesserknown chapter in the life of Martin Luther King Jr., showing how Richmond played a critical role in shaping his early organizing, relationships and vision. While King is often remembered for his national speeches and marches, the city provided a foundation for his civil rights work, beginning with his first visit to Virginia Union University in 1953. Through interviews, archival visuals and narration, the film highlights the sermons, rallies and grassroots collaborations that helped build the movement. Organizers say the screening offers a chance to connect with the city’s civil rights history, understand the strategies behind King’s work and reflect on the enduring impact of his leadership.

Free Press staff report

Gladys West, a pioneering mathematician whose work helped lay the foundation for the Global Positioning System, has died. She was 95.

Born in Sutherland in Dinwiddie County, West earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Virginia State University in 1952 and a master’s in 1955. She later received an honorary doctorate in 2021 for her contributions to science and technology.

West overcame barriers faced by Black women in the mid-20th century to become one of the first African American women mathematicians at what is now the Naval Surface Warfare Center. She helped develop mathematical models of the Earth that made GPS technology possible, a contribution that quietly reshaped navigation, transportation and daily life around the world. She also served as project manager for the radar altimetry data processing project of Seasat, the first satellite designed for remote sensing of the Earth’s oceans, and retired after 42 years of service.

West inspired generations of students and professionals, particularly from underrepresented communities. In 2018, she was named Female Alumna of the Year at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awards and was honored with a resolution by the Virginia General Assembly. Reflecting on her work and its widespread impact, West told the Virginia Mercury in 2025, “I am just so pleased that I was able to make a contribution. When I was working, I never imagined that the GPS would be used in the civilian world. I love seeing all the ways that it can be used and I probably have no idea how vastly used it is.”

Her official social media account stated West “passed peacefully alongside her family and friends and is now in heaven with her loved ones.” West also taught in Sussex County and published

Frances Aaronson Lewis

Frances Aaronson Lewis, 103, of Richmond, VA, died peacefully in her sleep on January 10, 2026. She was a business entrepreneur, who with her husband Sydney Lewis, who predeceased her, started Best Products Company, a nationwide catalog showroom retailer. The Lewises amassed a large collection of late 20th Century paintings and sculpture which they donated to the Virginia Museum in 1984, along with Art Nouveau and Art Deco furniture and jewelry and Tiffany Lamps. She was a philanthropist and served on many boards, including the Richmond City and Virginia State School Boards.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lillian Beller Aaronson and Nathaniel Aaronson; her husband, Sydney Lewis; her sister, Helene Fisher and grandson, David Lewis. Frances is survived by a daughter, Susan Lewis Butler (Dixon), of Washington, DC; two sons, Sydney Lewis Jr., of Miami Beach, FL and Andrew Marc Lewis (Virginia “Ginny”) of Richmond and Lake Worth Beach, FL; grandchildren; William Lewis Butler, Evora Butler Barren (Glenn), Isaac Dixon Butler (Anne Love), L. Lee Butler, Drew Lewis (Pauline), Kim Usry (Gary Fralin) and Lora Usry; greatgrandchildren, Hailey Nicole Brookman (Bobby), Iris Marion Love Butler, Overton Markel Butler and Kyle Josiah Butler and great-great grandchild, Lillian Frances Leigh Brookman.

There will be a private funeral followed by a Celebration of Life later in the year. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Federation of Richmond, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Frances Lewis Law Center at Washington and Lee University or any charity of your choice.

DIVORCE VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER DOUGLAS DAVENPORT, Plaintiff v. ORINTHIA DAVENPORT, Defendant. Case No.: CL25004708-00 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.

Ordinance No. 2026-030

reordain Ord. No.

9,

of the

as 3801 Seminary

(and alternatively as 1010 West Laburnum Avenue), 3800 Chamberlayne Avenue, and 3802 ½ Chamberlayne Avenue for the purpose of a vocational school accessory to a church, upon certain terms and conditions, to modify the permitted uses and operational hours.

Ordinance No. 2026-031

To amend and reordain

Ordinance No. 2019039, adopted Mar. 25, 2019, which authorized the special use of the property known as 6807 Midlothian Turnpike for the purpose of permitting certain signs, upon certain terms and conditions, to authorize the special use of the property known as 6707 Rear Midlothian Turnpike for the purpose of a parking area located between the main building and the street line, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ordinance No. 2026-032 To amend Ord. No. 2023174, adopted June 26, 2023, which authorized the special use of the property known as 3601 Seminary Avenue for the purpose of a day nursery for up to 64 children, within a church, to allow for up to 74 children, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ordinance No. 2026-033 To amend and reordain Ordinance No. 2024036, adopted Feb. 26, 2024, which authorized the special use of the properties known as 2900 Rady Street and 2733 5th Avenue for the purpose of up to 83 permanent supportive housing units, upon certain terms and conditions, to modify certain terms and conditions.

Interested

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, appear here on or before the 6th day of March, 2026 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 SHEDRA BARRETT, Plaintiff v. GWEN BARRETT, Defendant. Case No.: CL25004636-00 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 5th day of March, 2026 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Esquire VSB# 27724 Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER KATINA HOWARD, Plaintiff v. CHAUNCEY HOWARD, JR., Defendant. Case No.: CL25000076-00 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 5th day of March, 2026 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 (804 798-966

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF

HANOVER SHAVE GEORGE, Plaintiff v. RENEE GEORGE, Defendant. Case No.: CL25004618-00 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 17th day of February, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 The Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MELODEE SPRUILL, Plaintiff v. EMANUAL SPRUILL, Defendant. Case No.: CL25004554-00 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 12th day of February, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. 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 JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re MARIANNA LEE MCCURTY RDSS V. DAVID MCCURTY, UNKNOWN FATHER Case No. JJ104967-05-00, JJ104967-06-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of the David McCurty (Father) and Unknown Father (Father) of Marianna Lee McCurty DOB 01/15/2025, child. “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support. It is ORDERED that the defendant David McCurty (Father) and Unknown Father to appear at the abovenamed Court to protect his/ her interest on or before 06/03/2026, at 9:00 AM, COURTROOM #5. VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR HENRICO COUNTY IN RE:

Samiyrah Ary Ella Gray DOB 6/26/2018

MICHELLE GRAY FITZGERALD and TONY LAMONT FITZGERALD, SR., Petitioners, v. KATHRYN RAISA KOCH, Respondent. Case No. CA24000024 ORDER OF PUBLICATION Upon consideration of the foregoing Motion and the supporting Affidavit, and it appearing that the Respondent, Kathryn R. Koch, is a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia who cannot be found despite due diligence, it is hereby ORDERED that the said Respondent appear on or before 3/13 /26 , in the Clerk’s Office of this Court, and do what may be necessary to protect her interest in this cause; AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order be published once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper of general

Anord Mardix (USA), Inc. in Henrico, VA is seeking HR Site Business Partner: Responsible for partnering with business segments to develop and deploy strategic planning objectives. Annual salary: $127,275 to $147,275. Apply at https://www.jobpostingtoday.com/ Ref# 82796.

Seven Pines Baptist Church, located in Sandston, Virginia is prayerfully seeking a pastor, who will serve as the spiritual leader, deliver inspiring sermon and pastoral care. Also, foster the spiritual growth and well-being of the church members. The successful candidate will be a licensed and ordained Baptist minister, with at least 5 years of pastoral experience. Please send a cover letter and resume to the address below. Patricia Dabney Seven Pines Baptist Church

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Unit Testing. Utilize Oracle & MySQL to design & devel d/bases. Reqs Master’s in Comp Sci or Engng or Tech or rel Field w/ 2 yrs exp in the job offered or rel field. Reqs trav &/or relo to various unanticipt