Early indicators suggest Virginians responded to a slate of proposed gun control legislation with a noticeable increase in firearm background checks. The bills mark one the most significant shifts in the state’s firearm laws in recent years, and build on previously...
“We need a little good trouble, don’t we?” Alan would say, his tall frame casting a shadow and that familiar twinkle in his eye. Farid Alan Schintzius passed away last Thursday, and I’ve been reflecting on the loss of someone I deeply admired. A true master of “good trouble,” he pulled me into plenty over the years, and I’m better for it. Despite...
This is a Letter to the Editor. Once upon a time in America, a place famous for peanut butter, poorly made plastic chairs, and self-proclaimed greatness, people had something called elections. They were events where everyone (or nearly everyone, depending on who was allowed) picked their next leaders, ideally without throwing rocks at each other....
As winter grips Richmond, the city faces a stark moral and political dilemma. Recent events—the approval of a $2 million animal adoption center, the city deciding to no longer support overflow shelters for the homeless, and the vandalism of a community fridge—lay bare a troubling pattern: Richmond’s policies prioritize visibility and convenience...
A Senate bill was introduced on Nov. 21 to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, something President-elect Donald Trump promised on the campaign trail. The federal institution is focused on student achievement and equal access to education, according to its website. It is the No. 3 U.S. agency in terms of money spent, behind the Defense and...
Conservatives will control every branch of the federal government once newly elected Republicans take office in January. Republicans won the needed 218 seats to have a majority in the House of Representatives. They also have a 53-seat, simple majority in the Senate. The U.S. Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority, after President-elect...
Richmond has achieved a perfect score of 100 on the 2024 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), a comprehensive assessment of LGBTQ+ inclusion in municipal policies, services, and laws. Released annually by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), this year’s MEI evaluated 11 cities and towns in Virginia, with Richmond standing proudly alongside nine...
Richmond has $3 million up for grabs—money meant to improve the city, boost its neighborhoods, and maybe even change a few lives. But here’s the twist: for once, city hall isn’t the ones calling the shots. Instead, they’re turning to the people, asking a deceptively simple question: what do you want? It’s a bold move, giving the public the reins...
Reflections on America’s new reality and the long road ahead Like many, I had high hopes for this year’s presidential election. When Kamala Harris stepped into the race as the Democratic candidate, I felt a sense of renewed joy, hope and optimism for America. Led by our first female president, I envisioned a nation turning the page on...
As a longtime Democrat, a Richmond local, and someone who’s worked in media for over two decades, watching the election results come in hit hard—and not only because of who won. There’s something deeper going on here. Part of me held onto the hope that we hadn’t reached a point where billionaires, including the world’s wealthiest man, could buy...
