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...
I wanted to give a bit of context for this piece. I was introduced to Bill one afternoon at the local watering hole by a mutual friend. Bill, a talented and experienced writer, shared some of his work with me, and I was interested to read more. When I asked if he had anything we could publish, he sent over a series of travel vignettes. You can...
Immediately after the first presidential debate, journalists wasted no time amplifying Biden’s poor performance. And so the narrative begins. Or rather, continues. Over the last few years, news outlets have been reporting on the advanced ages of both presidential candidates as the primary concern rather than the fact that one is a convicted...
“If President Biden wants to truly celebrate the spirit of Juneteenth, he needs to take bolder action instead of well-intended half-measures that don’t come close to solving the problem.” Juneteenth is a day of joy when we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States, but for too many Black Americans, the harms of slavery never fully went...
There has been a lot of activity across the region recently about bond ratings and localities issuing bonds. It is a timely comparison of priorities of local leaders, a glimpse of a possible future, and what happens if you have people in charge who worry more about getting the big, shiny project than the people that end up paying for it. In...
Booze, Bombs, and Backyard Politics
In an era of bombastic politics, incendiary rhetoric, and over-the-top political brinksmanship we often forget that the task of effective policy-making is a technical, deliberative, and sometimes exhaustive process that is measured in years, not months. Crafting meaningful legislation that genuinely improves our lives does not bend in the...
There’s an armor that comes from having a family history built on love and education. It engenders admiration amongst the very many who’ve had to make do with much less protection. You can gain stature that transcends the narrative of what the Black, or Brown, stereotypical experience is in America. You can escape the undercurrent of...
Here’s my conversation with Dr. Danny Avula, candidate for Mayor of Richmond VA. This completes the set of all my conversations with Richmond’s prospective Mayors for November 2024. One of these people is going to be leading the city next year. Who it’s going to be is ultimately up to us. I encourage you to compare and contrast them, but here’s a...
A proposed racial literacy requirement as part of VCU’s general education curriculum will not be implemented. In a 10-5 decision, the VCU Board of Visitors voted Friday to strike down the requirement, against the recommendations of the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UUCC) and the VCU Office of the Provost. During a public...
