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Feb. 17 Newsletter: Monitoring nonprofit grants

Weather: 45 and sunny. We remain on track for a major snowstorm Wednesday afternoon.

On this date in 1955, the DMV reports that the number of drivers seeking a license under a false name has risen considerably since a 1953 law requiring the suspension of driving privileges after two speeding tickets.

The city of Richmond gives millions to local nonprofits. City Council wants a closer look at where the money goes.

In its current budget, the city of Richmond allocated more than $13 million to local nonprofits that provide a variety of services.

Under the current system, the city makes funding decisions based on the applications that are submitted, instead of starting with a fixed amount.

As City Council begins rethinking its process, officials recently produced a 111-page document offering a breakdown of the current funding.

Read about what's in that document, and the debate over how to change the system, here.

Richmond’s former DPU director tells City Council she wasn’t contacted for city’s initial water report

April Bingham contacted the City Council this week to inform members she has not been asked to participate in the city-initiated review of last month’s water outage.

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"Ms. Bingham is clearly open to participating in the process so someone should pick up the phone and call her," councilmember Kenya Gibson said.

City officials said that decisions about who were spoken to were made by HNTB, the firm commissioned to write the report, and that there will be a final report with "more heft to it" released in the future. Read more here.

Importance of Black press discussed at Ashland event with 'Richmond Planet' descendants

Descendants of "Richmond Planet" publisher John Mitchell Jr. were on hand to lead a panel discussion Saturday night about the importance of Black media.

One panelist said it is crucial, because if the Black press doesn’t tell their community's stories, they'll only be a footnote in someone else’s press.

Firehouse Theatre, in conjunction with the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, is developing a play based on the Planet's story, with the hope of taking the stage in Spring 2027. Read more here.

Duke's 'Coach K' expresses concern for ACC basketball at Richmond Forum

During a Q&A session, legendary basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked by the Richmond Forum audience about the state of college sports.

  • "We need leadership. The NCAA has not provided any leadership," he said of changes that allow players to transfer easier and make money while playing.
  • The coach lamented the current state of ACC basketball, which is no longer the nation's most prestigious conerence. "I think the conference is in bad shape — in a lot of ways," he said.

Read more, including his thoughts on Tony Bennett's departure from UVA, here.

In other news

The editor's desk

If you want a friend in Richmond, get a dog.

Harry Truman never served in the General Assembly, but he would have been pleased to see the Richmond SPCA out on Friday offering free adoptions for those ready to commit, or just free dog kisses for those merely ready to enjoy their company.

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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