August 27 Newsletter: Reviving cold cases
Weather: A beautiful day. High of 76.
On this date in 1970, Henrico releases a new school dress code that permits the wearing of sandals.
Today's newsletter sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University: As a top 20% global university, Virginia Commonwealth University is an unparalleled powerhouse of innovation and creative problem solving. VCU attacks challenges as opportunities. It's truly a university unlike any you’ve ever seen.
In 2002, a body was found near a South Richmond brickyard. He’s never been identified.
The man is one of about 335 Virginians whose remains the state has been unable to identify, and the first to be highlighted in a broader push by officials to revive those cold cases and bring whatever closure might be possible.
A federal grant is allowing genetic testing where available, but the state wants the public's assistance too.
“You don't know which avenue is going to give you the information to identify the person,” one official said. “We have to take anything and everything that we can.” Read more here.
Podcast studio, music and dance rooms touted in early tour of new Richmond high school
The $140 million, 282,000-square-foot project to build a new Richmond High School for the Arts (formerly George Wythe) began in 2023 and is set to open for students and staff by late 2026.
The new building is set to accommodate about 2,000 students, far more than the current 1,200, as the division anticipates increased enrollment in the coming years. Read more here.
City considers selling Southside properties for $70 million housing development
Local developers are hoping to acquire two city properties near Richmond’s southern border, on Belmont Road.
The planned development could include up to 300 apartments, several dozen townhouses, a clubhouse, a pool and other uses such as a possible daycare. Read more here.
Also today in The Richmonder:
VCU officials ask court to toss Wilder lawsuit, saying workplace probe was ‘by the book’: The new legal filing says the investigation is about claims of “a threatening environment” at the Wilder School, including allegations Wilder himself made “threats” against co-workers.
Activation Capital, the state’s accelerator for biotech companies, names a new CEO: Michael Steele wants to use an influx of money to lure companies to the state. He'll oversee the VA Bio+Tech Center downtown, among other initatives.
Judge to review two city-issued phones as part of FOIA ‘whistleblower’ case: A Richmond judge will take a look at two government-issued cell phones to help settle a bitter legal dispute over whether the city has or hasn’t turned over all text messages relevant to the 2024 firing of former public records official Connie Clay.
In ways big and small, Jason Malone wants to bring fairness
During VCU’s graduation in May, a student came up to a police officer and asked him for help tying his tie. Officer Jason Malone didn't give it a second thought, until he heard the image had gone viral.
Malone was also lauded in 2017 for mediating a tense standoff between VCU students and a man on campus holding a racist sign. Both times, others emerged with stories of the officer's kindnesses on the job. Read more here.
Today's sponsor:
VCU awarded $2.3 million grant to support Pell-eligible students
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has awarded Virginia Commonwealth University a more than $2.3 million grant to provide financial and career support to Pell Grant-eligible freshman students, beginning this semester.
Funding is part of a state initiative to provide educational and career aid to undergraduates in the federal program. The grant will enable VCU to make direct aid available to help cover the costs of Pell-eligible students’ education and connect them more readily to VCU’s career support resources earlier in their degree program. Read more here.
In other news
- Electrical fire closes Carytown post office temporarily
- This weekend's "Ride and Dive" event aims to visit every Richmond public swimming pool by bike on Saturday (Church Hill Lookout)
- To grow or not to grow – Lakeside residents take on a future vision of the area (Henrico Citizen)
The editor's desk
The Virginia Capital Trail turns 10 years old this year, but Sunday marked my first time venturing past Rocketts Landing on the trail. Hopefully it won't take me as long to get on the Fall Line Trail when it opens.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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