August 4 Newsletter: The universal language of baseball
Weather: The humidity returns but the high stays manageable at 82.
On this date in 1964, officials at the state Capitol issue a call for information about how the Bell Tower used to look, to help guide an upcoming refurbishment.
'A universal language': Richmond Little League hosts Japanese players in baseball exchange program
A youth baseball team from Saitama, Japan is in Richmond this week, continuing a three-decade long exchange program.
Their trip concludes today with a pair of games at 10 a.m. at Byrd Park, followed by a ceremony at City Hall. Read more here.
Richmond officials say the $5.8M bill for a wrongful conviction was a surprise. But the city slow-walked a response for months
Graham Moomaw has the backstory on last week's biggest news item.
The city said a threatening letter from Gov. Glenn Youngkin "felt like it came out of nowhere," but Moomaw traces the backstory of the requirement to a General Assembly hearing last year where Richmond did not speak out in opposition.
Read more on the letter, and its fallout, here.
Also: The city announced Friday afternoon it would schedule a special meeting of City Council in order to move forward with the payment.
Feature writing from special guest authors:
- Jerry Lindquist: Ron Atkins didn't intend to be a baseball lifer, but found success at Tucker and UR
- Tom Allen on Faith and Values: Check, Please!
Brian Bills and Michaela Ross create new friendships through old traditions
In the Jewish faith, the Shabbat dinner is a weekly opportunity to reflect and come together.
Bills and Ross have turned that occasion into a community of nearly 100 people who share an open invitation into their home each Friday.
When they send out the week's invitation, they include a conversational prompt to guide the discussion. Read more here.
In other news
- Do you think VDOT should close Exit 80? A survey lets you weigh in. (Henrico Citizen)
- Chesterfield County opens first two-story elementary school (VPM)
- Goochland wants to lure large tech companies to the Route 288 corridor (Times-Dispatch)
The editor's desk
Two baseball stories in one newsletter is purely a coincidence, but it's my kind of coincidence. Get yourself some peanuts and Cracker Jack and it'll be a lovely Monday in Richmond.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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