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Oct. 20 Newsletter: Richmond's soil problem – and a potential solution

Weather: Stellar fall weather continues. High of 69.

On this date in 1975, Governor Mills Godwin convenes an all-day session to discuss a $120 million proposal for a new 550-bed hospital at MCV.

LAST CHANCE! Join us tomorrow night at 6 p.m. as we discuss new rules allowing college athletes to be paid. The athletic directors of VCU and JMU will join us for a panel discussion. Free registration is available here.

Photo essay: Richmond has a soil problem. Here’s what is being done about it.

A large percentage of Richmond's soils are comprised of a heavy clay, which is prone to compacting — that removes the spaces that air, water and nutrients need to occupy.

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The city’s soils are receiving a novel process to combat compaction called ‘Soil Profile Rebuilding,’ which was created by Virginia Tech’s Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab.

At Fonticello Park, an old tennis court was removed to restore a native piedmont savannah. As an added benefit, the process is cheaper than using conventional topsoil. Read more here.

Richmond’s former FOIA officer faults city for ‘pattern of concealment’ in response to her lawsuit

Connie Clay told The Richmonder that her side has reached out in an attempt to settle, but has not heard back from the city.

“We sent two written settlement offers to the city and have received no response whatsoever,” she said. “Meanwhile, they’re hiding how much they’re spending on this lawsuit.”

Clay said she would like to sit down with Mayor Danny Avula and discuss the case. Read more here.

‘We are on the rise’: RPS hits record graduation rates

John Marshall High School celebrated hitting a 100% graduation rate for the first time this past year, part of an RPS-wide trend. District officials cite a number of programs they've put in place:

  • THRIVE Middle School, which began last school year and is designed to address students who are considered over-age in the 8th grade.
  • Con Ganas!, a year-long program catered to multilingual learners who can’t attend traditional day school due to work, childcare or other personal responsibilities.
  • The Secondary Success Center, which allows students who dropped out to complete high school in a flexible school setting.

Read more on the initiatives here.

Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press

A new mural in Carytown

Artist Jason Ford painted this mural, which was unveiled Saturday at Fairtrade Fest. The mural depicts Sierra Leone cocoa farmer Aminata Sannoh, whose cocoa is used in the Hu Kitchen chocolate sold at Ellwood Thompson’s.

Fairtrade America commissioned the mural, and others nationally, to call attention the often unseen farmers and workers who grow everyday products such as coffee, cocoa and bananas while drawing attention to the challenges they face from unfair trade practices.

In other news

The editor's desk

I'm excited for tomorrow night's event, where we'll hear firsthand about college athletes being paid. Plus, there will be snacks. (There's still time to sign up here.)

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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