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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Wednesday, August 25, 2021:
While the CDC is recommending quarantines for unvaccinated teachers who come in close contact with COVID-positive students in the classroom - there’s an exception for children who are fully masked. As Megan Pauly reports, these guidelines have formed the basis for Virginia’s school reopening plans.
As the delta variant leads to a surge of COVID-19 cases in Virginia, health officials also report a higher number of infections among children. Jonah Grinkewitz, from our partner station WHRV, has more.
Mayor Stoney announced yesterday the launch of a “community rooted” crime prevention program. The city was granted $500,000 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to prevent high risk kids from entering the cycle of gun violence. The program is aimed at middle schoolers who have witnessed such violence or whose sibling has committed a gun-related crime. With the new program, Richmond Parks and Recreation will create small cohorts of middle schoolers. They will participate in after-school activities and have access to mental health specialists. Mayor Stoney said that this crime prevention program will start in October.
The United States is rushing to get thousands of its Afghan allies to America. Once here, they’ll need help navigating the immigration process, but aren’t guaranteed legal counsel. Many experts are volunteering their services to the new arrivals. Patrick Larsen reports.
The Calhoun Center pool at Gilpin Court is still awaiting repair. The pool has been closed since 2013. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, it will cost nearly $2 million and take 11 months to get the facility up and running again. That’s if the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority can find the funds. RRHA’s Board of Commissioners wants to repair and modernize the 50-year-old pool. They’re considering options like requesting a waiver to use capital funds, or selling the facility to an outside operator. An update is expected at their next meeting in September.
A group of Richmond businesses and organizations are holding a supply drive at The Diamond this afternoon to collect donations for RPS students. Last year, the Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive gave over 21,000 PPE packages to RPS students, since they were not going to school in person. People are invited to donate backpacks, notebooks and other school supplies. The goal is to put together more than 10,000 pre-filled backpacks that Richmond students will get on their first day of school. Donations will be accepted between 1 and 6 p.m. today.
