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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Friday, September 3, 2021:
Local leaders are responding to yesterday’s state Supreme Court decision allowing the Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond to be taken down. Whittney Evans reports.
Activists at last summer’s racial justice protests called for the removal of Richmond’s confederate monuments. Chelsea Higgs Wise, of Marijuana Justice, and Kalia Harris, of the Virginia Student Power Network, shared voice memos with VPM on the Robert E. Lee memorial’s imminent removal - and the demands they still have.
This week, Richmond Superintendent Jason Kamras hit a school board mandated goal to submit a request for proposals for the design of George Wythe High School. But Kamras has doubts about the RFP, agreed upon by the board. The proposal calls for a school holding 1,600 students, he thinks it should hold 400 more. However, board member Kenya Gibson says everything points to 1,600 students as being the right number. By November, the board, which is in charge of the rebuild, is scheduled to award a contract for the school’s design, according to the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Virginia Commonwealth University told all students to get vaccinated before returning to campus, but some didn’t. Now, the university might force them to leave. Alan Rodriguez Espinoza reports.
Chesterfield planning officials are asking residents for input on future growth in the area along Genito Road near State Route 288.The area includes a business park, the River City Sportsplex and the deserted Southside Speedway, now owned by Chesterfield’s Economic Development Authority. It’s the third time in the past few years in which officials have created a Special Area Focus to guide development. Citizens have until September 7th to leave comments online or by phone. Go to Chesterfielld.gov for more information.