New apartments, retail space coming to Broad St.

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011, 5:09pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Two downtown buildings are in for a makeover. They are the first ever projects to be financed under Mayor Dwight Jones proposed Arts and Cultural District.

The city is lending the developer $250,000 for a more than $3 million project to renovate one building on Grace Street and one on Broad Street into apartments and commercial space.

Abandoned on broad for years, Morton's Jewelry store is about to become 24 apartments with retail space on the ground floor.

The developer says the project also fits in with Mayor Jones' plan to designate 65 city blocks from Broad to Belvidere into an Arts and Cultural District.

"A newer concept in the city called Live Work space. Where artists can sell there wares in the lower level and live upstairs," said developer Mike Glass with The Becca Group.

The apartments will rent from $600 to $1,000

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Council aide no longer working for Bruce Tyler

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011, 11:15am

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - The council aide in the middle of a lawsuit against the city over an alleged groping incident is no longer working for councilman Bruce Tyler.

Tyler says Jennifer Walle has taken a leave of absence while her civil and criminal cases are handled in the courts.

Walle says in April she was touched in a sexual manner by David Hathcock, the aide to council president Kathy Graziano.

Hathcock is scheduled to appear in court on the charges against him next month.

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Shaka & Rodriguez going to the White House

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011, 8:45am

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - If VCU basketball player Joey Rodriguez was nervous sitting next to comedian George Lopez, wait until he's sitting next to the president of the United States.

The Rams' star point guard, as well as team coach Shaka Smart, are headed to meet President Obama in the upcoming weeks.

Rodriguez is a guest for the "Cinco de Mayo" dinner, while Smart is a guest on April 30 for the White House Correspondent's Dinner, which honors headliners in the news from all around the country.

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Sycamore Rouge and Richmond Shakespeare partner with VMFA to perform “Art"

Submitted by Lindsay LeGrand, Community Blogger

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011, 10:53pm

Sycamore Rouge and Richmond Shakespeare partner with VMFA to perform “Art"

Richmond Shakespeare and Sycamore Rouge come together this month to co-produce “Art,” by Yasmine Reza, and the play will open in the most apt location in Richmond – the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. On April 22, “Art” opens at VMFA and will run for four shows through the weekend. On April 29, “Art” will continue at Sycamore Rouge in Petersburg and run through May 14.

Winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play, “Art” premiered in Paris in 1995 and has since been produced worldwide and translated into 30 languages. The play looks at the calamitous effect of an expensive piece of abstract art on three friends. White lines on a white canvas spark debate about the value of the painting and lead to high emotions and escalating conflict.

This co-production will mark the 10-year anniversary since “Art” was last presented in Richmond by TheatreVirginia in the same space within VMFA, the Leslie Cheek Theater.

“Art” will

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Best Small American City of the Future!

Submitted by Iva Petrosino, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011, 8:42pm

The city of Richmond has been named the Best Small American City of the Future by Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) magazine. Richmond was also ranked as the third Top Small Cities FDI Strategy, and fifth overall for Small Cities Business Friendliness.

According to the judging panel, the city of Richmond and Huntsville (Alabama) had the best FDI strategy amongst the small cities. The rankings are based on each city’s population range, with that of small cities being from 100,000 to 250,000 residents.

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Rally for Ram & Spiders

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011, 7:50pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – The road to the NCAA tournament started with two teams, the VCU Rams and the Richmond Spiders, and ended with one city united!

"These teams put Richmond on the map like never before," said Mayor Dwight Jones.

In a "Hoopstown Celebration" with a crowd of a couple hundred Major Dwight Jones presented both coaches: Chris Mooney and Shaka Smart with the first-ever Pride of Richmond award.

"We want to say thank you for an amazing run, for a dream season you took us to the very top," Jones said.

Lauren Sachs and her nephew were some of the first to arrive for the history-making celebration.

"I think to show the Rams we still support them; whether they made it further or not, we're here for them and we're proud of them," she said.

Although drowned in a sea of black and gold...these die-hard Spiders fans are beaming.

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Four arrested at burial ground protest in Richmond

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011, 2:49pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Four people were arrested this morning at a peaceful protest at an old African American burial ground in Richmond at 1500 East Broad Street.

The four arrested include: Rolanda McMillan, Donnell Brantley, Phillip Wilayto and Autumn Barrett.

That burial ground is currently being used as a parking lot for VCU. But, changes are coming.

"The parking lot should have been closed already and it needs to be closed today," said one protester.

That was the loudest this small group of protestors got this morning, when several VCU Police Officers arrived to a blockade set up at this parking lot.

Protestors were blocking a parking lot that has been determined to be an old African American burial ground.

"We are pleased with the progress that is made. However, cars are still on the African American ground," says protestor Phil Wilayto.

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