Samuel Parker

Richmond

Reporter at Richmond Times-Dispatch

Equal opportunity political critic. Peacenik. Cubs fan.

Featured in: Favicon

richmond.com Favicon

roanoke.com Favicon

newsbreak.com Favicon

dailyprogress.com Favicon

newsadvance.com Favicon

fredericksburg.com Favicon

heraldcourier.com Favicon

godanriver.com Favicon

martinsvillebulletin.com Favicon

supplychainbrain.com + 9 more

Articles

The state's final report on the Richmond water crisis is out. Now what?

1 week ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

With both the city’s and the state’s reports on the water crisis complete, officials are agreeing to disagree. In a Tuesday letter sent to Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Mayor Danny Avula, State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton uncompromisingly maintained that the failure of Richmond’s water treatment plant was the “completely avoidable” result of “faulty components and faulty culture” within the city’s Department of Public Utilities.
Housing officials strike down resolution to privatize Gilpin Court

1 week ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

Richmond housing officials on Wednesday night narrowly voted against privatizing Gilpin Court — the city’s largest public housing project. The decision followed weeks of controversy over a resolution that would’ve transferred ownership of the neighborhood from the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority to the Richmond Development Corporation, a nonprofit subsidiary that serves as the development arm of the RRHA.
Council proposes $21M in budget additions, but don’t identify who proposed changes

1 week ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

It was another tense day in City Council’s chambers, as the body met on Wednesday morning to discuss over 120 changes they’d collectively proposed making to Mayor Danny Avula’s budget. Their amendments included nearly $21 million worth of additional spending, and about $8 million in cuts to Avula’s plan. But Wednesday’s documents did not identify the councilmembers who submitted each amendment, causing confusion and frustration among the group.
As budget deadline looms, Council, mayor struggle to work together

1 week ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

With the first deadline to finalize the city’s budget only a month away, City Council’s proposed amendments still had not been published and the mayoral administration was still struggling to answer the body’s questions as of Monday afternoon.
Trump administration cancels $12M grant Richmond had planned to use on water plant repairs

1 week ago | dailyprogress.com | Samuel Parker

President Donald Trump’s administration has canceled a $12 million federal grant that local officials planned to use on Richmond’s century-old water treatment plant, according to a Friday email from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to the city’s Department of Public Utilities.
Man shot dead, multiple cars struck by gunfire in East End

1 week ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

Richmond police are investigating after a man was shot to death in the East End. Police said officers responded to the 2200 block of Fairfield Court at around 7:30 a.m. for the report of a person down. At the scene, they found an adult male unresponsive on the sidewalk. The man had been shot, and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Several vehicles in the area also had been shot. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Richmond Police Detective M.
Trump administration cancels $12M grant Richmond had planned to use on water plant repairs

1 week ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

President Donald Trump’s administration has canceled a $12 million federal grant that local officials planned to use on Richmond’s century-old water treatment plant, according to an email from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to the city’s Department of Public Utilities.
Man killed in Friday night crash in North Chesterfield

1 week ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

Chesterfield County police on Saturday said the were investigating a fatal crash that occurred late Friday night in North Chesterfield. Police said a sedan was traveling southbound in the 200 block of Buford Road at around 10:34 p.m. on Friday when the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a power pole. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts The driver was transported to a local hospital, where he died, police said.
Officials weigh privatizing Richmond’s largest public housing development

1 week ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

Built on the grassy plateau atop the once-vacant Shockoe Hill, Gilpin Court became Richmond’s first public housing development in 1942. According to a Dec. 9, 1942 article in The Times-Dispatch, the wartime construction was authorized upon the condition that tenants exclusively be Black war workers. Civilian workers at facilities like the Richmond Army Air Base and the Richmond Quartermaster's Depot were given preference.
Will leaks, mold, decay go unrepaired? Mayor walks back $800K for mobile homes.

2 weeks ago | richmond.com | Samuel Parker

The week before Christmas, Josefina’s kitchen ceiling caved in, nearly landing on one of her two grandsons. Since 2008, the trio has lived in a small trailer in Rudd’s Mobile Home Park off Richmond Highway. Josefina — who asked to be identified only by her first name for privacy reasons — said that, for months leading up to the collapse, a leak in the roof had been causing extensive water damage to the trailer’s interior.