Rachel Waldholz

National Parks Service highlights push for universal childcare after WWII

It was August, 1945. In Europe, the Second World War had barely ended; in Asia, the peace was less than a month old. But already the U.S. government was making plans to demobilize the unprecedented war effort it had assembled over the previous half-decade. That month, the government announced plans to shut down the system of federally-funded childcare centers that had sprouted across the country to support the legions of “Rosies” working outside the home in the war effort. The…

Woman shot in home; police confirm May 10 homicide victim

A 64-year-old woman was shot dead in her home late Wednesday night, according to Richmond Police Department officials. Bonita Todd, 64, was hospitalized after gunshots were fired from the street into her apartment on 20th Street near Espee Avenue at around 11 p.m. on May 15, said police spokesperson Det. Nicole Abetkov. Todd died later at the hospital. The woman’s son, who is in his 40s, was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives believe he may have been the intended…

Man shot dead at Richmond BART station in 3rd homicide of the year

A man was shot dead at the Richmond BART station just after 6 pm on Thursday evening. The shooting marks Richmond’s third homicide this year. It follows the shooting deaths of Lincoln Plair, 20, on March 4, and William Wheeler, 26, on February 4, both within half a mile of Thursday night’s shooting. Police described the victim as an African American man. He was pronounced dead at the scene. On Friday, BART’s Deputy Chief of Police, Benson Fairow, said that…

Man shot dead on 6th Street

Lincoln Plair, 20, of Richmond was shot dead this afternoon on the 100 block of 6th Street, said Detective Nicole Abetkov of the Richmond Police Department. Police had blocked off most of 6th Street between Pennsylvania and Ripley Avenues on Monday night, but friends and family of Plair gathered near the corner of 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Yesena Alvarez, who was among those gathered, said Plair had been washing her uncle’s car in front of her 6th Street home when he…

Police confirm three officers fired weapons in Feb. 11 shooting

The Richmond Police Department confirmed Thursday that three of its officers fired at an armed suspect in the officer-involved shooting on February 11, the city’s first such shooting since December 2011. Police Capt. Mark Gagan said the man, identified as Elston Young, 30, was “brandishing a firearm” and pointed it at the officers, but did not fire. Young was hit multiple times.  He remains hospitalized in stable condition, said Richmond Det. Nicole Abetkov. The department is not releasing the names…

Armed man critically injured in officer-involved shooting

A man was hospitalized and is currently in stable condition after being shot by Richmond police officers on Monday night. Police responded to a ShotSpotter activation and 911 calls reporting a man with a gun at B Street and Nevin Avenue near the St. John’s Apartments just after 5 pm, said Richmond Police Lt. Bisa French. The victim was identified Tuesday as Elston Young, a 30-year-old African American man. French said he is in stable condition, but would not say…

Richmond sees its first homicide in two months

Richmond had its first homicide of 2013 on Monday. The Richmond Police Department identified the victim as Richmond resident William Wheeler, 26. His body was found at around 3 a.m., alongside the train tracks near Lucas Park, at Lucas Avenue and 10th Street. He died of apparent gunshot wounds. It was the city’s first homicide since late November. Richmond ended 2012 with 18 homicides, the lowest number since 2001. Neighbors near the park said they heard gunshots around midnight or…

Five Richmond police officers promoted

Five Richmond police officers were promoted in a ceremony Thursday morning, and Code Enforcement Officer Dave Ragowski received a Lifesaving Award for successfully negotiating with a Richmond resident who had threatened to commit suicide.

Richmond Art Center features artists abroad and close to home

Striking block prints illustrating scenes from the Cuban Revolution, pastel canvases full of memories from a childhood in Philadelphia, and a medley of photographs, sculptures and paintings from black artists throughout the Bay Area – in its first exhibitions of the year, the Richmond Art Center covers a lot of ground but keeps the connections local. The Art Center opened its three newest exhibitions on Jan. 12. Its main gallery is host to The Art of Living Black, the 17th…

LBNL opens comment period for Richmond Bay Campus

What should the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) take into account as it begins the environmental review for its new Richmond Bay Campus? Wildlife and birds? Noise pollution and new traffic? These are question for Richmond residents, who have until February 4 to make suggestions. Last January, LBNL chose Richmond as the preferred site for its second campus, which will consolidate several bioscience facilities now scattered throughout the region. Richmond aggressively sought the lab–which city officials hope will be an…

Playing in the park

SF MIME returned to Richmond Thursday night, with a live outdoor performance in Nicholl Park. About 50 people braved chilly weather and a stiff wind to watch the play,  a political satire poking fun at both investment bankers and Occupy Wall Street. Written and directed by Michael Gene Sullivan, the play had the full title, “For the Greater Good, or The Last Election: A Melodrama of Farcical Proportions,” and included live music, plenty of singing and slapstick. “They definitely have…