Pride-themed books are facing a second year of opposition in Appomattox County. This time, a library board member ended up on the chopping block and two new board members were hastily appointed.
Culture
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60 years after Bloody Monday, Danville’s civil rights protesters “tell their own stories” in new documentary
Jonathan Parker, a white producer, had to build trust within Danville’s Black community for a project that would showcase their firsthand accounts of the summer of 1963. He also had to race against the clock, working to preserve these stories while people are still around to tell them.
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Martinsville-Henry County YMCA seeks community input as it looks to replace aging facility
The YMCA on Starling Avenue opened in 1988. Y officials say it’s time for a newer, larger facility and want to hear ideas from residents.
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For longtime hot air balloon enthusiasts, Wytheville rally is about both soaring and connecting
Pilots from across the region converge on Wytheville for the Chautauqua Festival every year to fly their balloons and to see old friends. “First you get to know their kids. Then you hear about their kids’ weddings, and then you get to see their grandkids,” one balloonist said.
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An alleged plot to kill George Washington in 1779 gets new scrutiny
The Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk’s office has discovered documents relating to a man charged with threatening to kill Washington.
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Fire ants are marching westward in Virginia, driven by a changing climate
The red imported fire ant, an invasive species known for its painful sting, stayed in Southeast Virginia for about three decades. Recently, the ants have started spreading to other parts of the state.
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PBS Appalachia, which will cover Southwest Virginia, launches Saturday
The studio will be built at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol, rather than in Abingdon as originally announced. PBS Appalachia will cover Southwest Virginia and will be available online, through an app and through local cable providers.
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The echoes of a civil rights struggle that shook Danville 60 years ago
This weekend marks the 60th anniversary of Bloody Monday, when civil rights protesters in Danville were violently confronted by police. In this story and three others, read about Danville’s civil rights movement, the people who lived through it, and how the city is growing today.
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Danville grapples with the memory of Bloody Monday
For decades, the city did not acknowledge Danville’s civil rights movement or the police response to it in a meaningful way. Now residents are working to ensure that Danville’s history is remembered by the entire city.
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The people who remember Danville’s civil rights movement
Many of the people who participated in Danville’s civil rights struggle 60 years ago are still alive today. These are five profiles of the people helping Danville remember its history.