President Donald Trump’s threat to shut down the U.S.-Mexican border is raising fears of the economic consequences the U.S. would face. Politicians, business leaders and economists warned that such a move would block incoming shipments of fruits and vegetables, TVs, medical devices and other products and cut off people who commute to their jobs or school or come across to go shopping. In a statement from AP News, economist Dan Griswold of George Mason University addressed his concerns of the loss in 15,000 trucks and $1.6 billion in goods that cross the border each day.
A Richmond adult-education center is facing an uncertain future after the state Education Department told city school officials to end a partnership with the organization. Dream Academy Richmond helps individuals over the age of 18 who haven’t completed high school get a diploma instead of a General Educational Development certificate. According to the Virginia Department of Education, the school doesn’t have the power to help students get their diplomas because Dream Academy is a private organization. The state says the school’s students can’t meet necessary Standards of Learning requirements because students have to pass SOL tests to earn verified credits toward their diplomas.
Donnie Corker, better known as Dirtwoman, is being honored with “Dirtwoman Appreciation Week.” Mayor Levar Stoney named the first week of April to honor Corker, a local legend and early advocate for the Richmond LGBTQ community. Dirtwoman week will include several events devoted to Corker, including a show of Dirtwoman-related art at Gallery 5 on Friday. A Dirtwoman dinner will be held at Mamma Zu on Sunday, where a memorial plaque will be unveiled. Corker died in 2017 at the age of 65.
