Levar Stoney Runs for Virginia Lieutenant Governor

Levar Stoney, former mayor of Richmond and candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in Virginia, actively engaged in earned media by cold calling local newspapers to arrange interviews and share his campaign perspectives. His campaign's direct outreach led to several local news stories that highlighted his political background and accomplishments, though the initial interviews were not inherently newsworthy on their own. Meanwhile, the music world mourned the passing of Sly Stone, the innovative frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, who died at age 82 after battling COPD. Stone's legacy as a genre-defying pioneer who fused rock, funk, soul, and pop continues to inspire, despite his later years marked by reclusion and struggles with drug use. Additionally, a Guardian article reflects on cultural and political challenges, including the backlash against progressive activism and critiques of society's obsession with 'Great Men' narratives, emphasizing the need for more responsible approaches to power and social change. These diverse stories highlight ongoing political campaigning tactics, cultural loss, and the evolving discourse on societal values in 2025.