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A mountain of problems uncovered in city finance division
Unpaid bills piled up and bank statements went unreconciled for months, creating uncertainty in the cash flow. Then after half the staff left, temporary workers had to be hired to try to clear the backlog of unpaid invoices from vendors who begged to be paid.
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Photographer Louis Draper’s work to be preserved by VMFA
The work of photographer Louis Draper, a Henrico County native who moved to New York City in 1957 to explore his passion, is internationally regarded for documenting the everyday lives of African-Americans and notable leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
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Churches change their sermon delivery, tithing methods for mandate guidelines
Churches across Richmond have undergone a substantial transformation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic as state and national officials have forced them to adopt a new paradigm.
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Personality: Kyron Copeland
Spotlight on co-founder of Urban Cycling Group
When restrictions to help curb the spread of the coronavirus began in Virginia, concerns arose about the need for exercise for people with certain medical conditions and those looking to maintain their health. The Urban Cycling Group has built a unique niche in these uncertain times, guided in part by co-founder and executive director Kyron Copeland.
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A pet cause
Infections temporarily close two local animal shelters
Henrico Police Animal Shelter temporarily closed its doors to the public on June 22 after seeing a rise in infections that could lead to canine influenza.
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MLK’s initial leadership site gets preservation funding
As the Alabama church where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was elected to his first leadership position in the Civil Rights Movement marks its 155th anniversary, work has begun to make a museum out of the crumbling building where that vote was taken.
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The Ingramettes to receive honorary degrees
The Richmond-based Ingramettes are still serving up gospel music five years after the death of their founder and leader, Maggie Ingram.
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NSU eyes third straight MEAC title
Dana Tate found good fortune in Las Vegas without going anywhere near a card table or slot machine.
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Pollen counts Richmond a top 25 attraction
If you are coughing and sneezing more than previous summers: you are not alone. Richmonders are feeling the effects of summer heat and worsening allergies.
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City Council enters new year eyeing new leadership
Fourth District City Councilwoman Kristen M. Nye is anticipated to be the new president of Richmond’s governing body. Next Tuesday, Jan. 2, City Council will hold its organizational meeting to vote on new officers following the departure of Dr. Michael J. Jones.
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Protect Dr. King’s fair housing legacy
Just a week after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, Congress passed the Fair Housing Act with broad bipartisan support.
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Awareness of sarcoidosis is critical in African-American community
April is National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month and Saturday, April 13, is “Shine a Light Day” on this rare disease. From VCU Health Systems in Richmond to Niagara Falls in Canada to the One Trade Center in New York City to some Mayo Clinics to bridges and buildings across America — all will be illuminated in purple.
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To save lives, lawmakers must seek common ground on gun legislation, by Roger Chesley
Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly, now in charge in both chambers in the session that opened last week, hope to pass several gun-control bills. The wish list includes legislation to ban the sale of new assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, The Washington Post reported.
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Petersburg City Council raises taxes, cuts funding to keep city afloat
Smokers will pay an extra 80 cents in tax for each pack of cigarettes they buy inside the city limits of Petersburg beginning Oct. 1 — a move the city officials hope will generate $900,000 a year in much needed revenue.
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Love Stories
The Free Press proudly presents its annual Valentine’s Day feature that shares the Love Stories of five Richmond area couples.
The line into the bookstore wrapped around the building. Angela had been standing in line for nearly an hour. Out of nowhere comes this bow-legged guy wearing a cowboy hat, suede coat, a tank top and Timberland boots…in AUGUST.
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Personality: Sixto M. Cancel
Spotlight on White House ‘Champion of Change’ honoree
Virginia Commonwealth University senior Sixto Martin Cancel is headed to the White House next week, where he will be recognized for making a difference in the community. He is one of 12 former foster youths from around the nation who will be saluted Tuesday, May 19, as a “Champion of Change.”
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From hatred to hope
The 131-year old, 12-ton bronze symbol of white supremacy honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue is taken down as scores watch in person and online
An empty pedestal covered with colorful anti-racist slogans. That’s all that remains of the state’s greatest symbol of white supremacy – the statue of the traitorous Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee riding his horse, Traveller.
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Samantha Cunningham of VSU earns All-CIAA honors
Virginia State University softball slug- ger Samantha Cunningham went out with a bang, or rather a sharp ping from her metal alloy bat. In her final season wearing the Trojans’ orange and blue, the senior third base player from Waukegan, Ill., earned All-CIAA hon- ors while leading the conference in hitting at .467. Cunningham finished with 13 doubles, three home runs, 29 runs batted in and struck Delaware State president, athletes decry search of team bus by Georgia deputies Associated Press SAVANNAH, Ga. The president of Delaware State University, a historically Black college, accused sheriff’s deputies in Georgia of intimidating and humiliating the university’s women’s lacrosse team when deputies pulled over the athletes’ bus and searched it for drugs. Delaware State University President Tony Allen said he’s “incensed” by the April 20 traffic stop along Interstate 95 south of Savannah as the team returned from a game in Florida. In a letter to students and faculty, Dr. Allen said nothing illegal was found and campus officials were “exploring options for recourse — legal and otherwise.” “We do not intend to let this or any other incident like it pass idly by,” Dr. Allen said in the letter posted Monday on the university’s social media pages. Liberty County, Ga., Sheriff William Bowman, who is Black, said Tuesday his office is conducting a formal review of the traffic stop. He said deputies had stopped other commercial vehicles the same morning along I-95 and found drugs on a different bus. The team’s chartered bus was stopped because it was traveling in the left lane, which is a violation of Georgia law, he said. The sheriff said deputies decided to search the team’s bus when a drug-sniffing dog “alerted” alongside it. “I do not exercise racial profiling, allow racial profiling or encourage racial profiling,” Sheriff Bowman told reporters. The sheriff added that based on what he already knows, “I believe the stop was legal.” No one was arrested or charged. The sheriff said the bus driver was given a warning. Video posted online by one of the Delaware State lacrosse players shows two white deputies on the bus. One of them tells the bus passengers that possessing marijuana remains illegal in Georgia. “If there is anything in y’all’s luggage, we’re probably going to find it, OK,” the deputy says. “I’m not looking for a little bit of marijuana, but I’m pretty sure you guys’ chaperones are probably going to be disappointed in you if we find any.” The deputy continues : “You guys are on a lacrosse team, correct? If there is something in there that is questionable, please tell me now. Because if we find it, guess what? We’re not going to be able to help you.” Sydney Anderson, the student who posted the video, wrote in the campus publication The Hornet Newspaper that team members felt there was “underlying racism” behind the search. “The team members were in shock, as they witnessed the of- ficers rambling through their bags,” Ms. Anderson wrote. “They brought the K-9 dog out to sniff their luggage. The cops began tossing underwear and other feminine products, in an attempt to locate narcotics.” Georgia courts have held that the odor of marijuana is enough to give police probable cause to search vehicles without a warrant. The sheriff said he welcomes feedback from the lacrosse team. “We realize that in this current environment, even a traffic stop can be alarming to citizens, especially African-Americans,” Sheriff Bowman said. out only four times in more than 100 plate appearances. Earning second team honors for the Trojans were designated player Macy Beville from nearby Dinwiddie and pitcher Alaijah Pratt from Lusby, Md. Also, Pratt and Desmyn Owens of Lawrenceville made the All-Freshman team. Under first-year Coach Jameshia Smith, VSU finished 20-13 overall and 13-4 in the CIAA. The Trojans’ season ended with a 6-4 loss to Bowie State University on May 7 in the loser’s bracket final of the CIAA Tournament in Glen Allen.
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Veteran church keyboard artist presents gospel show, despite health setback
One of Richmond’s biggest gospel shows ever is headed to Trinity Baptist Church in North Side to showcase Richmond’s best known performers.
