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Voting rights: What’s next after U.S. Supreme Court decision?, by Da’Quan Love
One step forward, two steps backward.
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Mayor and School Board must work out differences for sake of the city
Re “Community members call for School Board to work with city on new George Wythe,” Free Press June 24 edition:
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In this courtroom sketch, Hennepin County, Minn., District Judge Peter Cahill presides over the June 25 sentencing hearing for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, …
Published on July 1, 2021
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Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22 ½ years in murder of George Floyd
Not enough. That was the sentiment of the late George Floyd’s family members after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chau- vin was sentenced late last week to 221⁄2 years in prison for the murder of Mr. Floyd in May 2020.
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RPS offers plan to boost student literacy
Nearly half of all Richmond students cannot read proficiently when they enter high school, leading to high dropout rates and a host of other ills, Richmond Public Schools acknowledges.
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Dr. Thelma Bland Watson, who was dedicated to advancing the needs of the elderly, dies at 70
Dr. Thelma Bland Watson was 9 when she began providing assistance to her maternal grandmother. That experience turned Dr. Watson into a champion for the elderly.
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Church’s tax-exempt status restored
The Community Church of God in Christ is once again being recognized by the city as an active, functioning church, according to 2nd District City Councilwoman Katherine Jordan.
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14 African-Americans connected to Jackson Ward to be recognized with honorary street signs
Honorary brown street signs soon will go up in Jackson Ward to call attention to 14 deceased Black men and women who made a lasting imprint on Richmond and often on the nation.
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Free COVID-19 testing and vaccines
COVID-19 testing is available at various drug stores, clinics and urgent care centers throughout the area for people with and without health insurance. Several offer tests with no out-of-pocket costs.
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Fulton family receives unexpected blessing of mortgage payoff
It began as a casual conversation. Then it quickly turned into what Travis L. and Latarsha F. Woods can only call “a blessing from God.”
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Black Voters Matter brings ‘Freedom Ride for Voting Rights’ to Richmond
Black Voters Matter brought its “Freedom Ride for Voting Rights” bus caravan to Monroe Park last week, continuing the civil rights efforts of the first Freedom Riders 60 years ago and to push voting access and equity locally and nationally.
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Slot machine-style ‘skill games’ end July 1, taking away some people’s ‘joy’
James E. Henson is not going to wear black. But he will join in mourning the loss of the so- called “gray machines” that are on the way out of convenience stores, truck stops and a host of other retail establishments with Virginia ABC licenses to sell beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
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Hindu group holds healing ceremony at Hanover County plantation before selling
A Hindu group that had hoped to build a temple on a former plantation in Hanover County held a ceremony last week to honor and bless the enslaved who had worked there and to heal the land that they now are selling.
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Biles to lead diverse U.S. women’s gymnastics team to Tokyo Olympics
Simone Biles’ Olympic encore is finally here.
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Kumar Rocker shakes up College World Series
Kumar Rocker’s father and uncle used their strong arms to make tackles on the college and professional football fields.
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Thank you to Richmond’s hospitals and health care providers, by Mayor Levar M. Stoney
The last few weeks have seen positive news for the Richmond community in our battle against COVID-19. Cases have started to decline, roughly 54 percent of Richmond’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID- 19 vaccine and Virginia is on the way toward a return to pre-pandemic normalcy with Gov. Ralph S. Northam lifting the State of Emergency Declaration on June 30. This is all excellent news for both the health of Richmonders as well as our local economy.
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Continue to say their names, by Rev. Reginald Bachus
The Black experience in America has always been a story of struggle.
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Kym Idella Jeter waves to family and friends in the stands as she walks out with Huguenot High School’s new graduates at the end of …
Published on June 24, 2021
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Unbridled joy
RPS’ first full graduation since COVID-19 brings smiles, cheers and joy at The Diamond
Huguenot High School’s graduation Monday was a day to remember — the first Richmond Public Schools gradu- ates to walk across a stage and receive their diplomas in a traditional, big group ceremony since the pandemic hit in March 2020.
