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President calls for criminal justice reforms at NAACP convention
“Mass incarceration makes our country worse off, and we need to do something about it,” President Obama told 3,000 cheering people at the 106th annual NAACP National Convention in Philadelphia this week.
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VSU, NSU still facing cutbacks
Cutbacks. That’s what Norfolk State and Virginia State universities are facing because of surprisingly steep enrollment drops. Enrollment at both of the state-funded, historically black institutions peaked in 2012 and then began a sharp decline. Based on current projections, both schools expect to enroll at least 25 percent fewer students in the fall than in 2012. That means less income and more need to reduce spending on staff and programs.
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VSU rejects critical state audit
Virginia State University has politely, but firmly rejected many of the findings in a scathing state audit and ignored others in stoutly defending its financial practices.
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Fish farming in Fairfield Court?
Nonprofit founder floats idea to improve lives of East End residents
Could fish farming be a way up for residents of public housing? Eric Samuelson believes it is a winning idea. And he’s hoping to find government officials who are willing to test it. “I get paid by private business to solve problems,” said Mr. Samuelson, a veteran management consultant. “I want to use my abilities to help solve the problems facing residents in public housing. And I think fish farming is one way to go.”
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Recognizing Va. women
Hundreds attend groundbreaking ceremony for new monument in Capitol Square
Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe was joined by Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Susan Allen, two former first ladies, for Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony for “Voices from the Garden,” Virginia Women’s Monument. On the sunny and brisk day, state officials, special guests, donors and hundreds of visitors from across the commonwealth attended the ceremony at Capitol Square.
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Bond fund to help people stay out of jail
Get arrested and you could lose your job, your home, custody of your children and anything you own if you can’t raise bail money.
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City to exchange gift cards for rifles, handguns, broken weapons
Richmond’s first gun buyback program — largely regarded by experts as a publicity stunt — is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at Liberation Church, 5501 Midlothian Turnpike, Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced Tuesday.
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City Council again honors Richmond Free Press founders
City Council has approved a fresh honor for the founders of the Richmond Free Press.
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’New Shoes For Back To School’ reaches 15-year mark of providing for youngsters
As students across the metro region prepare for in-person classes, they are looking to get new school clothes, especially rocking shoes and fine sneakers.
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VCU Rams have tough time in Battle 4 Atlantis
A rising star freshman and a stifling defense are atop the reasons why Virginia Commonwealth University feels the wind as its back after three tense struggles in the Bahamas.
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VSU shuts down appearance by controversial pyschologist
A controversial figure who promotes black unity, but who also has labeled the gay rights movement a conspiracy to reduce the black population, has been barred from speaking at Virginia State University.
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Proposed Navy Hill project will dilute black voting strength
Letter to the Editor
The 2,500 residential units called for in the Navy Hill District Corp. Downtown re- development project will result in Jackson Ward as we know it disappearing. This is because Jackson Ward will no longer be a predominately black community as it has historically been.
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104-year-old city real estate firm sold
Brothers Jeffrey Finn and John S. Finn Jr. are breathing new life into the oldest African-American-owned real estate company in continuous operation in Richmond.
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‘I’m done’: Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham announces his last day on the force will be Dec. 31
“I’m done. I don’t have another position waiting.” So said Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham after publicly announcing Tuesday he will retire effective Sunday, Dec. 31.
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Working through long COVID
Months to years after being infected by the coronavirus, thousands in Virginia, including Delegate Delores L. McQuinn and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, push through lingering symptoms
Natarsha Eppes-Kelly has been working hard for the last four months to establish a new normal in her life.
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Personality: Dr. Shantell D. Lewis
Spotlight on founder of nonprofit Here2Hear
Hearing is one of our most precious gifts, giving us the ability to communicate effectively, which should not be taken for granted.
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Take down all the statues
Regarding the brouhaha over the Confederate statues here and elsewhere, I have come up with a solution that should please both sides.
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Personality: Zarina Fazaldin
Spotlight on Richmond Folk Festival Programming Committee Chair
Zarina Fazaldin left her family in Tanzania to complete high school and earn her bachelor’s degree in India before coming to Richmond to pursue post graduate studies. Back then, her dream job was to work at the United Nations. More than 30 years later, Ms. Fazaldin still lives in Richmond, a city that she loves and considers her own. Her friends in Richmond have become family, she says.
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50 years after 'Black Manifesto,' religious groups again take up reparations
On a Sunday morning in May 1969, as clergy processed into the sanctuary of New York’s august Riverside Church, civil rights activist James Forman vaulted into the pulpit to demand $500 million in reparations for the mistreatment of African-Americans from white churches and synagogues.
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Study may help reverse shut out of Black businesses from city contracts
City Hall spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year to buy goods and services and pay for construction and renovation of its buildings, pipelines and other infrastructure. But only a tiny fraction of that money is spent with Black- and minority-owned companies.
