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Ora Lomax matched with new dialysis center
The saga of Ora Lomax and her search for a new dialysis center has a happy ending after weeks of drama. The 86-year-old NAACP activist has been reassigned to a new center after being booted from the West End Dialysis Center after 12 years.
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VSU accredited for 10 years by SACS
Virginia State University, despite shrinking enrollment, has secured re-accreditation for a full 10 years, it was announced Tuesday. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmed VSU’s accreditation at its annual meeting Tuesday in New Orleans after finding the university complied with all of its standards.
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RRHA tenants still facing heating problems
At least 50 public housing tenants are hoping the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority will be able to fully restore their heat ahead of the bitter cold set to slam Richmond this week. The RRHA, buoyed by the end of the government shutdown that threatened its financial well-being, reported major progress in restoring heat to tenants.
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Coronavirus and public tantrums
Re “Timeout for COVID-19,” Richmond Free Press April 23-25 edition: Most people have an understanding of the unusual virulence of COVID-19 and the need to limit exposure and spread.
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Personality: Betty L. Squire
Spotlight on president of Engine Company #9 and Associates
For nearly 30 years, Engine Company #9 and Associates has recognized the trailblazing path of the first African-American firefighters and police officers in Richmond. And now, the organization’s president, Betty L. Squire, is overseeing the group’s latest effort to showcase the pioneers in a new and big way.
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Personality: Ashley S. Bland
Spotlight on Richmond Public Schools 2021 Teacher of the Year
Ashley S. Bland has received a coveted award that could set off a journey to additional state and national education awards. The 30-year-old Ms. Bland was named Richmond Public Schools 2021 Teacher of the Year.
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DeVos, Sessions confirmed
Two of President Trump’s controversial picks for his cabinet have been confirmed by the Senate and are ready to take office.
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Vote on Navy Hill project expected on Feb. 24
Monday, Feb. 24. That’s the date on which City Council President Cynthia I. Newbille wants the governing body to take a vote on the controversial $1.5 billion Coliseum replacement and Downtown development plan.
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Mayor Stoney unveils a $1.92 billion budget plan for 2020-21
Mayor Levar M. Stoney wants to increase total city spending an additional $135 million — or nearly $600 per resident — to beef up investments in street paving, public education, city worker pay, affordable housing and other priorities.
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Monument rally peaceful as neo-Confederates met by counterprotesters
“Tear these racist statues down!” Those words, shouted by about 40 counterprotesters on Monument Avenue, drowned out attempts by about 15 neo-Confederates on Sunday to speak in support of keeping the statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis on the tree-lined street.
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RRHA reconsidering plan to demolish Creighton Court
The city’s key public housing agency is rethinking its vision of demolishing the six major public housing communities in Richmond and replacing them with “mixed-income” neighborhoods to end the concentration of poverty.
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Creighton Court redevelopment project seeks $4.9M city bailout
The project to transform the poverty-stricken Creighton Court public housing area in the East End into a mixed-income development has run into a glitch — the master developer can’t raise all the money needed to construct the first 105 apartments.
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Vaccine supply, distribution problems frustrate area residents
Virginia’s teachers, grocery store workers and the elderly are facing delays in getting inoculated against COVID-19. A sharp reduc- tion in the supply of vaccine has left local health departments, including Richmond’s and Henrico’s, without enough doses to meet demand.
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The NCAA, Justice Kavanaugh and student-athletes
We were quite interested in the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion this week regarding the NCAA and student-athletes and what compensation students can expect for providing their talent to a college or university.
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Virtual Emmy Awards ceremony has history-making wins and social messages
It was a virtual night of glamour for some, go-as-you-are for others, social justice messaging and family affairs.
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Want a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot?
The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free walk-up COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
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How to normalize an insurrection, by Clarence Page
Well, it took long enough. House Speaker Mike Johnson has finally started releasing 44,000 hours of security footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol assault that many, including me, hoped would shed more light on what really happened on that chaotic day.
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Ph.D. rapper bringing hip-hop to U.Va. classroom
A.D. Carson isn’t concerned about those who don’t think hip-hop is a valid area of study in academia. Nor does the rapper who just earned his Ph.D. in May from Clemson University by presenting his dissertation as an album want people to think he’s the first to pursue hip-hop as an academic subject.
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Va. Supreme Court rejects contempt charge for governor
Gov. Terry McAuliffe is now free to keep restoring the voting rights of felons who have served their time — a relief to more than 18,000 people whose rights he has restored since Aug. 22. The Virginia Supreme Court refused to wade further into this increasingly partisan battle and threw out another Republican attempt to restrict the governor’s constitutional authority to restore voting rights.