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Morrissey announces Senate bid as G.A. officials close his House office
Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey once again is injecting drama into staid Virginia politics. In a fresh twist to his political career, the combative legislator quit the House of Delegates this week to begin his quest to replace incumbent Rosalyn R. Dance of Petersburg in the state Senate. His move comes barely two months after he defied Democratic and Republican House leaders and won a special election as an independent to keep his seat in the 74th House District after being convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. That conviction forced him to commute to the legislature from jail on work release, the first Virginia delegate ever to do so.
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State Dems hit with voting rights suit
Did the Democratic Party of Virginia violate the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act in choosing its nominee to compete in a recent special election for a House of Delegates seat? Yes, say three African-Americans, who are taking their case to federal court.
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General Assembly ousts Jamison, welcomes McClenney
Birdie Hairston Jamison has just a bit more than 10 months to preside over the Richmond Traffic Court.
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Documents surface in Morrissey case
Information has begun to surface that appears to bolster Delegate Joseph D. Morris- sey’s claim that the new felony charges against him “are absolutely false.” Take the court document that the Henrico County grand jury has charged the scandal-tainted legislator with forging — the key element of the four counts
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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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Strange fruit?
Critic: Oak evokes lynching image at Walker statue site
The fight over the tree in the planned Maggie L. Walker plaza isn’t over. Gary L. Flowers, a Richmond native and national political and civil rights operative living in Jackson Ward, has jumped into the fray with a petition drive opposing the live oak that now dominates the gateway into Jackson Ward where the monument to the great lady is to stand.
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New president named at VSU
Dr. Makola M. Abdullah to face financial, academic challenges
Dr. Makola M. Abdullah to face financial, academic challenges
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Alston out
Surprise move blocks African-American judge from Va. Supreme Court
Surprise move blocks African-American judge from Va. Supreme Court
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Despite setback, sibling catering business expanding
Their food was too popular. That’s why the owners of GFC Catering contend they no longer deliver their trademark $5.55 Friday lunch deal to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ headquarters.
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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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City DPW head quits over Harvard dispute
Since he arrived in 2011, James A. Jackson has pushed for change in the Richmond Department of Public Works. Instead of top-down leadership, he has spearheaded a team approach, worked to replaced outdated equipment and sought to address the backlog of citizen complaints about services.
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New City Council president challenges colleagues to address poverty, racism
Chris A. Hilbert challenged his Richmond City Council colleagues to do more to tackle poverty and racism in Richmond after he was elected the new council president on Tuesday.
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Powered by faith and family, gospel queen Sheilah Belle triumphs over illnesses
Richmond gospel queen Sheilah Belle is “pressing forward” through the health challenges that have dogged her for six months.
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Court rules that Christian-only prayers at government meetings are OK
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that governments do not violate the church-state barrier when elected community leaders exclusively deliver Christian prayers to begin meetings.
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Debate over treatment of autistic student to be battled out in court
Stephanie Priddy, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, was taken out of the West End school in police handcuffs. Her crime: Going to class.
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Banking on Bobb
Petersburg City Council votes to hire former Richmond city manager to help correct a raft of troubles
Here he comes to save the day. At least that’s the big hope in Petersburg after Robert C. Bobb, a former Richmond city manager, was called in to help the beleaguered city correct its finances and deal with a stream of public and private creditors badgering the city for payment.
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New ballpark for city? Squirrels, VCU hope so
Will Richmond be getting a new $55 million baseball stadium? Don’t bet on it.
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Bon Secours deal with city crumbles on Westhampton school building
Outgoing Mayor Dwight C. Jones has long complained that he never received proper credit for the deal he crafted with the Bon Secours hospital system that brought the Washington pro football team’s training camp to Richmond.
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Siblings bring own organ donation experience to Minority Donor Awareness Week
Malcolm K. Bradford feels fortunate that he had a sister willing to donate a kidney when both of his failed. “People who were in dialysis with me are still on the waiting list” for an organ transplant, said the 47-year-old city employee, who is in good health since the operation two years ago.
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RRHA steps up efforts to help residents find jobs
A Creighton Court community room packed with people seeking to learn about employment opportunities.