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Poor conditions at George Mason Elementary fire up School Board
After an unusual, tense public exchange between members Monday night, the Richmond School Board voted to hold a public hearing on Monday, July 31, to discuss the condition of George Mason Elementary School and what to do about it. Although George Mason boasts prominent alumni, including former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, several officials said the school building at 813 N. 28th St. is easily among the city school district’s worst facilities.
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Trump milking taxpayers
President Trump doesn’t want to spend federal dollars on after-school programs, meals for poor people or heating assistance that helps keep folks alive. But he has no problem wasting more than $3 million a pop to spend weekends at his private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
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Wilder says VCU panel cleared him in probe; VCU spokesman says that's 'premature'
L. Douglas Wilder has maintained for months that a former Virginia Commonwealth University student made up a story that he made sexual advances toward her and propositioned her to be his mistress nearly three years ago.
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Kamras fields questions, concerns at community meeting
Richmond schools Superintendent Jason Kamras met with more than 60 parents, educators and community members from the city’s 3rd District last week in the latest of his community meetings to talk about his vision for Richmond Public Schools and to listen to concerns people have about the school system.
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President Obama says world should resist cynicism over rise of power politics
In his highest profile speech since leaving office, former President Obama on Tuesday denounced the policies of President Trump without mentioning his name, taking aim at the “politics of fear, resentment, retrenchment,” and decrying leaders who are caught lying and “just double down and lie some more.”
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Nursing homes on front lines battling the coronavirus
Nursing homes are hot spots for the spreading coronavirus pandemic in Virginia, with 60 of the state’s 108 outbreaks occurring in long-term care facilities, state Health Department numbers show.
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Personality: Margaret Rose ‘Meg’ Medina
Spotlight on National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
Amid ongoing campaigns against certain kinds of literature in the United States, Margaret Rose “Meg” Medina has been given a new platform and new responsibility to champion the value of the written word.
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Personality: Brenda A. Campbell
Spotlight on founder of The Enhancement Foundation
For Brenda A. Campbell, founding executive director of The Enhancement Foundation, “Christmas: A Season of Celebration, A Lupus Fundraising Event” is an opportunity for her nonprofit organization to reach out to women across the city and inform them about an illness that affects women by a large margin.
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Personality: Shelly McKee-Sutton
Spotlight on volunteer chair of The Compassionate Friends RVA’s ‘Walk to Remember’
The loss of a child is one of the most horrific times for parents and their families who suffer grief, sorrow and, sometimes, guilt.
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Mary Frances Warden Lambert remembered
The Richmond community is remembering and celebrating the life of Mrs. Lambert, who nourished the souls and spirits of countless people with her gentle kindness and a popular catering business that was famous throughout the area and beyond.
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Unsheltered
Plans to house the homeless in Shockoe Valley disappear
Plans for a year-round shelter open around the clock for the homeless have suddenly evaporated seven months after being announced.
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Explainer: A huge jump in Social Security payments is coming
Tens of millions of older Americans are about to get what may be the biggest raise of their lifetimes.
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NPS grant to help preserve historic elementary school
'This will allow us to dream ... it will allow restoration and interpretation’
A Cumberland County school that was part of a vibrant African-American community for nearly 50 years is getting help from the National Park Service to preserve its location.
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In affirmative action and student loan cases, some see backlash to racial progress in education
As a Black student who was raised by a single mother, Makia Green believes she benefited from a program that gave preference to students of color from economically disadvantaged backgrounds when she was admitted over a decade ago to the University of Rochester.
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Youngkin inaugural plans include pricey dinner, music acts
Incoming Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin is planning a celebratory inaugural weekend that will include a mix of high-dollar ticketed events and other functions open to the public, according to a program that also touts an appearance by an unspecified Grammy-winning musical artist.
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Into the future
Heading into 2022, Mayor Stoney details his focus for Richmond’s growth and opportunities in the coming years
Mayor Levar M. Stoney is bullish on Richmond as he prepares to begin his sixth year in the city’s top elected office.
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Crackdown
Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights goes after possible housing discrimination by filing 13 lawsuits against 29 area companies that allegedly refused to accept renters using federal housing vouc
Owners and operators of apartment complexes in Richmond and across the state commonly have rejected rental applications from people using federal government-backed Housing Choice Vouchers to pay.
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Elections have consequences
Elections have consequences. We already have seen that with the rejection on Nov. 2 by Richmond voters of the $565 million planned casino and resort development.
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‘King Richard’ is a crowd pleaser
Once upon a time, in the low-income neighborhood of Compton in Los Angeles, a doting father and smart mother have a keen vision for two of their offspring: “Venus and Serena gonna shake up this world.”
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Slow but steady
Larger than expected voter turnout delays election results
Eleven volunteers were still hand-counting ballots at Free Press deadline to determine the winner of Tuesday’s Democratic “firehouse” primary in the 4th Congressional District.