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‘I can’t breathe’
Minneapolis police officers fired after cell phone video shows one kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, who later died.
Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired in the wake of the brutal death Monday of George Floyd, a 46-year-old father and security guard, who died after being handcuffed by police and put face down in the street, where a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes.
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Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
Despite the pandemic, construction continues on the new Cardinal Elementary School in South Side, one of three replacement schools Richmond is building.
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City businesses ready to reopen, welcome customers next week
Renada Harris, owner of Silk Hair Studio on Broad Street near Virginia Commonwealth University spent last Thursday calling clients to cancel appointments made for Friday, May 15, the date businesses were to partially reopen under Gov. Ralph S. Northam’s executive order.
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School Board adopts $331M budget for 2020-21
The Richmond School Board on Monday adopted a $331 million budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year that begins July 1.
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Richmond-Petersburg to become central to U.S. critical drug manufacturing and stockpile
Richmond has just become the national headquarters for a government effort to resolve a long-festering problem — American dependence on overseas supplies of life-saving medications.
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City tax bills go out without amnesty details
Richmond residents have until Friday, Aug. 14, to pay city taxes on their real estate and vehicles without being hit with a penalty and interest for late payment under a recently approved ordinance.
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New type of renter’s insurance covers security deposit
When it comes to renting an apartment, one problem people face is the big outlay.
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Public policy summer academy scholarships available to Richmond and Petersburg students
High school and college students in Richmond and Petersburg are being offered scholarships to participate in a free online summer academy that will focus on youth and public policy amid the pandemic, it has been announced.
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Personality: Duron Chavis
Spotlight on Resiliency Garden project leader
Hundreds of raised garden beds distributed throughout the region, ready to house healthy crops. Hundreds more in de- mand by residents in Richmond and its neighboring counties. And potentially hundreds of new urban farmers, ready to work and serve their communities at a time of great need.
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’His Airness’ Michael Jordan also knew how to swing a bat
Michael Jordan the basketball player is a global legend. His greatness is beyond debate. Meanwhile, Jordan the baseball player remains a bit of a mystery, his status open to discussion.
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Miss local baseball? You can still get the food
With the coronavirus pandemic, fans are missing baseball. And some are missing ballpark food.
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Philanthropy steps up during the COVID-19 crisis
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has created a statewide and global health and economic crisis that is testing the fabric of people and communities and area charities as needs expand.
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President Obama inspires Class of 2020, adroitly criticizes current leaders for mishandling pandemic crisis
Hours after former President Obama delivered two measured and inspiring na- tional commencement speeches to the Class of 2020 college and high school graduates last Saturday, social media lit up with comments of “Great speech, Mr. Obama. We miss you!” and “That’s what a president should be like. November 2020 can’t get here soon enough.”
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Can an old black man get the Manafort treatment? by Julianne Malveaux
There were 4,623 incarcer- ated people over 65 in federal prisons during the first week of May. Until May 12, Paul Manafort, President Trump’s one-time campaign manager, was one of them. The 71-year-old petitioned the court for release to home confinement because of his age, heart condition and “fear of coronavirus.”
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The fight for the 2020 vote, by Stacy M. Brown
Since the onset of COVID-19, voter registration in the United States has decreased by a whopping 90 percent.
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Equal protection under the law, by Rep. A. Donald McEachin
In February, Ahmaud Arbery was hunted and shot down by neighborhood vigilantes while jogging in Brunswick, Ga. His killers were not taken into custody until a national outcry over leaked footage of the assault three months later.
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What happens when we return to ‘normal’? by Glenn Ellis
Where should we be focusing our attention as a community at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic?
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Ready to reopen
Va. businesses, churches and some restaurants are poised to open on Friday under state guidelines despite VLBC's opposition
Editor's Note: In a major change that took place after publication of the May 14-16 edition of the Free Press, businesses in the city of Richmond will not reopen on Friday, May 15. At the request of Mayor Levar M. Stoney, Gov. Ralph S. Northam issued a new executive order extending business closures in Richmond until at least Thursday, May 28. The order, released about 5:15 p.m. Thursday, May 14, also included Accomack County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, which also requested to delay openings. In the Richmond area, businesses in Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties, however, can reopen Friday under Phase One of the governor’s guidelines. Government leaders in those three counties submitted a letter to Gov. Northam rejecting any delay in opening.
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City may be facing deficit in current 2019-20 budget
Three months ago, with the city’s economy booming, Richmond’s government projected an $8.5 million surplus when the current fiscal year ends June 30. But today, the city appears to be facing a $6.2 million deficit, according to the latest data for the 2019-20 fiscal year, after the coronavirus sent the local economy — and that of the state, the
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GRTC provides more protective gear to drivers
It took nearly two months, but GRTC is ramping up virus protection for drivers who have kept the public transit system rolling during the pandemic.
