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Personality: Sheri Shannon
Spotlight on Southside ReLeaf cofounder
Sheri Shannon has long believed that focused community-action work can battle climate change head on.
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Personality: Connie McGowan
Spotlight on organizer of RVA Community Unity
Connie McGowan was devastated after the shooting deaths by police of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La., and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn. She also was disturbed by the shooting deaths of five police officers in Dallas a day later by an Army veteran. But not for long.
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Personality: Maureen S. Patterson
Spotlight on the new president of the Midlothian Rotary Club
When Maureen S. Patterson is installed next Wednesday as president of the Midlothian Rotary Club, she will be become the club’s first African-American woman president. She will preside over a club that has only one other African-American member.
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Democrat, Republican and independent candidates looking to fill open Henrico sheriff position
Three candidates are vying to be- come Henrico County’s next sheriff, succeeding longtime GOP Sheriff Mike Wade, who is stepping down after serving in the position since January 2000.
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Personality: Jamon K. Phenix
Spotlight on VUU Student Government Association president
Jamon K. Phenix, president of Virginia Union University’s Student Government Association, takes this position as a student leader and one of the gatekeepers of his university.
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Personality: Diana H. Garland
Spotlight on Richmond ambassador for USA Pickleball Assoc.
One of the fastest growing sports involving a court and a net is not tennis or badminton. It’s pickleball!
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Personality: David O. Harris Jr.
Spotlight on advocate who spearheaded effort to honor Arthur Ashe Jr.
David O. Harris Jr. is the driving force behind renaming the Boulevard in Richmond for Arthur Ashe Jr., the late Richmond native who made his mark on the tennis court and on the world stage as a civil and human rights advocate and philanthropist.
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Personality: George P. Braxton
Spotlight on national president of National Negro Golf Association
“8-0-FORE!”If you’re familiar with this play on Richmond’s area code, you’ll know it as the nickname of the Richmond chapter of the National Negro Golf Association.
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Diverse slate of candidates vie for lieutenant governor and attorney general in Democratic primary
Virginia government relies on an effective leadership team at the top — governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
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All those times Buick LaCrosse made a cameo in film and you kind of gasped
Sponsored by Buick
The internet is amazing – granted – but when we set out to research the Buick LaCrosse in film or TV, we didn’t anticipate finding a populated find-your-car-in-media database. Or did we?
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From hatred to hope
The 131-year old, 12-ton bronze symbol of white supremacy honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue is taken down as scores watch in person and online
An empty pedestal covered with colorful anti-racist slogans. That’s all that remains of the state’s greatest symbol of white supremacy – the statue of the traitorous Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee riding his horse, Traveller.
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Power to vote
Gov. McAuliffe boldly restores voting rights of 206,000 Virginians, including disenfranchised African-Americans
David Mosby no longer feels like a second-class citizen. After years of being barred from the ballot box because of his criminal record, the 46-year-old home improvement contractor is finally able to vote and fully take part in the life of his community.
Staff member
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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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Why do so many Black women die in pregnancy?
One reason: Doctors don’t take them seriously
Angelica Lyons knew it was dangerous for Black women to give birth in America.
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Love Stories
The Free Press proudly presents its annual Valentine’s Day feature sharing the Love Stories of four Richmond area couples.
The Free Press proudly presents its annual Valentine’s Day feature sharing the Love Stories of four Richmond area couples.
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Personality: Floyd Lee Brown Jr.
Spotlight on the Black History Museum’s holiday tradition, Soul Santa
Nothing can stop Soul Santa, not even COVID-19.
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Personality: Lawrence E. West Jr.
Spotlight on founder of Black Lives Matter RVA
For many, the removal of the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from the pedestal where it stood for more than a century was a symbolic moment that could herald further progress and change. For Lawrence E. West Jr., founder of Black Lives Matter RVA, the removal was something more substantial and critical.
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Personality: Dr. Harold C. Sayles
Spotlight on the Veterans of Foreign Wars national chaplain
Thursday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, a time when the nation pauses to honor those who have served the nation. Dr. Harold C. Sayles, who was elected during the summer as the 122nd national chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, plans to commemorate the day by attending the 65th Annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial at 621 S. Belvidere St. in Downtown.
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Personality: Darrick Hanks-Harris
Spotlight on founder of The Black Village of RVA
In early December, Darrick Hanks-Harris began a new initiative to aid Black-owned businesses struggling in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
