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Boxing legend Earnie Shavers dies at 78
Earnie Shavers, among the hardest punch- ers in heavyweight boxing history, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, at the home of one of his daughters in Virginia. He was 78. Known as the “Black Destroyer,” Mr. Shavers posted a career record of 74-14-1 between 1969 and 1995. His worksheet included 68 knockouts with 23 coming in the first round. The Alabama native won 44 of his first 47 bouts via knockout. Twice he fought for the world title, los- ing to Muhammad Ali in 1977 and Larry Holmes in 1979. Mr. Shavers left an indelible impression on Ali. “Earnie hit me so hard, it shocked my kinfolk back in Africa,” Ali said. Along the way, Mr. Shavers scored ring victories over three former world champs, Jimmy Ellis, Ken Norton and Vincente Rondon. Mr. Shavers’ immense power came up in the 1980s when late-night TV host David Letterman interviewed boxing champ George Foreman. Letterman asked Foreman about Mr. Shavers. Foreman replied: “I never fought Earnie Shavers. Thank goodness.”
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What’s in a name?
Efforts to rename the Lee Bridge rise again, bounded by slave-holding ties
Instead of a slavery-defending general, a key bridge over the James River could soon bear the name of a plantation where enslaved people labored.
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City Council to consider design funding for new George Wythe on Feb. 28
Despite meeting on Valentine’s Day, Richmond City Council passed on an opportunity to end its feud with the Richmond School Board over the size of the proposed replacement for the aged and decrepit George Wythe High School.
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ICA at VCU to celebrate 5 years of art and community
The Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU will celebrate its fifth anniversary with an evening of casual conversation, music, performances, new works and more on Friday, April 21, starting at 5:30 p.m. Steven Holl, who designed the ICA building, along with project architect Dimitra Tsachrelia and ICA’s executive director Dominic Willsdon will lead a conversation about the institute. The 2022 Fall season’s program “Mis- read Unread Read Re-read Misread Un- read Re-read (MURRMUR) will launch newly commissioned works from Richmond residents Sam Taylor and nicole killian along with New York-based artist Riley Hooker. New works from artists in residency will be unveiled for the ICA’s ongoing exhibition “So it appears” — an intricate kaleidoscopic work by Australian born artist Tricky Walsh and an audio response to the exhibition by audio artist Sharon Mashihi. Another feature of the evening will be Richmond-based artist Vivian Chiu presenting some of her “sketches” created over the past decade. The evening is free. For more informa- tion or to RSVP to attend the anniversary celebration, visit https://icavcu.org/. The Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU is located at 601W. Broad St.
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Rockets hire ex-Celtics coach Udoka as new coach
Ime Udoka has been hired as the new coach of the Houston Rockets, a source familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.
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Systemic inequities hinder kinship foster care
In the most recent 2023 General Assembly session, Senate Bill 1219 was tabled in the House and left with the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee for further analysis.
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IRS claims Prince’s estate undervalued by 50 percent
The ongoing controversy over the money left behind by Prince when he died without a will is heating up again after Internal Revenue Service calculations showed that executors of the rock star’s estate undervalued it by 50 percent, or about $80 million.
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Mayor and School Board must work out differences for sake of the city
Re “Community members call for School Board to work with city on new George Wythe,” Free Press June 24 edition:
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Trammell to introduce collective bargaining ordinance at next City Council meeting
Richmond is poised to consider expanding collective bargaining to city employees.
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Richmond Folk Festival returns with fun for everyone
The Richmond Folk Festival returns for its 19th year to downtown Richmond with six stages and over 30 performers from Friday, Oct. 13, to Sunday, Oct. 15.
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Uphold your oath
We call on President Biden to uphold his oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
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Baldwin’s skills, stamina, scoring work to VCU’s advantage
Adrian “Ace” Baldwin Jr. is merely the best player on the best team in the Atlantic 10.
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First AME pastor defends bankruptcy filing for FAME Corp
In response to the recent financial decisions, Pastor Robert Shaw from First AME Church in Los Angeles has issued a statement in defense of the church’s choice to file for bankruptcy protection for three of its entities: Fame Assistance Corporation, Fame Housing Corporation, and FAME/Good Shepherd Center Housing Development as of May 1.
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Former employee files lawsuit against City of Richmond
The City of Richmond’s former FOIA officer has filed a $250,000 lawsuit against the city alleging she was fired in retaliation for refusing to violate state law, according to various news reports. The suit, filed by Connie Clay, alleges that city officials attempted to withhold information that should be public by delaying or ignoring requests, and sometimes quoting exorbitant fees to deter the requester.
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VSU beats Lincoln, but loses out on title
Kavon Bellamy is aiming toward a fast finish this football season at Virginia State University. Slowed by a nagging ankle injury much of the fall, the junior from Hampton High School is finally at full speed, which means, “Tacklers beware!”
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Gov. appoints Fairfax judge to state’s high court
The Northern Virginia judge who presided over one of the D.C. sniper trials was appointed Monday to the Virginia Supreme Court.
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Insidious racism
We were quite disturbed by news that a song loaded with racist lyrics and sentiment was piped over a public address system at Glen Allen High School as players from the largely white Henrico school and from the largely black John Marshall High School in Richmond were warming up for a homecoming football game.
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Williams sisters advance at Wimbledon
LONDON Superstar sisters Serena and Venus Williams are one win away from facing off against each other in the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London.
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VSU football team includes area freshmen
Departed Virginia State University football Coach Latrell Scott, who is now at Norfolk State University, has left his successor with a tough act to follow.
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Educators worry science will be casualty of Trump administration
Science and education professionals are increasingly alarmed about the impact President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks — many of them evangelical Christians — could have on science standards in public schools.
