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More than 50% of African-Americans have high blood pressure under new guidelines
Well over half of all African-American adults will be classified as having high blood pressure under new streamlined diagnostic guidelines released this week, illuminating the heavy burden of cardiovascular disease in the population. Anyone with blood pressure higher than 130/80 will be considered to have hypertension, or high blood pressure, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology stated Monday in releasing their new joint guidelines.
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Batiste, joyful performances highlight Grammy Awards
Jon Batiste had the most Grammy Award nominations and his five wins on Sunday night outpaced everyone, yet he somehow seemed the biggest surprise on a joyous night for music that washed away some of the bad taste left by the Oscars a week earlier.
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Making an impact
Dr. Lillie R. Bennett has been caring for Richmond children in her medical practice for nearly 50 years
Joyce Carter happily drives 40 miles from Caroline County to Richmond so her three adopted children can see one doctor.
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Personality: Joshua Ryan ‘Josh’ Epperson
Spotlight on co-founder of FeastRVA
Josh Epperson, co-founder of FeastRVA, lives each day by a quote by Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
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Liberty’s Malik Willis and VSU’s Will Adams hoping to hear their names called in NFL draft
The much-anticipated NFL draft starts Thursday, April 28. Two state players to watch for are Malik Willis and Will Adams.
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Redistricting Commission ‘more focused on political outcome’ by Phillip E. Thompson
We are not surprised by the partisanship that seems to be weighing down the efforts of the new Virginia Redis- tricting Commission to redraw the state’s legislative and Congressional districts. What did we expect?
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Grandparents may hold key to overcoming COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
Black seniors who themselves are vaccinated could be the trusted messengers the community needs to push the COVID-19 vaccination, public health experts said at a recent news briefing.
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5 former officers charged with federal civil rights violations in Tyre Nichols beating death
Five former Memphis Police officers were charged Tuesday with federal civil rights violations in the beating death of Tyre Nichols as they continue to fight second degree murder charges in state courts arising from the killing.
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VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center’s new designation driven by the community, by Dr. Robert A. Winn
Building engines for General Motors was going to be my one-way ticket to the other side of the tracks. Growing up, I dreamt of getting that job at the plant in my working class Buffalo, N.Y., neighborhood, earning a steady paycheck and setting myself up for life. It didn’t even occur to me to look beyond the borders of familiarity because I had no idea how I would get there. Eventually higher education came into play and medicine found me. But I’m still one part M.D. and one part M.C., connected to that kid down the block who knew there was something bigger out there, even if it seemed out of reach.
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Da’Vine Joy Randolph wins Oscar for ‘The Holdovers’
Trained opera singer never dreamed of being an actor
While tears rolled down Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s face, she collected her first Oscar then delivered a powerful speech about her realizing that she’s good enough as an actor.
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Triple the blessings
From intensive care unit to loving arms of thankful mother
Keri’Co, Kali’Co and Koh’Co Harris spent their first Thanksgiving in the intensive care unit at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital. The diminutive triplets were receiving life-nurturing aid from medical staff after their mother, Deidre Harris, delivered them two months prematurely by Cesarean section Oct. 21, 2013. She was 33 at the time and was suffering from health complications.
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President calls for criminal justice reforms at NAACP convention
“Mass incarceration makes our country worse off, and we need to do something about it,” President Obama told 3,000 cheering people at the 106th annual NAACP National Convention in Philadelphia this week.
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Bellamy to power VSU push to repeat as CIAA champs
In ancient warfare, battering rams were used to break up masonry fortifications and splinter wooden gates. Kavon Bellamy is a modern-day battering ram — gridiron-style — wearing blue and orange. The Virginia State University junior rips through defensive linemen and flattens linebackers en route to first downs, touchdowns and Trojan victories.
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Frank Mason III drafted in second round by Sacramento Kings
Well, some things are better shown than said — like Frank Mason III’s extraordinary ability to pass and shoot a basketball and spark his team to victory.
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Parson and backers initially barred then allowed to worship at RCC
“We’re back. And we’re not going away.” So said Pastor Stephen A. Parson Sr. after he successfully led nearly 40 supporters without incident into the Richmond Christian Center on Sunday to take part in the 8 a.m. worship service.
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Statue of archsegregationist remains in Capitol Square
Richmond and other Virginia localities are on track to gain permission from the General Assembly to take down Confederate statues.
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St. Luke Building ready for tenants
The historic 117-year-old office building in which Richmond business great Maggie L. Walker launched a bank and led a crusade for African-American economic independence has been renovated into an apartment building that is ready to welcome its first tenants.
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School funding questions remain as City Charter change takes effect July 1
“I believe we have six months from July 1 to respond to the charge embedded in the charter change. Rest assured, we will do so. When we have something definitive to say, we will say it.” That was the official administration response to a Free Press query as to how Mayor Levar M. Stoney would respond to a change to the City Charter regarding school improvement that goes into effect Sunday, July 1.
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Looking back, looking forward
New photo exhibition at Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia shares stories from a bygone era
A sense of dignity emanates from the faces peering out of the searing, black and white photos mounted in the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia’s upstairs exhibition space.