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VCU Rams on the road at Davidson
Not so long ago, Virginia Commonwealth University basketball was sailing along smoothly. Now the Rams have hit choppy waters. Agonizing, back-to-back losses at the University of Richmond (67-63 in double overtime) and at home against the University of Dayton (59-55) have knocked the Rams out of the national poll and the Atlantic 10 Conference lead. VCU enters its Thursday, March 5, date at Davidson College in a must-win situation regarding the league’s regular season title and with a first-round A-10 Conference tournament bye in question. Only the top four institutions receive byes into the tournament quarterfinals.
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New play highlights renowned Richmond actor Charles Gilpin
The name of renowned actor Charles S. Gilpin has long faded in Richmond and elsewhere. Here in his birthplace, the only recognition for the 1920s Broadway star is the public housing community that is named for him — Gilpin Court, located just north of Downtown.
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U.S. women win World Cup
The United States returned to the pinnacle of women’s soccer with a 5-2 crushing of Japan in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final. It was the end of a riveting tournament that pushed the sport into new territory.
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Vanquishing the Confederate flag
A flag of any sort represents a country or a cause. Displaying the Confederate flag in the United States of America — whether it is the battle flag or another — is an issue of symbolism and statutory law. Last week, 150 years after using it within the Confederate States of America (a country) in armed rebellion against the United States for the cause of a Southern economy based on the forced labor of Africans, the government of South Carolina lowered the Confederate flag from its Capitol grounds.
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VUU police chief: Report the ‘bad apples’
As news spread across the nation of white South Carolina police officer Michael T. Slager killing unarmed African-American Walter L. Scott in cold blood, Virginia Union University Police Chief Carlton Edwards was leading a public safety forum Tuesday between Richmond area law enforcement officials and about 40 students on the VUU campus.
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Serena wins 19th major title
Reuters MELBOURNE An ill Serena Williams gave Maria Sharapova another serving of grand slam heartbreak Saturday, Jan. 31, to win the Australian Open and bolster her claims to be the all-time greatest player with her 19th major title. Though wheezing, coughing and forced off court by illness during a rain break, Serena’s serve stayed in the rudest of health and her athleticism astonished in a nerve-shredding 6-3 7-6(5) victory under the lights of Rod Laver Arena.
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State NAACP annual convention to start Oct. 30 in Richmond
National NAACP President and CEO Cornell W. Brooks, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and celebrated political commentator Roland S. Martin will address civil rights activists from around Virginia at the 80th Annual Convention of the Virginia State Conference NAACP in Richmond.
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VSU clobbers St. Augustine’s; Elizabeth City State next
Virginia State University finds itself in an uncomfortable spot in the CIAA standings — looking up. In 2013 and 2014, the Trojans were undefeated in the CIAA Northern Division en route to consecutive titles. This fall under first-year Coach Byron Thweatt, every game the rest of the way figures to be a must-win game, starting with the Saturday, Oct. 10, trip to Elizabeth City State University.
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GRTC slowdown ends; drivers get back pay
GRTC bus drivers have received the back pay they were due and have ended an informal work action that slowed service dramatically on various routes last week. The drivers received the anticipated back pay last Friday, according to Frank Tunstall III, president and business agent for Local 1220 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents bus operators and mechanics for the Greater Richmond Transit Co.
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Invest in engaged learning for better student performance
American students need to hit the books. The latest international data show the United States ranks 24th among 34 developed countries in math and science achievement, including well below countries such as Slovenia, Vietnam and the Czech Republic.
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Historic church in Detroit placed on National Register
A Detroit Baptist church with a history of civil rights activism has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Richmond Community ICU nurses told to apply for other jobs
A Bon Secours memo provided to the Free Press undercuts the Catholic hospital group’s public claim that it intends to maintain its five-bed intensive care unit at Richmond Community Hospital in Church Hill.
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National NAACP head arrested in sit-in over AG nomination
Several African-American civil rights activists staged a sit-in at the Alabama office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions on Tuesday.
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Lt. Col. Linda M. Washington, former chief of medical services for the 113th Air Wing, dies
Lt. Col. Linda Marlene Washington left Richmond to make history as a military doctor. In 1988, the intrepid physician became the first female flight surgeon in the District of Columbia Air National Guard, also known as the 113th Wing.
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VSU trounces Livingstone 47-0
It’s time to add Stephen Mines and Christian Harden to Virginia State University’s emerging cast of football playmakers. Both figure heavily into Coach Reggie Barlow’s second half plans as the Trojans seek to return to the CIAA title game for the third time in four seasons.
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Howard University renames school for Cathy Hughes
Howard University has renamed its School of Communications the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, after the founder of Radio One Inc., the largest African-American owned multimedia company in the United States. Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, president of Howard University, announced in early October a multimillion-dollar gift to the communications school from the Catherine L. Hughes and Alfred C. Liggins III Foundation.
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N.C. A&T bows to UR in NCAA football playoff
North Carolina A&T State University’s 2015 football season ended with a party as victors of the inaugural Celebration Bowl. This football season’s conclusion was more like a dreaded visit to the dentist.
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VCU shines in The Bahamas; plays next in Miami
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Jonathan Williams entered this basketball season with a well-deserved reputation as a playmaker.
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U.S. appeals court strikes down prayer practice before government meeting
Government officials who lead Christian prayers to open meetings are violating the U.S. Constitution, a divided federal appeals court in Richmond has ruled.
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Maggie Walker’s awesomeness
We are still filled with pride and exuberance from the Maggie L. Walker statue dedication last Saturday in Downtown. There was a gloriousness about the day that Richmond rarely sees.
