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Rail agency begins historic cemetery review for estimated 22,000 souls
It took nine months, but the Federal Railroad Administration is keeping its promise to take a fresh look at a historic Black cemetery in Richmond and its potential impact on proposed rail improvements between Richmond and Washington.
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Rain is a pain for Panthers
On a night when players needed windshield wipers on their face masks, Virginia Union University veered off course and eventually went under.
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New state funding for RPS school construction
Millions of dollars are heading to Richmond Public Schools to support school construction projects, including the rebuild of burned-out Fox Elementary School in The Fan, and the development of a new career and technical education high school in South Side, according to information provided to the Richmond School Board.
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RPS to launch 200-day school year in July
Fairfield Court Elementary School is the first Richmond Public School that will participate in the district’s 200-day school year pilot program, beginning July 24.
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UConn beats Purdue to score 6th NCAA championship
For decades, UCLA represented the gold standard of college basketball. But now, the Bruins have become yesterday’s news. Connecticut has taken their place. The balance of power has shifted from Los Angeles to Storrs, Conn.
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Earl Lloyd: A man of many firsts
In discussing the greatest players to ever compete in the CIAA tournament, a nice starting point might be Earl Lloyd.
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Old and new Rams are doing well
This has been a take-notice basketball season for the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams, both past and present versions.
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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.
