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Republicans retain control of Va. Senate
For more than two hours after the polls closed Tuesday, Democrat Daniel H. Gecker held a commanding 3,000-vote lead and appeared to be headed for victory in the 10th Senate District that includes a chunk of Richmond’s West End and South Side.
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Graying NAACP rallying to recover from obstacles
A session dedicated to the hot-button topic of police community relations at the 80th Annual Convention of the Virginia State Conference NAACP starkly illustrates the dilemma that confronts Linda Thomas, the newly elected president of the venerable civil rights organization.
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Pilot program to provide free dinner for students
Beginning in March, Richmond Public Schools will provide free dinners to students at eights of its schools in underserved communities. Those students also will be given backpacks containing free meals to take home for the weekend and extended school breaks such as holidays and inclement weather closings.
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City schools’ All-City Jazz concert Nov. 5
Richmond Public Schools is hosting its second annual All-City Jazz Concert at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace St. in Downtown.
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From gridiron to president
Willard Bailey shaping minds at new college
Willard Bailey, the CIAA legendary college football coach, has a new role in higher education. He has jumped from the gridiron to college president.
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VUU hopes for NCAA bid despite takedown
Here is the good news/bad news update on Virginia Union University football. Unsettling news is that by losing 23-19 last Saturday at Bowie State University, VUU is now a long shot to win the CIAA Northern Division title and advance to the CIAA title game.
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Election Tuesday
Candidates in final swing
Now it’s time for the voters to speak. Tuesday, Nov. 3, is Election Day.
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Free Press endorsements for 2015 Virginia elections
Tuesday, Nov. 3, is Election Day. All 140 seats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates are up for election, along with important local contests for board of supervisors and school board, among others, in Henrico and Chesterfield counties. The city of Richmond has no local elections.
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Fourth Baptist’s pastor leads by faith activism
Dr. Emory Berry Jr. calls himself a “walking miracle.” The 38-year-old is celebrating his fifth anniversary as pastor at Fourth Baptist Church in Richmond. When his mother was pregnant with him, doctors at a Miami hospital urged her to terminate her pregnancy because of health complications, he said. Instead, he said, his mother had faith that God would allow her to deliver the child safely and that he would make a difference in the world.
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Public safety forum for churches on Oct. 30
The Richmond Police Department is hosting a safety and awareness forum for congregation leaders from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
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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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Ram fever starts with 2K Classic
If dunks were donuts, Justin Tillman would be rich in sweet treats today. The 6-foot-7 Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore displayed his expertise with basketball’s high percentage shot before 5,223 fans during VCU’s Black & Gold Game Oct. 24 at the Siegel Center.
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Personality: Dr. Kenneth S. Kendler
Spotlight on winner of National Academy of Medicine prize
Dr. Kenneth S. Kendler says three things “get me up in the morning to come in to work.” “The first is my intense curiosity about how the mind and brain of human beings work,” says the director at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics.
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Student apologizes for playing racist song
The neatly attired African-American teenager somberly stepped to the podium at the Henrico County School Board meeting last week at New Bridge School in East Henrico.
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One year after saying ‘I do,’ couple enjoys wedded bliss
“It’s like we’re experiencing love all over again,” said Shamika Fauntleroy.
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Personality: Marie Drexler Kolendo
Spotlight on new CEO of Greater Richmond Alzheimer’s Association
Marie Drexler Kolendo knows first hand the devastating toll that Alzheimer’s disease takes on afflicted individuals and their loved ones.
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Racist song played at school by black student, sources say
Who was responsible for playing the racist, demeaning song laced with the n-word over the public address system last Friday at predominantly white Glen Allen High School in Henrico County during warm-ups for the homecoming football game against predominantly black John Marshall High School of Richmond?
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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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VSU homecoming a heartbreaker
Virginia State University’s Trojans are down but not necessarily out. Following a heartbreaking 22-19 homecoming loss Oct. 17 to Bowie State University before 7,300 fans, VSU still has an outside chance of “three-peating” as the CIAA Northern Division champion. But for that to happen, the Trojans, now 1-1 in the division, will need to go on a winning streak — and get some outside help.
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WNBA champs
Minnesota Lynx party like it’s 1999 — with Prince
What better time to party than after winning the WNBA title for a third time in five years. And who better to party with than Prince. The Minnesota Lynx and the megastar singer-songwriter partied like it was 1999 after the Lynx won the WNBA championship crown Oct. 14 over the Indiana Fever.
