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Mis-education of the South
Regarding recent events in Morehead, Ky., and court clerk Kim Davis who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a New York Times article mentions “the old politesse and grace,” which supposedly helped people in that town get along in spite of ideological differences. But in the former slave states, what passes for “grace” is often syrup poured over venom.
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No hero
Kim Davis is neither a hero nor a martyr in our book. The sobbing, pious and defiant Kentucky county clerk gained national attention after spending five days in jail rather than issuing marriage licenses to same sex-couples.
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Free yearlong pass to national parks
Fourth-graders and their families can visit the national parks and federal recreation areas of their choice across the country for free for an entire year.
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Arbor Day Foundation offering trees
Get 10 free white flowering dogwood trees when you join the Arbor Day Foundation. The price to join: $10.
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Chesterfield NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday
The Chesterfield County Branch NAACP is holding its 2015 Freedom Fund Banquet from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Richmond Marriott in Downtown.
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VUU Panthers on the prowl for second victory
Freshmen Hakeem Holland and Lamar Webster are the dual dynamos that fueled Virginia Union University’s maroon and steel football engine last Saturday. Perhaps benefitting from the surprise factor, the fledgling Panthers’ running backs contributed mightily to a 35-21 opening victory over Brevard College of North Carolina before a crowd of 7,245 fans at Hovey Field.
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Pope Francis a stranger to the U.S. in many ways
New York When Pope Francis sets foot on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Sept. 22, it won’t just be his first time in the United States as pontiff. It will be his first time in the country — ever in his life.
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Serena beats Venus to move to semifinals
Serena Williams is now two wins away from completing an historic calendar year Grand Slam. She kept her bid alive by outslugging older sister Venus 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in a power-packed, 98-minute quarterfinal at the U.S. Open on Tuesday.
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VSU, NSU have smallest freshman classes in years
Enrollment is continuing to retreat at Virginia’s two historically black public universities, Norfolk State and Virginia State. Both institutions apparently have admitted their smallest freshman classes in at least a decade, and total enrollment has declined to levels not seen in at least 15 years or longer.
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NAACP officials call for continued probe into Chesterfield woman’s death
Richmond private investigator Perry Hicks began probing the mysterious disappearance and death of Ogechi Sarah Uwasomba three months ago at the behest of the Richmond NAACP and other concerned parties.
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$6.4M to Freddie Gray’s family
Baltimore agrees to pay before trials of police officers
Baltimore city officials on Wednesday approved a $6.4 million civil settlement to the family of Freddie Gray, whose death from an injury in police custody triggered protests and rioting.
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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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Herring to run for re-election, not for governor
Mark Herring enjoys his job as Virginia’s attorney general. That’s why the state’s top legal officer announced Wednesday that he would seek re-election for a new four-year term in 2017 rather than going after the top job of governor.
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Amelia Boynton Robinson, civil rights activist, dies at 104
Free Press staff, wire reports MONTGOMERY, Ala. Amelia Boynton Robinson helped change America. The first African-American woman to run for Congress served on the front lines during the Civil Rights Movement. Almost beaten to death in a march for voting rights in 1965, she was among those who pushed the country to pass a strong law to finally ensure African-Americans could cast a ballot without facing literacy tests, poll taxes and vicious attacks.
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Encourage schools to serve healthier lunches
With the new school year just around the corner, parents’ attention is focused on clothes, supplies and lunches. Yes, school lunches!
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Will education be a priority in Lumpkin’s Jail makeover?
Re “Lumpkin’s Jail site to get new life,” Aug. 20-22 edition:
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Stop the violence is plea from Richmond youths
These letters were written by young people participating in the Richmond Peace Education Center’s Youth Gun Violence Prevention Workshop this summer and submitted by the workshop’s lead facilitator, Alison R. Wilson.
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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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Huguenot wins opener over TJ
So far, so good. Huguenot High School is undefeated, untied and unscored upon, albeit after just one game in a new era of Falcons football. Led by Jameko Coleman’s defense and the rushing of Donte Lester, the Falcons are pumped after christening their new stadium last Saturday with a 14-0 win over Thomas Jefferson High School.
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Healthy again, Anderson gets first win
McDaniel Anderson, who enjoys introducing himself as “Mr. Mack from way back,” is happy being 1-0 as Armstrong High School’s first-year football coach.
