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Festival of the Arts
The 66th edition of Richmond’s Festival of the Arts at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park will launch Saturday, June 10, with a six-hour showcase of music, dance, food and culture of immigrants who now live in the Richmond area.
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Chicago police officer charged with murder in death of black teen
A white Chicago policeman was charged Tuesday with murdering a black teenager, and authorities are hoping to stave off a fresh burst of the turmoil over race and police use of deadly force that has shaken the United States for more than a year. Officer Jason Van Dyke, 37, was denied bail at a hearing in Chicago’s main criminal courthouse hours after prosecutor Anita Alvarez announced charges of first-degree murder, or killing without lawful justification. If convicted, Officer Van Dyke could face 20 years to life in prison.
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Former NFL player Jason Wright named president of Washington pro football team
The Washington NFL team hired Jason Wright as team president on Monday, making him the first Black person to hold that position in NFL history.
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Personality: Stephan A. Hicks
Spotlight on founder of nonprofit My Brother’s Keeper of Greater Richmond
“Men are the greatest resource in our city. However, services focusing on men in Richmond are severely lacking. When it comes to helping men get on their feet, there is little offered.”
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Free Press mission to educate and empower continues
From its start, the Richmond Free Press has relentlessly sought to impact and improve life for Black Richmonders on a variety of issues.
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President-elect Biden calls for healing as Trump tries to block transition
Democrat Joe Biden is calling this “a time for healing” in claiming victory in the 2020 presidential election.
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Wealth disparities by race grew during the pandemic, despite income gains, report shows
A strong performance in financial markets, particularly an outsize gain for the stock market in 2021, helped entrench existing trends of wealth inequality during the pandemic, new data released this week show.
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Unbridled joy
RPS’ first full graduation since COVID-19 brings smiles, cheers and joy at The Diamond
Huguenot High School’s graduation Monday was a day to remember — the first Richmond Public Schools gradu- ates to walk across a stage and receive their diplomas in a traditional, big group ceremony since the pandemic hit in March 2020.
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Kawhi Leonard and Steph Curry are ready for the spotlight in the NBA Finals
If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, Toronto aims to keep NBA star Kawhi Leonard well fed and happy in Canada.
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CIAA rivals VUU and VSU to meet at 23rd Annual Freedom Classic
Jemal Smith and Philip Owens, having shed anonymity, are in line to take center stage in the 23rd Annual Freedom Classic Festival.
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City reverses course on Hickory Hill
In a surprise reversal, City Hall has dropped its plan to build a new training building for the city Fire Department on 2 acres of lawn at the Hickory Hill Community Center in South Side after a two-year effort to make it happen.
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GRTC free rides to continue for next 12 months
Free rides on GRTC buses, including Pulse and CARE vans, will continue for at least 12 more months, the bus company’s six-member board of directors agreed Tuesday.
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NCAA: GOING TO THE BIG DANCE: Transfer players come to the rescue for U.Va., Va. Tech
Two tall and talented transfers have helped vault both of Virginia’s Atlantic Coast Conference schools into the NCAA Big Dance.
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Preston to challenge Dance for Senate seat
In a surprise move, Joseph E. Preston announced this week he would give up the seat he recently won in the House of Delegates and challenge freshman Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance in the16th Senate District that stretches from Richmond’s East End to the Petersburg area. Delegate Preston’s decision comes barely two months after he replaced Sen. Dance as the representative for the 63rd House District. It also appears fueled, in part, by a dispute he and Sen. Dance have over the choice of the first African-American judge for the Petersburg Circuit Court.
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50-year reunion
Student civil rights workers recall efforts
The Charleston, S.C., church shooting is an ugly reminder that “racist violence is not a ghost,” said Bruce Smith 71, of Woodbridge, a volunteer lobbyist for AARP.
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Triangle Players bring Broadway to Richmond
An ensemble of Broadway performers will appear in “Arts Ignite Richmond: A Broadway Spectacular” at the Richmond Triangle Players’ Robert B. Moss Theatre on July 9 at 7:30 p.m. The theatre is located at 1300 Altamont Ave. Conceived by Dr. Keith Bell and Mary-Mitchell Campbell (“Company,” “The Prom,” “Mean Girls”), audience members will be given a glimpse into Broadway’s living room that includes personal journeys and Broadways hits. Appearing will be Jessica Vosk, who made her Carnegie Hall debut with a sold-out solo show in November 2021. She will make her London debut at Cadogan Hall this summer. Also appearing are Marissa Rosen (“Legally Blonde,” “Foot- loose”), and Rueby Wood (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Disney’s Better Nate Than Ever”). Arts Ignite, a New York-based nonprofit organization, em- powers youths to expand their creative capacity and sense of community. Tickets may be purchased online at https://donate.artsignite. org/richmond
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Money available for one-time help with overdue city utility bills
Behind on your utility bill? For city residents, there is help.