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Grateful even in 2020, by Ben Jealous

This hasn’t been a normal year, and it isn’t going to be a normal Thanksgiving.

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The party of Lincoln?, by Dr. E. Faye Williams

There are many memories of my first years in school which remain etched in my mind. I remember learning the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.

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El ignites passion, inspires VCU grads

“Go make the world a better place for people everywhere,” was the recurring message to the more than 5,000 graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University at commencement exercises last Saturday at the Richmond Coliseum. “This begins not only a new chapter in your life, but a new chapter for humanity,” said VCU President Michael Rao. In addition to congratulating the graduates, he thanked them for the opportunity to be a part of their educational lives. “What you’ve done here extends beyond our campus boundaries,” Dr. Rao continued. “Lives will be changed — not just courses completed.”

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Religious community comes together to reflect on the Resurrection

Evangelist Michelle Turner of All Saints Episcopal Church in Henrico County held a wooden cross that she made as she walked with 50 others in the Stations of the Cross community walk Downtown to mark Good Friday. “It’s my way of giving back my love to the Lord,” Ms. Turner said.

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Advocates seek laws to help immigrants drive, study

Immigrant rights advocates urged legislators Wednesday to provide driving privileges, wage theft protection and in-state tuition to people who reside in Virginia illegally.

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Memories of the ‘Queen of Soul’

My most precious memory of the great Aretha Franklin occurred in the early 1970s when I was an associate editor of Ebony magazine and working in Johnson Publishing Co.’s New York office.

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Jury decides 2014 document found in Aretha Franklin’s couch is a valid will

A document handwritten by singer Aretha Franklin and found in her couch after her 2018 death is a valid Michigan will, a jury said Tuesday, a critical turn in a dispute that has turned her sons against each other.

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Chris Shelton of Louisa steps up this season for HU Pirates

Hampton University’s Chris Shelton wears the same jersey number — 12 — as he wore last year.

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‘Moral and ethical imperative to combat climate change’, by U.S. Rep. A Donald McEachin

The climate crisis is the greatest existential threat we face.

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Why Virginia Republicans will lose in November

One needs to look no further than last year’s presidential election results in Virginia to understand why Republican Glenn Youngkin will lose the gubernatorial race this No- vember.

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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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Washington Nats manager Dusty Baker recalls his ‘heckuva good time’ in Richmond

It has been 45 years since he last swung a bat at the former Parker Field, but Dusty Baker remembers Richmond. Graciously, Baker, the current Washington Nationals manager, granted an interview to the Free Press on May 28, prior to the Nats’ home game with St. Louis.

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Retired airman recounts saga to remove racist flag from Virginia Air National Guard

Leon Brooks, a retired sergeant with the Virginia Air National Guard, was honored Sunday “as a real living hero” in an emotional tribute at Greater Brook Road Baptist Church on South Side during the church’s Heritage Celebration. “I’m really honored,” Mr. Brooks humbly told the small congregation at the church led by the Rev. Grace E. Tolliver. “This is the first time anyone has asked me to speak about this publicly.”

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VCU’s 2022 ‘Common Book’ further exposes Richmond’s racist past, by Chip Jones

Parking in front of a massive stone clubhouse, I was ready to enjoy an evening visit with a book club in the suburbs.

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State education official disputes findings of state inspector general

Virginia Inspector General Michael C. Westfall has reported that a top official in the state Department of Education set up a private consulting business that used resources developed through her state job and tweeted an announcement after setting up two websites to advertise her business.

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New book asks: What if Harry Potter attended an HBCU?

It all began with a post on Twitter. It was 2020 during the height of the pandemic and LaDarrion Williams was thinking about the lack of diversity in the fantasy genre. He proposed: “What if Harry Potter went to an HBCU in the South?”

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Personality: Courtland Lambert Jr.

Spotlight on Richmond's Firefighter of the Year

Courtland A. Lambert Jr. faces danger each time he suits up in firefighter gear, climbs aboard a truck at Richmond Fire Station No. 1 in Church Hill and responds to a call.

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Foremost wishes for 2016

With the start of 2016, the Free Press invited select state and city officials to share their foremost wishes for the new year. Here are their responses.

This past year has been one of great accomplishments for our city. We successfully hosted the World Championships of cycling and showcased our city around the world like never before. We completed a deal that makes us the new East Coast home of Stone Brewing Co., the ninth-largest craft brewery in the country, bringing development and jobs to a long-neglected part of town. We are moving forward with establishing an expanded public transportation system with Bus Rapid Transit and we’ve secured Richmond’s place as an inland branch of the Port of Hampton Roads, to name a few achievements.

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Personality: Lakeshia X. Allen

Spotlight on winner of Sports Backers’ first Raymond D. Patterson Award

Empowering students and their families is more than a job for Lakeshia Allen — it’s a life mission.

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Personality: Grindly Johnson

Spotlight on Women Who Move the Nation Award winner

Grindly Johnson is on a mission to increase business and job opportunities for women in the transportation industry. “Women need to be involved in transportation because we are talented and make exceptional leaders,” says Ms. Johnson, who is Virginia’s deputy secretary of transportation.