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Free Press staff report

Stories by Free Press

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Virginia Union, MTX Group announce AI-driven education partnership

Virginia Union University and MTX Group announced a partnership aimed at integrating artificial intelligence into student learning and workforce preparation during a news conference in the Living and Learning Center on campus on Tuesday afternoon.

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Richmond wins at VCU in annual SupportHER game, O’Boyle out as coach

Ally Sweeney scored a career-high 27 points and Maggie Doogan recorded a double-double as Richmond defeated Virginia Commonwealth 77-65 in an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball matchup Sunday afternoon at the Siegel Center.

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Panthers lean on defense, Gardner in shorthanded CIAA road game

Despite playing shorthanded, Virginia Union’s men showed defensive consistency Saturday afternoon in a CIAA road game against Lincoln University (Pa.).

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NBCI partners seek $500,000 for prostate cancer awareness film

The National Black Church Initiative has teamed up with the American Clinical Health Disparities Commission and Black Pearl Media Works to raise $500,000 for a short film aimed at increasing awareness about prostate cancer among Black men.

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Virginia State earns Fulbright Scholar recognition

Virginia State University has been named a Fulbright Scholar Top Producing Institution by the U.S. Department of State, the first time in the university’s history it has received the distinction.

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Union Seminary adopting hybrid model

Union Presbyterian Seminary announced Tuesday it will shift to a hybrid learning format this fall, allowing students to complete graduate programs largely online with quarterly visits to campus.

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Richmond expressways going cashless

Drivers cruising down the Powhite Parkway soon won’t see toll booths ahead. Instead, overhead gantries will silently scan E-ZPass transponders or license plates as vehicles glide through, marking the start of All Electronic Tolling across Richmond’s expressway system in early 2026.

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Cam Newton to host Super Bowl Soulful Celebration on BET

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton will host the 27th annual Super Bowl Soulful Celebration, airing Saturday, Feb. 7, on BET, bringing together music, faith and football during Super Bowl LX week.

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Peter Paul RVA to host hands-on Black History Expo on Feb. 25

A Richmond nonprofit will celebrate Black excellence through science, innovation and creativity with a free community expo this month.

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Sam Hairston’s influence reaches from Negro Leagues to modern MLB

Before Major League Baseball opened its doors to Black athletes, before integration became policy rather than resistance and long before baseball families became celebrated storylines, there was Sam Hairston, a Negro Leagues standout and Triple Crown winner whose influence helped shape America’s pastime for more than 70 years.

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Clinicians, caregivers to address gaps in memory screening

The Wisdom Watch Alliance initiative is betting that the best way to screen for memory loss is to ask the people who know their neighbors best.

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Advertising expert to decode Super Bowl commercials

A Virginia Commonwealth University advertising professor will break down the psychology and strategy behind Super Bowl commercials at a public talk on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

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City native Krystian Williams

Krystian Williams, a Richmond native and Collegiate School standout, has signed with the University of Richmond football team.

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Virginia’s civil rights history comes alive in new podcast

The Virginia Tourism Corporation has launched a new Virginia Civil Rights podcast series spotlighting the Commonwealth’s role in the Civil Rights Movement and amplifying the voices of individuals and communities who helped shape the fight for equality.

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VUU’s Parker joins East Team coaching staff for Shrine Bowl

Virginia Union head football coach Alvin Parker has been selected to serve as an assistant coach for the East Team in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Tuesday in Frisco, Texa

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Library of Virginia reschedules Black History Month celebration

The Library of Virginia will launch its Culturescape Saturdays programming initiative with a free Black History Month celebration highlighting Black artists and storytellers from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.

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Petersburg welcomes Central Virginia’s first full-scale casino

Live! Casino Virginia opened last week in Petersburg, becoming Central Virginia’s first full-scale casino and marking a major expansion of legalized gaming just south of Richmond.

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Former WNBA player named CIAA ambassador

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association recently appointed Sonia Chase as an official ambassador for the 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament, scheduled for Feb. 24-28 at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore.

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State urges Virginians to enroll in 2026 health coverage before Jan. 30 deadline

Virginians have until Friday, Jan. 30 to enroll in health coverage for 2026 through Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, officials said.

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Richmond’s hidden espionage history explored in opera ‘Intelligence’

With Richmond’s Civil War past as its backdrop, a new opera brings the city’s hidden history of espionage to the forefront through music, storytelling and live performance.

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Parker named Cowboys defensive coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys have hired Christian Parker as their defensive coordinator, making him the youngest in franchise history.

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AJGA tournament returns to Williamsburg after six-year absence

Visit Williamsburg will serve as title sponsor of an American Junior Golf Association tournament returning this year, officials announced recently.

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Virginia War Memorial to showcase reporter’s stories about veterans

Greg McQuade has spent 25 years telling stories about Virginia veterans, and the Virginia War Memorial will showcase many of those stories in a program next month.

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Winter storm may bring heavy snow, dangerous travel conditions

Be ready

Richmond is bracing for a winter storm this weekend that could bring significant snowfall, hazardous travel and a sharp drop in temperatures.

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Virginia General Assembly launches HBCU caucus

Members of the Virginia General Assembly announced the launch of the Virginia Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus on Tuesday, a bipartisan, bicameral legislative group aimed at promoting and protecting the interests of the state’s HBCUs and the students and communities they serve.

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Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church to screen film on King’s Richmond legacy

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church will host a screening of the short historical feature “Echoes of a Dream: MLK’s Legacy in Richmond, VA” on Saturday at 11:45 a.m.

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Gladys West, mathematician whose work enabled GPS, dies at 95

Gladys West, a pioneering mathematician whose work helped lay the foundation for the Global Positioning System, has died.

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James Sweat, longtime Hampton and Norfolk State coach, dies

James Sweat, a Hall of Fame coach who led Hampton University and Norfolk State University to championships and helped define an era of women’s basketball in the CIAA, has died.

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Black College Football Hall of Fame reveals 2026 inductees

Four former players, a coach and a journalist will enter the Black College Football Hall of Fame this year, the organization announced Wednesday.

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Youth baseball league honors King with tournament

The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League celebrated its 60th anniversary with the 18th annual MJBL East-West All-Star Game during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

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VUU, VSU split Freedom Classic

Virginia Union and Virginia State split a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader Saturday at the VSU Multi-Purpose Center, with the host Trojans’ women rallying for a 68-66 victory before the Panthers’ men dominated 65-37.

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Chef Leah Branch named James Beard Award semifinalist

Richmond’s Leah Branch has been named a 2026 semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.

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School to induct 4 into Athletics Hall of Fame

Richmond High School for the Arts will induct four athletes into the George Wythe High School Athletics Hall of Fame during halftime of the boys basketball game against Midlothian on Jan. 30.

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Boyz II Men to perform at VSU scholarship gala

The vocal harmony group Boyz II Men will perform during a scholarship fundraiser April 25 at the VSU Multi-purpose Center.

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Elegba Folklore Society receives national ‘Walking Together’ grant

Elegba Folklore Society has been awarded a $50,000 grant through “Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color,” a national pilot program supporting traditional artists and cultural organizations rooted in communities of color.

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‘Gospel Symphony Praise Party’ set at Carpenter Theatre

Grammy-nominated gospel artist Pastor Mike Jr. will join the Richmond Symphony for a fusion of orchestral music and contemporary praise anthems at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 in the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center.

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Virginia General Assembly debuts permanent Capitol exhibit

The Virginia General Assembly has unveiled a new permanent exhibit at the Capitol Visitor Center designed to immerse visitors in the history, architecture and work of the state’s government.

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Virginia Union track team opens indoor season strong

The Virginia Union University women’s track and field team hit the ground running at the VCU Invitational on Jan. 9, turning in strong performances in their first meet since winter break.

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Church hosts exhibit on transforming lives of children in poverty

Visitors to Hill City Church last weekend got a glimpse into the lives of children living in poverty halfway around the world without leaving Richmond.

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Richmond Christmas tree recycling event rescheduled

Richmond’s annual “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling and e-cycle event was postponed one week due to forecasted weather and will be held Saturday, Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1710 Robin Hood Road.

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Sharpton, National Action Network to honor Holder, Scott at King Day breakfast

The National Action Network will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Awards Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Monday, recognizing former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and other leaders for their public service and advocacy.

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Freedom Classic men’s basketball players for Week Nine brings VSU, VUU rivalry to Petersburg

Virginia State University and Virginia Union University renew one of the region’s fiercest HBCU basketball rivalries this Friday in the annual Freedom Classic.

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Flu spike prompts masking guidance in Central Virginia

Central Virginia hospitals and health systems are reinforcing masking guidance and infection prevention measures as influenza and other respiratory illnesses surge across the state.

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First Baptist Church of Midlothian marks 180th anniversary

First Baptist Church of Midlothian, the oldest African American church in Chesterfield County, is preparing to celebrate its 180th anniversary under the theme “A Legacy of Grace, A Future in Faith.”

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Historic weekend welcomes Spanberger swearing-in

Abigail Spanberger will be sworn in as Virginia’s 75th governor on Saturday, making history as the first woman to hold the office. Her inauguration weekend offers several opportunities for residents to join the celebration, with a mix of ticketed and free events.

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CIAA honors standout women’s and men’s basketball players for Week Nine

Dominant post play, elite rim protection, efficient scoring and impressive rookie contributions highlighted Week Nine of CIAA basketball, the conference stated Tuesday.

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Acclaimed journalist Jelani Cobb to discuss MLK’s legacy

Jelani Cobb, Pulitzer Prize finalist and dean of the Columbia Journalism School, will reflect on the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a conversation with Randolph-Macon College President Michael Hill on Jan. 21 as part of a weeklong series of events honoring the slain civil rights leader.

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Exhibit of Wilder’s watercolors to benefit scholarship fund

Visitors to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia will get a closer look at L. Douglas Wilder’s artistic side this month as the former governor’s watercolor paintings go on display in an exhibit and auction benefiting the Wilder National Ovation Scholarship.

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Richmond Symphony to perform Damien Geter’s ‘African American Requiem’

Audiences at the Carpenter Theatre on Jan. 17 will have a chance to experience music that asks them to listen as much as to feel.

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Chesterfield stadium construction marks final phase of baseball complex overhaul

Construction crews are building a new stadium field at The Diamonds at Ironbridge baseball and softball complex in Harry G. Daniel Park, completing a project that began in 2023.

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