VUU’s Darius Taylor is the Panthers’ ‘main man’
Until about a week before football season began, quarterback Darius Taylor wasn’t even listed on Virginia Union University’s 2017 roster.
Cleo Hill to be inducted into collegiate hall of fame
The basketball life of the late Cleo Hill stands out for its dramatic rise, and also for its mysterious fall. The Newark, N.J., native is remembered as being among the elite college players of his generation, albeit in the relative obscurity of Winston-Salem State University.
Stanton slugging it all the way to the bank
Giancarlo Stanton is Major League Baseball’s top slugger. He also claims No. 1 status going to the bank. The Miami Marlins’ mountainous right fielder had 57 home runs through Saturday, Sept. 23, and was bidding to be just the sixth man in history to enter the exclusive club of players with 60 or more home runs in a single season.
James Hickman, retired city homicide detective, dies at 68
James E. Hickman Sr., a retired Richmond Police detective who later worked with the Richmond Public Schools Department of Safety and Security, was remembered as a kindhearted man who cared about the students and crime victims whose lives he touched.
Personality: Angela Cimmino
Spotlight on board president of Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond
Angela Cimmino found out three days after her son’s birth that he had Down syndrome. “We were a bit shell-shocked,” she recalls.
Remembering history
Member of ‘Little Rock Nine’ talks about his experience desegregating Central High School 60 years ago
On Sept. 25, 1957, Ernest Gideon Green and eight other African-American teens were escorted by federal troops past an angry white mob and climbed the front steps to enter Central High School in Little Rock, Ark.
New VUU president to students: Support one another
With bright sunlight streaming through stained-glass windows chronicling the 152-year history of Virginia Union University, Dr. Hakim Lucas, the university’s new president, charged students “to support one another as the university’s next chapter unfolds.”
Voting systems in Va., 20 other states targeted by hackers in 2016
State and city officials sought to allay public fears this week after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that hackers targeted the voting systems in Virginia and 20 other states before the 2016 presidential election.
Officials launch ‘Respect Richmond’ anti-violence campaign
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney launched a new campaign Wednesday to reduce gun violence and homicides in Richmond.
NSU president stepping down
Eddie N. Moore Jr. is stepping down as president of Norfolk State University, a year after he was inaugurated as the university’s sixth president.
Crusade for Voters hosts 61st anniversary banquet
A congressman and a candidate for statewide office will be the featured speakers at a banquet celebrating the Richmond Crusade for Voters’ 61st anniversary, it has been announced. Speakers: U.S. Rep. A. Donald McEachin, D-4th, and Justin Fairfax, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
Obamacare survives — again
Good news: Millions of people will be able to keep their health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
War continues over statues
The war of words over Confederate statues in Richmond appears to be just getting started. In the weeks and months ahead, Richmond City Council is poised to consider a nonbinding resolution from 9th District Councilman Michael J. Jones that aims to put the governing body on record as favoring removal.
Richmond wins national award for health efforts
Despite suffering a surge in violence and murders, Richmond is still considered a role model for the nation for its pursuit of ways to enable residents to live healthier lives.
Sororities host back-to-back college fairs
Headed to college and need scholarship help? Good news. Two sororities are offering college fairs on back-to-back weekends to help high school students secure scholarships and provide them and their parents with information and access to other assistance.
Don’t believe Trump
African-Americans and other fair-minded Americans should not believe President 45’s hype disavowing white supremacy. His lies and con game are getting more people to say, “45 is not my president.” He only represents the white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan.
Unsportsmanlike conduct witnessed at VUU-Winston-Salem State game
While watching the first Willard Bailey Classic last Saturday night at Hovey Field between Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University, a number of us witnessed unsportsmanlike conduct by several Rams players and blatant bias by the referees, with favoritism to the North Carolina team.
Support for Virginia Grocery Investment Fund
Re “First Lady kicks off initiative to attract grocers to Va.’s food deserts,” Free Press Aug. 31-Sept. 2 edition: As a lifelong resident of North Side, I was elated to attend the “Closer to My Grocer” roundtable where the Virginia Grocery Investment Fund was presented by First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, state legislators and other advocates to win support from the General Assembly.
Trump: The hip-hop prez
Although they hardly could seem to be less alike sometimes, President Trump and people of color have had a love-hate relationship for nearly three decades.
Obama raised all boats
The income, poverty and health insurance data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Sept. 13 confirm what many already knew — President Obama’s last year in office was one of economic improvement for many individuals. The median income rose from $57,230 in 2015 to $59,039 in 2016, an increase of 3.2 percent. Black Americans’ income rose 5.4 percent, from $37,364 in 2015 to $39,400 in 2016, while white Americans’ income rose from $63,745 to $65,041, an increase of 2 percent.
