
Détente reached after Oakley-Dolan showdown at The Garden
Former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley has a reputation of being a powerful man who doesn’t back down.

Virginia judge grants injunction against Trump travel ban
A federal judge on Monday granted a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from implementing its travel ban in Virginia, adding another judicial ruling to those already in place challenging the ban’s constitutionality.

Out like Flynn
Concerns grow amid reports that Trump campaign aides were in frequent contact with Russian officials before Nov. 8 election
President Trump is facing a deepening crisis over the relationship between his aides and Russia, with senior Republicans vowing on Wednesday to get to the bottom of the matter and Democrats demanding an independent probe.
President Obama deserves a lot of credit
I cannot help but reflect on the insulting treatment President Obama received during his eight years. He came into office when the country was losing jobs. The banks were making all kinds of reckless and illegal decisions, and the auto industry was falling apart. He cleaned up all this mess and got the Affordable Care Act passed. Currently, there are more people with health insurance who never had it before.
‘Keep your eyes on the prize’
In these trying times of change and challenge, my thoughts shifted to the award-winning documentary, “Keep Your Eyes On The Prize.” The documentary was about the challenges and success of the Civil Rights Movement. The prize was not the struggles they endured nor the protest marches, but the end goal of changing laws and hearts, which in many cases was accomplished.
Name Frederick Douglass Free Press ‘Personality’ of the week
Would the Richmond Free Press please name Frederick Douglass as its next “Personality” of the week after having been named Abolitionist of the Year 2017 by President Donald Trump?

Making our own black history
“There are (Black people) who are willing to worship the pyramids of 4,000 years ago but will not build pyramids in the present so their children may see what they left behind as well. We have a leadership who rallies the people to look at past glories but leave their children neglected ...” - Dr. Amos N. Wilson in “Afrikan Centered Consciousness Versus the New World Order: Garveyism in the Age of Globalism.”
What’s at stake
Our spirits are heavy with the Trump victories this week that put Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Betsy DeVos in the critical roles of U.S. attorney general and U.S. secretary of education, respectively. The fight for civil rights, voting rights, gay rights, immigration and equity in education just got tougher, but we knew what was coming and are ready for the battles ahead.

Local director adds ‘punch’ to Richmond film festival
“The Last Punch,” a feature film by Emmy Award-winning director and Richmond native Jesse Vaughan, will open the Richmond International Film Festival at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Byrd Theater in Carytown.

Free showing of documentary ‘Liberty & Slavery’ Feb. 16
A public showing of the documentary “Liberty & Slavery” will be presented 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Virginia Historical Society, it has been announced. The screening is part of VHS’ 4th Annual Created Equal Film Series in honor of the Rev. Grady W. Powell.

Author Bert Ashe to speak at Chesterfield County library
Bert Ashe, author of “Twisted: My Dreadlock Chronicles” and a finalist for the Library of Virginia’s annual literary award for nonfiction, will discuss his book 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the LaPrade Branch of the Chesterfield County Public Library, 9000 Hull Street Road in Chesterfield.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' event set for April 8
The Petersburg Sheriff’s Office and the Petersburg Task Force on Domestic Violence want to bring attention to the causes, effects and remediation to men’s sexualized violence against women.

Entertainers, artists, activists honored with 2017 Trumpet Awards
Iconic crooner Peabo Bryson and New Edition, the band of young men that took the country by storm in the 1980s and 1990s, are among the winners of the 2017 Trumpet Awards, which recognize the accomplishments of African-Americans and others who have succeeded against great odds and inspired success in others.

Brady does it again
New England comeback beats Atlanta in first OT Super Bowl
Lady Gaga plunged from the lofty roof of Houston’s NRG Stadium at halftime to a platform far, far below. Later that night, you had the feeling Tom Brady of the New England Patriots could have performed the same act — only with no bungee cord.

VUU’s Jayda Luckie moves into the limelight
Jayda Luckie has evolved from a part-time to prime-time player at Virginia Union University. You may not have noticed her a season ago. But you can’t help but notice her this year. The fleet 5-foot-9 junior guard is one of several talented newcomers to the spotlight who has helped pace VUU to an 18-1 record overall and 9-1 CIAA record.

International player making a difference for the Rams
Considering its notable track record with global recruiting, the “U” in VCU might stand for “Universal.” Egyptian native Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed is the current international athlete making a difference for the Rams.

Athletes may be impacted by Muslim travel ban
President Trump’s ban on visitors from seven predominantly Muslim nations could have a wide impact on international sports if the ban is ultimately upheld by the courts, according to Jere Longman, a sports writer for The New York Times.

‘We are all refugees’
Richmond faith community calls for unity, action in face of Trump ban
“We are all refugees,” said the Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. “We all have the blood of refugees flowing through our veins. The story of the refugee is a part of our story — the American story.”