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Henry Kissinger’s complicated legacy draws admiration, scorn
The death of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger drew both admiration and scorn last Thursday from political leaders around the world, highlighting the complicated legacy of Mr. Kissinger’s views about what it meant to serve America’s interests during the Cold War — and how the country should exert its influence.
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Santos’ shenanigans
Expelled congressman selling personalized videos for $200
George Santos already has a new gig.
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Absence of motion?
Center City and Diamond District development proposals show little movement
Slow going. That appears to be the situation for the two largest development projects that involve City Hall.
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Harding’s leading man status
For three seasons, Tahj Harding sat on the runway, with engines revved, at Virginia Union University. This year he’s taken off and his only limit is the sky.
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Richmond native successfully pitches at Black Ambition
For Leslie Winston III, it was a case of the third time is the charm when his company, Monocle, was named HBCU Grand Prize Winner at the 3rd Annual Black Ambition Demo Day on Nov. 9 at Spring Studios in New York.
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Councilwoman hopes proposed changes to City Charter find support
Under proposed changes to the City Charter or constitution, City Council would gain new authority over housing subsidies and real estate tax relief to residents with low to moderate incomes, in addition to setting its own compensation and modi- fying zoning. Fifth District Councilwoman Stephanie A. Lynch hopes to gain unanimous support from her eight colleagues at the Monday, Dec. 11, council meeting for the changes she has negotiated with Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration. If passed by the council, the package would be sent to the General Assembly for approval in the upcoming 2024 session. Many of the changes follow recommenda- tions that a council-created Richmond City Charter Review Commission submitted Aug. 2 after a year of study. As the most significant package of charter changes proposed since the 2004 creation of a mayor elected citywide, the amend- ments do not address the current relationship between the council and the mayor ahead of the 2024 elections for the governing body and chief executive. The biggest proposed change could well be the tax and housing initiatives that the charter review commission did not address. The proposed Section 2.09 amendment would allow the city to defer property taxes and tax increases for qualifying low or moderate income property owners, using the definition of such individuals established by the Virginia Housing Development Authority, now known as Virginia Housing. Such a program could allow the taxes to accumulate over time to be paid off from proceeds after the property is sold. In addition, the proposed charter change would authorize the city to create a program that could help such qualifying individu- als buy a home or receive rental subsidies. The city also could use state or federal funds to advance such initiatives. The charter amendment also would declare the creation of programs that could provide funds directly to individuals for housing to be “in the furtherance of a public interest” to get
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COVID-19 updates
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
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Texas Rangers’ Tony Beasley lives stone’s throw from Richmond
It may come as a surprise to area baseball fans that one of the Texas Rangers’ coaches resides just a half hour north of Richmond.
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Moments in time
Several articles in the Nov. 16, 2023, edition of the Richmond Free Press chronicled the discovery of more than 140 badly decaying boxes containing personal documents, artifacts and archival materials that belonged to the late civil rights attorney and Virginia State Delegate Roland J. “Duke” Ealey. The documents were found several years ago by James “Jim” Vigeant and Sasha Finch while restoring their Clay Street home in Richmond’s Historic Jackson Ward.
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COVID-19 updates
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
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Giving and receiving
When a Richmond area grocery retailer failed to provide a local nonprofit turkeys advertised for 39 cents per pound, another grocer with deeper roots in the region stepped in to save the day.
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Feudalism in the Commonwealth, by Gary L. Flowers
In 1619, English colonizers brought captured Africans to Virginia on a cargo ship “The White Lion.” The white colonizers also brought a hierarchical social structure, left over from the days of feudalism in mid-evil England.
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Black athletes top contenders for O’Brien Trophy
For the longest time, Black quarterbacks in major college football were a rarity. That’s no longer the case.
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Giving thanks not just a holiday tradition; it’s part of how humans evolved
It’s the season of giving thanks — and it turns out humans have been doing it for a long, long time.
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Casino vote aftermath
Stoney, Spanberger declare bids for governor; Paul Goldman proposes charter change
Mayor Levar M. Stoney is brushing himself off after Richmond voters for the second time rejected the $562 million casino-resort plan he fully backed and gearing up to run for governor in 2025. Separately, Paul Goldman, who led both successful no casino campaigns, is now focusing on securing public support for a change to the City Charter or constitution that would require the mayor and the City Council to put the city’s children first when it comes to spending tax dollars.
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A treasure trove of history
Jackson Ward couple discovers legal papers of civil rights icon Roland J. ‘Duke’ Ealey
Five years into the renovation of a 143-year-old brick house on East Clay Street in Jackson Ward, James Vigeant’s work halted. To his surprise and amazement, he found an unexpected treasure — 144 moldy boxes filled with the decaying legal papers of one of Richmond’s legal giants, Roland J. “Duke” Ealey.
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COVID-19 updates
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
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Roland ‘Duke’ Ealey was part of legal team that helped integrate Richmond Public Schools
In 1958, Bettie Elizabeth Boyers Cooper became fed up with segregation when her daughter had to ride a bus four miles to and from Carver Elementary School rather than attend the whites-only Westhampton Elementary School that was within walking distance of their home.
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The G.I. Bill’s effect on Black veterans, by David W. Marshall
Each year our nation recognizes Veterans Day, celebrated last Saturday on Nov. 11, by honoring America’s service men and women for their courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice each year.
