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Free Press staff report

Stories by Free Press

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NY pastor pleads guilty to tax evasion in church embezzlement case

Paul Mitchell, 60, the lead pastor of a Brooklyn church and president of an affiliated daycare, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to tax evasion in federal court.

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Capital City Kwanzaa Festival returns Dec. 27

The Elegba Folklore Society will present the 2025 Capital City Kwanzaa Festival on Saturday, Dec. 27 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center’s Exhibit Hall B.

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Virginia Legislative Black Caucus announces new leadership team

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus has announced its executive leadership team for the 2026-28 term, naming Del. Luke Torian as chair.

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VUU’s Allen, SCSU’s Lunz named HBCU GO Football Players of the Year

Curtis Allen of Virginia Union University and Michael Lunz II of South Carolina State University were named the 2025 HBCU GO Football Players of the Year, recognizing the top offensive and defensive performers in historically Black college and university football.

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Woodfin to sponsor fan area at CarMax Park

Woodfin-Your Home Team and the Richmond Flying Squirrels will continue their partnership as the local HVAC and plumbing company has been announced as a founding partner of CarMax Park, according to the teams.

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Hampton hires Malone to lead football program

Hampton University named Van Malone as its 23rd head football coach last week, tapping a veteran assistant with 23 years of college coaching experience to lead the Pirates’ storied program.

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Richmond fire officials urge safety after fatal house fire

The Richmond Fire Department is urging residents to prioritize fire safety ahead of the holidays after a weekend house fire killed two people.

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Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

Virginia’s top athletes, coaches and sports leaders will be celebrated in the spring as the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame unveiled its Class of 2026.

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Casino holding job fair downtown

Live! Casino Virginia will hold a job fair Thursday, Dec. 18 in downtown Richmond as it prepares for the opening of its temporary gaming facility in Petersburg.

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High school star Timani Harris to host basketball clinic, toy drive

Richmond native and ESPN Top 100 nationally ranked athlete Timani Harris, who currently plays high school basketball for DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, will host a free basketball clinic and toy drive in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond on Saturday, Dec. 20.

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Lego partners with Children’s Museum for holiday charity campaign

Community members built more than 150 Lego brick hearts in Chesterfield County on Dec. 12, part of the toy company’s campaign to encourage people to share their creations online and help children in need.

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Spanberger inaugural committee unveils weekend event schedule

Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s inaugural committee has released the schedule for the Commonwealth’s upcoming inauguration weekend, set for Jan. 16-18.

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Seminary partnership receives $10M for leadership program

Union Presbyterian Seminary has received a $10 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to launch Seminary Extended: Strengthening Pastoral Leadership, a collaborative initiative with Eastern Mennonite Seminary and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

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Olympian Chaunté Lowe to speak at wellness luncheon

Chaunté Lowe, four-time U.S. Olympian and American high jump record holder, will be the keynote speaker at the 31st annual Women and Wellness Luncheon hosted by VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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Student-athletes honored at Maxie Awards banquet

Richmond’s student-athletes were celebrated Dec. 3 during the third annual Maxie Awards banquet at the Robinson Theater Community Arts Center.

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VUU track and field posts standout results at indoor opener

Virginia Union University’s track and field teams opened the indoor season with a surge of early success, highlighted by multiple school records, event wins and breakout performances across two meets.

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VMFA returns 41 ancient terracotta fragments

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has deaccessioned and returned 41 ancient polychrome terracotta reliefs after an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit determined they had been looted.

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Chamber outlines decadelong business strategy

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce unveiled its long-term economic strategy, Blueprint Virginia 2035, during the 2025 Virginia Economic Summit and Forum on International Trade, presenting the plan to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.

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Kickers sign fullback Mujeeb Murana

The Richmond Kickers have signed fullback Mujeeb Murana, pending league and federation approval.

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Applications open for Richmond Poet Laureate position

With less than a year remaining in the city’s current Poet Laureate term, Richmond officials have opened applications for the next poet to serve in the role.

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School Board seeks interim 6th district representative

The 6th District seat on the Richmond School Board will soon have a new occupant, at least temporarily, as the board begins the search to fill the vacancy left by Shonda Harris-Muhammed’s resignation effective Dec. 31.

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Trooper breaks window to pull driver from burning Tesla

A Virginia state trooper, along with several Good Samaritans, helped rescue a Maryland man from a burning Tesla early Friday.

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Kamala Harris to appear in Richmond to discuss ‘107 Days’

Former Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Richmond on Feb. 2 for a conversation inspired by her bestselling book, “107 Days.”

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Fritz Sassine named director of Division of Legislative Automated Systems

Fritz Sassine has been named director of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems at Capitol Square in Richmond, the Virginia General Assembly announced.

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Library of Virginia plans major renovation of downtown building

The Library of Virginia is planning a major renovation of its downtown Richmond building at 800 E. Broad St., reimagining more than 112,000 square feet on the first and second floors to improve accessibility, flexibility and community engagement.

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‘Nutcracker’ continues holiday run at Carpenter Theatre

Richmond Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” is being presented at the Carpenter Theatre through Dec. 23, marking the company’s continuation of a signature holiday tradition.

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Downtown Ashland launches ‘The Great Raccoon Hunt’

Downtown Ashland has turned a local raccoon’s viral fame into a holiday scavenger hunt.

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Spanberger picks Candi King as Secretary of the Commonwealth

Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday named Del. Candi Mundon King as Virginia’s next Secretary of the Commonwealth, choosing a lawmaker and longtime community advocate to oversee constituent services and state board appointments in the incoming administration.

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Secretariat’s early training grounds preserved in Virginia

Nearly 350 acres of farmland where Triple Crown champion Secretariat once roamed as a colt will remain permanently protected, preserving one of the most important landscapes in thoroughbred racing history.

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Petersburg’s stars shine, John Marshall dominates in ‘Battle’ wins

Division I talent was on full display Saturday night as nationally ranked Petersburg and city rival John Marshall delivered commanding victories in “The Battle 2025” doubleheader at Virginia State University’s Multipurpose Center.

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Holiday Hoops Classic to debut in Henrico

The inaugural 4 Tha Culture Holiday Hoops Classic, a new women’s basketball showcase, is set to take place Dec. 19-21 at the Henrico Sports & Events Center.

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Jones names senior leadership team for attorney general’s office

Attorney General-elect Jay Jones recently announced three senior members of his leadership team who will serve when he takes office in January.

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Richmond Fire Department picks three new deputy chiefs

The Richmond Fire Department has appointed three new deputy chiefs to oversee operations, support services and administration.

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VCU pulls away from Virginia Tech in Battle 4 Atlantis

VCU closed out its Battle 4 Atlantis run with an 86-68 win over Virginia Tech on Friday in Nassau, Bahamas, behind a career-best performance from sophomore guard Terrence Hill Jr.

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Spiders add sprint and hurdles coach Andre Moore

The University of Richmond has added Andre Moore to its track and field staff as an assistant coach, bringing the Richmond native back to the program for the first time since 2018.

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H-SC will add club squash with new facility, coach

Hampden-Sydney College will add club squash to its athletic offerings in the 2026- 27 academic year, the school announced.

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VSU taps award-winning actor Rob Morgan for keynote

Virginia State University recently announced that award-winning actor and VSU alumnus Rob Morgan will deliver the keynote address at the school’s Fall 2025 commencement.

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Giving Heart marks Thanksgiving feast’s 20th year

The Giving Heart marked its 20th annual Thanksgiving Day Feast last Thursday at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, drawing more than 1,000 people to the exhibit hall for a day centered on meals and community connection.

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City of Richmond hires Ken Martinez as director of revenue administration

The City of Richmond has hired Ken Martinez as the new director of revenue administration in the Department of Finance. Martinez brings more than 23 years of experience in municipal finance, with expertise in revenue management, taxpayer service and tax administration.

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Evanston marks six years of reparations with national town hall

Six years after Evanston, Illinois, launched its groundbreaking reparations initiative, city leaders and national partners will gather Thursday, Dec. 4 to assess progress and offer guidance to communities nationwide.

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Kickers announce initial returning roster for 2026 season

The Richmond Kickers have announced their initial group of returning players, pending league and federation approval, as the club prepares for its 34th consecutive season in 2026.

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Richmond Floorball Club has new partner

The Richmond Floorball Club (RFC) recently wrapped up its fall season at Barton Memorial Rink in Hanover County and is entering the winter with a new partnership with River City Sports & Social Club (RCSSC). The collaboration is aimed at expanding access to floorball and strengthening Richmond’s growing community around the sport.

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City to install pedestrian hybrid beacon at Cary and Commonwealth

The city will install a pedestrian hybrid beacon at Cary Street and Commonwealth Avenue to improve access to Mary Munford Elementary School and the nearby playground.

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McClellan names 2025 Veteran of the Year for 4th District

U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan recently announced U.S. Air Force Col. William Woodard Butler as the 2025 Veteran of the Year for Virginia’s 4th Congressional District.

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VCU stuns Dayton, falls in five-set A-10 final to Loyola Chicago

The VCU women’s volleyball team made a statement in the Atlantic 10 Tournament before coming up just short in the championship match at the Siegel Center on Sunday.

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VUU falls 27–24 to California (PA) in NCAA Division II playoff

Virginia Union University rallied in the fourth quarter but came up short, losing 27-24 to California (PA) in Saturday’s NCAA Division II playoff at Willie Lanier Field at Hovey Stadium.

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Zion Baptist Church honored for community service

Zion Baptist Church of South Richmond was one of two churches in Virginia recognized with a 2025 Servant Award for its work supporting the community.

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Terry ‘Tornado’ Richard named to Global Football Total’s ‘Ideal XI’

Richmond’s Terry “Tornado” Richard has been named to the October “Ideal XI” by Global Football Total, a Spanish-based organization that develops young soccer talent.

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Richmond Symphony to open holiday season with ‘Let It Snow’ concerts

The Richmond Symphony will launch its annual holiday concert tradition Thanksgiving weekend with two performances of its “Let It Snow” program at the Dominion Energy Center’s Carpenter Theatre.

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Main Street Station to host second annual holiday open house

Families can celebrate the season with festive activities, shopping and live entertainment at Main Street Station’s second annual Holiday Magic Open House on Sunday, Dec. 7 from noon to 5 p.m. at 1500 E. Main St.

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