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Free Press staff report

Stories by Free Press

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VUU eyes postseason success despite title game defeat

Virginia Union University will face California University of Pennsylvania in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Hovey Field in Richmond.

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Ken Burns to receive inaugural Commonwealth Prize from VMHC

Renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns will be honored with the inaugural Commonwealth Prize by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, the museum announced.

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VUU names honorees for 48th annual MLK Community Leaders Breakfast

Virginia Union University will host its 48th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leaders Breakfast on Jan. 16 at the Richmond Marriott, recognizing individuals and organizations whose work reflects the civil rights leader’s legacy.

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City, VCU launch plan to improve intersection safety with left-turn hardening

At several busy intersections across Virginia Commonwealth University’s campuses, drivers often cut corners on left turns, forcing pedestrians and cyclists to stay alert.

Flying Squirrels unveil new uniforms, release 2026 home game times

The Richmond Flying Squirrels introduced refreshed branding and new uniforms Monday at The Byrd Theatre ahead of the team’s inaugural season at CarMax Park.

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Youth combat sports series to bring national event to Williamsburg

The Gladiator Gladiatrix Combat Series will bring one of its national tour stops to Williamsburg starting in 2027 through a three-year partnership with Visit Williamsburg. The event is expected to draw thousands of athletes, families and fans for a multiday competition.

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Hylton appointed interim Dale District supervisor

The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors has appointed LeQuan M. Hylton as interim Dale District supervisor, filling the seat left vacant after the death of James M. “Jim” Holland, who died Oct. 14.

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Former U.S. ambassador Timmy Davis to speak at VCU graduation

Timmy Davis, former U.S. ambassador to Qatar, will speak at Virginia Commonwealth University’s commencement next month.

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Trojans battle past Shaw for USCAA championship

Virginia State capped its inaugural season in the USCAA with a 1-0 win over Shaw on Sunday to claim the Division I women’s soccer national championship.

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GardenFest of Lights opens at Lewis Ginter with new theme, attractions

Visitors to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden are already walking under glowing archways and past trees wrapped in millions of lights as Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights fills the gardens for the holiday season.

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59-year-old Glen Allen athlete sets world records in powerlifting

Tammy Albanese of Glen Allen, 59, recently set world records in all three lifts at the U.S. Powerlifting Association’s Northeast Regional Championships.

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Community works to reclaim historic Old St. John’s Cemetery

Volunteers from across Lancaster County gathered Nov. 15 in Kilmarnock to help reclaim Old St. John’s Cemetery, a long-neglected African American burial ground on Calvary Drive.

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Church partnerships to bring Thanksgiving meals to local families

StarCity Behavioral Health will distribute 100 Thanksgiving turkeys and meal boxes to Richmond families on Saturday, Nov. 22 through partnerships with Church Hill Christian Wellness Center and Operation REACH.

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Model Railroad Show returns to Science Museum

The Science Museum of Virginia will bring back its longtime Model Railroad Show from Nov. 28-30, offering three days of train-themed displays and activities that have become a holiday tradition for many families.

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Three local A-10 standouts named to Becky Hammon watch list

Three of the Richmond area’s top women’s basketball players are drawing national attention as the 2025-26 season tips off.

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New book examines legacy of Negro Leagues founder

More than a century after he organized the first Negro National League, Andrew “Rube” Foster’s influence on baseball and Black entrepreneurship is still felt.

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First Tee – Greater Richmond honored for community outreach

First Tee – Greater Richmond has received the Barbara A. Douglas and Dr. William J. Powell Community Award, a national honor recognizing the chapter’s leadership in reaching underserved youth and promoting inclusion in golf.

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First Baptist Church of Ashland to host Caregiver Expo

Caregivers, families and community members are invited to Hanover County’s fourth annual Caregiver Expo on Monday, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Ashland, 800 Thompson St.

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VUU tops VSU to clinch spot in CIAA title game

Virginia Union University secured its place in the CIAA Championship Game with a 14-3 win over rival Virginia State University on Saturday afternoon at Hovey Field.

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T.D. Jakes launches weekly podcast exploring life, purpose and culture

Bishop T.D. Jakes is launching a new weekly podcast, “NXT Chapter with T.D. Jakes,” aimed at helping listeners navigate life transitions and explore their purpose.

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Segal to lead Richmond Fire and Emergency Services with focus on reform

Interim Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal has been appointed as the permanent head of Richmond Fire and Emergency Services, city officials announced this week.

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RMTA executive chosen to guide global transportation leaders

Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Joi Taylor Dean was elected president of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association for 2026.

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Local influencer rallies support for Jamaica hometown

Shanisse Palmer, a Richmond-based family lifestyle influencer, is using her platform to aid her hometown in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa left it in ruins.

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Two local teachers to explore Africa, London and Quebec through REB grant

Two Henrico County teachers will soon take their lessons far beyond the classroom — one to Africa, the other to London and Quebec.

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Poet to discuss new book on Black Appalachian cooking

Poet and author Crystal Wilkinson will discuss her new book, “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks,” Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Library of Virginia.

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City pauses utility disconnections, late fees due to federal shutdown

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is temporarily pausing disconnections of gas and water services for nonpayment and suspending late fees for November to help residents affected by the federal government shutdown, according to a city news release.

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Chief of Chickahominy Tribe to speak at VCU about Native sovereignty

Stephen R. Adkins, chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, will speak at Virginia Commonwealth University about the journey of Virginia’s Native nations toward federal recognition and sovereignty.

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Virginia practitioners can now access accredited medical cannabis training

As more Virginians turn to medical cannabis for relief, health care practitioners are being asked increasingly about its benefits, risks and potential drug interactions, but many lack formal training.

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NAACP Virginia State Conference names new leadership

The NAACP Virginia State Conference has elected new officers for the 2025-27 term during its 90th annual convention Oct. 24-26 in Richmond.

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Equipment failure delays Richmond utility bills for about 5,000 customers

An equipment malfunction has forced the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to delay billing for roughly 5,000 customers on the city’s South Side. The department discovered the issue Oct. 17 and paused billing to avoid issuing inaccurate statements.

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Chesterfield School Board announces interim Clover Hill representative

The Chesterfield County School Board appointed Jenna Darby as the interim representative for the Clover Hill District, effective Jan. 1, following the announced resignation of Dorothy Heffron, who is stepping down after controversy over a social media post. Her resignation is effective Dec. 31.

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Plans for Shockoe Project memorial, plaza advance

The City of Richmond’s Planning Commission on Monday, Nov. 3 approved conceptual plans for a memorial to the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground and finalized designs for Reconciliation Plaza improvements, two key components of The Shockoe Project.

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Ceremony at Virginia War Memorial to honor Commonwealth’s veterans

The Virginia War Memorial will host the 69th annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11 on the memorial’s grounds at 621 S. Belvidere St.

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Celebration honors Lesane’s 70th birthday, retirement

More than 100 family members, friends and former colleagues gathered Saturday, Oct. 25 at The Westin Hotel to celebrate the 70th birthday and retirement of the Rev. Warren J. Lesane Jr.

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VUU holds third annual E. Lee Coble Golf Tournament

Virginia Union University hosted its third annual E. Lee Coble Golf Tournament on Monday at Lakeside Park Club, with 17 foursomes competing in men’s and women’s divisions.

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Flying Squirrels help strike out hunger, generate $10,000 for Feed More

Virginia Credit Union’s partnership with the Richmond Flying Squirrels has generated a $10,000 donation to Feed More, supporting food security initiatives across Central Virginia.

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Board of Supervisors to appoint LeQuan Hylton as interim supervisor

In the wake of the death of five-term Dale District Supervisor James M. “Jim” Holland, members of the Chesterfield board plan to appoint LeQuan Hylton as interim supervisor for the district.

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Brookland Park Fest returning with food, music and family activities

Brookland Park Fest returns to the neighborhood on Nov. 9 from 1 to 5 p.m. along Brookland Park Boulevard between Fendall and North avenues.

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‘A Distinct Society’ to premiere at Firehouse Theatre

Firehouse Theatre will stage the Virginia premiere of “A Distinct Society,” a play written and directed by acclaimed playwright Kareem Fahmy, opening Nov. 14 on the Carol Piersol Stage at 1609 W. Broad St.

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AJGA junior golf championship coming to Chesterfield

The American Junior Golf Association will bring one of the nation’s top youth golf tournaments to Chesterfield County beginning in 2026.

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Region unites to keep food on tables amid SNAP disruption

Feed More’s headquarters in Richmond serves as the hub for Central Virginia’s food distribution network.

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Clergy, veterans take coordinated prayer action to Capitol

Dozens of Virginians, including clergy and community leaders, staged a “pray-in” outside the Richmond offices of U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner on Monday, Oct. 20, to urge continued health care subsidies and protest recent federal budget policies.

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VSU extends president’s contract through 2032

Virginia State University recently extended the contract of President Makola M. Abdullah through 2032, securing long-term leadership for the historically Black university.

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Virginia Humanities names new class of HBCU Scholars Fellows

Virginia Humanities has announced seven new recipients of its HBCU Scholars Fellowships, bringing together a diverse group of educators, writers and researchers from historically Black colleges and universities in Virginia and North Carolina.

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City opens funding for affordable housing projects

The City of Richmond announced a new round of funding through its Affordable Housing Trust Fund, making more than $13 million available to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing.

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Richmond Health Equity Fund awards $135,000 to community organizations

The Richmond Health Equity Fund is providing $135,000 in continued funding to community organizations that address health disparities across the city. The grants will support programs focused on health care access, chronic disease, food security, maternal and child health, and mental and behavioral health.

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7-year-old brain cancer survivor receives custom hairpiece

Myla, a 7-year-old brain cancer survivor, received a custom hairpiece Saturday at Bombshell Wigs Galore, marking a milestone in her recovery and offering a boost to her confidence.

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High school students to host TEDxRVA Youth

Richmond’s next generation of thinkers and creators will take center stage Saturday, Nov. 8, when high school students host the 13th annual TEDxRVA Youth at Collegiate School’s Hershey Center for the Arts. The free event runs from 5 to 7 p.m.

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Ndiaye repeats as A-10 Defensive Player of the Week

Senior defender Moussa Ndiaye has been named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight time, the conference announced Monday, after leading the VCU men’s soccer team to its second consecutive shutout.

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Kickers close season with Henny Derby win over Madison

The Richmond Kickers ended their USL League One season on a high note Saturday night, defeating Forward Madison 5-1 in the third and final leg of the Henny Derby at City Stadium.

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