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Free Press staff report

Stories by Free Press

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VCU dominates second half to take down George Mason 70-54

VCU used a dominant second half to power past George Mason 70-54 on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 7,637 at the Siegel Center, pulling the Rams into a tie for first place in the Atlantic 10.

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VUU to play SIAC champion Miles College in opener

The Virginia Union University football team, the defending CIAA champions, will kick off the 2025 season with an appearance in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday, Aug. 31, in Canton, Ohio.

VAIPL to host open mic on environmental and racial justice

Virginia Interfaith Power & Light (VAIPL) is hosting an open mic night this Thursday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Abi’s Books & Brews, 1212 W Cary St. The event invites participants to explore the intersection of racial and environmental justice through poetry, prose, music and storytelling.

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Virginia golfer among finalists for Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Virginia golfer Amanda Sambach has earned a spot in the 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, joining an elite field of top players from around the globe.

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Richmond cancer survivor featured in national campaign

As Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month approaches in March, Richmond resident CiNease Freeman is taking her story to a national stage.

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Alpha Kappa Alpha Mid-Atlantic Region to host Richmond conference

More than 4,500 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will gather in Richmond for the organization’s 72nd Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, set for March 6 through 9 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

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FXA Sports, 804 Softball team up to enhance local leagues

Coed softball players in the local area will soon have more opportunities to take the field. FXA Sports, a leading provider of adult recreational sports leagues in Virginia, has merged with 804 Softball to expand league offerings in the region.

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Joy-Hogg leads Richmond’s operations as interim CAO

Sabrina Joy-Hogg was sworn in as Richmond’s interim chief administrative officer during a ceremony in the basement of the Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library last month.

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CIAA to celebrate 50th anniversary of women’s basketball tournament in 2025

The CIAA marks the 50th anniversary of its Women’s Basketball Tournament at the 2025 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, set for Feb. 25 through March 1 at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

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HGTV stars headline Richmond Home + Garden Show

The Richmond Home + Garden Show will feature HGTV stars Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb, co-hosts of “Unsellable Houses,” from Feb. 28 to March 2, at the Richmond Raceway Complex. The twin sisters will share their home and design expertise with attendees on Feb. 28 and March 1, offering advice on budget-friendly home improvements and real estate insights.

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McClellan celebrates Women’s History Month with awards program

U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, 4th District, recently launched her second annual Women of Excellence Awards program to celebrate Women’s History Month and honor the outstanding contributions of women in Virginia’s 4th District.

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Newlin Music Prize announces 2025 short list

The Newlin Music Prize recently announced the 20 albums shortlisted for its 2025 award, recognizing outstanding music from Richmond area artists. The winner, set to be revealed on March 24, will receive a $2,500 cash prize and a commemorative trophy. Each remaining nominee will receive $250, with the organization awarding a total of more than $7,000 to local musicians.

Naturalization ceremony brings American dream to museum

Holding small American flags and wearing broad smiles, dozens of immigrants will take the oath of citizenship 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, Presidents Day, at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, marking a milestone in their American journey amid historical artifacts of their new nation.

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Construction firm selected for Shockoe Institute project

Against the backdrop of Richmond’s historic Main Street Station, plans for the Shockoe Institute are moving forward. The city has selected Team Henry Enterprises to lead construction of the more than 12,000-square-foot educational facility in Shockoe Bottom, a site central to Richmond’s role in the domestic slave trade.

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Black College Con brings esports competition and career opportunities

Black College Con 2025 is bringing the excitement of gaming and esports to Virginia State University on Feb. 19, giving students the chance to compete and connect with top industry professionals.

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Blood drive to honor Richmond firefighter battling leukemia

The Richmond community is coming together once again to support one of its own. The third annual blood drive honoring Jonathan Clarke, a longtime firefighter battling leukemia, will take place Feb. 18-19 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

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Local standouts highlight Virginia State’s 2025 football recruits

With depth and competition in mind, Virginia State University Head Football Coach Henry Frazier III has assembled a 2025 recruiting class he believes will strengthen the Trojans following their 2024 Co-CIAA Regular Season Championship.

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Maggie Walker Community Land Trust announces leadership change

The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust has appointed Mae Worthey-Thomas as its new chief executive officer, the organization announced recently.

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Kickers add VCU standout Jonathan Kanagwa to roster

The Richmond Kickers have signed former Virginia Commonwealth University midfielder Jonathan Kanagwa for the 2025 season, pending league and federation approval.

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RVA Sports Awards honors athletes/community leaders

The Richmond region’s top athletes and sports leaders were recognized Saturday night at the RVA Sports Awards, an annual event hosted by the Richmond Region Tourism Foundation.

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Purple Heart recipient Michael Gregory Brown dies at 77

Michael Gregory Brown, a Richmond native and champion for social justice, died peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital on Jan. 26, following a brief illness. He was 77. Funeral services were held Feb. 3 at Joseph Jenkins Jr. Funeral Home.

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Advocate, educator Denise V. Thomas-Brown remembered

Denise V. Thomas-Brown, a passionate advocate for underserved communities, died Dec. 22, 2024, in Richmond. She was 66.

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Ganther joins VCCS as senior vice chancellor

Felicia Ganther has been appointed as the new senior vice chancellor for academic and workforce services at the Virginia Community College System.

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Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn announces retirement

Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn of the Supreme Court of Virginia has announced his retirement, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

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Joybells founder Joye B. Moore to appear on ‘Shark Tank’ Feb. 7

Richmond-based entrepreneur Joye B. Moore, the founder of Joybells, will pitch her family recipe-inspired gourmet pie business on ABC’s “Shark Tank” this Friday Feb. 7, at 8 p.m. Moore was selected from tens of thousands of applicants in September 2024 to present her company to the panel of investors known as the Sharks for a potential investment.

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VUU students compete in VFIC Ethics Bowl ahead of Super Bowl

As excitement builds for the Super Bowl, another high-stakes competition is set to take place in Richmond.

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RVA Sports Awards names Community Champion Award honoree

A respected leader known for her dedication to student-athletes will be honored at the RVA Sports Awards this month at the Altria Theater. The Richmond Region Tourism Foundation recently announced that the late Peggy Davis is this year’s Community Champion Award honoree.

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Maggie Walker’s pioneering journey explored in performance

Richmond’s Maggie L. Walker, a pioneering businesswoman and the nation’s first Black female bank president, will be honored in a special living history presentation featuring storyteller Theresa G.

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Former NFL player Woodbury joins NSU coaching staff

Norfolk State head football coach Michael Vick is adding more firepower to his staff, this time with a familiar face to the MEAC — Tory Woodbury, who will serve as the Spartans’ new special teams coordinator.

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Charles H. Taylor Sr. honored for service, leadership

Retired 1st Sgt. Charles H. Taylor Sr., a decorated veteran and longtime Richmond-area businessman, died Jan. 19 at age 92. Taylor, known as “Pop” or “Pop Taylor,” was with his wife of 40 years and his son-in-law at the time of his death. His celebration of life service took place Jan. 29.

Public input sought for Virginia’s most endangered historic sites list

Preservation Virginia is now accepting nominations for its annual Most Endangered Historic Places Program, an initiative designed to identify and protect historic sites at risk of being lost. The program invites the public to nominate significant locations facing threats such as demolition, neglect or other challenges.

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Vick earns second Hall of Fame induction in one week

Norfolk State football head coach Michael Vick has been selected for induction into the National High School Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, the organization announced Wednesday.

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Chiefs, Eagles feature HBCU alumni in Super Bowl LIX

Super Bowl LIX will feature the Kansas City Chiefs aiming for a historic third consecutive championship against the Philadelphia Eagles. The matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, where the Chiefs triumphed 38-35, launching their back-to-back Super Bowl victories.

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Civil rights documentary fundraiser set for March 23

A fundraiser for a new documentary about a 1960 civil rights protest will be held March 23 at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.

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Richmond Planet editor’s life inspires upcoming stage production

John Mitchell Jr., the fearless newspaper editor who used the Richmond Planet to fight racial injustice during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, will soon take center stage in a new play commissioned by Firehouse Theatre.

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Spider track team shines at VMI Invitational with strong results

The University of Richmond women’s track and field team put on a strong showing at the VMI Invitational on Saturday at the Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington, highlighted by a standout performance from the Spider 4x400-meter relay team.

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Strikers and Kickers Youth merge to form Richmond United

Two of Virginia’s top youth soccer organizations, the Richmond Strikers and Richmond Kickers Youth, have merged to form Richmond United, creating one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the country. The recently announced partnership unites more than 10,000 players under one banner.

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Meyers receives Teacher of the Year award in Chesterfield County

Maria Meyers, a reading specialist at Davis Elementary School, has been named the 2025 Teacher of the Year for Chesterfield County Public Schools.

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Spiders secure fifth straight win with 75-42 victory over VCU

In front of a season-high crowd of 3,462, the University of Richmond women’s basketball team defeated crosstown rival VCU, 75-42, Sunday afternoon. The win marked Richmond’s fifth straight and its largest margin of victory over the Rams since December 2001. The Spiders improved to 15-5 overall and 6-1 in Atlantic 10 Conference play, while VCU fell to 9-10 and 3-4 in the A-10.

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Norfolk State’s head coach Michael Vick honored with Hall of Fame induction

The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fameannounced the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class last week, and Norfolk State head football coach Michael Vick was among the honorees.

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3 local athletes nominated for McDonald’s All American Games

Three basketball standouts from the Richmond area have been nominated for the prestigious 2025 McDonald’s All American Games, set for April 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

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Henneberry to receive Courage Story Award at RVA Sports Awards

Suellen Henneberry has been named the recipient of the 2025 Courage Story Award, which will be presented at the RVA Sports Awards on Feb. 8. The award recognizes individuals whose courage extends beyond sports, and Henneberry’s journey reflects this distinction.

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Bernice King to speak at ODU MLK Observance

As the nation reflects on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Old Dominion University is preparing to host his youngest child, Bernice A. King, to share her vision for advancing social justice and equality.

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Virginia State defeats Virginia Union in close Freedom Classic showdown

In a thrilling Freedom Classic matchup, Virginia State University edged out Virginia Union University with a 78- 74 victory Saturday night in Petersburg. The game featured dramatic runs from both teams, including a late push by the Panthers that brought the contest down to the wire.

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Firm hired to investigate water treatment plant debacle

In the wake of a weather-related power disruption that caused flooding and equipment malfunctions at the City of Richmond’s water treatment plant, City officials have enlisted the help of HNTB Corporation to conduct an independent report. The firm, with over 100 years of experience in infrastructure development, will assess the circumstances surrounding the Jan. 6 debacle.

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Barbour launches campaign for Richmond commonwealth’s attorney

Tom Barbour officially launched his campaign for Richmond’s commonwealth’s attorney last week, focusing on public safety issues in the city. Barbour, who previously ran for the office in 2021, outlined his vision for change, emphasizing Richmonders should not be held back by perceptions of unsafe streets.

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New exhibitions, festivals coming to Science Museum

From interactive exhibits to seasonal festivals, the Science Museum of Virginia is gearing up for a year packed with unique experiences. Guests can look forward to a diverse slate of activities designed to engage visitors of all ages with science, technology, engineering and math.

Richmond opens overflow shelter to accommodate more residents

With cold temperatures persisting before a warming trend later in the week, the Salvation Army has extended the operating hours of its Inclement Weather Shelter to ensure continuous service through Friday, Jan. 24, at noon. The shelter, located at 1900 Chamberlayne Parkway, will remain open without disruption, providing a safe space for those in need during the frigid conditions.

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Green infrastructure projects planned for Belmont, Hull Street libraries

Two Richmond Public Library branches will receive green infrastructure upgrades this year as part of the Greening Richmond Public Libraries initiative. Improvements are planned for the Belmont Branch, located at 3100 Ellwood Ave., and the Hull Street Branch, at 1400 Hull St., to enhance sustainability and manage stormwater runoff.

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The Branch Museum of Design announces rebranding, new leader

The Branch Museum of Design and Architecture is marking its 10th anniversary with a new name and a new leader.

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