| Lamont Madison was a barber in prison, but the people who passed through his chair didnât just leave with shorter hair. Madison found his niche in connecting with people. âYou ainât just getting a haircut. Weâre gonna understand each other,â he said. Madison, 46, was released in February, and heâs set on continuing to help. As soon as he was out, he linked up with Darrell Redmond, 43, who was, at one point, Madisonâs roommate in prison. The pair kept in steady contact even as Redmond was released years prior. Together, along with Reggie Gatling, 39, theyâre Portsmouthâs âcredible messengersâ â people who have earned respect on the streets because they know what itâs like to turn down the wrong path. Now, with two decades plus of time served behind them, theyâre determined to keep the peace. Read more in the Sunday Main News section Susan was the wife of Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr., a naval hero famous throughout the country for his exploits in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, arguably the most popular man in the United States at that time. His funeral was attended by more than 10,000 mourners lining the streets of Washington. (Decatur was a familiar figure in Norfolk, Susanâs hometown; they married there 14 years before and lived there in the early months of their marriage. The man who shot him, James Barron, was a familiar face too; he was a Hampton native. The Commodore Theatre in Portsmouth is named for him and heâs buried in the courtyard next to it.) Now, what was Stephen Decaturâs widow to do? Read more in the Sunday Break section Attempts to ban books in the United States surged in 2021 to the highest level since the American Library Association began tracking book challenges 20 years ago, the organization said Monday. Most of the targeted books were by or about Black and LGBTQ people, the association said. Book challenges are a perennial issue at school board meetings and libraries. But more recently, efforts fueled by the countryâs intensely polarized political environment have been amplified by social media, where lists of books that some consider to be inappropriate for children circulate quickly and widely. Read more in the Sunday Break section
Take a stroll through Selden Market this spring and youâll see a host of new tenants that have set up shop. Operated by Downtown Norfolk Council, Selden Market is a retail incubator offering low rent and low-risk options to rotating startups. After an overwhelming response to its call for applications in December, the market will welcome five startup storefronts and a small-scale manufacturer. Three new businesses are arriving in April: Bleubeing Studios, a lifestyle brand featuring ready-to-wear fashion and accessories; Shake It Up, a gourmet milkshake and dessert shop; and Springfield Bespoke Frames, creator of handmade custom frames. In May, Cocojam, a Caribbean fusion restaurant will join the mix. Read more in the Sunday Work & Money section
Name tags might not have been a bad option for Norfolk Stateâs football team. With a significant senior class graduating and another dozen leaving the program, mostly through the transfer portal, the Spartans will boast a brand new look in coach Dawson Odumsâ second season. âItâs football, so itâs always gonna be next man up,â senior offensive lineman Colby Byrd said. âYouâre always gonna have new people coming in, so I donât think it changes nothing. Weâll just keep rolling with it.â Byrd is one of several familiar faces you can point out along with sophomore running back J.J. Davis, senior cornerback Brandon Savage and senior linebacker Marquis Hall. âI know the guys,â Odums said, noting the biggest difference from last year. âThe relationships you built, the time you invested in them, I think they know you, you know them and youâre getting ready to see a difference in their attitude and their relations toward you. Thatâs big.â
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New Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry wants to shake things up this spring. Previous arrangements mean little to him and his staff. That means playing time must be earned. Starting jobs shouldnât be assumed. Itâs a new beginning for everyone in Blacksburg. âYou have to compete every snap,â said junior linebacker Alan Tisdale about the urgency heâs witnessed this spring. Thatâs good news for players like fifth-year junior Keshon Artis and redshirt freshman Lakeem Rudolph, a couple of Hampton Roads products who have a chance to make an impression on the Hokiesâ new coaching staff and perhaps step into bigger roles. Read more in the Sunday Sports section Nicolas Cage Parade Picks - Spring Stories Stay Healthy - Good News About Alzheimer's Laura Linney Morning Mood Booster Happiness 401K
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