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Press Rewind, June 30-July 5

by | Jul 6, 2025 | ALLFFP, Press Rewind

The week’s top stories

-Taft Coghill Jr. takes you inside the final days of the Moss Free Clinic — and beyond. Read his detailed account of a new executive director’s scramble to save the nonprofit and how it fell short.

-How much does it cost to live in downtown Fredericksburg these days? For one prospective homeowner, about $3.75 million. Bill Freehling has the details about the record-high sale in Biz Beat roundup.

-Allman’s owner Matt Haney tells Freehling that the historic BBQ joint could soon change hands. Hear all about it on the most recent episode of Biz Beat Clips.

-A leading tool for climate researchers and forecasters suddenly went offline this week. The disappearance of the Fifth National Climate Assessment clouds decision-making abilities, writes resident meteorologist Sean Sublette.

-The Free Press newsroom is far from the only place that displays the vibrant artwork of Sophia Pineda. The James Monroe alumna’s colorful watercolor paintings will be displayed in an upcoming exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (You’d already know this if you subscribed to Free Time, our weekly arts and entertainment newsletter).

Go figures (numbers in the news)

323,000 — The number of Virginians who could lose health insurance as a result of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed the Senate and House and was signed into law by President Trump on July Fourth. All three Fredericksburg-area legislators (U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Rep. Eugene Vindman) voted against the legislation, Jonathan Hunley reports.

PHOTOS: Frames from the Fourth of July

What they’re saying

“Horses and fireworks do not mix,” – Stafford’s Rock Hill Supervisor Crystal Vanuch, riffing humorously on fireworks advice offered by Board Chair Deuntay Diggs, who’d misspoken.

From the editor’s desk

It’s easy to indulge in cynicism/nihilism/insert-your-ism these days, but I’d argue there’s never been a better time to resist that urge — to seek actively things to care about and to live a life worth fighting for.

One recent, personal example: I was grabbing coffee on the way to the office Thursday when I noticed several chessboards splayed out across the bench tables at 25 30 Espresso. I love chess, and I told one of the folks as much.

“Well, do you have time for a game?” came the inevitable reply.

Of course I did. I sat down across from a guy named Alexander. Based on his accent, he was Eastern European. I could tell almost immediately that I was playing the group’s ringer. He played white and proceeded to go for the “fool’s mate,” a series of opening moves intended to end the game in three moves. Wasn’t going to happen.

I played the Sicilian — pin variation — and castled kingside, as did he. We jostled for nominal control of the middle of the board, and then I attacked in a rather ballsy manner. Pawn sacrifice and everything. I had Alexander on the ropes, and the rest of the chess club started to lean in a bit like a gallery.

But I had a couple of factors working against me. First, my opponent was pretty good — better than me — and had worked to develop his rooks on the opposite side of the board from my attack. And then, well, chess is a game of focus. I lost mine when I unlocked my phone and started scrolling Instagram reels during a lull in the action.

When I looked up, it was my turn again and I’d missed the fact that he’d snuck a rook more or less behind my rank. ADHD is a helluva drug.

I resigned a few moves later, having lost the game but gained entry into a random downtown chess club. I got added to their group chat later that day.

-Joey LoMonaco

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