The executive director and CEO of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is under fire after more than 100 current and former staff and volunteers made allegations of severe internal dysfunction and animal mistreatment at the shelter. The organization’s board of directors, however, is standing behind Angie Gunter, who has led the CASPCA since 2017, and also serves […]
Since Virginia legalized marijuana in 2021, laws surrounding the drug have been hazy. Though adults 21 and over can legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to four plants at home, it will not be legal to sell weed until January 1, 2024. State Democrats unsuccessfully tried to speed up that […]
On January 6, the Virginia Department of Education released a revised proposal of the state’s history and social science standards of learning, after previously proposed standards sparked severe public backlash in November. Critics—including educators, activist groups, parents, and Democratic lawmakers—accused Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration of whitewashing history, perpetuating political bias, and teaching historical inaccuracies. In […]
Before ditching Charlottesville for California last month, former Police Civilian Oversight Board executive director Hansel Aguilar evaluated the board’s long-awaited first case, which concerned the violent arrest of a man experiencing homelessness on the Downtown Mall in 2020. Though the board was initially scheduled to hold a hearing on the case in July, complainant Jeff […]
On October 25, the Albemarle County Police Department arrested Shawna Marie Natalie Murphy for the murder of her boyfriend, Matthew Sean Farrell, at his home. Shortly before 8:30am, the ACPD and Albemarle County Fire Rescue responded to a domestic disturbance report on the 2100 block of Stony Point Road. When officers arrived, they found Farrell […]
During the past two months, shootings have spiked in Charlottesville—most recently on and near the Downtown Mall—further increasing concern among local politicians, law enforcement, violence interrupters, and other community members. On October 23 at around 1am, the Charlottesville Police Department responded to a shots fired report on the Downtown Mall, where they found a man […]
When Sarah first heard about Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed transgender student policy, she sat down at her desk and cried. Her 10-year-old transgender child, who attends Charlottesville City Schools, was now in danger of losing critical protections and facing discrimination at school. “I realized that things are about to get really tough,” says Sarah, […]
After her husband, Damien Banks, founded the Banks Collage Basketball Association, a men’s summer basketball league, in Charlottesville in 2010, Shawna Banks was inspired to create an all-women hip-hop team to perform during halftime at the league’s games in 2014. Receiving an overwhelming amount of interest, Banks also started a BCBA hip-hop team for young […]
After having multiple traumatic experiences with the local mental health care system, activist Myra Anderson founded Brave Souls on Fire in 2015, creating a supportive and affirming space for Black individuals with mental health conditions. In addition to discussing the impact that systemic racism, cultural stigma, and other issues have on Black mental health, the […]
While ax throwing has grown increasingly popular in recent years, it has long been part of the world of lumbersports. In April, Devils Backbone brought lumbersports back to the Charlottesville area with its second Lumberjack Classic, during which 24 lumberjacks and 12 lumberjills from across the country used razor-sharp axes and saws to compete for […]