News

Nomination contests kick off for Virginia’s 2025 General Election

It’s primary season in Virginia, and here’s what is—and notably isn’t—on the ballot June 17. Virginia and New Jersey’s off-year elections are historically treated as bellwethers, taking the temperature of public opinion one year after presidential elections. Despite the hoopla, there’s no gubernatorial primary in Virginia this June, with Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov. Winsome […]

Catie Ratliff | May 7, 2025

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Charlottesville City School Board approves rezoning

The Charlottesville City School Board has officially rezoned its elementary schools for the first time in more than 50 years. While the months-long process was the source of heated debate earlier this year, the new school zones were adopted unanimously at the May 1 board meeting. Neighborhoods affected by the redistricting include the area west […]

Catie Ratliff | May 7, 2025

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MVP Southgate back again?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a permit request for the Southgate extension of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline on April 30. According to the notice, the natural gas pipeline is “subject to special emergency permitting procedures to address an energy supply situation” under a January executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The […]

Catie Ratliff | May 7, 2025

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Plainclothes agents detain two men at Albemarle County Courthouse

Local judicial and law enforcement systems were turned upside down on April 22, when two men were detained by plainclothes immigration officers at the Albemarle County General District Court. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is standing by its actions despite numerous concerns and questions raised by immigration activists and civil rights organizations, including the American Civil […]

Catie Ratliff | April 30, 2025

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Early season

Early voting in the June 17 Democratic Primary for Charlottesville City Council begins May 2, officially kicking off the city’s experiment with ranked-choice voting. Mayor Juandiego Wade and Vice-Mayor Brian Pinkston are both seeking reelection, but face a challenge from Jen Fleisher for the two available seats. Rather than filling in two bubbles as usual, […]

Catie Ratliff | April 30, 2025

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IMPACT places focus on housing and transportation

More than 1,100 organizers with Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together turned out to its annual Nehemiah Action on April 8. This year’s gathering focused on housing and transportation in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Affordable housing is a longtime priority for IMPACT, with efforts dating back to 2016, according to the organization’s website. The […]

Catie Ratliff | April 16, 2025

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New executive order allowing logging could affect area forests

An April 3 memo from United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins designates 112,646,000 acres of national forest lands as an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act “emergency situation.” The directive, which comprises 59 percent of all National Forest Service lands and includes most of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, allows for expanded […]

Catie Ratliff | April 16, 2025

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Charlottesville City Council approves $265+ million budget for FY26

In a special, single-item meeting on April 14, Charlottesville City Council unanimously adopted a $265,248,446 budget for FY26. While councilors voted on the budget less than 30 minutes into the session, the final budget is the culmination of months of work and conversations between city leadership and local organizers. The sky-high total comes in at […]

Catie Ratliff | April 15, 2025