Virginia monitoring cases amid surge in measles infections

The Virginia Department of Health launched a statewide measles dashboard on May 21, prompted by a spike in cases. At press time, Virginia has recorded 40 measles cases in 2026—up from the five cases documented in 2025. Among the known infections, 17 are connected to an ongoing outbreak in Buckingham County, which the VDH confirmed […]

Smaller West Main building still draws ire from public housing advocate

The tension between Charlottesville’s permissive new zoning code and public housing advocates continued to be on display when the Board of Architectural Review took a preliminary look at a revised proposal for another student housing building on West Main Street during its May 19 meeting.  “Ultimately something’s going to get built here,” said BAR Chairman […]

Wave of vetoes from Gov. Spanberger tables Democratic priorities

Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed a slate of Democratic priorities on May 19, surprising the Democratically controlled Virginia General Assembly. Several bills carried and supported by local legislators, covering everything from Board of Visitors reform to immigration enforcement regulations, were among those struck down. The latest string of vetoes follows the legislature’s reconvened session, during which […]

John McGuire vs. the ACA

In this five-part series, C-VILLE examines the consequences of Congressman John McGuire’s 2025 vote for HR1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. Its sweeping cuts to social safety net programs will affect tens of thousands of McGuire’s constituents in Virginia’s 5th District. This week, in part two, we investigate how McGuire and HR1 […]

Hundred-unit apartment building proposed for Rose Hill in special exception zone 

Charlottesville’s Rose Hill neighborhood is the second-least-populous neighborhood in the city, according to a fact sheet produced by Neighborhood Development Services, but that might change if a proposed apartment building at 601 Albemarle St. makes it through the city’s review process.  Woodard Properties filed a development plan with the city to build a seven-story apartment […]

SCOTUS stays circuit court’s block of telehealth mifepristone access

The United States Supreme Court indefinitely extended telehealth access to the abortion medication mifepristone on May 14, pending further litigation in federal court. While the challenge to telehealth access comes from Louisiana, the case has already resulted in nationwide impacts—including states with abortion protections, like Virginia. Louisiana argues that a 2023 U.S. Food and Drug […]

Despite holding a trifecta, Virginia Dems split on key legislative issues

In a surprise move, Gov. Abigail Spanberger struck down collective bargaining legislation passed by the Democratically controlled General Assembly on May 14. The governor sent the amended bill back to the legislature on April 13. The House of Delegates returned the bill as originally passed to the governor’s desk on April 23, forcing Spanberger to […]

John McGuire vs. The 5th District

John McGuire lay there, unable to get up, watching his arm move without him, and slow, and stop. In 2006, the former Navy SEAL was a self-employed fitness coach. Then, while jumping on a trampoline, he fell.  According to McGuire, his C4 vertebra punctured his spinal cord, paralyzing him from the neck down. At the […]