Reaching out

Since the pandemic, the health care industry has been rapidly evolving to address new challenges, staffing shortages, and high rates of burnout. As part of its effort to support local health care workers, the Blue Ridge Health District is launching the Outreach Network on October 18 to boost some of its most vital members: outreach […]

Protest on Grounds

Tensions are high across the United States over the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The complex and rapidly developing situation has resulted in accusations of atrocities by both sides, and steadily worsening conditions for those in Gaza. Locally, controversy erupted when the University of Virginia chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine put out a […]

In the dark

Since being accused of extortion on October 2, “I Love Cville Show” host Jerry Miller has been dodging reporters and commenters alike.   The extortion allegations first came to light when a recording allegedly containing a June 2023 phone call between Miller and Sigora Home CEO Michael Ball was posted on the @cvillecommunityintegrity Instagram account. […]

Safety in numbers

After a University of Virginia student escaped an attempted abduction on October 4, law enforcement officials, community members, and students are reevaluating safety on and around Grounds.   Charlottesville Police Department received a call about an incident near the intersection of Cabell and Grady avenues at approximately 9:40pm on October 4. At the scene, officers […]

No curfew

Tents popped up in Market Street Park last week after City Manager Sam Sanders lifted an 11pm curfew, a move he made in response to allegations of police misconduct and discrimination against the city’s unhoused Black population. At a September 28 press conference, Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis said the allegations were not accurate, and […]

Zoning in

After hearing feedback from supporters and opponents at its September 14 public hearing, the Charlottesville Planning Commission held a September 19 work session to consider the draft zoning ordinance. The commission, which hopes to adopt a new zoning ordinance by the end of the year, continues to consider changes to key elements of the law, […]

Plan of attack

After years of effort, the Charlottesville Planning Commission finally entered the formal review process for the draft zoning ordinance. Though the city has emphasized community involvement throughout the project, the September 14 public hearing to discuss the draft lasted more than five hours. City leadership hopes to adopt the zoning ordinance by the end of […]

Following suit

On September 12, Albemarle County Public Schools representatives were in court to defend against allegations its anti-racism policies are discriminatory.   Previously dismissed with prejudice in April 2022, the case, Ibañez v. Albemarle County School Board, went before the Court of Appeals of Virginia in the chambers of the Virginia Supreme Court for oral arguments […]

Community building

After getting a recommendation from the Planning Commission, Woodard Properties’ proposed Cherry Avenue development went before the Charlottesville City Council on September 5. The proposal includes affordable housing, space for local nonprofits, and was created with input from the Fifeville Neighborhood Association.   Located at the site of the former Estes IGA grocery store across […]

Toward a brighter world

When Neal Piper’s 3-year-old son Noah was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 2019, the family’s world shrunk. “Shortly after his birthday … he started choking on his saliva and his food,” says Piper. After a swallow study, balloon surgery, and an MRI, an oncologist told Piper and his wife Valeria that the “MRI […]