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UVA BOV dissolves Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

During a March 7 meeting, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors voted unanimously to dissolve the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and its Center for Community Partnerships. The two-page resolution cites both a January 21 Trump executive order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” and communication from the U.S. Department of Education as […]

Catie Ratliff | March 12, 2025

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City and county schools hold firm on inclusionary policies despite federal pressure

Charlottesville City and Albemarle County Public Schools remain committed to their current curriculum, despite federal pressure to end diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.  Opposition to DEI has emerged as a cornerstone of conservative policymaking, and has been frequently used as a justification for sweeping change by the Trump administration. Courts are weighing the legality of […]

Catie Ratliff | March 5, 2025

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UVA calls for shelter in place twice in two days

Update: Nyeem Hill was taken into custody by VSP with the assistance of ACPD on March 5. He has been charged with eluding, obstruction, two felony counts of hit and run, a misdemeanor count of hit and run, reckless driving, disregarding a stop sign, and an inspection violation. The University of Virginia went into lockdown […]

Catie Ratliff | March 5, 2025

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UVA Board of Visitors voted to continue care for trans youth, but the future remains uncertain

The University of Virginia Board of Visitors voted February 21 to continue providing gender-affirming care for youth “in a manner compliant with existing law”—with some caveats. Trans rights and health care have been at the forefront of national political debate, with the Trump administration and conservative lawmakers stripping protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. For trans community […]

Catie Ratliff | February 26, 2025

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Former Charlottesville mayor Satyendra Huja dies at 83

Charlottesville is mourning the loss of its former two-term mayor Satyendra Huja, who died on February 14. He was 83 years old. A prolific figure in local government, Huja held numerous leadership positions during his more than three decades of work for the City of Charlottesville. One of his most notable projects was opening—and keeping […]

Catie Ratliff | February 26, 2025

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UCWVA calls for legislature to restore state employees’ collective bargaining rights 

Organizers across Virginia are again asking the General Assembly to pass legislation that would expand collective bargaining rights to include state employees. While a worker’s right to collectively bargain in Virginia was partially restored in 2021, the bill included a number of limitations and exceptions. State employees, including those employed by public institutions like the […]

Catie Ratliff | February 12, 2025

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Week two of Trump brings more questions than answers for organizations receiving federal funds

Chaos and questions were rampant when the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget released a memo pausing all federal financial assistance programs on January 27. The order was eventually rescinded, but future plans for the funding remain unknown at press time. The funding freeze, the culmination of multiple executive orders issued by President Donald […]

Catie Ratliff | February 5, 2025

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UVA Health stops gender-affirming care for patients under 19

Following an executive order from President Donald Trump and a memo from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, UVA Health “has suspended all gender-affirming care for patients under 19 years of age … [but] remains committed to being a community of healing, compassion, and respect for all,” according to a statement on its children’s transgender youth […]

Catie Ratliff | February 5, 2025

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Run-on sentence

The sentencing of Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. in connection with the November 13, 2022, shooting on the University of Virginia Grounds has been delayed by more than nine months. Jones pleaded guilty to the murders of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry and related charges on November 20, 2024. Jones faces a sentence […]

Catie Ratliff | February 5, 2025

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Leslie Pryor appointed as Rio District School Board Representative

The Albemarle County School Board unanimously appointed Leslie Pryor as the Rio Magisterial District representative on January 23, after a public hearing on the candidates. Pryor was one of seven people vying for the seat, which was left vacant following the death of board member Chuck Pace in December 2024. In a release announcing her […]

Catie Ratliff | January 29, 2025