News

Pride and prejudice

Controversy exploded in Charlottesville when a video of students at Johnson Elementary School was posted by local radio host Rob Schilling. The video shows fourth graders reading ABC Pride, a children’s book about Pride month, at a school-wide morning meeting.  Schilling posted the video on his website and played a portion of the audio on […]

Catie Ratliff | June 21, 2023

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The road less traveled 

Personal trainer Adam Goerge is taking his love for cycling to the next level by racing across the country in the Trans Am Bike Race.  Spanning from coast to coast, the trail is approximately 4,200 miles long and follows the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. Owner (with his wife, Nicole) of Charlottesville’s Elevate Training Studio, Goerge says […]

Catie Ratliff | June 15, 2023

News

Candidates convene

Candidates for the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates convened for a forum on May 31, three weeks ahead of the primary elections.  Hosted by the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents, the People’s Coalition, and the Legal Aid Justice Center, the event gave candidates for state Senate District 11 and House District 54 an […]

Catie Ratliff | June 7, 2023

News

Presidential posturing

Since his successful gubernatorial campaign, political commentators have speculated about Gov. Glenn Youngkin running for president. While Youngkin has repeatedly said he will not campaign for the 2024 Republican nomination, a recent ad by the Spirit of Virginia PAC and reported meetings with potential donors has raised questions about whether the governor is truly out […]

Catie Ratliff | June 7, 2023

News

PCOB plans

As the Executive Director of the Police Civilian Oversight Board, Inez M. Gonzalez is working to improve policing and police-civilian relations in Charlottesville.  Since its conception following the deadly 2017 Unite the Right Rally, the PCOB—formerly known as the Police Civilian Review Board—has been a source of contention. While many believe in the board’s goal […]

Catie Ratliff | May 24, 2023

News

Pipeline politics

The United States Forest Service has approved passage of the Mountain Valley Pipeline through Jefferson National Forest.  First proposed in 2014, the 304-mile pipeline spans from West Virginia into Virginia, with a possible 75-mile Southgate Extension into North Carolina. While proponents of the MVP argue that the natural gas pipeline is a “critical infrastructure project,” […]

Catie Ratliff | May 24, 2023

News

Walking the Lawn

The last four years have been anything but conventional for the University of Virginia’s Class of 2023. Ahead of Final Exercises, I spoke to my peers about their unique time at UVA. During spring break of our first year, we encountered our first major challenge with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. That time was […]

Catie Ratliff | May 17, 2023

News

Resilient students

On May 10, the first class of students since 2019 will graduate from the Resilience Education program at Fluvanna Women’s Correctional Center. The graduation also marks the first time program participants will receive UVA course credit for their studies. Resilience Education is a business education program designed to provide inmates with the tools they need […]

Catie Ratliff | May 10, 2023

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Good won’t go green

Rep. Bob Good has introduced legislation aimed at blocking U.S. contributions to the United Nations Green Climate Fund.  The bill—No Taxpayer Funding for Green Climate Fund Act—would halt $1 billion promised to the fund by the Biden administration, and stop any future U.S. endowments. “Domestic energy production has helped make America great, but President Biden […]

Catie Ratliff | May 10, 2023

News

Homing in

The May 1 Charlottesville City Council meeting included a report on area homelessness, funding for affordable housing, and major budgetary allocations. The session began with a presentation titled Focus on Homelessness: The State of the Unhoused and Unhoused Services, by Misty Graves, director of human services, and leaders from The Haven, People and Congregations Engaged […]

Catie Ratliff | May 3, 2023