News

Price of prevention

Controversy arose last week when local violence interruption group the B.U.C.K. Squad announced that City Council reduced its funding for 2025. While councilors argue the $200,000 allocation from the Vibrant Community Fund shows strong support for the group, the B.U.C.K. Squad’s leadership is disappointed and confused by the decrease from the proposed $456,000. “The BUCK […]

Catie Ratliff | April 17, 2024

News

Questioning

Dozens of Charlottesville residents braved the rain on March 31 to attend the first-ever trans Q&A at The Beautiful Idea. While the weather outside was gloomy, the atmosphere inside the trans-owned, anti-fascist bookstore was cozy, with chairs set up under string lights, and pride flags draped across the ceiling. The event was the brainchild of […]

Catie Ratliff | April 3, 2024

News

Penciled in

The Albemarle County School Board approved a redistricting plan on March 14. While some parents are celebrating, others are less than thrilled that their children will be attending new schools. The decision to redistrict was prompted by a population surge in the northern part of Albemarle County, and significant overcrowding at Baker-Butler Elementary School. As […]

Catie Ratliff | March 20, 2024

News

Budgeting for time

Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders presented the proposed budget to City Council on March 6, prompting discussion and debate on funding allocations and potential tax hikes. Coming in at 350 pages and $251,526,900 in total revenues and expenditures, Charlottesville’s budget for FY25 is hefty in several ways. However, nothing is final yet. Councilors have until […]

Catie Ratliff | March 13, 2024

News

Wading in

Juandiego Wade never expected to settle down in Charlottesville, let alone be elected mayor. When Wade met with C-VILLE—in a tiny meeting room in an under-construction City Hall building—on a snowy late January morning, the mayor arrived in a heavy winter coat and hat. He had just finished shoveling snow with a neighbor. Despite the […]

Catie Ratliff | February 28, 2024

News

Ribbit-roaring

Members of central Virginia’s FrogWatch are putting their ears to the ground and leaping into action. The FrogWatch program—started by the Akron Zoo—monitors trends in frog and toad populations by training volunteers on the calls of local species. The central Virginia chapter of FrogWatch is run collaboratively by the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation […]

Catie Ratliff | February 21, 2024

News

Looking Good?

Election season is in full swing for Rep. Bob Good, who’s faced barbs from his challenger, substantial intra-party criticism, and an all-but-declaration-of-war from the Trump campaign. But despite these hurdles, Good says he is confident the constituents of Virginia’s 5th District will “get it right” in the June primary. The two-term incumbent faces a primary […]

Catie Ratliff | January 24, 2024

News

Driving it home

Sure, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. But along with holiday festivities comes the traffic. Lots of traffic. And while roads will be bumper to bumper in the coming weeks, the Virginia Department of Transportation has a few tips for minimizing your travel stress. According to VDOT, the periods of heaviest traffic will […]

Catie Ratliff | December 20, 2023

News

In brief

The Good chair Fifth District Rep. Bob Good was named chair of the House Freedom Caucus on December 11, and will start the job in January. For years, the Freedom Caucus has played a prominent role in congressional politics, including the ouster of former House speaker Kevin McCarthy and the lengthy process to elect a […]

Catie Ratliff | December 20, 2023

News

Fresh start

Students returned to Charlottesville High School on Monday, November 27, after a series of fights spurred staff absences and a string of closures prior to Thanksgiving break. Charlottesville City Schools labeled the multi-day suspension of classes a “cultural reset.” The first day back went relatively smoothly according to interim principal Kenny Leatherwood, but he noted […]

Catie Ratliff | November 29, 2023