Catie Ratliff

Democrats hold a majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, so it was no surprise that Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed most of the hundreds of bills that were sent to her desk this session. Still, the governor didn’t hesitate to veto and amend bills in the weeks and hours leading up to the April […]

The University of Virginia is once again searching for a new women’s basketball coach. Despite a historic season for the Cavs, former head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton was released from her contract—a year before its expiration—on April 4. The firing of Agugua-Hamilton, also known as Coach Mox, marks a dour end to an exciting season for […]

The Second Street NE and Fourth Street NE Downtown Mall traffic crossings are closed through June 12 to allow the city to remove and replace pavers at both intersections. Two-hour and handicap parking spaces along the crossings are also closed during construction. Charlottesville Area Transit buses will detour, which may result in up to a […]

The University of Virginia women’s basketball team pulled off a stunning upset March 23, defeating No. 2-seed University of Iowa 83-75 in double overtime in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Before facing the Hawkeyes on their home court, the 10th-seeded Hoos, who haven’t made a Sweet 16 appearance since 2000, battled their way […]

Ads for Virginia’s April 21 special election are everywhere, many rife with partisan language and intentional misrepresentations. Here’s what the proposed redistricting amendment actually says, the meaning of a vote in either direction, and how to cast your ballot. On the ballot, the amendment reads: “Question: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow […]

A March 13 bomb threat at the University of Virginia’s Shannon Library was determined to be a hoax. UVA issued the all clear less than three hours after evacuating Shannon and Clemons libraries. “University Police responded to an emailed bomb threat at Shannon Library on Friday, March 13. … No bomb was discovered during the […]

Work is underway on the Charlottesville city budget, with Council and leadership looking at a potential $0.02 increase to the real estate tax. The rate hike to $1 per $100 of assessed value would generate just under $2.5 million in new revenue, according to the city’s budget office. While city councilors expressed reluctance to increase […]

Caravan of Hope, a month-long multi-state tour providing pro bono LGBTQ+ legal services to communities in the southern and midwestern United States, made its first stop of 2026 in Charlottesville on March 2.  The initiative, led by Philadelphia-based lawyer Angela Giampolo, is “focused on protecting identity, family security, and long-term stability.” From blue major metro […]

The numbers are in: Albemarle County’s proposed FY27 budget totals $724,021,078—roughly $86 million more than FY26. The budget, presented by County Executive Jeff Richardson on February 25, was balanced with no tax rate increases. In the general fund, the largest expenditure category is education, with $218.3 million slated for transfer to Albemarle County Public Schools. […]