News

Downtown Mall vacancies, foot traffic, and a debate over homelessness collide

The Downtown Mall is at the center of Charlottesville’s most recent controversy, a “camping ordinance” that would criminalize sleeping or storing personal belongings on public property. While a strong coalition opposing the ordinance showed up at the September 2 City Council meeting, some business owners claimed the draft proposal was a step toward strengthening Charlottesville’s […]

Catie Ratliff | September 10, 2025

News

Out and proud

Despite a nationwide decrease in corporate support for Pride events, local celebrations will feature more vendors than ever before, according to Nick Hutchins, president of Charlottesville Pride. Nearly 80 vendors will be at the 2025 event—which kicks off at 12:30pm on Saturday, September 6, at the Ting Pavilion.  “This festival … has just seen such […]

Catie Ratliff | September 3, 2025

Feature News

How aggressive immigration policy undermines due process rights in Charlottesville, and the entire country

In late April, three plainclothes federal agents swept into Albemarle County General District Court, and carried out some of the Trump administration’s earliest-known local courthouse detentions. There, in front of stunned witnesses, agents detained Teodoro Dominguez-Rodriguez and Pablo Aparicio-Marcelino, who had each appeared in court while facing separate criminal charges. The sudden arrests—and the failed […]

Catie Ratliff | August 27, 2025

News

General registrar Lauren Eddy resigns a month before early voting

The Albemarle County Electoral Board, which usually meets once a month, has three sessions scheduled between August 26 and September 2. While it’s normal for the board to meet more in the lead-up to Election Day, the three-member body is navigating this election season without a registrar following the resignation of Lauren Eddy earlier this […]

Catie Ratliff | August 27, 2025

News

Downtown Mall toy store Alakazam announces closure

After 20 years on the Downtown Mall, Alakazam Toys will close its doors. An official closing date had not been announced at press time. Ellen Joy, who took over Alakazam in March 2019, shared the news in an August 23 social media post. “In a world that can often feel challenging, I’ve always believed in […]

Catie Ratliff | August 27, 2025

News

Glenmore house explodes after suspected natural gas leak 

A house explosion at 2331 Ferndown Ln. shook Keswick’s Glenmore neighborhood on August 19. One person was killed and another is recovering at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Evans-Haynes Burn Center. The blast, caused by a suspected gas leak, leveled a large two-story home with a basement, and scattered debris—including insulation, bricks, and wood—across adjacent properties. Area […]

Catie Ratliff | August 27, 2025

News

City awaits new charging plan as EVgo shutters most of its local stations

Electric vehicle ownership is on the rise in Charlottesville. But despite the increased demand for public charging stations, two of three EVgo locations in the city have been decommissioned.   After quietly disabling the Barracks Road Shopping Center and Water Street parking garage locations weeks ago, EVgo confirmed their removal through the company’s EVgo ReNew […]

Catie Ratliff | August 19, 2025