News

Alamo Drafthouse tells patrons to move their wheelchairs—an hour after they purchased tickets

Accessibility advocate India Sims and her friend Cynthia Pettus left Alamo Drafthouse midscreening on May 25 after they were told their wheelchairs’ location violated the fire code. Sims, a lifelong Charlottesville-area resident, has previously seen films at Alamo without issue. “I’ve been there multiple times to see things,” she says. “My chair was always around; […]

Catie Ratliff | May 27, 2025

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Mifepristone case is back in Charlottesville court

Access to mifepristone was once again on the local docket, with representatives from the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Food and Drug Administration presenting oral arguments on May 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville. The suit, filed by Whole Woman’s Health Alliance in May 2023, challenges […]

Catie Ratliff | May 21, 2025

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Albemarle County supervisors adopt FY 2026 budget

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors adopted a $644 million FY26 budget on May 7. The budget is balanced with a 4-cent increase to the real property tax rate, and a restoration of the pre-pandemic personal property tax rate. New rates go into effect on July 1, for an overall real property tax rate of […]

Catie Ratliff | May 14, 2025

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DOE takes former FEI site away from CCS, awards it to UVA

The U.S. Department of Education rescinded its recommendation that Charlottesville City Schools acquire the site of the former Federal Executive Institute. In a May 9 email to CCS, the DOE said it will instead recommend the U.S. General Services Administration move forward with the University of Virginia’s bid for the property. “Upon further review of […]

Catie Ratliff | May 13, 2025

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Nomination contests kick off for Virginia’s 2025 General Election

It’s primary season in Virginia, and here’s what is—and notably isn’t—on the ballot June 17. Virginia and New Jersey’s off-year elections are historically treated as bellwethers, taking the temperature of public opinion one year after presidential elections. Despite the hoopla, there’s no gubernatorial primary in Virginia this June, with Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov. Winsome […]

Catie Ratliff | May 7, 2025

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Charlottesville City School Board approves rezoning

The Charlottesville City School Board has officially rezoned its elementary schools for the first time in more than 50 years. While the months-long process was the source of heated debate earlier this year, the new school zones were adopted unanimously at the May 1 board meeting. Neighborhoods affected by the redistricting include the area west […]

Catie Ratliff | May 7, 2025

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MVP Southgate back again?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a permit request for the Southgate extension of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline on April 30. According to the notice, the natural gas pipeline is “subject to special emergency permitting procedures to address an energy supply situation” under a January executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The […]

Catie Ratliff | May 7, 2025

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Plainclothes agents detain two men at Albemarle County Courthouse

Local judicial and law enforcement systems were turned upside down on April 22, when two men were detained by plainclothes immigration officers at the Albemarle County General District Court. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is standing by its actions despite numerous concerns and questions raised by immigration activists and civil rights organizations, including the American Civil […]

Catie Ratliff | April 30, 2025

News

Early season

Early voting in the June 17 Democratic Primary for Charlottesville City Council begins May 2, officially kicking off the city’s experiment with ranked-choice voting. Mayor Juandiego Wade and Vice-Mayor Brian Pinkston are both seeking reelection, but face a challenge from Jen Fleisher for the two available seats. Rather than filling in two bubbles as usual, […]

Catie Ratliff | April 30, 2025