Local agencies look for fuel fat
Nationally, the cost of gas has skyrocketed—as recently as March, the average price of gas in Charlottesville was $3.15, and now it’s around $4.
Western State violated patient's civil rights
On August 1, the State Human Rights Committee (SHRC) affirmed a ruling that Western State Hospital in Staunton violated the civil rights of a Spanish-speaking mentally ill patient by keeping him in seclusion for the last 15 years. Fifty-seven-year-old Cesar Augusto Chumil’s treatment plans and medication-related information were always delivered in English, which he barely […]
Can Ridge/McIntire handle traffic boost?
The recent Board of Architectural Review (BAR) approval of a nine-story building at 301 W. Main St. has returned a spotlight to the busy intersection of that street where it meets Ridge/McIntire streets in the former Vinegar Hill neighborhood.
For rebricking, activist pushes local hiring
One outcome of the July 21 City Council vote to move forward with the $7.5 million rebricking of the Downtown Mall was the mandate from Councilor Holly Edwards to Neighborhood Development Services Director Jim Tolbert to explore ways to incorporate local residents into the renovation workforce. “I would hope there are employment opportunities,” she said, […]
Kaine for VP closer to reality
The Washington Post has a piece today on the increasing likelihood that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine will be picked as Barack Obama’s VP choice.
StreamWatch study finds Rivanna River watershed is still dirty
According to today’s DP, a three-year study by StreamWatch found that three-quarters of the streams tested in the Rivanna River watershed failed to meet Department of Environmental Quality standards.
Scriptural Reasoning program alters traditional religion
In 1994, future UVA religion Professor Peter Ochs started an unusual but simple practice of having academics from the three religious traditions that share the Bible as a fundamental text gather to read scripture, whether it was the Torah, the New Testament, or the Koran. “On a basic level, Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is an experiment […]
Community land trusts coming to town
Between 2000 and 2006, the median sales costs of houses doubled in the Charlottesville metropolitan area, and the county nearly kept the same pace. As a result, housing became affordable only for the few with enough money to spend on escalating properties. Your average family was practically priced out of town. “I was at a […]
Obama opens Charlottesville office, McCain MIA
On Saturday, July 19, the Barack Obama campaign opened 20 offices around the state of Virginia—including one on the Downtown Mall in the old A&N building—as it prepares to wage battle against John McCain for the presidency of the United States.
City Council moved by recent killing
Last night’s City Council meeting was to be dominated by discussion of the re-bricking of the Downtown Mall but that was upstaged by the public comment period.