One West Main Street commercial establishment closes while another goes private

When Charlottesville City Council granted permission for three student apartment buildings to be constructed on West Main Street in the 2010s, the zoning rules at the time required that the ground floor have space for commercial establishments. Since then, several of the required spaces have remained vacant while other businesses have struggled to stay afloat. […]

UVA President Jim Ryan resigns amid DOJ pressure

University of Virginia President Jim Ryan has reportedly submitted his resignation to the Board of Visitors, according to a June 27 article from the New York Times. His exit comes amid pressure from the United States Department of Justice—who called for Ryan’s removal in connection with the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Ryan, who […]

How—and why—Indivisible Charlottesville is demonstrating for democracy

From information sessions to the almost 7,000-person No Kings Day protest on June 14, Indivisible Charlottesville is bringing together people from across the region in its pro-democracy, anti-Trump activism. Since inauguration day, nationwide protests have been a frequent occurrence during the Trump administration. Many of these planned area demonstrations, including Hands Off and No Kings […]

Then there were two

Primary results are in, setting the ballot for November’s general election. In Charlottesville’s Democratic City Council primary, Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston was unseated by political newcomer Jen Fleisher. The election was the city’s first ranked-choice-voting election, where voters were able to rank candidates in order of preference. To win a spot in the two-seat race, […]

UVA Health unveils concept plan for Oak Lawn

Since the University of Virginia purchased the Fifeville estate known as Oak Lawn in October 2023, officials have pledged to include the neighborhood in the discussion of how the 5.2-acre property will be used. A concept plan for the future of Oak Lawn was shared with members of the Fifeville neighborhood during a June 18 […]

How a former Culpeper County ‘MAGA sheriff’ got a presidential pardon

While running a contested race for sheriff of Culpeper County in 2023, Scott Jenkins was looking to “fill the war chest,” according to a federal indictment.  To do this, he accepted at least $75,000 from northern Virginia businessmen to be appointed auxiliary sheriff’s deputies, and helped one wealthy felon get his gun rights restored, despite […]

No Kings Day rally draws thousands

Charlottesville joined thousands of cities nationwide with a June 14 No Kings Day rally that saw about 6,800 people protesting along US 29 by The Shops at Stonefield. No Kings Day coincided with a military parade commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. Millions of Americans participated in […]

Albemarle hopes to become Virginia’s ‘next innovation economy’

Albemarle County is in the fourth year of updating its Comprehensive Plan, a document intended to guide the future. But work on a new economic development strategic plan is happening much faster.   “We’re not working on an economic development plan for a community that’s in decline,” said Steven Pedigo of Resonance, the firm hired […]