Parking petition: Violet Crown hires PR firm

The Downtown Business Association of Charlottesville said in April it wasn’t taking sides in the parking wars fueled by litigation between the city and Mark Brown, owner of the Charlottesville Parking Center. That course changed when Violet Crown hired public relations firm Payne Ross, also a DBAC member, which circulated a petition calling for the […]

In brief: Terry’s bad week, lots of dog poop and more

Worst gubernatorial week in Richmond Terry McAuliffe learned May 23 he’s under investigation by the FBI for what was first reported as donations from a Chinese businessman and later for business dealings under the infrequently prosecuted Foreign Agents Registration Act. General Assembly Republicans also sued to overturn his order restoring voting rights for 206,000 felons. […]

In bloom: Algae in reservoirs ‘significant’

An unquantified, but substantial amount of blue-green algae has bloomed at the Beaver Creek and South Fork Rivanna reservoirs, according to a new report presented to the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority’s board of directors May 24. Consultants say the water supply at Ragged Mountain Reservoir is another one to watch. Algae—caused by a nutrient […]

Registration pros and cons: GOP sues to keep felons from voting

As if a presidential election year weren’t exciting enough, about a month after Governor Terry McAuliffe signed his April 22 bombshell executive order restoring the voting rights of 206,000 felons, General Assembly Republican leaders filed a lawsuit to keep them out of the polls. Voter registration has skyrocketed in 2016 from this time a year […]

Hemp happens: A new flag flies at City Hall

A proud group of industrial hemp supporters hoisted an American flag made of the crop on the Downtown Mall May 25, announcing that it would be presented to Willie Nelson—another major advocate for its legalization—at his concert that night. “We’re trying to end this insanity of prohibition,” Mike Bowman, a Coloradoan and chair of the […]

In brief: Another UVA coach out, unwelcome selfies and more

What’s under that robe? UVA’s enhanced, heavy-duty security for its 187th final exercises, which included the opening of the robes for grads and faculty before entering the Lawn, is considered a “best practice” common at other large, public research universities, according UVA spokesperson Anthony de Bruyn, who points out that at a UNESCO World Heritage […]

Tom Sox players hope to move up to the majors

Justin Novak’s fingers were bleeding. A Band-Aid flapped uselessly from one of the cuts that had been pummeled for nine innings by balls thrown and hit hard to third base. The white knickerbocker-style pants of his UVA uniform were streaked with dirt. The stadium was almost empty and the lights were shutting off. He walked […]

Gallo aggrieved: Wine giant sues local kombucha maker

When we last checked in on Barefoot Bucha proprietors Kate and Ethan Zuckerman in November, their probiotic beverage business was going great guns, except for a little trouble with Gallo, which objected to their attempt to register a trademark. The wine goliath feared that drinkers of Barefoot wine would be confused and buy non-alcoholic kombucha […]