GOP loyalty: Primary pledge draws mixed reaction among local Republicans

Virginia has a history of parties requiring primary voters to affirm they’re loyal Democrats or Republicans. However, three African-American pastors who are Donald Trump supporters filed a lawsuit claiming the pledge required by the state GOP—“My signature below indicates I am a Republican”—will discourage minorities and the poor from voting in the March 1 primary. […]

Dominion to dump in Virginia rivers

The State Water Control Board officially approved Dominion’s permit to dump wastewater into two Virginia rivers January 14. The wastewater will come from coal ash pits at the Bremo Power Station on the James River and the Possum Point plant on the Potomac River. The board took two separate votes, tallying 5-1 for each permit. […]

Local haunt: Protected farm has paranormal history

A 324-acre historic farm in Albemarle County will be adopted into the county’s Acquisition of Conservation Easements program, which will permanently protect the land from any future development. But perhaps a bulldozer isn’t the only entity the property needs protection from. The Twisted Paranormal Society, a Virginia-based ghost hunting group, took two trips to Mount Eagle […]

It takes a Village

It took two men with a vision to create an all-girls village On the Tuesday before winter break, a spirited debate has broken out in Jamie Knorr’s sixth-grade history class at Village School, the all-girls middle school he and Proal Heartwell founded two decades ago. A few of Knorr’s students have just delivered their soliloquy, […]

Entrapment trial: Jury rejects task force’s $50 heroin sting

Ryan McLernan admits he’s an addict. But he’s adamant he never sold drugs until another addict—a confidential informant for the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force—asked McLernan if he could help him score. McLernan did, and, six months later, he was indicted for distribution of $50 worth of heroin. The 22-year-old Western Albemarle High graduate […]

Cast your vote for Tom Sox mascot

The Charlottesville Tom Sox, a team in the Valley Baseball League, wants fans to cast their vote for the team’s new mascot. The mascot options, which were also suggested by fans, include the Declaration of Independence, a mockingbird, a prairie dog, a tomcat and a sock monkey. A Declaration of Independence mascot would be called […]

Eighteen inches of snow possible by Saturday

The snow flurries predicted for Wednesday are “small potatoes compared to what’s coming,” says Jerry Stenger, director of the State Climatology Office. Snow starting early Friday and continuing thought Saturday evening could bring an accumulation of more than a foot and up to 18 inches, he says. A low pressure system developing in Louisiana and […]

Turner found guilty in Al Hamraa slaying

A Charlottesville jury convicted Taneak Turner, 20, of voluntary manslaughter January 15 after deliberating for nearly 11 hours, and recommended he serve 25 years in prison for that and other charges related to the death of Antonio Washington. Washington, 30, was fatally stabbed May 10, 2014, at his birthday party at Al Hamraa restaurant in […]

Mayor doesn’t rule out condemning Landmark

The skeletal Landmark Hotel officially went from eyesore to public safety hazard last week when a beam went through the roof of next-door CVS. “Debris blew off the building and could have killed someone,” said Mayor Mike Signer on “Wake-Up Call” January 17. The city closed the area around the hotel January 14, and the […]

Running community remembers Running Man

Members of Charlottesville’s running community have come together to create a tribute to Philip Weber III, the jogger known as “Running Man” who was hit and killed on Ivy Road December 29. Mark Lorenzoni, owner of the Ragged Mountain Running Shop, says the collection of running shoes represents more than just a sport. “It represents […]