Bernie Sanders’ campaign trail stops in Charlottesville

Bernie Sanders, a Democratic candidate for the 2016 presidential race, addressed the economy, healthcare, foreign policy, environmental issues and student debt and tuition in his most recent stop in Charlottesville. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Doug Blackmon interviewed Sanders at UVA’s Miller Center September 14 for a taping of “American Forum.” Though just over 100 spectators were […]

FOIA suit fails: Judge rules police don’t have to release stop-and-frisk records

  After Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo’s report to City Council stated that 70 percent of the people police stopped were African-American, the Public Housing Association of Residents and the local NAACP filed a lawsuit seeking police records under the Freedom of Information Act, according to their lawyer, Jeff Fogel. Judge Rick Moore ruled September 11 that […]

Supes not swayed: Board poised to expand southern growth area boundary

Story updated September 16 More than 30 citizens voiced their opposition to a change to the county’s comprehensive plan that would expand its southern growth area at the Interstate 64/U.S. 29 interchange, with a couple quoting the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel (“People hearing without listening”)  and Grandmaster Flash (“Don’t push me ’cause I’m close […]

UPDATED: Lockn’ to open Friday morning

The Lockn’ organizers have officially announced that all Thursday performances at the music festival have been cancelled, due to a severe thunderstorm that caused damage to the festival’s parking and campground area Wednesday evening. It is now scheduled to open “first thing” Friday morning, according to organizers who are also offering places campers can stay […]

Gun play: What else can we say?

Usually, when we sit to pen our modest column, we are all giggles and light. But every once in a while we squat, quill in hand, and despair at the bleak landscape that looms before us. This is one of those times. Following the on-camera slaughter of WDBJ journalist Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward […]

Old drug: New dangerous effects

Police say the presence of spice, a form of synthetic marijuana, is not new to Charlottesville or Albemarle County, however, they’re now seeing new behaviors associated with people using the drug. Charlottesville Police Lieutenant Joe Hatter, who oversees the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force, says spice has been in the area for the last […]

Updated: Lockn’ adds to its infrastructure and allure

Updated: Due to a powerful storm, the opening of  Lockn’ campgrounds has been delayed until further notice and Thursday performances have been canceled. When gates open to the show field  on Thursday, returning campers and daytrippers will find what should be an improved experience at Lockn’ Music Festival, the four-day music bash on Nelson County’s […]

Man killed in first homicide of the year

More than 100 people gathered outside the home of Jason Lee Shifflett, Charlottesville’s first suspected homicide victim of the year, for a candlelight vigil September 3. Shifflett, 31, was shot and killed in his Carlton Avenue trailer home just before 1am that day, police say. His killer has not yet been identified. Shifflett’s friend, Ira […]

Residents petition BOS to slow comp plan amendment

People living around the property at the Interstate 64/U.S. 29 interchange, which the Albemarle Board of Supervisors is considering adding to the growth area to attract a West Coast brewery, are circulating a petition to slow the process. “We started being concerned about a factory across the street surrounded by a rural and residential area,” […]