Shackled, but no gag: Judge denies most Jesse Matthew motions

Jesse Matthew shuffled into Albemarle Circuit Court in a greenish-gray jail jumpsuit, leg shackles and a belly chain that attached his handcuffed wrists to the middle of his torso. That attire was the subject of one of 12 motions filed by his attorneys, who argued that his appearance in jailhouse garb was prejudicial to a […]

Post traumatic: Proposed shooting range stresses refugees

U.S. citizenship meant a new beginning for Tilahun Goshu and his family—one where they would no longer live in fear and they could begin building their dream home, which Goshu envisioned being passed down to his children and his children’s children. But no sooner than he moved into his new place, he learned that a […]

‘Ban the box:’ Felons arrested for not coming clean on voter registration

In April, Governor Terry McAuliffe ordered state agencies to stop asking applicants seeking employment if they have been convicted of felonies. That largesse does not apply to the voting booth, and three felons who attempted to register to vote in Albemarle without checking the box on prior felony convictions have been charged with—yep, another felony. […]

Westhaven story : Cops step up foot-patrols while kids learn their rights

Residents of Westhaven, which has one of the highest violent crime rates in the city, have started to see a more constant police presence in their neighborhood over the last month—at the same time a nonprofit is teaching kids their rights in police encounters. Charlottesville Police officers assigned to the housing project have gotten new […]

Making the grade: Your guide to an A+ school year

At the start of a new academic year, it’s inevitable that some students mourn their summer vacations and others feel happy to have something to do. Either way, going back to school can be a stressful time for both students and parents. Who’s picking Jacob up from football practice? And how much did Jessica’s scientific […]

Julian Bond: Death of a civil rights icon

President Barack Obama called Julian Bond “a hero,” and many thought the man who was the telegenic face of the civil rights movement since he co-founded Students Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s would be America’s first black president. Bond, who was professor emeritus at UVA, died August 15 at age 75 following a short […]

Trust us: Albemarle jumps through hoops for mystery company

    The preservation of Albemarle County’s rural beauty can directly be attributed to its comprehensive plan, the holy grail of where development can occur and where it may not. That’s why some are surprised the Board of Supervisors is fast tracking an amendment that moves 223 acres from rural to growth area for a […]

Drawn and quartered: The Republicans run out of room on redistricting

As you may or may not know, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 recently turned 50, resulting in a flurry of news stories both celebrating the act’s many accomplishments, and lamenting the fact that a central tenant of the law, known as “preclearance,” had been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. Under […]

The path not taken: Humpback tries to keep hikers on official trails

On a recent Friday morning, roughly a hundred people rolled out of bed and said, “Let’s hike Humpback Rocks today.” By 11am the parking lot at the base of the hike was filled. License plates ranged from Alabama to Massachusetts. Several SUVs staked their claim on the grass, nearest to the trailhead. Kids clambered over […]