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 […]

Zoo investigation: Activists aim to shut it down for good

The July 1 killing of the now-famous lion, Cecil, sparked a global outcry. Even away from Zimbabwe where Cecil was killed, or Minnesota where his killer resides, the rest of the world has followed constant media coverage and taken to social media to mourn or shame or defend Cecil’s killer. A local animal rights controversy […]

The night shift

The loneliest hours It’s 1am, and you’re starving but you got nothin’ in your fridge. It’s 2am and your baby’s spiked a 105 degree temperature. It’s 4am and you hear a scraping sound on your window. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, you’re very grateful for the folks who work while the rest of […]

Oscar M. Glass: OMG—Kurt Kroboth gets a new name

Kurt Kroboth, a convicted would-be wife killer who was bothered by lingering notoriety over his Albemarle crimes, has convinced a California judge to change his identity. Following a hearing in early May, the Superior Court of Contra Costa County entered a decree giving Kroboth a new name: Oscar Michel Glass. “Only on the left coast,” […]