New BOV members: What’s changed since Sullivan ouster?

Since University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan was fired—and reinstated—in 2012, there have been calls for change in both how the Board of Visitors is governed and who is on the board. With Governor Terry McAuliffe’s last round of five appointees, critics say there’s still too little diversity in who gets appointed. And one tradition—that […]

Former UVA swimmer files lawsuit against five ex-teammates, alleges hazing

A former member of the University of Virginia swim team has filed a lawsuit against five of his former teammates for incidents including hazing, false imprisonment, and assault that occurred last fall. Anthony Marcatonio’s suit, filed in federal court on June 26, alleges that in the late night/early morning of August 27/28, Marcantonio and other […]

Joy and pain: A political week like no other

In politics, as in life, there are weeks that simply take your breath away. Weeks where things move so quickly, and with such unexpected force, that it feels like the laws of physics have been suspended, and that time is suddenly moving at twice its normal speed. So it was last week, when the political […]

Dog attack witness: Police K9 was “vicious”

Thursday night, a K9 from the Charlottesville Police Department was accidentally released from the back of a patrol car on the 700 block of Prospect Avenue where it bit a 13-year-old girl several times, breaking the skin and requiring stitches, according to Captain Gary Pleasants. “The dog was vicious,” says Bridget Brown Shackelford, a neighbor […]

Higgins refuses to recuse in Jesse Matthew trial

Albemarle Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Higgins rebuffed the arguments of Jesse Matthew’s attorney that she recuse herself from Matthew’s capital murder trial for the slaying of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham because she has a daughter who was a second-year student at UVA like Graham. Defense attorney Doug Ramseur also said because Higgins signed 25 out of approximately […]

New watershed assessment: Still bad, but not as bad

Though the health of the Rivanna River watershed has consistently failed to meet one of five Virginia water quality standards, a new report shows that its conditions are improving. According to David Hannah, the executive director of StreamWatch—a local nonprofit that assesses watershed health by monitoring and testing streams—32 of the 50 assessed streams failed […]

New digs: More construction on West Main

The mixed-use residential complex going up on West Main and 10th streets now has an official name: Uncommon. And the developers have a description of the type of people they hope will live there. “Uncommoners are trendsetters who don’t try too hard,” the development’s website says, but this hip tagline doesn’t describe the planning they’ve […]

Sweet Briar College to remain open after settlement approval

Students, faculty, and supporters of Sweet Briar College are breathing a sigh of relief that the home of the Vixens will stay afloat for at least another year. Following months of uncertainty over the future of the women’s liberal arts college after President James F. Jones announced in March the school would close due to […]

Power plays: 20 local movers and shakers

Power. We know it when we feel it. Sometimes it’s a server who dawdles while taking our order when we’re starving. Or, on a grander scale, it’s the people who hire and fire, who make the decisions that affect people’s lives, both for good or ill, and in at least a couple of cases, even […]