What candidates can, and can’t do, with surplus campaign funds

If you’ve ever signed up for campaign alerts or donated to a candidate, you’ve probably received a text, email, or letter asking for donations. Sometimes, those asks continue post-election. So what happens to that leftover money after an election, or after candidates end their campaigns? The answer: It depends on the office, and where you […]

The strange story of Stefan Friedman and his faltering feast

This story was updated March 27, 2026, to reflect new information. When the axe fell on Stefan Friedman’s restaurants, their sudden closures left staff and patrons surprised. Ace Biscuit & Barbecue, Omakase Obscura, The Wine Guild of Charlottesville, Vitae Spirits Distillery, and Old Metropolitan Hall—the entire once-bountiful table of Friedman’s company, A Moveable Feast—folded or changed […]

Multimillion money matters, bargain bands, and flying forward—a local look at the latest in Albemarle County

In an ever-changing national political climate, it can be easy to miss the latest local goings-on. So rather than a look at what’s happening nationally, this week’s C-VILLE dives into the “state of the union” in Albemarle County, from money matters to flight paths. Assessments Per the county’s 2026 reassessment, property values are up across […]

Piedmont Housing Alliance purchases MACAA site and prepares for construction

When Sunshine Mathon took the helm as executive director of the Piedmont Housing Alliance in August 2017, the entity managed about 350 affordable units.  Since then, PHA has doubled that number through projects such as the redevelopment of Friendship Court into Kindlewood and construction of affordable rental units at the redeveloped Southwood Village.  And there’s […]

HOD drops university employees from collective bargaining bill

Lost in revision CORRECTION 2/18/26: Language in the HB1263 substitute excludes all higher education employees from collective bargaining units through its definition of “state agencies.” The following article has been edited for accuracy. C-VILLE regrets the error.  The House of Delegates Appropriations committee quietly removed higher education employees from HB1263, its collective bargaining legislation, on […]

Abundant Life Ministries wants to build new space off Prospect Avenue

To celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, Abundant Life Ministries wants to construct a 10,370-square-foot community building behind a single-family house it owns at 782 Prospect Ave. The group filed the first set of plans with Charlottesville’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services on February 12.  Such a building would be a by-right use under the […]