Schock denied bond; prosecutors allege Web contact with minors

A city elementary school teacher arrested on child pornography charges on February 10 will remain behind bars unless a forensic psychologist can determine that he poses no risk to himself or others if released on bond, Charlottesville Circuit Court Judge Jay Swett ruled in the second of two back-to-back bond hearings Wednesday. More details of […]

Lunsford’s letter: Bypass Truth Coalition violated law, but not enough to prosecute

Did the Bypass Truth Coalition violate state election law by advocating for the defeat of two Bypass-supporting Albemarle County Supervisors without proper disclosure of its finances? Lone remaining Republican Supervisor Ken Boyd thought so, and Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Denise Lunsford has now agreed, but she’s not going to prosecute. In a seven-page letter dated […]

Blight reprieve: Landmark owner agrees to city’s demands

With a fresh promise from the Landmark hotel owner that he’ll secure, clean, and structurally assess the hulking unfinished structure on the Downtown Mall, Charlottesville City Council voted on Tuesday, February 18 to defer a formal blight declaration. The new and apparently conciliatory approach of the unfinished hotel’s owner stands in contrast to what has […]

What you think of the Western Bypass—in your own words

The results of last November’s local and state elections were fuel on the ever-burning fire that is the debate over the Western Bypass. With a new anti-road majority on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors—which appoints crucial voting members to the purse string-holding Metropolitan Planning Organization—and the departure of a governor and transportation secretary who […]

Storm tracker: A weatherman’s view of Charlottesville’s encounter with a Nor’easter

It’s Wednesday morning, February 12, and all over Charlottesville—in fact, up and down much of the East Coast—residents are making storm preparations, snapping up groceries and rock salt by the ton. While the storm—dubbed “Pax” by the Weather Channel and “Snochi” by the Olympic-minded Twitterverse—is a Nor’easter created by converging air masses in a low […]

Anxiety high as Venable teacher faces child porn, solicitation charges

One week after federal agents raided the home of beloved Venable Elementary School teacher Corey Schock and arrested him on child pornography charges, a permanent substitute teacher has been hired for his fourth grade class as parents are struggling to understand the extent and nature of his alleged crimes. Schock, 43, who at press time […]

Education beat: SOL reform passes House and other school news

Our Education Beat coverage appears thanks to a partnership with Charlottesville Tomorrow. Students in Charlottesville-Albemarle are one step closer to taking fewer Standards of Learning exams during their academic careers. House Bill 930, which proposes a 23 percent reduction in the amount of state SOL tests students take between grades three through eight, passed the […]

What’s Happening at the Jefferson School City Center?

New to Yoga? Common Ground Instructor Barbara Germershausen Wants to Teach You Barbara Germershausen is the first to admit that she may not be the right yoga instructor for you. Even so, she wants to talk to you. “I love getting my hands on a student who has never done yoga. That to me is […]