Bad science

“I am a journalist, and the subject that I’m investigating is human prehistory,” Graham Hancock confidently asserts over stunning footage of ancient archaeological sites and a booming soundtrack. In “Ancient Apocalypse,” Hancock tells an alternative story of the dawn of human civilization. He claims that an advanced ice-age civilization existed, and after a flood of […]

The Year in Review

#1 Chef’s choice V.34, No. 1 – January 5–11 The first issue of the year was also our most popular, with a mouthwatering cover that featured Chimm Street’s basil stir-fry chicken. The story inside, however, was more than just a picture of scrumptious food—it included delicious descriptions of local chefs’ favorite dishes. Will Ham spoke […]

In brief

New police chief shares goals for CPD One day after appointing Warrenton Police Chief Michael Kochis as Charlottesville’s next chief, the city held a press conference so Kochis could share his priorities and goals for the department. Kochis, who has led the WPD since 2020, said he met former CPD chief RaShall Brackney for the […]

Is anyone listening?

The first 17 rings commemorated the victims of mass shootings that have occurred since Sandy Hook. The 18th commemorated the 611 other mass shootings that have taken place on U.S. soil. Approximately 30 people gathered on the Downtown Mall for the 10th annual vigil to remember those harmed by gun violence. The first vigil was […]

Plaintiff balks

The long-running lawsuit accusing an Albemarle police officer of racial profiling was back in federal court—this time for the defendant’s motion to enforce a September settlement agreement, to which seven of the eight plaintiffs mostly agreed.  The suit against Andrew Holmes, now a detective, was originally filed in February 2016. Plaintiffs Bianca Johnson and Delmar […]

Jail broke

Crumbling paint. Exposed pipes. Cracked floors. As I walk through the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, it is clear the 48-year-old facility is in horrible condition.  When ACRJ Superintendent Martin Kumer guides me to a cell block in the older section of the jail, built in 1974, my eyes are immediately drawn to the small silver toilets, […]

Battling racism

French soccer legend and activist Lilian Thuram joined students, faculty, and community members at the University of Virginia on December 2 for a live screening of two World Cup games. During the event, hosted by UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, Thuram discussed his experiences as a Black player on France’s national soccer team in the […]

In brief

Warrenton Police Department Chief Michael Kochis will be Charlottesville’s next police chief. During the December 5 City Council meeting, interim City Manager Michael Rogers announced that he had chosen Kochis after a months-long community engagement, recruitment, and selection process led by POLIHIRE. After receiving 19 applications, Rogers formed a screening committee, which narrowed down the […]

House hunt

In April, Khalesha Powell received an important notice: She needed to find a new place for her family to live before her building in the South First Street public housing site is demolished and redeveloped next year. Since then, Powell, a single mother of eight children, says she has applied to live at over a […]

Free play

I grew up playing video games on my mother’s lap. We had all four Microsoft Entertainment Pack collections on our Windows 95 Gateway PC, from Minesweeper to Chip’s Challenge. Tetris was a favorite—still is—as the satisfaction of clearing lines in a never-ending falling block puzzle seemed to have a grip on some primal part of […]