Puff piece

If the smoking ban hasn’t discouraged you from buying a pack, maybe the grim health consequences will.  According to the National Cancer Institute, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of premature and preventable deaths in the United States.    And, contrary to common belief, smoking doesn’t only harm your lungs: The esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, […]

Biscuit Run tax credits soften loss

The addition of Biscuit Run to the state’s land conservation arsenal helped the Kaine Administration surpass its goal of preserving 400,000 acres in four years.    And at such a good price.   In late December, the Commonwealth bought Biscuit Run as a bargain sale for $9.8 million and tax credits. “It was worth dramatically […]

How to sue Halsey Minor

When ground broke on the Landmark Hotel nearly two years ago, developer Halsey Minor said it would be “like nothing people have ever seen.” Boy, oh boy, have truer words never been spoken. Since then, Minor’s been involved in a slew of nasty lawsuits, the most recent of which involved a refiled suit against former […]

Blanket action

Hey Ace: During the snowstorm, I cleaned my house and went through some old things. I have a couple of blankets I no longer use, and was wondering how I might go about getting them to somebody in need. Which organizations collect these, and to whom do they distribute?—Giving-it-away-in-Charlottesville It really is a shame that […]

With the Virginia state pharmacy closing, the area's neediest could be stripped of their prescription drugs

The state’s already-stretched safety net just got thinner. And, as usual, Virginia’s neediest people are the ones most likely to fall through. Two months after it terminated filling prescriptions, the Community Resource Pharmacy (CRP), formerly the Aftercare Pharmacy, has shut down, leaving thousands of indigent mentally ill Virginians without a source for discounted meds. The […]

Budget strains improvement projects

It may look like the budget office’s $40 million projection for capital improvements in 2011—about twice as much as most other years—means Charlottesville has cash to burn. But don’t loosen those belts just yet. Take away the roughly $18.5 million of state and federal funds from the proposed $20 million bypass for 250 Interchange, and […]

Search on for director to "serve humanity"

At a time when many people are looking for work, UVA is still looking to hire its first ever Executive Director for Technology Transfer and Ventures. The role represents UVA’s broader attempt to increase revenue from and recognition for its inventions and innovations. Thomas Skalak, UVA’s vice president for research, says that the role of […]