Crash into November 2

By Kristin O’Donoghue Virginia’s November 2 gubernatorial election is rapidly approaching, and the two campaigns are ramping up their efforts to energize voters. Last Sunday, Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe hosted a star-studded get-out-the-vote rally at the Ting Pavilion. Voting rights activist Stacey Abrams spoke alongside McAuliffe and DNC chair Jaime Harrison, while Dave Matthews played […]

Cville heads to the polls

Over half a million Virginians have already cast their ballots in the gubernatorial election. Early voting has been open since September 17, and will close Saturday, October 30.  In Charlottesville, as of October 24, nearly 3,600 residents have voted early. About 1,200 cast their ballots by mail, and more than 2,300 lined up at the […]

Sines v. Kessler, day one

Each day, we’ll have the latest news from the courtroom in the Sines v. Kessler Unite the Right trial. For coverage from previous days, check the list of links at the bottom of this page. With heightened security outside the courthouse, the courtroom closed to the public, and media restricted to a live feed of […]

In brief: Zoning talks, melting monuments

Map moves ahead   The process of rewriting Charlottesville’s Comprehensive plan—and, subsequently, reevaluating the zoning for the entire city—took a major step forward last week, when the Planning Commission unanimously recommended that City Council approve the most recent draft of the Future Land Use Map.  The Future Land Use Map shows which areas of the […]

Their day in court

Four years after white supremacists invaded Charlottesville for the Unite the Right rally, the biggest civil trial in federal court here starts October 25, and could last up to four weeks.  The case is Sines v. Kessler. Nonprofit Integrity First for America filed the complaint in October 2017 on behalf of victims of that violent […]

Staying vigilant

“Right now, Virginia is seen as a haven state,” says national abortion rights advocate Amy Hagstrom Miller. But all that could change with one Supreme Court decision, as Hagstrom Miller knows all too well: She’s lead plaintiff in the challenge to Texas’ Senate Bill 8, which is aimed at undermining the right to choose established […]

Get schooled

In addition to electing a new governor and several other local and state leaders, Charlottesville residents will vote for city school board members on November 2. Five candidates are competing for three spots: Strive for College CEO Christa Bennett, real estate agent Emily Dooley, Albemarle County youth entrepreneurship facilitator Dom Morse, school board chairwoman and […]

Boyles says bye

Earlier this year, Charlottesville City Manager Chip Boyles was brought in to stabilize a shaky local government, but after eight months on the job, he resigned last week.  Following a closed session with City Council, Boyles said he believes he shored up city leadership and boosted employee morale during his tenure, but that his process […]

In stone

As Charlottesville continues to grapple with its long history of slavery and white supremacy, the city’s Historic Resources Committee is putting descendants of enslaved people at the forefront of the conversation. Since last year, the committee has met with around three dozen descendants, seeking their thoughts on how to best memorialize the thousands of people […]

Answering the call

Last month, the Charlottesville Police Department says it responded to several shots-fired incidents, including at Boylan Heights and the Westhaven public housing complex. At least 250 shots-fired incidents have occurred this year, reports the department. To reduce gun violence in the city’s predominantly Black communities, The B.U.C.K.—Brothers United to Cease the Killing—Squad began intervening in […]