Crimefighting for dummies

Anyone who’s watched A&E’s “Dog the Bounty Hunter” has felt the itch. No, not to grow Dog’s crested cockatiel-esque mullet—to take the law into one’s own hands, to hit the pavement with a bandolier of pepper-spray cans and a chip on the shoulder. We’re all familiar with the idea of a citizen’s arrest, if only […]

Two construction projects advance

Two major UVA projects were up for review in the City and County earlier this month. A parking garage set for W. Main Street got the nod from City Council, and the County Planning Commission approved additional square footage for Fontaine Research Park. A special-use permit was approved by City Council for a parking garage […]

Dean of Arts & Sciences resigns

Dean of UVA’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Edward L. Ayers will step down from his position at UVA to take a job as the ninth president of the private University of Richmond this summer. Ayers is also currently the Hugh P. Kelley Professor in the UVA history department. An eminent “New […]

Virginia passes marriage amendment

It’s hard to say that either the House race or the Senate race was a surprise. Last minute polls had Virgil Goode far ahead of Al Weed and Jim Webb slightly ahead of George Allen. But the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and any civil union was passed by a far greater margin, 57 to […]

Goode returns for a sixth term

Twenty-eight Democrats wrested Congressional seats from Republicans in last week’s elections, but Nelson County farmer Al Weed was not one of them. Maybe the other guys had better cell phone reception. Though Weed lost in his second bid to replace Republican incumbent Virgil Goode as representative for the Fifth District, which includes Charlottesville, he posted […]

Virginia turnout sets midterm record

Despite glum weather and crowded polling stations, local voter turnout was significantly stronger than in the midterm election of 2002. Albemarle saw 59 percent voter turnout, up 14 percent, while Charlottesville had a respectable 50 percent turnout, up 11 percent.Nationwide, voter turnout for a midterm election hit its highest mark since 1982, with 40.4 percent […]

Gag Reflex

Nothing says, “Happy anniversary, sweetheart” like rubber dog turds. I had a rough night. I had a dream that I drank the world’s biggestmargarita, and I woke up—there was salt around the toilet bowl.That’s not good right there. Thank goodness I didn’t eat the worm at the bottom, I’ll tell you that right now. I […]

Book covers wrongful imprisonment

Margaret Edds, a journalist for The Virginian-Pilot, was drawn to the Earl Washington Jr. story when she began writing editorials against the death penalty. Washington, a mildly retarded man, was sent to death row for the 1982 rape and murder of a Culpeper woman.

Getting physical

Dear Ace: What’s the deal with the new ACAC Downtown? When will it finally open?—Ivana Wehrkaut

Dear Ivana: Good question! The ACAC’s new Downtown workout spot has been a subject of much discussion in the ever-exciting world of local development, and Ace is all too happy to fill you in on the deal.

Dear Geraldine Ferraro

Last month, awaiting your appearance in Newcomb Hall Ballroom, I remembered another auditorium in San Francisco two decades ago. You were the Democratic candidate for vice president, the first woman to run on a major party’s national ticket. In 1984, I had finished my first year at the law school at the University of Virginia—my […]