Rick Turner opts for retirement

On July 26, M. Rick Turner announced his retirement from his position as Dean of African-American Affairs, 12 days after he admitted lying to federal investigators about “the activities of a known drug dealer.”    UVA immediately placed Turner, 65, on paid leave and launched an internal investigation after learning of a pretrial diversion agreement with […]

BOV approves new cancer care center

On Thursday, July 27, the UVA Board of Visitors Buildings and Grounds Committee approved the design for a $59 million, eco-friendly cancer care center to be built at the heart of the medical center complex. With tons of glass providing natural light and even an herb garden, the center reflects national trends in sustainability and […]

Weed campaign reports narrowing gap

Just a few months away from a November vote, representatives for Democratic Congressional candidate Al Weed are feeling pretty good. A recent Zogby poll paid for by the Weed campaign showed that incumbent Virgil Goode’s previously large margin over Weed has shrunk to only 14 percent.

Local farmers association protests national animal ID program

The Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (VICFA), a statewide organization with leaders locally, has formed a national grassroots organization to lobby against the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), the group announced last week.    NAIS seeks to keep track of all livestock through microchip technology. Federal officials say the system will allow them to chase […]

11 vacancies on City Boards and Commissions

Citizens feeling duty’s urge to public service have ample opportunity, as there are 11 vacancies on Charlottesville boards and commissions. And with only 10 applications to fill those spots, local government could use some more competition. Of particular note: Three of seven slots on the influential City Planning Commission are up for grabs. With applications […]

The $5 tomato

It’s a sunny summer day and, at 2 in the afternoon, a shopper browses through Feast, one of the chicest, most expensive groceries in Charlottesville. She may be wearing clogs, sandals or a pair of those colorful Crocs—gardening shoes that sell for $30 a pair. Her practical, well-crafted shoes squeak slightly on Feast’s polished hard pine floors as she moves through the lush carousels, an Italian leather tote hanging off her shoulder…

No girls allowed?

Dear Lylith: In the interest of fairness, Ace feels compelled to point out that there’s actually a number of female performers at the Pavilion this year. Three, to be exact.

News from lake glow-be-gone

Dear A. Tom: Ace positively radiates with joy when he can answer readers’ questions, and yours is no exception. And so, to really melt down to the core of your query, Ace snapped on his triple-ply gore-tex gloves and dug into a heaping, radioactive pile of the truth.

Dean of African-American affairs placed on leave

UVA’s Dean of African-American Affairs M. Rick Turner was placed on administrative leave on Friday, July 14, after signing an agreement with federal prosecutors to avoid prosecution. According to the feds, Turner lied about his knowledge concerning the activities of a drug dealer in a July 2005 investigation.