Inmate breaks from work crew in city

A man with only four months left to serve made a dash for freedom Wednesday, July 19, when he jumped from an Albemarle County work crew truck at the corner of Avon Street and Elliott Avenue. Spokespeople for the County say this is the first escape incident since the 18-month-old program began, and it remains […]

Property owners, cops crack down

An Albemarle County Police Department program that allows landlords to evict problem tenants more easily is catching on. About seven apartment communities in the County have been certified as “Crime Free Multi-Housing” and police estimate another two dozen will seek certifications. Critics say it might make finding housing even more difficult for poorer or comparatively […]

Questions for Bob Moje

Bob Moje co-founded local educational-design powerhouse VMDO Architects in 1976, the year he graduated from UVA’s School of Architecture, and has gone on to design dozens of large-scale projects (including the award-winning Manassas Park High School).

Curry School gets $10 million for preschool center

What makes a good preschool teacher? That’s the $10 million question now in the hands of UVA’s Curry School of Education, thanks to a five-year grant for a national preschool education center. The grant—possibly the largest ever for the Curry School—comes from the Institute of Education Sciences, a division of the U.S. Department of Education.    […]

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…