State funding problems affect local roads

Indecision in the Virginia General Assembly over statewide transportation funding has led to public worry (and fury) from high-volume traffic areas like Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. Though Charlottesville may […]

Condo sales doing just fine, thanks

Here’s one consequence of a pricey real estate market: Smaller dwellings will always be in demand. Locally, that means that even though the real estate market is officially in the cooler, condo sales continue to simmer along, nice and warm. As C-VILLE reported last week, third-quarter numbers from the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR) show a 20 percent drop in the number of overall sales compared to the same quarter last year. Still, anecdotal evidence shows that condos are still a fairly hot commodity.

Gaps found in DNA Databank

Charlottesville Police Captain J. E. “Chip” Harding thinks he’s found a glitch in a statewide database that keeps track of convicted felons’ DNA. The missing data could be the link police seek to find the serial rapist, who’s suspected of seven area rapes since 1997. But, police looking to fill in the gaps retroactively could run into some legal roadblocks, which tough-on-crime Virginia Delegate Rob Bell has pledged to help with.

Bad Travel Agent sentenced

A travel agent who put one over on customers wanting to tour the Land Down Under was sentenced October 17 to three years and six months in prison, three years probation, and a restitution payment for making unauthorized credit card transactions.

10 years for a trash can

For $20 in damage to a trash receptacle, Curtis J. Hill received a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years for two counts of “attempting to destroy by fire.” Hill’s sentence […]

Legal Aid fights loan scammers

Credit card debt and predatory lending don’t exactly sound like material for a riveting night at the movies. But on October 25, Legal Aid will host a film screening of […]