Tuesday, February 6
It snowed!
It was the second snow day this year for the kiddies in Charlottesville and Albemarle. About 2.5" of the stuff started falling around 7:30pm, followed the next morning by a mean wind chill that dipped the temperature to sub-zero levels. The result? Frazzled moms, crashing cars and overjoyed kids.
Wednesday, February 7
Is it all right to fight?
Kids’ genes play a bigger role than environment in whether they’ll misbehave, according to a recent UVA study. Reuters Health reports that although parents’ marital conflicts have long been linked to conduct problems in kids, the study suggests that parents’ genes, not their quarreling, are the real bad influence. “Marital conflict is influenced by parents’ own characteristics—including their genes—and these genes are passed on to children,” says Dr. K. Paige Harden in the psychology department. The study’s other psychologists warn that while genes do seem to determine which children are “born to be bad,” that doesn’t mean it’s good to fight in front of your kids.
Thursday, February 8
New nukes? PACE yourselves
Members of the Charlottesville-based People’s Alliance for Clean Energy (PACE) asked a three-judge panel with the Atomic Safety Licensing Board to deny applications for two new nuclear reactors at the North Anna Power Plant in Louisa County at a public hearing tonight. Dominion Virginia Power is seeking early site permits for the reactors from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. PACE representatives say the nuclear expansion plan at Lake Anna doesn’t include enough storage solutions for nuclear waste. “The NRC should have held hearings in Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, and Richmond, and in population centers in the York River watershed,” PACE spokesperson Vanthi Nguyen said. “If an accident were to occur radiation wouldn’t stop at the Louisa County line.” Louisa County officials say the reactors would bring tax revenue and jobs.
Friday, February 9
Our own slice o’ Texas
 Hovey S. Dabney lived away from Charlottesville for only two years while he served in WWII, according to media reports. He died Friday at age 83. |
Texas-based commercial real estate firm Behringer Harvard plans to acquire a 50 percent partnership in the supposedly very grand Grandmarc property on the Corner—and on an apartment complex that looks just like it, the Grandmarc at Westberry Place on the Texas Christian University campus in Fort Worth. Yahoo! Business announces the company will put $8.1 million into the Texas location, and will spend $6.1 million locally. Grandmarc on the Corner is near completion; with 649 beds and 232,000 square feet of rentable space, plus a pool, landscaped courtyards, media room, electronic study halls, fitness facility and lounge.
Way to go, Sabato
Larry Sabato, director of UVA’s Center for Politics, gets quoted in a lot of news outlets, and usually we ignore it. But the BBC? Even we are impressed. Sabato says Hillary Clinton fans shouldn’t be overconfident about a presidential nomination. She’s weak in places like Iowa and New Hampshire and the reason Hillary is a favorite in Democratic polls is “everyone knows who she is.” “This is nowhere near the slam-dunk it is made out to be,” Sabato says.
Saturday, February 10
Local lawyer on Anna Nicole
 John Whitehead of the Rutherford Institute writes about the death of Anna Nicole Smith in his Weekly Commentary this week. He was not a fan. |
Though we’re used to seeing the civil libertarian and prominent lawyer working on such things as the Paula Jones sexual harassment suit or securing constitutional rights, John W. Whitehead, founder of the Charlottesville-based Rutherford Institute, still finds time to ponder overblown celebrity stories. In his Weekly Commentary, Whitehead reflects on the death of Anna Nicole Smith, and the not-so-proud moment in media history it has sparked. Fox News termed the death a “tragedy” and “The Today Show” ranked the Smith story ahead of coverage of the Scooter Libby trial. Whitehead notes there were more important things going on this week (and every week) than the death of a former Playboy/Guess model.
Sunday, February 11
Hokies hand it to the ’Hoos
Last night’s anticipated matchup between ACC rivals Virginia Tech and UVA put an end to the Cavaliers’ seven-game winning streak and took Virginia out of first place in the conference. At Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, the crowd chanted “just like football” and “who’s your daddy?” to the Cavaliers during the final minutes of the “done deal” game. J.R. Reynolds scored 21 points and Sean Singletary scored 13, but the ’Hoos shooting record was below 33 percent overall. The Hokies’ perimeter defense and solid shooting kept the Cavaliers at more than a 16-point distance. Final score was 84-57, Virginia Tech.
Monday, February 12
Former UVA rector dies
A memorial service is planned today for Hovey S. Dabney, former rector of UVA’s Board of Visitors and a prominent Charlottesville banker, the Associated Press reports. He helped to organize the UVA Health Services Foundation and was instrumental in getting a 7,400-acre estate gift for UVA from billionaire John W. Kluge. He was a lifelong Charlottesville resident. He died of complications from rheumatoid arthritis.
