 The Bank of America branch on University Avenue turned into a crime scene after it was robbed last Tuesday afternoon. Just minutes after the incident, police picked up the man they believe did the deed: Boston, Massachusetts, native Robert Morrison, who is currently being held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. |
Tuesday 4/1
Football player allegedly swipes plastic
April Fool’s Day brought a press release from the UVA Police that we can only imagine the brass in the athletics office dearly wished were a joke. J’Courtney Williams, noted redshirt freshman linebacker for Virginia, was charged with credit card theft and credit card fraud. The charges are in connection with a March 10 larceny incident at the Aquatics and Fitness Center. (Williams had also been arrested for pot possession on February 15, and according to The Roanoke Times, placed on probation February 25.) UVA Head Coach Al Groh announced the next day, April 2, that he was kicking Williams off the team—a swift fall for a player who was a top prospect in UVA’s 2007 signing class.
Wednesday 4/2
DMB and others praised for going green
At last, a possible explanation for why our city attracts members of the Grateful Dead and Phish: The Charlottesville Pavilion, Coran Capshaw and Dave “Savin’” Matthews Band received high praise in The Virginian-Pilot for their efforts in an increasingly eco-friendly music world. DMB, dubbed “one of the greenest acts working today,” gets props for tracking its carbon dioxide emissions and eating local and organic while on the road, and Pavilion manager Kirby Hutto says that Capshaw’s house of music would rather raise drink prices than use wasteful cups.
Thursday 4/3
Festive atmosphere at county budget hearing
More than 200 people crowded the Albemarle County Office Building Wednesday evening to let Supervisors know their taxation preferences. The Albemarle Truth in Taxation Alliance (ATTA), led by former county GOP chairman Keith Drake, bore neon orange signs proclaiming “68¢,” while a contingent of Albemarle County Public School supporters wore stickers to show their support for fully funding schools. The county is considering a new tax rate of up to 71 cents and will make a decision on April 9.
Friday 4/4
Money for 250 Interchange falls short
The Daily Progress reports today that, while a committee of city residents and officials has chosen a design for the future interchange at the 250 Bypass and McIntire Road, there’s one wee problem: The city has $29.6 million gathered for the project, but the cost of the design is estimated at $35 million. “It is certainly a challenge,” Owen Peer, a consultant on the project, told the Progress. He also added that refinements to the design could cause the projected cost to go down. Or up. City Council is expected to vote on the design in April. Anyone got $5.4 mil they can spare?
Saturday 4/5
Former ambassador dies at UVA hospital
An obituary for David Newsom—a 90-year-old former U.S. ambassador and veteran of the State Department during the Iranian Hostage Crisis—ran in the New York Times, noting Newsom’s death at the UVA Medical Center. Newsom was a critic of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration and its wide support of the admission of Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi to the U.S. for medical treatment in 1979; the Shah’s admission preceded the start of the Iranian Hostage Crisis by roughly three weeks. Newsom capped his political career as the first recipient of the Hugh S. and Winifred B. Cumming Memorial Chair in International Affairs at UVA, which he held from 1991 to 1996.
Sunday 4/6
Gibson’s final DP column
Bob Gibson’s last effort for The Daily Progress, ironically titled “This isn’t a goodbye column,” appeared today. After 31 years with the paper, Gibson will be executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at UVA as of April 21. The content of the column ranges from the expected and cozy (read: boring): “The past 31 years have been wonderful here at this newspaper. It’s hard to leave the people you love,” to the clever and insightful (read: typical Gibson): “This state produces former governors faster than any other, which tends to create a traffic jam of would-be senators.” So, goodbye, Bob. Or is that hello?
Monday 4/7
Clinton boots Penn; Sabato reacts
Local talking head Larry Sabato weighed in today on NPR’s Morning Edition regarding the departure of senior strategist Mark Penn from Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. According to the AP, Penn was forced out on Sunday after meeting with Colombian officials to advance a trade deal, which Clinton opposes. He had also been known to come into conflict with other high-ranking members of the campaign. Sabato told NPR that Penn was lucky to have lasted as long as he did and that Maggie Williams, campaign manager, likely had a hand in his ouster.
