Man arrested on Albemarle child porn charges “never in trouble”

The man arrested on child pornography charges relating to the October 18 disappearance of a Dunlora teen, who was found safe less than 12 hours after she vanished, was denied bond in Albemarle Charlottesville Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Monday, October 28. Jonathan Lee Messer was arrested on October 23—his 24th birthday—in an incident […]

Former Albemarle staff sue county to get their jobs back

Imagine your boss approaches you one day, takes you aside, thanks you for your many years of dedicated service to the company, and then offers you a chance to retire early with increased retirement pay. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Now imagine that you accept the offer, taking early retirement in reliance on the […]

Trump Winery neighbors remain unconvinced that a golf course is a good idea

The battle over a protected plot of county land continues. Last week, international business mogul Donald Trump’s 29-year-old son Eric visited Charlottesville to address a roomful of curious and concerned county residents. Against the backdrop of the Trump Winery tasting room, the younger Trump was all smiles as he fielded two hours worth of questions […]

State of unrest: Hitting the home stretch in Virginia’s looniest election ever

When Terry McAuliffe first announced his intention to run for governor of Virginia way back in November 2009, the likelihood of victory seemed slim. Known (if he was known at all) as a high-energy, slightly unhinged spokesperson for Hillary Clinton’s losing presidential campaign, McAuliffe came off as both a carpetbagger and a political neophyte—a reputation […]

Close to home: Following Charlottesville and Albemarle’s elections

This year’s local elections for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council carry the potential for big shakeups. The county: The new majority Eight candidates, four empty seats, two incumbents, savvy newcomers, and one vocal leader bowing out. One thing’s for certain in this year’s Albemarle County Board of Supervisors race: […]

Council hears first reading of ordinance to protect city trees

They’re the city’s oldest citizens. Within their thick bark and internal rings that map the years, the city’s heritage trees carry a record of history. Now a city board is leading the charge to have special trees in the community protected forever to allow future generations to enjoy them as well. Bitsy Waters, president of […]