Govt/Politics


Cracked, sure. But is Louisa County H.S. really kaput? Published on Sep 6th, 2011 34 comments New photos posted by the publicity director for the Louisa County public school system show cracks in concrete block walls (as well as lots of stuff strewn about). But do the images really depict a...
Not political? Boyd names bypass terminus committee Published on Sep 1st, 2011 31 comments Sometimes it seems there's nothing local governments love better than to set up citizen task forces. That's why it was so out of the ordinary to hear a rash of criticism when Rivanna District Supe...
Milestone managing Jefferson School rehab Published on Sep 1st, 2011 0 comments The article in last week's paper on the Jefferson School (Finally: Jefferson School Ready for Renovation, August 25, issue 1034) misspelled and incorrectly identified the role of Milestone Partners....
Right to bare? TSA screeners face lawsuit Published on Aug 30th, 2011 12 comments Aaron Tobey, the 21-year-old Charlottesville native who made headlines last December when he was arrested after stripping down to his shorts at the Richmond International Airport while going through...
Tritium trouble? Nuke fears rise with quake, self-policing Published on Aug 30th, 2011 21 comments After the nuclear catastrophe that followed the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last spring, some Central Virginia activists cautioned that a similar nightmare could unfold right here at the Dominion...
Mixed message: Why Huja, Galvin, Smith won Dem primary Published on Aug 23rd, 2011 104 comments The nomination of Democratic candidates Satyendra Huja, Kathy Galvin, and Dede Smith in a bitterly divided City Council primary offered a couple of firsts: no African-American earned a Democratic...
Corridor cleaning: Strings attached to 29 Bypass money Published on Aug 23rd, 2011 7 comments When Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton told the Metropolitan Planning Organization July 27 which Charlottesville and Albemarle projects he'd recommend funding in addition to the Western U....
Rodney's role: 'I am not a wheeler dealer' Published on Aug 19th, 2011 16 comments Rodney Thomas is mad. It's one day after a prominent blogger has accused the Albemarle supervisor of agreeing to "grease the skids" for the construction of the Western U.S. 29 bypass by limiting...
Huja: A sidewalk on every street Published on Aug 17th, 2011 34 comments Standing in front of the Transit Center with supporters, City Councilor Satyendra Huja details his vision of improved transportation, which includies completion of the Meadowcreek Parkway, one of the...
Kristin's picks: Szakos endorses Galvin, Huja Published on Aug 15th, 2011 92 comments Five days before the Dems pick three candidates for City Council, Kristin Szakos has named her choices to join her on the dais at City Hall: fellow Councilor Satyendra Huja and School Board member...
Anti-Mormon? Sherlock Holmes yanked from reading list Published on Aug 12th, 2011 34 comments After a parent complained that it gave a negative portrayal of her Mormon religion, the Albemarle County School Board voted unanimously in agreement with a committee's recommendation to remove A...
Comprender? Complaint brings Huja confidence vote Published on Aug 8th, 2011 129 comments It was business as usual during public comment at the July 18 City Council meeting, until one citizen veered from typical issues, such as the Meadowcreek Parkway and the water plan, to raise a new...
Finally: Jefferson School ready for renovation Published on Aug 1st, 2011 20 comments The long-delayed renovation of the historic Jefferson School could begin as early as this week. A private group that purchased the property from the city for $100,000 signed papers August 1 for a $...
'Bunker mentality': Galvin decries tone in issues debate Published on Aug 1st, 2011 50 comments Two former mayors joined City Council candidate Kathy Galvin at a press conference where she expressed concerns about the "tone of our local political debate" as the Democratic firehouse primary...
FLAWS- Tripled rates, spun numbers, and Conservancy conflicts: Why the war on dredging slogs on Published on Jul 28th, 2011 138 comments Just when you thought it was safe to save the reservoir, the war against dredging it has reached flood stage. Waterworks director Tom Frederick– perhaps rattled by a yank of his permit to build...
Hacked Neff: Scammer steals Supe candidate's accounts Published on Jul 26th, 2011 33 comments Former IBM exec Cynthia Neff has used computers since the 1980s and understands the importance of secure passwords. That's why it was particularly galling to discover a hacker had taken over her...
Hot contests: Democrats clash in dog days of summer Published on Jul 21st, 2011 63 comments Across Virginia, voters go to the polls in November to elect state and local legislators, but in Charlottesville, the election will pretty much be sewn up in August. In this overwhelmingly Democratic...
$230 million: State board accelerates Western Bypass with cash Published on Jul 20th, 2011 52 comments Christmas has come early for Lynchburg and Danville. Putting the taxpayer money where the Secretary of Transportation's mouth is, the all-powerful Commonwealth Transportation Board has voted to...
Shenandoah secrets: Pork, propaganda, and the creation of a COOL national park Published on Jul 14th, 2011 20 comments A lot can change in three quarters of a century. Walk along the Hughes River in Madison County in a place called Nicholson Hollow, and there's little trace that this was once a thriving village. Now...
Controversy veers: Belmont Bridge fence could pose bike hazard Published on Jul 13th, 2011 30 comments Controversy has erupted again on the Belmont Bridge, and this time it's bicyclists who might be getting the short end of the sidewalk, as a new fence– designed as a safety boon– could be...