Charlottesville Breaking News
Breaking news: Eric Abshire arrested
Eric Abshire and Justine
Swartz Abshire on their wedding day in May 2006. She would be dead
less than six months later. PHOTO COURTESY SWARTZ
FAMILYEric Abshire will spend the holiday behind bars, according to Orange County Commonwealth's Attorney Diana Wheeler, who says that the fact Abshire was directly indicted by a grand jury coupled with the court's abbreviated holiday schedule means Abshire won't get his first day in Orange County circuit court until the new year, when he'll be asked if he's obtained representation or wishes to have an attorney appointed.
"The court usually hears criminal cases on Thursdays and Fridays," says Wheeler, but because of the holidays, January 6 was the "earliest possible hearing" for Abshire, who was ordered held without bond.
Abshire was arrested and charged with first degree murder and perjury late in the afternoon of Friday, December 17 as he drove south on Route 29 near the town of Culpep...
The winner: Kathy Erskine takes National Book Award
Kathy Erskine before the National Book Award seal
went on her book, Mockingbird.PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO
Charlottesville writer Kathryn Erskine now possesses one of the most prestigious literary awards in the country: the 2010 National Book Award in young people's literature for her book, Mockingbird.
Erskine was one of 20 finalists at the awards dinner at Cipriani Wall Street last night in New York. Also in the winners' circle was singer Patti Smith in nonfiction for her memoir, Just Kids, about her youth in New York in the '60s with her buddy, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe; Jaimy Gordon in fiction for...
Obama time: Prez gives Perriello re-election push
President Barack Obama appears
in shirtsleeves on a chilly October evening in Charlottesville to
rally support for Tom Perriello. –->SLIDESHOW
PHOTO BY LISA PROVENCEThey waited for hours. By 4pm–- an hour before the gates to the Pavilion opened–- the line of people waiting to see President Barack Obama stretched to the Omni on the other end of the Downtown Mall, soon to wrap around to Water Street.
More than two hours after the gates to the Pavilion opened, at 7:40pm, a roar went up from the crowd as Congressman Tom Perriello came on the stage to introduce the man he hoped would inspire voters to say "yes we can" in the hotly contested 5th District Congressional race.
"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by to make sure you go vote Tuesday for the best representative Charlottesville has ever had," said Obama to the enthusia...
Top secret: Did taxpayers get burned by Biscuit Run?
It seems like a simple question: How much will taxpayers pay to make Biscuit Run a Virginia park? Nearly a year after the
October 28 Hook cover
image.It seems like a simple question: How much will taxpayers pay to make Biscuit Run a Virginia park?
Nearly a year after the state's under-the-wire purchase of the 1,200-acre tract that had been slated to become Albemarle's biggest subdivision, the would-be developers and state officials appear to have successfully deflected inquiries about the value of tax credits that made the deal possible–- even as the Virginia state senator who penned the legislation establishing such tax credits now calls the secrecy "disturbing."
Meanwhile, tranquility-quashing plans remain to build 100 houses within the new park's perimeter.
...
Conflicting tales: The unfolding tragedy at the VQR
The Hook has new details on the VQR
tragedy.PHOTO ILLUSTRATION"911," the dispatcher says.
"Hi," says the male caller. "You need to send a police car and an ambulance to the dirt road that runs off Water Street."
"Okay, what's going on?"
"Ah, there's been a shooting," says the caller.
"Okay, how many people are shot?"
The caller hangs up. The dispatcher calls back, gets an answering machine.
"Hi, this is Kevin Morrissey. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can..."
–Transcript of Kevin Morrissey's July 30, 2010 911 phone call.
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Nearly three months after V...
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