News+

Through sensitive selection of signage, appurtenances and plantings, this Charlottesville Area Transit bus stop fits comfortably in a rural central Virginia neighborhood.~Commentator Bill Emory puts up a new photo nearly every day at billemory.com/blog. read full story

Of the 14,000 athletes competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, the 11 young men and women with ties to the University of Virginia – including a pair of gold medal winners– constitute one of the more successful "nations." "The university community is proud of the efforts of our student athletes that are competing on the biggest stage of all," Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage says in email. read full story

Since spring, the brick exterior at the Albemarle County Office Building has been shrouded and getting repairs due to bowing of some walls. While some in the the County allege that the structure, built in 1939 as Lane High School, was damaged by last year's earthquake, the Newsplex reports that the insurer may not be so sure. read full story

Corner of Cedar Hills and Hydraulic Road. The trees in this part of town are disappearing, soon to be replanted along the grand boulevards of Stonefield. I suppose the trees in the Route 29 median are gone for good. read full story

About a dozen and a half citizens showed up at Congressman Robert Hurt's Charlottesville office August 3 to deliver a letter objecting to his votes they say are against Medicare and Medicaid. “We are hurt that Representative Hurt votes to cut Medicaid and Medicare,” said Nia Bentall, a University of Virginia student. “These programs are lifesavers. People who struggle with mental illness, foster care children, and our seniors are all directly affected by these programs– they are like the life jackets that we are wearing."  read full story

It's not the first time moving trucks have pulled away from the home of architecture professor and former Charlottesville Mayor Maurice Cox on Ridge Street. But this time, there's no planned return for the man perhaps best known for his support of high density urban development and alternative transportation– including his own early example of bicycle-commuting long before Charlottesville had bike lanes. read full story

Albemarle holds its rural character dear, but anyone thinking about unleashing a bounding hound or letting Rover live up to his name may want to rethink the wisdom of such now-illegal actions. In June, the county started issuing criminal charges to the owners of dogs running loose off their property. read full story

An Atlanta-based company has launched a quest to erect the biggest student apartment complex Charlottesville has ever seen, and it's happening near Barracks Road where Peak Campus has spent over $10 million before construction even began. “They tore down a perfectly good office building," says real estate agent Roger Voisinet. "It shows you how dear well-located land is.” The Pavilion at North Grounds Location: Arlington Blvd and Millmont Street, behind Barracks Road Shopping Center read full story

A conductor stands ready for any last-minute passengers as Amtrak's Lynchburg-based Northeast Regional prepares for an on-time 8:52am Tuesday departure from Union Station in Charlottesville. The train arrived in Boston at 8:04pm, four minutes late. read full story

Google bills itself as the company that makes knowing a little bit more about nearly everything and anything just a touch (of a mouse) easier, but few citizens get the chance to witness the cogs of the omniscient Google machine whirring into action. However, the $38 billion company recently deployed a tentacle into Charlottesville– a Street View car. read full story

When his daughter was a little girl, Eric Lund says she'd sit and watch Yankees games with him on TV, asking questions about all the game's nuances. Later, when most girls adorned their walls with posters of teen idols, Lund's daughter put up Fatheads of Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira. "Unlike other girls," says Lund, "she always wanted her birthday parties at Cavalier Cards."Then there was the first time he saw her throw a baseball. read full story

According to the yellow sticker pasted to the driver's window of this Mercedes sport utility vehicle parked Related: Aug 2010: Boot'vil: UVA clamps down on scofflaw parkers read full story

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will make their third appearance at John Paul Jones Arena this fall. It happens on October 23rd as part of the ongoing globe-spanning tour in support of Springsteen's seventeenth album Wrecking Ball, released in March. read full story

Albemarle and other officials gathered on a recent Thursday afternoon to inform citizens of new strategies– including more chainsaw training and "no-tech" info spots– to prevent reaching another disaster like the one faced in the aftermath of the June 29 derecho. read full story

Charlottesville's latest water controversy ended in unusual unanimity July 25 when the Board of Supervisors and City Council, plus the two water boards, rejected the use of chloramines in the community water supply after around 50 citizens implored elected officials to just say no to the controversial chemical. Related stories Questioning authority: RWSA chloramine plan stirs water fears read full story

July 27 at 11:30am at the Albemarle Courthouse Property: 6862 Albevanna Spring Road, Scottsville Debtor: Roger L. Hall life tenant, Diane B. Hall remainderman Original amount owing: $198,000 Bidder brings: 10 percent sale price Info: Commonwealth Asset Services 757-965-5097 read full story

"I swear, we didn't kill his goddamn goose!" "Don't you ever talk to me that way. Put your father on the phone." Neither of us cared to talk with her, but I handed him the receiver. With his eyes trained on me he did most of the listening. This story... ...won second-place in the 2012 Hook Short Story Contest as judged by best-selling author John Grisham. read full story

The taller-than-10-feet truck wedged under the 14th Street bridge is a perennial mishap. This one occurred shortly before 9am July 18. read full story

The Dark Knight Rises leaves the fanciful early days of the superhero genre far behind and moves into a doom-shrouded, apocalyptic future that seems uncomfortably close to today's headlines. As urban terrorism and class warfare envelop Gotham, and its infrastructure is ripped apart, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) emerges reluctantly from years of seclusion in Wayne Manor and faces a soulless villain as powerful as he is. The film begins slowly with a murky plot and too many new characters, but builds to a sensational climax. read full story