According to the Augusta Free Press, the Observer’s valley edition has folded. (Please excuse the pun.) The Observer launched the valley edition almost two years ago, but, after the leadership change, decided that it no longer made sense financially. The August Free Press, it is worth mentioning, is apparently brand-new, and exists only on-line. It’s run by former Observer staff members Chris Graham and Crystal Graham, and calls itself the independent news source for Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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As someone who spends time in both Charlottesville and Richmond, I’ve had the fortune to have access to three good free weekly papers in Cville, The Hook, and Richmond’s Punchline. Until yesterday, that is, when Punchline announced yesterday that they are suspending publication…
I never read the Valley Observer, basically ’cause I don’t live over there, but if the journalistic quality was anything like it’s parent publication in Charlottesville, then good riddance. Taking a quick look at their website today, they have two prominent stories on Republicans on the site’s "front page." So much for that community newspaper angle they were going for. I’m not saying it’s bad to be a Repub. (or maybe it is, but that’s another discussion), but it looks like they are emerging more fully out of the closet.