Jim writes: Best Buy opens today at the traffic-starved intersection of Route 29, Angus Road and the 250 interchange. The City is still combating VDOT on their placement of a new traffic light on 29 (three within 100 yards) and the throngs are poised to strike for deals on electronics, gadgets, etc. if you have an unbridled urge to witness chaos’ inception, walk on down to Best Buy around 5:30 this afternoon. 11/08 Update: In today’s Daily Progress, Elizabeth Nelson writes: “Lines of cars stretched from the brand-spanking-new, just-opened, Best Buy electronics store next to the U.S. 250 Bypass all the way up U.S. 29 to Seminole Square Shopping Center for much of Friday.”
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Monthly Archive for November, 2003
Page 3 of 3
The disappearing and reappearing Gordonsville police officer has been fired. Last Thursday, the Gordonsville Town Council voted to fire Officer Emerson Brown as a result of his not-wholly-explained three day absence. Brown, who joined the force less than a year ago, maintains that he was robbed of his service weapon by two people to whom he had given a ride, and from there his tale becomes somewhat more murky, involving a multi-day manhunt in Fredericksburg in an effort to retrieve his weapon. Olympia Meola has the story in today’s Progress.
A study of their enrollment by Piedmont Virginia Community College has shown that enrollment by blacks has fallen by 13.6% in the past year and that 43% of the student body is under the age of 22, which is apparently a greater percentage than previously. The reasons for these changes aren’t clear, although the weakened economy and the skyrocketing cost of college education has led many students to enroll in a community college for two years before transferring to a four-year institution, which may explain the age shift. Kate Andrews has the story in today’s Progress.
Yesterday’s elections saw a mixed bag of results, with Republicans perhaps benefiting the most. The uncontested 57th House and 25th Senate races left both Democrats untouched, and the also-uncontested 58th and 25th House race left Republicans Steve Landes and Rob Bell in place. (Half of all Virginia House races were uncontested, largely because of the recent redistricting.) In the 59th, incumbent Republican Watkins Abbitt fended off Democrat Allen Hale for a sound victory, while in the 24th Senate district, incumbent Republican Emmett Hanger had a very strong victory over Democrat Steve Sisson. Albemarle had a number of interesting elections. A pair of Republicans defeated Democratic challengers for two open Board of Supervisors seats: in White Hall, David Wyant defeated Eric Strucko on what seemed be opposition to urbanization of Albemarle, while in Rivanna, Ken Boyd defeated Peter Hallock on the promise of reducing the 2.2% unemployment rate to help increase county revenue. In Scottsville, conservative Democrat Lindsay Dorrier retained his seat after being challenged by a write-in candidate. On the school board, Brian Wheeler barely won the at-large seat, Sue Friedman the Rivanna seat, and Barbara Massie the White Hall seat, with Scottsville incumbent Steve Koleszar having just managed to retain his seat. Finally, beleaguered sheriff Ed Robb retained his seat with a minority of the votes, while unchallenged commonwealth’s attorney Jim Camblos. Albemarle turnout was at 32%, while Charlottesville’s two uncontested races resulted in just 12% turnout. The Progress has a series of stories and the full statistics in today’s issue, with the Board of Supervisors, school board, and sheriff’s articles available on their website. For the raw Albemarle results, see the State Board of Elections’ website.
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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