The first annual cvillenews.com award for awesomeness in journalism: Rob Seal turning a prank phone call into an interview. A 17-year-old from Waynesboro, Jake, was prank-calling people at 1 AM when they got Rob’s phone. Rob doesn’t just turn it into an interview, but makes that the hook for an interesting Progress article about the state of prank-calling telephony and anti-prank-calling telephony. Well played.
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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I guess this is what editors mean when they say “a reporter is never off the clock.”
ahh the memories… my group’s favorite phone prank was to call dominos pizza on one line, then call a different location on a second line, and then connect the two. “hello this is dominos” “yes, this is dominos” “no, this is dominos” etc.
it was pretty great entertainment in the era before the internet. vintage ’87
I used to call people claiming to be with the phone company and ask them if their phone was working. I got into major trouble when one of my victims *69’ed my phone and talked with my Mom.
The irony of my username has just hit me.