Bob Gibson on local TV reporting: “a few young television reporters…can create a false perception of a dangerous downtown crime wave by over-hyping a handful of robberies and gang-style beatings that occurred mostly a few blocks on the south side of downtown.” #
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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Archive for Sideblog »
I think NBC 29 needs to get a grip and stop scaring everyone to death!
It definitely causes one to notice those sporting the red bandana somewhere in their attire and the otherwise cliche’d gansta chic.
29 didn’t scare me to death. My friend getting sent to the hospital scared me. I won’t go to the south side of the mall after dark now, and I’ve been working downtown for 11 years. I think there is a problem that needs some attention.
“the city has a few young television reporters who can create a false perception… Charlottesville thankfully lacks a huge city crime rate.”
Might it be the youngsters are reporting reality from their downtown studios? Daily Progress is far from downtown. A good journalist doesn’t rely on what police officials say. Crime rate versus actual crime. I’m glad CBS-19 has its priorities. It’s no surprise the ossified Daily Progress and NBC-29 dislike competition. It’s hard work.
Amen Cvillenative! CBS 19 has really brought a breath of fresh air to this town. CBS 19 gives me the facts, while NBC 29 give me breathless cliches and misinformation!
I think Bob is mostly right. That said, my friend was violently assaulted on the Belmont Bridge on Friday, July 6, at about 10 p.m. in a random and unprovoked incident. Just a group of thugs who thought it would be fun to hit him as hard as they could in the face.
So there are some dangerous elements out there.
I’m skeptical of the view that these acts of violence are the results of kids not having enough to do. (I guess I just don’t see the link between boredom and punching a stranger in the face.) Do we have a gang problem in Charlottesville? If so, are the national gangs here recruiting, or is our gang problem home-grown? I wish the press, and public officials, would get a handle on this story.
Charlottesville has a gang problem, which city police have acknowledged. How it may be growing — and how it can be curbed — are issues that deserve attention and discussion. The consensus among police is that it’s a growing problem.
on a totally different topic….
both my wife (before I met her) and I saw THA DAVE perform on solo guitar and singing a couple times at Miller’s back ’round ’93 or ’94. good stuff.
[[[can’t figure out how to leave a comment on the DP site.]]]
f.w.i.w. n.m.
-M