Author Archive for Waldo Jaquith

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T-Shirt Lawsuit Ends

The Fourth Circuit Court has refused to hear an appeal from the Albemarle County Schools Board in the suit brought against them in late 2002 by the family of a Jack Jouett student, WINA reports. Twelve-year-old Alan Newsome was not permitted to wear his NRA t-shirt to school, despite there being no rule to the contrary. (Notably, the logo of Albemarle High School is a man carrying a gun, and the logo of UVa is two crossed swords.) With the support of the NRA, Newsome sued for the right to wear the shirt, and won last month. With the denial of the school board’s appeal, that ends the case in Newsome’s favor.

Richmond Reps Debate Taxes

At a League of Women Voters forum yesterday, Del. Mitch Van Yahres (D), Del. Rob Bell (R), Del. Steve Landes (R), Del. Watkins Abbitt (R/I) and Sen. Criegh Deeds (D) debated the upcoming General Assembly session, during which the biannual budget must be established. The Democrats came out in favor of tax increases along the lines of Governor Warner’s proposals, but the Republicans were unwilling even to commit to tax increases for the purpose of maintaining basic services. The event was a preview of the 60-day session that begins on the 14th, although with considerably more decorum. Bob Gibson has the story that begin shortly.

Council to get AG Opinion on Parkway

City Council voted 3-2 last night (Mayor Cox and Councilor Lynch in the minority) to seek the opinion of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore in the debate over the Meadowcreek Parkway. The majority on Council is seeking to dodge a constitutional restriction on the supermajority required to sell parkland by simply giving the land to the state for the next few decades. The minority believes that this is a questionably-legal dodge of the state constitution, and they enjoy the backing of the primary author of the state constitution, Dick Howard. Liz Nelson has the story in today’s Progress.

2003 in Review

2004 has been a busy year — lots of rainfall, a tornado, two earthquakes, a hurricane, the Daisy Lundy attack, and lots of small and interesting things along the way. The Daily Progress has a review of the past year in today’s issue.

ACAC to Move, Expand Downtown Location

Local fitness club ACAC intends to relocate and expand their downtown location, which a project that they’ve had in the works for a couple of years. Currently located in rather cramped quarters in the Water Street parking garage, owner Phil Wendel is negotiating a deal with Coran Capshaw, who owns the old Ivy Industries building on Garrett Street. The existing location is just 10,000 square feet (considerably smaller than their 64,000 square foot state-of-the-art Rio Hill location), but their new location will be 35,000 square feet, featuring a pool, racquetball courts, an indoor track and space for some tenants. There had been talk of ACAC moving up to Pantops, apparently in hopes of being more accessible to commuters coming in from 64, but obviously ACAC thought better of that. The new location, if all goes according to plan, will open in early 2005. Elizabeth Nelson has the story in today’s Progress.

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