A mistrial had to be declared in the racketeering and narcotics ring case today, after Judge Norman K. Moon discovered that three jurors were aware of the contents of yesterday’s Daily Progress article, “Man says RICO witnesses lying.” The jury was just about to begin deliberation. While the prosecutors wanted only the tainted jurors dismissed, the defense wanted the entire jury replaced; the defense won out, and the next trial will be held down in Lynchburg, where Judge Moon thinks the jury can be more isolated. Liesel Nowak has the story on the Progress website.
cvillenews.com
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Thirty-four year old Billy Wagner owns a pair of farms just outside of town, on which he raises a few dozen alpacas. Wagner’s had to pick up a second job, though: pitcher. The Mets signed him yesterday in a four-year, $43M deal, the Asbury Park Press reports. The Virginia native was with the Phillies, but the hotshot pitcher became interesting to a number of teams recently, with the Mets winning the bidding war. I don’t have any love for the Mets, but if the enemy of my enemy is my friend, they’re cool by me.
WINA reports that the instrument landing system at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is broken, so landing isn’t happening. Presumably, visual approaches can happen, but with the nasty, foggy weather we’re having, that probably means no landings. The FAA-owned system is under repair. There’s no ETA on the fix but, until then, the airport is closed for landings.
11/30 Update: Bryan McKenzie has the story in today’s Daily Progress.
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 #
-
Archive for Sideblog »
Recent Comments