The Observer, which has been published for 26 years, has called it quits, WINA reports. It was in November of 2002 that ’99-’02 publisher Jeff Peyton called it quits, with his ownership being sold to Ron Hassan shortly thereafter. In January of last year, the two-year-old valley edition was axed, with Observer employees forking off the web-based Augusta Free Press at that point. By all accounts, the paper has limped along since then, so the conservative weekly’s ending doesn’t come as a tremendous surprise. Update: See the comments for some corrections and clarifications from former Observer employees. Also, John Yellig has some details in today’s Progress.
cvillenews.com
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Yet Another Shopping Center (YASC) has been proposed: “Northtown Center,” between the Woodbrook and Carrsbrook developments on 29 North. The plan is for it to have the usual array of big box retail and fast food. The homeowners associations at Woodbrook and Carrsbrook are upset, though, because the development would get rid of the stream that puts the “brook” in “Woodbrook” and “Carrsbrook,” and the prospect of a 20-foot retaining wall isn’t particularly appealing to them, either. They’re not trying to fight the development, they emphasize, but see it as inevitable — they just want it to be less intrusive and less environmentally unsound. Julie Stavitski had the story in Friday’s Progress.
It seems that all three new TV stations — WCAV (CBS, 19), WVAW (ABC, 16) and WCVL (9) are on schedule for their launch dates, WCAV in six days, WVAW in September, and WCVL in November. WCAV and WVAW, both owned by Gray Communications, have set up offices at the Ix Building, running out of a trailer until their offices there have been built. WCVL have rented the old Charlottesville Broadcasting space in the Market Street parking garage, but are still seeking the funding to get set up. WCAV, the first to launch, won’t have any local news until they get some reporters in September. Elizabeth Nelson had the story in Friday’s Progress.
Nelson and southern Albemarle have been abuzz the past few days with word of an unusual item being seized before it could be auctioned off at a property sale: a WWII-era floor lamp with a shade made of human skin. Before it could be sold, a sharp-eyed investigator at the Nelson Sheriff’s office saw the auction notice in the newspaper and prevented the illegal sale of the lampshade, should it actually be made of human remains. Now its owner would like for the Holocaust Museum to test it, to see if it’s real. Odds are slim: it has long been rumored that the Nazis made lampshades out of human skin, but one has never turned up. Claudia Pinto has the story in today’s Progress.
The Jefferson Madison Regional Library board has rejected the Jefferson School Task Force’s recommendation that the library relocate to the Jefferson School. The library director cited a lack of space and structural problems, saying that perhaps it would be better suited for the library’s administrative offices or for a Mont-AVV expansion. Elizabeth Nelson has the story in today’s 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 #
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