Trouble at The Prism

It seems that all is not well at The Prism Coffeehouse. Courteney Stewart’s cover story in this week’s Hook reports on a schism that has developed in the board over the board elections, which has been exacerbated by the frustrations of Fred Boyce, who has long run the Charlottesville musical institution. There is even concern that The Prism may become homeless, should they fall out of the good graces of the church next door, who provides the use of the building. Is this just a bump in a long road, or worse?

Capshaw Buys Old SNL Building

Dave Matthews Band manager Coran Capshaw has purchased the huge 42,000 square foot building on the Downtown Mall that, until recently, was owned and occupied by SNL Financial. The fate of the old Miller & Rhoads building has been up in the air for some months, but prime real estate like that couldn’t stay empty for long. Reportedly, Capshaw is looking to turn the five story, $2.9M building into a mixture of offices and retail, better utilizing the Mallfront space as well as the side on 4th Street. Hawes Spencer has the story in the latest Hook.

New Book: C’ville is the #1 Place to Live

daniellevi writes: According to a new book out today, Charlottesville is the #1 place in the U.S. to live. See the article from USA Today.

Just behind us are Santa Fe, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Honolulu. Ashville, a town often compared to Charlottesville, ranks #8.

Ex-Deputy Shifflett’s Files to be Opened

We all remember Deputy Shiflett: he claimed to have been shot by a black man, had a couple of guys taken into custody, his story didn’t add up, he resigned, Sheriff Ed Robb put his foot in his mouth, Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Camblos refused to charge Shiflett, the Progress went after Camblos’ inconsistencies, Camblos didn’t do jack to investigate the case, and the two black guys filed suit for false arrest. (Phew.) Now, Judge Paul Peatross has ordered that the files pertaining to the investigation into Shiflett be opened up, not for public scrutiny, but for the attorneys on either side of the lawsuits. Investigators are now saying that they have two theories: either Shiflett shot himself (or made it look like he’d shot himself), or somebody else shot him and Shiflett is covering it up. Liesel Nowack has the story in today’s Progress.

Police Continue Serial Rapist DNA Hunt

For months now, the Charlottesville Police have been pushing black men in Charlottesville to submit to DNA tests, ostensibly to eliminate potential suspects in the serial repist case. Suspects are told that they are protecting themselves by submitting to the test, because it rules them out. 550 have done so thus far. UVa Dean of African-American Affairs Rick Turner has grown unhappy with these DNA tests, and is calling for a meeting to talk this through. Last August, UVa student Steven Turner wrote about his subjection to this test in The Hook. Corinne Shamy has the story in today’s Cavalier Daily.

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