Folk musician and noted union activist John McCutcheon just gave me a call from the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. He tells me that the US Airways flight attendants are picketing, and intend to go on strike in eleven days. The Association of Flight Attendants have been negotiating with Piedmont Airlines (a corporation wholly owned by US Airways, serving the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport) for 15 months in an attempt to even up their pay and work hours with US Airways flight attendants. The AFA has been warning that strikes are possible anytime after 12:01am on September 16th. Piedmont Airlines provides the bulk of the flights in and out of CHO, including the daily nonstop runs to Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Philadelphia and New York. A strike would likely severely cripple CHO’s ability to function. For more information, see the AFA’s recent press release.
cvillenews.com
In Bob Gibson’s Sunday “Political Notebook,” he expresses a rare partisan opinion in criticizing the Virginia Republicans’ anti-homosexual advertising campaign. “The Old Dominion,” writes Gibson, “allows its politicians to engage in gay bashing, gay baiting and the somewhat queer habit of kissing off the gay vote while conveniently cleaving the rest of the electorate.” This is the first major public reaction to the GOP’s anti-gay campaign, based around the “Virginia is not Vermont” slogan. If you can get ahold of Sunday’s Progress, be sure to check this out.
An Albemarle police officer is under investigation by Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman after charges that he beat a detainee. 21-year-old Corey Faison (who was arrested on a bizarre sexual assault charge) was taken to the hospital with three broken ribs after an attack that was apparently captured on videotape. The Daily Progress has the story in today’s paper, but you can read a brief version on WINA’s site.
57-year-old Betty Gowen has confessed to the murder of her 63-year-old husband in Shipman on the 17th. The two had a history of domestic disputes, and Sheriff Gary Brantley described the murder as “not unexpected.” The story is in today’s Progress.
$138,000 worth of marijuana was seized by the Fluvanna County Sherriff on Wednesday from seven locations around the county. Most of it was growing in the woods, and it will be unlikely that it will be determined who is responsible for it. However, two arrests may be made. The story is 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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