The murder case against Charlottesville’s Michael Spicer is proceeding down in Tortola, becoming more incredible by the month. In the latest news, there’s been testimony regarding loss of evidence, lying under oath and tampering with the murder scene. The defense’s testimony begins on the 17th, which is probably when things will get really interesting. Spicer has been charged with the murder of Lois McMillen, a New York artist and model. Michael Spicer has long been well-known and liked in Charlottesville social circles. CourtTV has ongoing coverage of the story, if that tells you anything about the sensationalism factor.
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News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
UVa‘s Board of Visitors has approved a tuition hike of $76, $50 of which is to support their sports program. Tuition will continue to go up by $50 per year until the sports program breaks even. UVa reports that, by 2010, the athletics department will be $47M in the hole. This, despite that UVa’s Capital Campaign, which ended just last month, raised an incredible $159M. Previously, millions were raised for the sports program, notably Carl Smith’s $25M donation. 21.4% of student activities fees goes to athletics. Is it possible that UVa is only planning to spend a small amount of their endowment fund on sports? [Note: This story has been updated. Read on to see the changes.]
The Virginia Senate has voted down a proposal by Governor Gilmore that would have increased teacher salaries by 3.5%. Why would this be struck down? Well, Gilmore tacked it into a totally unrelated bill. So unrelated, in fact, that Lt. Gov. John Hager ruled that it’s constitutionally illegal to do so. (That bill, by the way, was Sen. Emily Couric’s, and would have permitted some retired teachers to be rehired without disrupting retirement benefits.) What’s going on here? I’ve got my own theory, but discuss amongst yourselves.
Governor Gilmore, I’m guessing, wants to make good on his promises to increase teacher salaries. The problem is that it’s a promise that he knows he can’t keep, fiscally. (No doubt related to the budget arguments over the past five weeks.) So what does he do? He attaches the proposal to a bill that’s unrelated, knowing full well that his Lt. Governor will declare it unconstitutional, and strike the whole bill down. Then, when we’ve forgotten exactly what happened, he gets to say that he tried to get teacher salaries increased, but the bill was struck down in the Senate.
In order to get this bill taken up again, it will take a vote that requires a 2/3 majority. I’m guessing we won’t hear anything more about it.
County police led dog-sniffing dogs through WAHS and Henley on Wednesday, searching for drugs and weapons, WINA reports. (Gun-sniffing dogs?) They found nothing. Isn’t it creepy that kids lose all rights to privacy when they enter their schools?
munk writes: So, it seems the Live Arts Gala has been set for June 21. $250 per person may be a pretty penny for the years biggest party, but it’s (probably) worth it.
I hope so. The last Nine Lives of the Arts cost just as much, and that was miserable.
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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