Virginia legislators prepare to battle over abortion rights.
Category: Government and public institutions
Our coverage prioritizes how our community can engage with government, nonprofits and public institutions that we entrust (and often pay) to lead us. We don’t just report what they say, we investigate what they do.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
A new type of state ID is available for Virginia residents who pay taxes — regardless of immigration status
A Charlottesville ID program is closing up shop because the new state IDs and driver privilege cards offer more benefits than the local program could.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Despite a budget surplus, Charlottesville City Council voted to increase real estate and meals taxes
“If you’re only looking at this year, it wouldn’t be needed,” said Councilor Michael Payne. “But if you’re looking at three or five years from now, then it is needed.”
Posted inOur neighborhoods
Many people are asking for Charlottesville transit to run more and go electric — but first, the city needs more bus drivers
Kyle Ervin at CAT sent this message by text: “All in all, we simply need MORE DRIVERS! We’ll take all the applicants we can get!”
Posted inOur neighborhoods
Charlottesville has invested $46.7 million on affordable housing since 2010 but, ‘Is that good?’
Deputy City Manager for Operations Sam Sanders asked City Council Monday to define what it considers affordable housing, measure how much is available, and track the effectiveness of the money it spends.
Posted inOur neighborhoods
Charlottesville’s tree cover has dropped about 15% since 2004 — but there are ways to bring it back
“I think the idea of having places to gather and green spaces with trees will be good for me and my neighbors,” said South First Street resident Estephany Kepchar.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Charlottesville’s 10th & Page has fewer trees and higher temperatures than other residential neighborhoods — and it’s not by accident
“What I think redlining and all of these nefarious urban planning decisions from the past show us is that decisions that we make can reverberate for a hundred years or more,” said Jeremy Hoffman, a researcher at the Science Museum of Virginia.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Virginia has new district maps — and some could spell good news for area Democrats
The new 2021 House of Delegates map groups Albemarle County in one district that comprises many Democratic voters who will now likely elect a Democratic representative. The 2010 map broke the county into four districts, three of which were lumped in with other (more Republican) areas of the state.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Albemarle County may speed up its local redistricting process with opportunity for public input in early March
Albemarle County’s local redistricting process is underway, so local districts and polling precincts could be somewhat altered by the spring — just in time for primary elections.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, How we learn
House committee’s rejection of local sales tax bill could throw Charlottesville’s Buford Middle School reconfiguration project into jeopardy
A subcommittee in the General Assembly killed three House bills Friday that could help fund Charlottesville’s school reconfiguration project. Delegates will get a second chance to approve similar bills later this month.
