Politics & Government

News

State extends clinic standards

By Kelly Kaler and Alex Stock | September 18, 2012

In the latest in a continuing battle over abortion care in the commonwealth of Virginia, the Virginia Board of Health Friday approved measures 13-2 requiring Virginia’s 20 existing abortion clinics to either abide by the same architectural standards as hospitals or cease providing abortions. The board in June passed permanent regulations that closely resembled the emergency rules drafted by state officials after the General Assembly passed a bill last year tightening building standards for abortion clinics.

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News

City holds first pride festival

By Lavanya Yaleswarapu | September 17, 2012

The City of Charlottesville hosted its first ever gay pride festival Saturday afternoon in Lee Park to show support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities. The festival, which was held at the site of last year’s Occupy Charlottesville protests, drew hundreds of individuals and featured live entertainment, food from local vendors and activities for children.

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News

Task force debates human rights commission creation

By Donald Sensabaugh | September 14, 2012

The Charlottesville Human Rights Task Force held its second open forum Thursday night to hear community members’ ideas about the possible creation of a more permanent commission to study discrimination within the City. City Council launched the task force in February in response to a request from the Dialogue on Race, a local group that advocates discussions on racism and diversity. The committee, if created, would investigate instances of bias or injustice in Charlottesville. About 60 community members attended the event, hosted in First Baptist Church.

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News

Sullivan ouster mirrors ODU dismissal

By Krista Pedersen | September 12, 2012

Rector Helen Dragas’ history with firing presidents runs deeper than her botched ouster of President Teresa Sullivan this June. While serving on the Old Dominion Board of Visitors in 1988, her father George Dragas helped force the resignation of President Joseph Marchello citing poor communication with the Board and a general unease with the executive’s management style, according to news reports at the time. Marchello, an accomplished fundraiser, drew praise for his ideas but did not have a positive relationship with the state’s legislators.

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News

Goode qualifies for state ballot

By Donald Sensabaugh | September 6, 2012

With a little help from grassroots supporters, former Congressman Virgil Goode will have his shot at the White House in November.

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News

Sec. Duncan reinstates Virginia Tech fine

By Joseph Liss | September 6, 2012

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan last week reinstated a fine against Virginia Tech for failing to notify students in a timely manner about the 2007 campus massacre. Then-undergraduate Seung-Hui Cho shot two Virginia Tech students in the early morning before going on to kill 32 individuals in total.

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News

ID law to delay results

By Joseph Liss | September 5, 2012

A Virginia voter identification law set to take effect this fall will likely have a limited effect on the election’s outcome, pundits say.

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News

DNC features youth issues

By Krista Pedersen | September 5, 2012

The Democratic National Convention kicked off last night from Charlotte, N.C. with appeals to youth voters who will likely prove central to the political conversation in the coming weeks. Kal Penn, comedian, former White House staffer and the DNC’s host, earned a prime-time spot last night to encourage young adults to get out and vote.

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News

Hurricane Isaac’s fallout raises national, Charlottesville fuel prices

By Anna Milligan | September 3, 2012

Virginians noticing higher gas prices during Labor Day weekend can blame Hurricane Isaac’s visit to the Gulf Coast last week.

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News

Romney skirts Virginia visit

By Grace Hollis | September 3, 2012

GOP supporters expecting to listen to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speak at a political rally at Richmond International Airport Friday were likely disappointed when only his second-in-command, vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan, addressed them.

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News

State extends bonus to faculty

By Grace Hollis | August 30, 2012

University faculty are eligible to receive a three percent bonus from the state of Virginia with their November paychecks this year, University Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Susan Carkeek announced Tuesday.

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News

President stresses voter participation at Charlottesville rally

By Donald Sensabaugh | August 30, 2012

More than 7,500 Barack Obama supporters flooded the Downtown Mall Wednesday afternoon to see the president speak at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion. Obama covered a breadth of campaign issues, including the economy, his signature health care bill, the war in Afghanistan and gay marriage in a speech meant to appeal to the same kinds of young voters who in 2008 flocked to the polls in large numbers to propel him to victory.

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News

Local Tea Party gathers

By Kelly Kaler | August 30, 2012

Hours before President Barack Obama addressed a crowd gathered on the Downtown Mall Wednesday afternoon, the Jefferson Area Tea Party staged a rally a couple streets away to show Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s commitment to the youth vote.

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News

RNC kicks off following delay

By Emily Hutt | August 29, 2012

The Republican National Convention kicked off without a hitch in Tampa yesterday — one day after events were postponed because of Hurricane Isaac’s movements in the Southeast. Only minor adjustments have been required since the convention was rescheduled, said fourth-year College student Alex Reber, the chair of Student Council’s representative body, who attended the event as an alternate delegate.

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News

City prepares for POTUS

August 29, 2012

The City of Charlottesville underwent massive preparations to accommodate President Barack Obama’s campaign stop in the City Wednesday.

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News

U.Va. rejects Obama visit

By Monika Fallon | August 28, 2012

President Barack Obama will not speak on Grounds Wednesday after the University declined his campaign’s request last week, saying it would cause an “extraordinary disruption” to the second day of classes.