High-speed train to link D.C., Richmond

The state of Virginia was awarded $45.4 million Monday in federal transportation grants to begin the initial steps to construct a high-speed passenger rail service between Richmond/Petersburg and Washington D.C., which is part of a larger plan to extend the high-speed rail service that connects Boston and Washington southward through Virginia to Charlotte, N.C. The funding awarded this week by the Federal Railroad Administration will be used to launch preliminary engineering and an environmental impact assessment for the section of the Southeast High Speed Rail that would link Richmond to Arlington. The funds were secured by Sens.

StudCo discusses year

Student Council held a Council-wide meeting last night in Newcomb Ballroom where committees summarized their accomplishments and previewed their upcoming initiatives for the remainder of the semester. Fourteen committees gave presentations, covering a wide range of initiatives - from the Athletic Affairs Committee's distribution of almost 6,000 water bottles to students at the Virginia Military Institute football game in September to the Building and Grounds Committee's Don't Sign It campaign to encourage students to hesitate before jumping to sign a lease for an off-Grounds apartment. Council members also discussed new initiatives, in particular the upcoming trial run of expanded dinner hours for Observatory Hill Dining Hall.

Robbery occurs near Carr

A Charlottesville resident was robbed Sunday night while sitting at a picnic table near Carr's Hill Field. The resident was resting with her head down on the table when a man approached her and took her purse.

New Jersey school forbids Four Loko

[caption id="attachment_37486" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Ramapo College banned Four Loko, which contains alcohol and caffeine, following a string of medical incidents following consumption of the drink.

Group seeks higher wages

[caption id="attachment_37484" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Students, faculty and staff members gathered during last night's "Rally for a Living Wage," which included a proposal to University officials and testimonials from anonymous University employees.

U.Va. asks court to dismiss latest CID

The University responded Wednesday to the latest round of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's climate research-related Civil Investigative Demands by filing a request that the latest demand for University documents be dismissed. Officials from the attorney general's office are seeking information about whether climate researcher and former University professor Michael Mann might have manipulated data to apply for a University grant, said Brian Gottstein, the director of communications for Cuccinelli's office. This is Cuccinelli's second attempt to obtain Mann's documents.

News website ranks most costly schools

CampusGrotto, a national news college website, released its latest edition of the 100 most expensive colleges in America last Monday.

Students, officials gather to dedicate South Lawn

[caption id="attachment_37435" align="alignleft" width="234" caption="University officials and benefactors cut a ribbon in dedication of the South Lawn project, which took more than a decade to plan and complete.

George Allen speaks at Law School

[caption id="attachment_37367" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Virginia Law and Graduate Republicans and College Republicans brought the politician to speak about his new book and his perspective on the Obama administration's politics.

Drama addition to start construction

[caption id="attachment_37361" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="University officials, including former President John T.

Project to expand document access

A new partnership between the University of Virginia Press and the National Archives will make key documents from the founding fathers available to the public for free. The project aims to develop a new website to provide greater access to letters, military strategies, meeting notes, journals and other documents relating to the founding of the United States.

Pledge movement aims for greener University

The University has launched a new initiative to generate interest in environmental activism on Grounds.

VDOT posts higher speed limits

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced that the Virginia Department of Transportation will raise the speed limit on some highways from 65 mph to 70 mph by Dec.

Politics Prof. Larry Sabato, director of the University's Center for Politics, has developed a reputation as one of the most frequently quoted college professors in the nation, and is famous for his Crystal Ball predictions, which were 99 percent accurate in projecting outcomes in the 2006 and 2008 elections. This election cycle, Sabato is also starting a new site, www.getinthebooth2010.com, which will provide the public with information about the midterm elections.