City officials narrow down FY 2011 budget proposals

Charlottesville City Council is in the process of amending City Manager Gary O'Connell's fiscal year 2011 budget proposal of about $140.8 million, which is about $1.7 million lower than the fiscal year 2010 budget. "Much of the challenge in developing the FY 2011 Proposed Budget was balancing revenues and expenditures given the decreases in local revenues and state funding, and the needs to maintain quality services," according to the proposal. Leslie Beauregard, director of Budget and Performance Management, said the city must cut some expenditures because several revenue sources have declined.

Amazing But True

House passes health care reform package

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to provide health care to 32 million uninsured Americans in a 219-212 vote Sunday, with all Republicans in opposition.

UJC holds first public mock trial

[caption id="attachment_33860" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The University Judiciary Committee staged an open mock trial Monday evening in Newcomb Ballroom.

City cannot enforce snow removal fines

A local judge ruled last week that the City of Charlottesville does not have the legal authority to enforce a local ordinance that brings criminal charges against parties for not clearing their sidewalks of snow immediately, according to state code. After this winter's barrage of snow storms in the area - which ultimately cost the University $1 million in dealing with the aftermath - some local residents and businesses had been facing fines for not shoveling their sidewalks within 12 hours after the snow ceased falling, City spokesperson Ric Barrick said.

Rotunda column cracks will be repaired shortly

[caption id="attachment_33857" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Black netting at the top of the Rotunda's columns serve as a precautionary measure while the cracks are investigated.

City unemployment numbers see increase

The recession may be easing in areas across the country, but unemployment figures in the Charlottesville metropolitan area from December 2009 to January 2010 showed a significant increase in the number of area residents looking for work. According to statistics obtained from the Virginia Employment Commission, unemployment rose from 5.4 percent in December 2009 to 6.6 percent in January 2010 in the metropolitan area.

Officials revamp Amphitheater

[caption id="attachment_33823" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Amphitheater was stripped of its lawn last week to make way for new sod and a 10-foot wide gravel sidewalk.

Charlottesville expands park land

The Charlottesville Park System will receive an additional 27 acres from local organizations to aid stream restoration projects and the city's trail development. Eighteen acres of land in the Meadow Creek Stream Valley were donated by Charlottesville firm Ja-Zan LLZ.

Team awaits three-match weekend set

The No. 1 Virginia men's tennis team is set to come off bye-week with its second weekend of outdoor matchups against Maryland, Baylor and Gardner-Webb. Thus far, the Cavaliers have transitioned successfully from the indoor court to outdoor play, which began March 5 in a doubleheader against Old Dominion and Georgetown.

Parents say murderer broke, shattered Harrington

[caption id="attachment_33778" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Placards on Copeley Bridge commemorate and also call for Morgan Harrington's murderer to face justice.

Council hosts public forums, discusses fiscal 2011 budget

Charlottesville City Council held the first of two public hearings Monday night about the fiscal year 2011 budget, which likely will contain additional spending cuts in comparison to the current fiscal year budget. City Manager Gary O'Connell proposed the city budget, while Charlottesville City Schools Superintendent Rosa Atkins presented the proposed school budget, which is prepared separately from the city's and receives some of its own state funding.

Budget plan to lessen cuts to universities

The Virginia General Assembly released its budget proposal Sunday with less drastic cuts to higher education than expected.

McDonnell responds to student concerns in Sabato class lecture

Gov. Bob McDonnell appeared yesterday for a question and answer session in Politics Prof. Larry Sabato's introductory U.S.

Legislature passes resolution in honor of Harrington

The Virginia General Assembly honored deceased Virginia Tech student Morgan Dana Harrington with a House Joint Resolution offered Feb.

Bill expands safety teams

The General Assembly passed a bill Saturday to allow college and university threat assessment teams in the state to access and discuss the criminal and mental health records of students deemed threatening to the public. Del.