Another national story on rape at UVA
“He said it was consensual. She said she blacked out. U-Va. had to decide: Was it assault?” The Washington Post reports on a bathroom sexual encounter between two athletes at an August 2015 party. Rising third-year volleyball player Haley Lind agreed to speak on the record about her quest for justice after police and UVA said she could have given consent even though blackout drunk.
Quick construction
The U.S. 29/Rio Road intersection reopened July 18, 46 days before its scheduled completion date of September 2. Work began May 23 and the rapid road work will earn the builders a $7.3 million bonus, according to VDOT spokesman Lou Hatter.
Sierra Club scorecard
The Virginia chapter of the environmental org graded members of the General Assembly, and, not too surprisingly, their grades split along party lines. State Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate David Toscano—Dems—get an A+, while our Republican reps—Senator Bryce Reeves and delegates Rob Bell, Matt Fariss and Steve Landes—each get an F.
DP seeks new editor
Seems like it was only a year or so ago that former Houston Chronicle sports editor Nick Mathews took the helm of the Daily Progress. Now publisher Rob Jiranek, who formerly was publisher and an owner of C-VILLE Weekly and has been on the job at the Progress since February, is looking for a new editor.
‘Terrifying numbers’
Dr. Rebecca Dillingham, who works in UVA Medical Center’s Ryan White HIV Clinic, tells the hospital’s blog, Healthy Balance, that one in two gay African-American men are now expected to become HIV positive in their lifetime. She also said one in five people with HIV don’t know they have it.
Good chance to plug Trump wine
Trump Winery general manager Kerry Woolard was a speaker July 19 at the GOP convention in Cleveland.
Ground breaks on William Taylor Plaza
Construction of the controversial 117-room Fairfield Inn and Suites on the corner of Ridge and Cherry is underway. Virginia Hotel Partners bought 2.4 acres from Southern Development aka Cherry Avenue Investments LLC for $1.45 million. The hotel is expected to be completed in 2017. Meanwhile, the developer of the mixed-use portion of the plaza, Management Services Corporation, had a Board of Architectural Review work session July 18 and is seeking approval for 27 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Bears gone wild
A cabin near the Shenandoah National Park has become an ursine hot spot, with frequent visits from the local black bears.
Quote of the week
“Because he had just met her, and because she was capable of carrying on a conversation, walking upstairs and performing ‘fine motor tasks, such as unwrapping a condom,’ he was unaware of her ‘possible incapacitation.’”
—The Washington Post on UVA investigators’ determination that a drunk student could have consented to what she considered a sexual assault.