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In brief

Hot streak

After a rocky start to the season, the University of Virginia men’s basketball team has hit its stride with a seven-game winning streak. The 18-5 Cavaliers are ranked second in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 9-3, and remain undefeated at home following a blowout win against the University of Miami on February 5. 

The Hurricanes held a brief early lead in the game, but the Cavs came roaring back for a 60-38 victory. Virginia’s win against Miami marks the team’s 23rd straight win at John Paul Jones Arena, the longest home-game winning streak in the country.

“We knew it was a good opportunity to play,” said UVA Head Coach Tony Bennett at a post-game press conference. “We’re trying to find ourselves in a spot where we have a chance to be considered at the end of the year, so every game’s important. … Just show up and play like there’s no tomorrow.”

Despite its recent success, UVA, which eked out a 66-65 win against Clemson on February 3, is still on the bubble for March’s NCAA tournament.  

The Cavaliers tip off next at Florida State on February 10 at 8pm.

CCS job fair

Charlottesville City Schools kicked off the spring hiring season early with a job fair on February 3. More than 80 candidates attended the event, and several attendees left with intent-to-hire letters, according to CCS officials.

The district is trying to fill both current and future open positions in several schools. Current job postings for CCS on salary.com include a LEAP functional skills teacher, school nurse, school psychologist, special education instructional assistants, and division-wide substitute custodians.

“By having a job fair early, we’re hoping to catch some of those candidates that will be transitioning,” CCS Director of Human Resources Maria Lewis told NBC29. “Some of them will be veteran teachers, veteran staff, and some will be brand new educators on the verge of completing their master’s program.”

Staff openings played a significant role in the unexpected closure of Charlottesville High School last November, when several staff members called out following a wave of student fights. The combination of staff absences and unfilled positions were a large contributor in CCS officials’ decision to close the high school for several days for a “cultural reset.”

In brief

True Grit

Grit Coffee is expanding with a Williamsburg location in mid-February, its ninth in the commonwealth. The new spot will open on Midtown Row, just minutes from William & Mary, echoing the Charlottesville business’ original establishment near the University of Virginia. Despite its wide reach across Virginia, the brand’s coffees are still roasted here in Charlottesville.

Trial date set

The man charged with the shooting and killing of three UVA student-athletes in November 2022 has a trial date: January 22, 2025. Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr. is accused of the murders of D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler, and Lavel Davis, Jr., as well as the wounding of Mike Hollins, Jr. and Marlee Morgan on university Grounds.

Ski lift

An 8-year-old girl was transported by air ambulance to UVA Medical Center after sustaining an on-mountain injury at Wintergreen Resort. Wintergreen Ski Patrol responded to the incident on Lower Sunrise, an intermediate ski trail, the morning of February 3. Though Wintergreen claims the young skier did not present any injury symptoms, she was taken to the Ski Patrol First Aid Room for observation before being transferred via Wintergreen Fire & Rescue ambulance to a helicopter pad in Stoney Creek. Wintergreen expects the girl to make a full recovery.

New leaf

Charlottesville resumed its weekly Leaf Collection Service on February 5, so if you still have leaves to dispose of, get ’em to the curb before 7am on your days of service. Visit charlottesville.gov/leaves for more information about pickup schedules and locations.