The week in review
Most bizarre disappearance (besides Teresa Sullivan's): Four Afghan women who were participating in a program at UVA's Center for Politics are being sought by the State Department and the FBI after they left without saying where they were going, NBC29 reports. The other 18 women who were part of the delegation returned to Afghanistan June 6.
Biggest local case before the Supreme Court of Virginia: Charlottesville Fitness Club Operators Association takes its grievance that ACAC and Gold Gym were not allowed to bid on the YMCA facility planned at McIntire Park to the Commonwealth's top court June 7, the Newsplex reports.
Biggest local case accepted by the Supreme Court of Virginia: The court agrees to hear Lester v. Allied Concrete, the wrongful death case for Jessica Lester, 27, who was killed in 2007 when a mixer rolled on top of her car, according to the Progress. Judge Edward Hogshire reduced widower Isaiah Lester's $8.6-million award by $4.13 million after Lester's attorney, Matt Murray, instructed him to remove a Facebook page and lied about it.
Biggest impact on voting at the Herman Key Recreation Center during the June 12 Republican primary: The Charlottesville Free Clinic hosts a fundraiser in the rec center followed by a Bonnie Raitt benefit concert at nTelos Pavilion, which has voters casting ballots in a customized trailer beside the usual poll.
Biggest flashlight scare: Walmart closes down for two hours June 9 after an employee spots a pink flashlight on top of a trashcan in a high-traffic area of the store, according to NBC29. Apparently flashlight bombs are the new rage among terrorists in the American west, and some were just found in Phoenix.
Most blatant political favoritism? The Jefferson Area Tea Party calls out Charlottesville officials for charging a conservative organization, Stand Up for Religious Freedom, over $600 for a one-hour rally in Jackson Park June 8, while waiving fees for Occupy Charlottesville, which was allowed to camp in Lee Park for 45 days.
Most awkward dog bite: Waynesboro Mayor Frank Lucente's golden retriever, Luke, chomps the thigh of a man walking past their house with a Pekingese-poodle mix on Memorial Day, and Lucente is fighting having his dog declared dangerous, the News Virginian reports.
Highest blood alcohol level: Laura L. Flippin, a member of William and Mary's Board of Visitors, is convicted of public intoxication June 5 stemming from a September fall following cocktails after a BOV meeting. The police officer who arrested her said she had keys in one hand and a purse in the other, and a BAC of .25, three times the legal limit for drunk driving, according to the Virginia Gazette. Her attorney filed an appeal.
Biggest gaffe: Transcripts– some with Social Security numbers– of some 300 students who applied to UVA's Summer Language Institute are posted on the university's website, Ted Strong reports for the Progress. Officials point to human error.
Biggest publicity-garnering stunt: Supervisor Christopher Dumler walks the 6.2-mile route of the proposed U.S. 29 Western Bypass June 5, the day before the supes revisited the decision on the Bypass with a 3-3 vote.
Oldest alleged molester: Retired Roanoke College professor Guy Ritter, Jr., 92, is charged with five counts of taking indecent liberties in Botetourt County, WINA reports.
Worst spitting incident: Shawn Steppe, 34, is charged with assaulting an officer June 8 when he's served with an emergency protective order, according to WINA.
Best invention: Photographer Billy Hunt comes up with a scream-activated photo booth called the Scream-o-tron 3000, Wired reports. Hunt envisions the boombox wired with microphone and camera as a way to sidestep that awkwardness in front of the camera.
Brainiest city: Charlottesville takes the top spot in Atlantic's rankings of 25 metro areas, based on cognitive training and tracking software called Lumosity, which has some 20 million members.