4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review
Most horrific crime: Less than two years after mass murders on the Virginia Tech campus, Chinese grad student Xin Yang, 22, is decapitated January 21 in the cafe at the Graduate Life Center where she lived by Haiyang Zhu, 25, a Chinese doctoral student.
Biggest shift in Charlottesville law enforcement: Sheriff Cornelia Johnson announces her retirement January 21 after serving three terms and taking her place in local history as the city's first female and first black elected sheriff.
Quickest candidacy announcements: Albemarle police Officer James E. Brown III throws his hat into the ring January 22 and Charlottesville Sheriff's Office Captian Michael Baird announces January 23 he's running in the November election.
Quickest break from the party line: Newly sworn-in 5th District Congressman Tom Perriello votes January 22 against releasing $350 billion in bailout money that was approved by Congress last fall and for more accountability in how that money is used.
Biggest change of heart: Albemarle Board of Supervisors Chair David Slutzky decides not to challenge four-term incumbent Delegate Rob Bell after threatening last fall to "kick his a** out."
Biggest religious discrimination suit: Greene County pastor Jeffery King files suit against Cardinal Health Inc. January 7 claiming the company fired him when he refused to work Sundays and contacted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Tasha Kates has the story in the Progress.
Saddest loss for UVA: Revered Dean of Admissions Jack Blackburn, 67, dies January 21. He was known for making the university a more diverse place, and for pushing hard for AccessUVA, which guarantees financial support to applicants who don't have the money and are accepted at UVA.
Saddest loss for Live Arts: Longtime contributor Joe Barker, partner of artistic director John Gibson, dies January 25.
Twentieth largest endowment: UVA's for the fifth straight year, according to the National Association of College and University Business Officers. The university reported its endowment at $5.1 billion June 30; between July and November, it lost more than $1 billion.
Lowest electric bill: Albemarle County, which is looking at a $4.9-million budget shortfall, saves an estimated $103,875 on its utility bill in 2008 and reduces carbon emissions by 425 tons, according to a release.
Most torched cars: Police say two vehicles were deliberately set on fire the evening of January 20– one on Madison Lane and one on Prospect Avenue.
Biggest incentive: Charlottesville tries to lure 79 school system employees to retire by offering a bonus up to $6,000
Biggest local layoffs: Biotage sends its 50 jobs to Cardiff, Wales, following up-the-road neighbor G.E. Fanuc's layoff of around 50 people.
Most unusual job news: Video Gaming Technologies in Ruckersville gets some gaming business and will be adding 60 jobs, the DP reports.
Latest carnal knowledge case: Waynesborean Cassandra Mays Mawyer, 28, is charged with having sex with 13- and 14-year-old boys, the News-Virginian reports.
Latest gig for former sheriff Ed Robb: A new Investigation Discovery channel series, "Undercover," that aired January 27 features the exploits of Robb when he was an FBI agent in the 1988 Pizza Connection II operation. Bryan McKenzie has the story in the Progress.
Beeriest: A "Virginia Is Also for Beer Lovers" travel piece in the Washington Post covers the plethora of local area breweries: Starr Hill, South Street, Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, and Devils Backbone Brewing Company in Roseland.
Biggest screen: The Paramount offers up its 25' by 45' screen to V.I.P. members to watch the Super Bowl in HD February 1 for free– and will allow beer and chips in the theater.
Correction: The channel running the series that featured Ed Robb's work has been corrected.
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