The week in review
Worst week for Judge Paul Peatross: The state's judicial review committee unanimously recommends he be censured or removed from office, according to an October 18 filing with the state Supreme Court. The charges include lying, retribution against a defendant, attempting to manipulate the chief justice, and "judicial absolutism." The charges stem from misconduct complaints filed in April by Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Camblos and Public Defender Jim Hingeley.
Best break for Shawn Breeden and Michael Carpenter: A jury gives them life sentences October 13 instead of the death penalty for the murder of Kevin Lee Hester.
Best sniping: Fifth District challenger Al Weed questions Rep. Virgil Goode's abilities as a lawyer, while Goode jabs at Weed's winemaking skills at an October 13 forum, according to Bob Gibson in the Daily Progress.
Best endowed: The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation has so much money to give away from its more than $26 million endowment that's it's started the Vision Fund to raise an $8 million endowment solely to fund administrative operations, according to a John Yellig story in the Progress.
Best earnings: Media General, parent company of the Daily Progress, posts a third-quarter net income of $15.7 million, quadruple the $3.7 million of a year ago.
Biggest media shift: Saga Communications buys Eure Communications– WINA, 3WV and Z-95– the only locally owned commercial radio stations, pending FCC approval. See story, page XX.
Worst anniversary for inmates: The 10th of the abolition of parole, which former Governor George Allen signed into law October 13, 1994.
Best evidence they'd rather do it illegally: Lack of student interest prompts UVA to drop plans to provide an online music provider service, according to the Cav Daily.
Largest number of procrastinators: Nearly 3,000 UVA students who haven't responded to three emails informing them they have to show proof of health insurance will not be allowed to register for spring classes, the Cavalier Daily reports.
Longest line: Four hundred people queue up for flu shots at the Rio Hill Kroger October 15, according to a Claudia Pinto Progress story.
Biggest protest: At the new Planned Parenthood facility on Hydraulic October 16, members of the Central Virginia Family Forum stretch out in a half-mile line to show their opposition to the new clinic, Braxton Williams reports in the Progress.
Most threatening butter knife: An eight-year-old in King William County is suspended for 10 days when his mom packs a knife with his lunch to spread his peanut butter and jelly. Acquinton Elementary lets Nicholas back in school after seven days.
Most cautious: Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton evacuates his staff from Washington until after the election following a briefing on possible terrorist threats last week.
Worst surprise for Augusta County property owners: Tax assessments go up an average of 30 percent.
Worst upcoming surprise for Albemarle property owners: 2005 is the year for this county's biannual reassessments.
Best verdict for Miss Congeniality: Sandra Bullock, who's coming to this year's Virginia Film Festival, is awarded around $7 million in damages in her suit against a Texas builder.
Best look-alike story: "Dave Matthews: Rocker's Doppelgånger Runs Wild in Vegas" in the October 18 New York Observer.
Best made-for-TV movie: Lifetime turns the Donna Somerville Orange County murder trial story into Widow on the Hill, which will be broadcast next spring, according to Kate Andrews in the Progress. Somerville was acquitted of all charges in the 2001 death of her husband, Hamilton Somerville.
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