The week in review
Closest election since 2000: George W. Bush is reelected president November 2, defeating Senator John Kerry.
Widest City tally: Charlottesville voters back Kerry with nearly 72 percent of the vote. In Albemarle, Kerry edges Bush with 50.5 percent of the vote.
Best flashback to 1989: L. Douglas Wilder, whose 15-years-ago election to the governorship made him America's first elected black governor, overwhelmingly wins Richmond's first popularly elected mayorship since the 1940s.
Most frequently requested headline: "Goode Smokes Weed" for incumbent Congressman Virgil Goode's victory over challenger Al Weed.
Biggest murder trial: Former UVA student Andrew Alston stands trial for the year-ago stabbing death of 22-year-old Walker Sisk on the Corner.
Boldest defense theory: That Sisk essentially stabbed himself.
Least surprising murder suspect: Piper A. Rountree, ex-wife of University of Richmond professor Frederick Jablin, who was shot in his driveway October 30, is arrested November 8.
Biggest abortion battle: Forget Roe v. Wade. It's the Tuesday November 9 showdown at the Albemarle Board of Zoning Appeals over the new Planned Parenthood center on Hydraulic Road.
Most bad girls: The number of women in prison in the United States hits an all-time high of 101,179 in 2003. Men still lead the battle of the incarcerated sexes at 1.37 million.
Quietest TV debut: A week after an election-night special gives local viewers a glimpse of anchor Bo Kane, Gray Television's new CBS television station, WCAV-19, debuts its 6pm and 11pm news broadcasts. (Gray's ABC station has yet to announce a start to its news offerings.)
Other TV rumbling: A report on Waldo Jaquith's cvillenews.com claims that Pax 55, Charlottesville's "family station," may shift over to the Fox banner as part of the Gray Television juggernaut.
Worst week for football players, part 1: Former UVA star quarterback and Heisman candidate Matt Schaub, who now plays for the Atlanta Falcons, is charged with misdemeanor assault and battery early November 6 following an incident at the Wing Factory on Elliewood Avenue. Schaub later issues a statement categorically denying touching or even threatening to touch anyone.
Worst week for football players, part 2: Former Baltimore Ravens tight end Pedro Edison, no stranger to felony charges, is arrested November 7 in Staunton for felony breaking and entering, according to the News-Virginian.
Most meth labs: Southwest Virginia leads the state with 57 of 78 busts so far this year.
Worst growth segment of the state economy: Last year, 34 meth labs were raided in Virginia.
Earliest Santa: Fashion Square Mall, ignoring the traditional wait-'til-Thanksgiving rule, invites kids to meet the jolly old elf on November 13.
Latest Arafat controversy: After reports that the Palestinian leader was dead, a French doctor announces that he's sleeping– not even in a coma.
Worst turkey tragedy: A truck loaded with live birds overturns on U.S. 250 near Afton Mountain November 8, WINA reports.
Most erroneous betting results: Greene County poll workers report the county approves off-track wagering on horse races in last week's election– only to discover the opposite is true.
Best proof that there are second acts in American politics: The former crack-smoking mayor of D.C., Marion Barry, is elected November 2 to the Washington City Council.
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