Published January 19, 2006, in issue 0503 of The Hook

Most closely watched DNA testing: That ordered by Governor Mark Warner on Roger Keith Coleman, who went to the electric chair in 1992 for the rape and murder of his sister-in-law, Wanda McCoy, in 1981. Results prove Coleman was guilty.

Worst epitaph: Killer and liar. Coleman, who went to his death maintaining his innocence, leaves behind legions of stunned supporters who believed he have been wrongly convicted and executed.

Most suspicious white powder: That which that shuts down the ground floor of Charlottesville Circuit Court January 11.

Closest call with a major UVA contributor: Curry School of Education donor Daniel M. Meyers will pony up the rest of his $22 million pledge, despite resigning for ethical violations as CEO and chairman of the company he founded, First Marblehead Corporation. Melanie Mayhew has the story in the Daily Progress.

Most reassuring: Meyers will continue his two leadership roles at Curry, one on the executive committee of UVA's capital campaign.

Unluckiest layout: Meyers' photo appears beside the headline of an unrelated story, "Man denies 1984 rape," on the front page of the January 13 Progress.

Best city/county contretemps: Mayor David Brown defends a traffic diverter installed at the intersection of North Berkshire Road and Cedar Hill Drive that Albemarle Board of Supervisors Chairman Dennis Rooker says the city agreed to remove last summer, according to a John Yellig story in the Progress. Brown denies an agreement was made, and City Council considers making the diverter permanent at its January 17 meeting.

Most forceful arrest: Charlottesville Police Officer Cliff Goodwin is charged with misdemeanor assault and battery January 11 for a DUI arrest he made in August at the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail that the magistrate found inappropriate. Goodwin remains on desk duty.

Worst teen spirit: Two boys and two girls around 15 or 16 use a shotgun to rob the West Park convenience market on West Rio January 14.

Biggest Santa surprise: Parents and teachers at Madison Primary discover that their Santa Claus, Robert A. Southard Jr., is a registered sex offender who served 20 years for first degree rape, forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual abuse, and unlawful imprisonment, Kate Andrews reports in the DP.

Most old-fashioned guy: Delegate Bob Marshall carries a bill to make it illegal for unmarried women in Virginia to use medical technology to get pregnant.

Worst constitutional tampering: The House of Delegates passes a bill for a November referendum to make Virginia's gay marriage ban part of its constitution.

Best value in public colleges: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with in-state tuition of $12,029 and out-of-state at $25,827 leads the Kiplinger 100.

Third best: University of Virginia with in-state tuition of $14,522 and $31,442 for out-of-state.

Best get for Orange County: Diversified Information Technologies will set up a customer support center in the old Liberty Fabrics plant in Gordonsville.

Best news for Albemarle First shareholders: Winchester's Premier Community Bankshares announces plans to pay $15.80 a share for the local bank, which was recently jilted by stockholders at Millennium Bankshares.

Windiest: Gusts clocked at 40 mph snap limbs and power lines January 14-15.

Biggest leap: The band called O.A.R., which played at Trax in 2002 and Starr Hill last spring while making their latest album, Stories of a Stranger, plays New York's biggest hall-- Madison Square Garden-- January 14.

Littlest laud: The New Yorker calls O.A.R. the "latest jam band to follow the Dave Matthews Band out of the college circuit and into the big time."

Smallest surprise: The band is managed by Coran Capshaw.

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