Today’s episode is in honor of the Charlottesville Podcasting Network, a community service website that’s been around since 2005, and gearing up to be for another 15 years. Visit the archives at cvillepodcast.com to see what you can learn!
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There are another 737 cases of COVID-19 reported in Virginia today for a cumulative total of 109,019. There are another 14 fatalities recorded for a total of 2,410 to date. The seven-day rate for positive tests rate dropped to 6.7 percent, down from 6.8 percent yesterday.
In the Thomas Jefferson Health District, there are another 14 cases, with five each from Albemarle and Charlottesville and four in Louisa County. The positive rate remains at 6.4 percent for the second straight day. The number of fatalities has been reduced to 43.
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Today is the first day of in-person classes at the University of Virginia School of Law and earlier this week their communications department put together a video describing to students how things will be different.
We’ve been masked and distanced when I’ve seen you in the building, and some of you I’ve met for the first time since on Zoom,” said Dean Risa Goluboff in the video.
Golubuff described physical changes that will be made at the law school, as well as a requirement that everyone leave the building by 9 p.m. so cleaning crews can get to work. Students are also being asked to stay home whenever possible.
The University of Virginia recently delayed the in-person start of the school year to September 8, the day after Labor Day. Undergraduate classes begin online starting on August 25. Earlier this week, the University of North Carolina announced they would suspend in-person classes following a series of COVID clusters forming in dormitories there.
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The General Assembly’s COVID and justice reform special session began yesterday, with the House of Delegates spending most of the afternoon debating rules that would allow them to meet remotely for the rest of the session. Here’s Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn shortly after roll call was taken.
“Members of the House, we are gathering today at this unprecedented time in our Commonwealth’s history,” said Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn. “Virginians are hurting. Students, workers, families, businesses have all been hit hard by the coronavirus whose impact none of us in this room none of could have ever imagined.”
Visit the General Assembly’s website for a full list of meeting times and links to the proceedings.
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The Virginia Department of Health has issued a harmful algae bloom advisory for tributaries that feed into Lake Anna, as well as parts of the lake itself. These are the Middle Pamunkey Branch of Lake Anna, now in addition to the Upper Pamunkey Branch, Terry’s Run, and the Upper North Anna Branch of Lake Anna in Orange, Louisa and Spotsylvania counties are experiencing a bloom of cyanobacteria, which can cause skin irritations.
According to a release, “the public is advised to avoid contact with the lake in these areas until algae concentrations return to acceptable levels.” Visit swimhealthyva.com to learn more.
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There are new officers for the Albemarle Economic Development Authority following the resignation of the former chair, vice chair and secretary-treasurer at the end of their meeting in July. Donald Long volunteered to take on the role through the end of the year. Stuart Munson will serve as vice chair. David Shreve will serve as the new secretary-treasurer.
There are three vacancies on the EDA, which oversees grantmaking opportunities and other initiatives for local and new businesses. The EDA was also briefed on the possibility of an agricultural company that wants to open up a facility in Scottsville.
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The Albemarle Planning Commission has voted unanimously to recommend approval of a rezoning for about 13 and a half acres on Old Lynchburg Road to make way for a project known as the Albemarle Business Campus. Developer Kyle Redinger altered his proposal for the land after a different project was rejected by the commission last October. However, the commission did not recommend a special exception that would allow Redinger to build only one kind of housing. Here’s at-large member Tim Keller.
“I think the applicant has come a long ways on this and I am supportive of the overall project but I am not supportive of the special exception,” Keller said.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to hear the item on October 7.
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Speaking of the Board of Supervisors, they will meet at 2 p.m. today for a meeting that includes a review of a possible roundabout to replace the signalized intersection of Rio Road and the John Warner Parkway. There will also be a public hearing on the expansion of an existing service station in Ivy Road, an area not designated for commercial growth. Today’s meeting of the Charlottesville Housing Advisory Committee was canceled. That meeting will be held now on Tuesday, August 25 at 1 p.m.
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The Piedmont Environmental Council and the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) are looking for people to sign up for free assessments of what it would take to get solar panels installed on their rooftops. The Solarize Piedmont program runs through August 31. Bri West is the Communications Director for PEC.
“It’s all about demystifying the process of going solar,” said Bri West, communications director at PEC. “Over the years a lot what we’ve heard from people is a readiness and interest in going solar and then there’s this apprehension of whether I’m going to get the right installer, or get the right price.”
Ryan Patten with LEAP explains what happens after you sign up for the program.
“Once you sign up we’ll email you within a few business days and we’ll let you know what we see through various satellite images, whether your home or property looks good for solar or not,” Patten said. “Things we are looking for include shading concerns, large trees, other buildings nearby and also the angle of the roof may come into play as well. We’ll take a look at all that information and follow up with an email with you.”
You can watch the whole video on the PEC YouTube channel.
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One correction is required. On the August 18, 2020 edition of the show, I incorrectly reported the cost share between Albemarle and Charlottesville. Ratepayers in Albemarle are responsible for 80 percent of future costs of the waterline to connect the Ragged Mountain and South Fork Rivanna reservoirs. You can read the January 2012 agreement here.
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August 19, 2020: First day of classes at UVA Law; General Assembly convenes for COVID and reform session