202 Digital Journalism • 13th December 2022

Rockbridge Considers New Jail As Overcrowding Persist

Rockbridge and Alleghany counties might build a joint jail to deal with rampant overcrowding and understaffing. In the meantime, new programs are trying to help inmates reenter society.

The News-Gazette • 30th November 2022

Chapel Latest Battleground

The university has faced calls for change from its student body, faculty and many alumni in the years since then. With the same passion, the university has also been urged by other alumni and students to resist those calls for change and stop “rewriting” history.

24th November 2022

New Program to Help Inmates In Full Swing

Critics wonder if it will be truly effective. All graphics and data were compiled and created by Luke Fountain.

The News-Gazette • 16th November 2022

W&L Loses; Construction Stalled

The planned construction for a wall inside Washington and Lee University’s chapel was stopped Monday night – at least for now.

The Ring-tum Phi • 15th November 2022

Planned University Chapel updates not fire safe, city inspectors say

Washington and Lee hasn’t begun renovations to University Chapel that were originally planned to be completed by the start of the 2022-2023 academic year. City officials said the planned updates don’t comply with fire safety regulations.

The Ring-tum Phi • 27th October 2022

Renovations to University Chapel delayed, dispute over its purpose continues

Construction to build a permanent wall inside of University Chapel separating the Robert E. Lee statue and family tombs from the rest of the auditorium is stalled amid debates over the landmark's role on campus. Renovations were supposed to begin in the summer, according to a press release published by the university in July.

The News-Gazette • 28th September 2022

Council Candidate Says Her Facebook Account Was Hacked

In a Lexington City Council candidate forum where the main source of contention was over whether to elect or
appoint school board members, Republican candidate Collette Barry-Rec raised the alarm of what she sees as
misinformation and bad actors attempting to undermine the election. In a virtual candidate forum hosted by 50 Ways Rockbridge last week, Barry-Rec cited unknown forces attempting to divide people. “There is a lot of misinformation going around, and it’s very sad, because what it does is it pits one group against another,” Barry-Rec said. “I don’t want to be part of this. I want to step back and be a unifying force.”

The News-Gazette • 28th September 2022

Council Hopefuls Debate at Forum

The Lexington City Council candidates appeared to have more to agree upon than to disagree with. At a virtual City Council candidate forum hosted by 50 Ways Rockbridge last Wednesday, two Rockbridge County high school students moderated the forum with questions the four candidates – Nicholas Betts, Collette Barry-Rec, David Sigler, and Chuck Smith - had received ahead of time. They are running for three seats this fall.

The News-Gazette • 15th June 2022

Building Trust In Elections

Lexington voter registrar Jackie Harris is working to make sure elections in 2022 go on “without a hitch.” When asked what she sees as the biggest potential threat to the electoral process, Harris cited the essential need for voters to maintain confidence in the electoral process.

The News-Gazette • 20th April 2022

Snow Removal Law Gets More Flexible

Lexington City Council earlier this month approved an amended snow removal ordinance that makes assessing fees for not clearing sidewalks more flexible. The amended ordinance allows for $200 fines to be issued “as may be necessary,” City Manager Jim Halasz said at
the April 7 Council meeting. It also keeps in place the policy of making residents pay for snow removal if the $200 fine is not enough to motivate them to clear their part of the sidewalk. Previously the sidewalk snow removal ordinance required people to pay a $200 fine if they did not clear their
sidewalks.

The News-Gazette • 13th April 2022

Lexington Considering Outdoor Alcohol License

Downtown Lexington restaurants may soon be able to let customers roam around with alcohol if City Council approves an outdoor beverage license for Main Street Lexington.

The News-Gazette • 13th April 2022

School Salaries Priority In City

Lexington school employees could be seeing a salary increase of as much as 5% next year if the Lexington School Board’s proposed budget is adopted by City Council.

The News-Gazette • 13th April 2022

Speakers Back Collaborative

Echelon Resource’s proposal to develop the
Spotswood site was recommended by City
Manager Jim Halasz last Thursday night, despite
broad public pushback at a public hearing
that night.

The Ring-tum Phi • 12th April 2022

Lexington urged to increase pay for city workers

Minimum-wage city workers and police officers in Lexington are particularly underpaid. Lexington city workers make 11% less in wages on average than their counterparts in other cities. That’s the highlight of a new compensation study presented to Lexington City Council Thursday night by Margaret Schmitt, human resources executive manager of the Berkley Group, an outside consulting firm.

The News-Gazette • 30th March 2022

One-Way Street Part Of W&L Plan

Washington and Lee University’s newly amended
master plan has officially scrapped the school’s intention
to rebuild housing in what is known as the McLaughlin
triangle. It comes in the wake of public pushback from
residents against the proposed additional housing.

The News-Gazette • 23rd March 2022

Lexington Urged To Increase Pay

Lexington city workers make 11% less in wages on
average than their counterparts in other cities. That’s the highlight of a new compensation study presented to City Council Thursday night by Margaret Schmitt, human resources executive manager of Berkley Group.

The News-Gazette • 23rd March 2022

Spotswood Collaborative Details Projections

Before Lexington City Council comes to a decision on what to do with the Spotswood Drive development site, more details are being presented by the groups vying for the property.

The News-Gazette • 16th March 2022

‘There Is No Good Solution For Russia’

Why did Putin invade Ukraine? Why isn’t he backing down? What does it mean for the world? Why now?
These were some of the questions answered in a Zoom
webinar titled “Ukraine, Russia, EU, and Vladimir Putin,” hosted by Washington and Lee University and featuring two professors, last Wednesday night.

The Ring-tum Phi • 1st February 2022

MLK Day and Lee-Jackson Day celebrations coincide

Lexington saw two causes celebrated during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. A parade commemorating Lee-Jackson Day on Friday, Jan. 14 brought Confederate flags and other memorabilia to downtown Lexington. The event honored the life and legacy of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

The Ring-tum Phi • 1st February 2022

Yusef Salaam calls for more political participation to end systemic racism

Yusef Salaam, a member of the Central Park Five, now known as the Exonerated Five, used personal anecdotes of his unjust conviction to discuss his hopes for change and his advice for progress. He spoke on Jan. 23 in Wilson Concert Hall at Washington and Lee University, and spoke with students during a book signing...