The Republican Party is having its caucus for Albemarle County on May 26.

The legislature nixed measures that would have reformed eminent domain, implemented bipartisan redistricting and allowed Charlottesville and Albemarle County to conduct a referendum to raise the local sales tax.

A separate — but related — bill previously was killed that would have allowed Charlottesville and Albemarle to hold a voter referendum to raise the local sales tax to pay for transit and transportation projects.

The two bills, Deeds said, were in the best interest of Virginia and would have led to environmentally friendly economic development across the state.

The idea behind the bill originated with Charlottesville’s City Council

The bill also would require the ex parte hearings, which are held without the prosecution present, to be put on the record and under seal to reduce the possibility of misconduct.

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Arlington, visited Charlottesville on Friday to endorse Democrat Tom Perriello in his bid to unseat longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount.

Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, has been awarded the Legislator of the Year award by the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said Monday that he wants to stay in his job four years longer and is giving up stated plans to run for governor in 2009.
Bolling’s decision gives Attorney General Bob McDonnell a seemingly clear shot at the GOP nomination next year while Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, and Del. Brian J. Moran, D-Alexandria, vie for the Democratic Party’s nod.