(Danville, Va.) — Averett University has again been recognized by U.S. News and World Report. The magazine has named Averett as the no. 17 best regional liberal arts colleges in the south, its highest ranking to date. Averett was also recognized as the seventh best university in the south for veterans and ranked ninth Southern regional college for best value. Only three Virginia schools made the “2018 Regional Liberal Arts Colleges” list.

(Gretna, Va.) – Charges have been filed in the death of a Gretna teen in Harrisonburg last year.

Hailey Ryan Moore was a student at James Madison University on November 9, 2016, when the 18-year-old died of a drug overdose.

20 year-old Joey Fondaco, Moore’s boyfriend at the time, is now charged with second-degree murder.

Moore was a freshman at JMU when she was found unresponsive at Fondaco’s off-campus apartment. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later.

The state medical determined her death was the result of a drug overdose.

Fondaco is scheduled for a bond hearing in Rockingham County Circuit Court on September 25.

(Danville, Va.) — Patton Street between Craghead and Lynn streets is now closed to through traffic to allow for the start of a storm water drainage project that will affect traffic for six months or more.

The project not only will affect traffic, but Danville bus routes as well.

Danville Transit has established a detour of certain routes due to the construction.

The project will relocate storm water drainage that will be installed along Patton Street in front of the Municipal Building and the James F. Ingram Courthouse.

The project will be conducted in five phases. In the first phase, no through traffic will be allowed between Craghead and Lynn streets. Lynn and Market streets will remain open during this phase, which is expected to take one month to complete, weather permitting. (Photo: Richard T. Davis)