Charlottesville man indicted following assault investigation

The Albemarle County Police Department announced the indictment of an individual following an investigation into a sexual assault on August 25th.

After further investigation Jahmal Edrine was indicted on the charges of Rape and Abduction by a grand jury.

Edrine was taken into custody on Thursday February 5th and he is being held without bond at the Albermarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

This investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone with any further information that is relevant to this case is encouraged to contact the Albemarle County Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. 

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.  

VDF celebrates a conservation win!

Virginia Department of Forestry used by permission from VDF Communication Specialist Cory Swift-Turner

The Virginia Department of Forestry is celebrating a major conservation effort near Shenandoah National Park.

Through the Shenandoah Borderlands Project, more than 5,000 acres of forestland in Albemarle and Nelson counties are being permanently protected.

The project is a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Piedmont Environmental Council, and landowners.

This project is also supported by more than eight million dollars in federal funding through the Forest Legacy Program.

The newly protected land creates a buffer between I-64 and Shenandoah National Park, preserving scenic views, clean water, and critical wildlife habitat.

Officials say the project helps protect the region’s forests for future generations.

Fall foliage forecast

Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive sign picture taken by employee of WZRV/WFTR used by permission

In Virginia, fall is practically a statewide celebration , and it’s all about scenic drives, crisp hikes, and jaw-dropping foliage.

According to SmokyMountains.com’s 2025 Fall Foliage Prediction Map, peak leaf season in Virginia will hit between October 13 and 20, with some areas hitting their most vibrant just a bit later.

In Northern Virginia, colors are expected to approach peak by October 13, with the brightest, most vivid displays arriving between October 20 and 27.

After that, the leaves will begin to fade past their prime.

Want to track the colors in real time?

SmokyMountains.com offers an interactive map where you can slide through the weeks and watch the foliage forecast change across the country, a handy tool for trip planning.

Thanks to cooler-than-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall across the Northeast and Appalachians, forecasters say we’re in for an earlier peak and especially vibrant leaves.

Mountain areas, like the Blue Ridge, will turn first, often a week or more ahead of lower elevations nearby.

That means if you’re planning a leaf-peeping road trip, starting higher up could deliver a better show earlier in the season.

So whether you’re hiking Skyline Drive, winding through the Shenandoah Valley, or taking the back roads through Loudoun or Albemarle counties, October in Virginia is the perfect time to chase the colors.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.