Evan Jones
Ralph Northam
The Democratic party candidate for lieutenant governor is breaking with his party’s candidate for governor when it comes to proposed federal rules for new power plant emissions. Ralph Northam says the rules could raise power rates in Virginia, and that could hamper business growth — and cost jobs. The party’s candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe, says he supports the proposed rules. More from WLNI/WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Virginia’s Republican congressmen say this is the right time to maintain their stand as the partial federal shutdown continues. Among them: Bob Goodlatte, who says spending is too far out of control to delay talks on spending reductions any longer. The state’s Democratic Senators say the government must be fully re-opened first, and a piecemeal funding of certain government operations is not the way to do this. More from WLNI/WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Robert Sarvis
The Libertarian candidate for governor expects the support he’s now seeing in the polls to hold up through election day. Robert Sarvis has been close to or into double digits in all recent statewide polls, the highest level for any Virginia statewide third-party candidate in decades. He is spoke with WFIR’s Evan Jones.
More schools are finding more uses for tablet computers in more grades. Holy Cross Regional Catholic School in Lynchburg brought Nooks this year into its fourth grade classroom; the teacher says students are more engaged when using the tablets, and the devices also allow her to immediately see if students understand the material she has taught. WLNI/WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School photos
A new Roanoke College Poll shows Democrat Terry McAuliffe opening a wider lead over Republican Ken Cuccinelli, but there are still plenty of undecideds. It also finds Virginians expressing disapproval of Congress at historically low levels. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The poll finds McAuliffe leading Ken Cuccinelli 40-34%, with 26% undecided. In the down-ticket races, Democratic Ralph Northam leads Republican E.W. Jackson 39-35% for Lieutenant Governor, and for Attorney General, Mark Obenshain leads Mark Herring 38-35%.
Click here for full poll results and methodology.
Efforts are under way across Virginia to help many felons get their voting rights back, and in Lynchburg, that includes taking it to the streets — to places like basketball courts, senior meetings, and family centers. “Citizens to Restore Voting Rights” is conducting nine outreach events this month. Those who apply now should be able to vote next year. WLNI-WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
State Police say three young women were killed in an accident late last night on State Route 311 in Craig County. School officials say all are graduates of Craig County High School. Investigators say one vehicle tried to pass another that was turning left off 311, and all three killed were in the vehicle attempting to pass; State Police say it left the highway and struck a tree. The dead are identified as the driver, 18-year-old Megan Bradley and passengers 19-year-old Tia Gardner and 22-year-old Carleigh Taylor, all from New Castle. Two other females in that vehicle were airlifted to Roanoke for hospital treatment. Troopers say no one in the second vehicle was hurt.
Roanoke taxpayers may be asked to subsidize Market Building operations within three years — that word today before City Council. Market Building operators told Council this morning once they go through the roughly $550,000 on hand, they will seek city operating assistance. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, Council members sounded generally supportive.
Chief Chris Perkins
Roanoke City Police begin training a new class of recruits today — 16 in all. Five of them are women, and the demand for female officers means they are often more likely to leave for another department than men. Roanoke Police Chief Chris Perkins says it means police departments across Virginia must work hard to attract and hold on to them. WLNI/WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The Democratic candidate for governor came to Roanoke today to promote his agriculture plan, but the talk quickly turned to the partial federal shutdown. Terry McAuliffe blamed “the Tea Party and allies of Ken Cuccinelli” for using the shutdown “as a tool for their ideological battle”. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.