WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Robin Reed, news anchor at WDBJ-TV, was honored on Saturday with The Associated Press Robert Gallimore Distinguished Service Award during the presentation of the 2020 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards.

Winners were announced at the awards banquet and annual membership meeting at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Reed’s career with the Roanoke station spans nearly four decades and includes teaching as an adjunct instructor at Virginia Tech.

The West Virginia Lifetime Achievement Award was given to John Nakashima, senior producer and director at West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Nakashima has produced, directed, shot and edited documentaries and music programs for West Virginia Public Television since 1976.

The VAPB also awarded two $1500 scholarships to students majoring in broadcast journalism: Josephine Walker of Virginia Commonwealth University and Duncan Slade of West Virginia University.

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Thirty-seven news organizations in Virginia and West Virginia submitted 531 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories from 2020.

The VAPB is an independent association comprised of local members of The Associated Press, a not-for-profit news cooperative that represents thousands of newspapers and broadcast stations across the U.S.

Winners in the 2020 Virginias AP Broadcasters Contest:

TVI/LARGE MARKET:

Best Spot News: First, Brent Solomon and Peter Alvey, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “A Battle for Breonna: Outcome Pits Protesters Toe-to-Toe With Police”; Second, Frank Jones, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “Chesterfield Flooding.”

Best Continuing News: First, Margaret Ashburn, Brittny McGraw and Jeff Perzan, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA, “20/20 Focus: The Push for Equality Individual Segments”; Second, Mark Curtis, Steven Shaw and Rod Jackson, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV, “Who’s Murdering Veterans Inside the VA Hospital?”

Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: First, Mark Martin, Josh Lewis and C.J. Harvey, WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV; Second, Lane Casadonte and Sean Robertson, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA.

Best Documentary or In-Depth: First, Janet Roach and Stephen Wozny, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, “Etched in Stone: The Hurt Behind the Heritage”; Second, Margaret Ashburn, Brittny McGraw and Brittany Furrow, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA, “20/20 Focus: The Push for Equality – News Special.”

Best Light Feature: First, Diane Walker and Jennifer Warnick, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “Terminally Ill Patient Fights for Dignity”; Second, Zak Dahlheimer and Justin Fleenor, WTKR-TV/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA, “88-Year-Old Math Tutor Helps Families Through Social Media During Pandemic.”

Best Serious Feature: First, Laura French and Curtis Akers, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Seventeen Years Wasted”; Second, Hannah Goetz and Elbert Mosley, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV, “Remembering Cassie Johnson.”

Best Sports Feature: First, Adam Winkler, WTKR-TV/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA, “Marlins, Mia Make Memories”; Second, Ashley Boles, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA, “My Heart Stopped.”

Best Video Journalist/One Man Band: First, Maggi Marshall, WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA; Second, Wayne Covil, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Wayne’s World.”

Best Reporter: First, Brent Solomon, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA; Second, Evan Watson, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA.

Best Specialty Reporting: First, Anita Blanton and Larry Carney, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, “Courageous Conversations”; Second, Rachel DePompa, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “Consumer Reporting.”

Best Spot News Photography: First, WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA, “Protest Violence”; Second, Brandon Graves, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, “Fugitive Shot, Killed.”

Best Feature Photography: First, Adrian Guerra, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, “Oyster Farmer”; Second, A.J. Nwoko, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “An Impressive ‘FEET.’”

Best Multimedia/Online Journalism: First, Karina Bolster, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “Police Investigate Assault Leading to Highway Car Fire”; Second, Karina Bolster, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “400 People Tested in Mass COVID-19 Testing Event.”

Best Investigative Reporting: First, Diane Walker and Jennifer Warnick, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “Nursing Home Investigation”; Second, Leslie Rubin, Larry Clark and Matt Durrett, WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV, “Why Is the Baby With the Mayor?”

Best Website: First, Jeff Williamson, Nicole Del Rosario and Samantha Smith, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA; Second, WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA.

Best News Promo: First, David Stotts and Rob Byrne, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Cumberland Hospital”; Second, Erik Candiani, Mason Adams and Rob Edmonds, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “A Monumental Election.”

Best Station Promo: First, Erik Candiani, Rob Edmonds and Mason Adams, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “RVA TV: Stronger Together”; Second, Erik Candiani, Terrell Thompson and Mason Adams, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “NBC12 Behind-the Scenes.”

Best Newscast: First, Frank Jones and Sam Maneri, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA; Second, Bob Bennett, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, “Election Day.”

Best Weathercast: First, John Bernier, Matt DiNardo and Michelle Morgan, WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA, “Tornado Outbreak From Isaias”; Second, WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV, “First Warning Weather.”

Best Weathercaster: First, Zach Daniel, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; Second, George Flickinger, WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA.

Best TV News Anchor: First, Bill Fitzgerald, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; Second, Taylor Eaton, WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV.

Best TV Sports Anchor: First, Lane Casadonte, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; Second, Adam Winkler, WTKR-TV/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA.

Best Producer: First, Kelsey Stanger, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA; Second, Samantha Maneri, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA.

Best Team News Coverage: First, WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV, “Honoring a Hero”; Second, WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV, “Officer-Involved Shooting.”

Best Old Dominion Heritage: First, Stephen Wozny, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, “Saving Tangier”; Second, Tom Schaad and Mike Marrero, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, “Nat Turner’s Rebellion.”

Best Mountain State Heritage: First, Lily Bradley and Elbert Mosely, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV, “Woody Williams, Honoring West Virginia’s Native Son.”

Douglas Southall Freeman Award: First, Tony Cavalier, WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV, “Corona Calculus”; Second, Kate Capodanno, Jane Caffrey and Leanna Scachetti, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA, “Spanish Language Newscast.”

Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: First, Stephen Hayes, Sheryl Barnhouse and David Stotts, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; Second, Chris Gegg and Tiaira Shoultz, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA.

TVII/SMALL MARKET:

Best Spot News: First, Larmie Sanyon, WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV, “Hundreds Gather in Morgantown to Protest for Police Accountability”; Second, Annie Moore, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, “40-Year-Old Cold Case Solved.”

Best Continuing News: First, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, “Amber Alert: Evelyn Boswell”; Second, Josh Croup, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, WV, “Fairmont Regional Medical Center Closure.”

Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: First, Preston Willett and Danielle Stein, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA; Second, Mike Shiers, Riley Wyant and Andrew Webb, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA.

Best Documentary or In-Depth: First, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, “Innocence Lost: What Happened to Baby Evelyn?”; Second, Matt Talhelm and Patrick Huddleston, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Pandemic of the Past.”

Best Light Feature: First, Riley Wyant, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Owen’s Outdoor Museum”; Second, Kyle Rogers, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, “Heroes and Helpers of 2020.”

Best Serious Feature: First, Matt Talhelm, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Black UVA Professor’s Fight for Tenure”; Second, Caleb Perhne, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, “2020 Retrospective.”

Best Sports Feature: First, TJ Eck, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, “Road to Redemption: The Pee Wee Barber Story”; Second, Logan Ross and Larry Marrs, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, “Hannah Blankenship.”

Best Video Journalist/One Man Band: First, John Hood, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; Second, Jasmin Adous, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, WV.

Best Reporter: First, Josh Croup, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, WV; Second, John Hood, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA.

Best Specialty Reporting: First, Daniel Grimes, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Open for Business”; Second, Josh Croup, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, WV, “Tasty Tuesday.”

Best Spot News Photography: First, Tara Todd, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Recovering From Flash Flooding in Staunton”; Second, Larry Marrs, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, “McDowell Flooding.”

Best Feature Photography: First, Larry Marrs, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, “Westside Rockets”; Second, Patrick Huddleston and Matt Talhelm, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Pandemic of the Past.”

Best Multimedia/Online Journalism: First, Riley Wyant and Max Marcilla, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Noise Demonstration to Defund the Police.”

Best Investigative Reporting: First, Amanda Mueller, Daniel Rainar and Michael Corley, WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV, “Behind the Body Cam”; Second, Caleb Perhne, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, “Commissioners Jump the Line for COVID-19 Shot.”

Best Website: First, John Lynch, WTRF-TV, Wheeling, WV; Second, Madison Greer, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA.

Best News Promo: First, Jared Morrison, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, “Election Night Coverage”; Second, Joey Kinsley, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Severe Weather.”

Best Station Promo: First, Jared Morrison, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, “Here for You”; Second, Joey Kinsley, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Fox Virginia Launch.”

Best Newscast: First, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; Second, Autumn Collins, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, “Election Night.”

Best Weathercast: First, David Rogers and Eric Pritchett, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Preparing for Snow”; Second, WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV, “Winter Storm Coverage.”

Best Weathercaster: First, Aubrey Urbanowicz, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; Second, David Rogers, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA.

Best TV News Anchor: First, Kasey Hott, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA; Second, David Horak, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV.

Best TV Sports Anchor: First, Heather Williams, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA; Second, Preston Willett, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA.

Best Producer: First, Jack Selby, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, WV; Second, Valerie Sullivan and Heather Hall, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, “Veterans Voices.”

Best Team News Coverage: First, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; Second, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “COVID Locks Down UVA.”

Best Old Dominion Heritage: First, John Hood, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, “Hauntings With Hood”; Second, Andrew Webb, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, “Preserving History at Burley Middle School.”

Douglas Southall Freeman Award: First, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, “Back-to-School Special.”

Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: First, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; Second, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV.

RADIO I/METRO:

Best Spot News: First, Dave Mistich, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “There’s an Endpoint: First Group in West Virginia Vaccinated for COVID-19”; Second, Ian Stewart, WCVE-FM/VPM, Richmond, VA, “Christmas Tree Sales Spike Amid the Pandemic.”

Best Continuing News: First, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, “Richmond’s Summer of Reckoning”; Second, WRVA-AM, Richmond, VA, “A Social Reckoning.”

Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: First, Nick Verzolini and Andrew Rogers, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV; Second, Randy Leftwich and Greg Roberts, WFIR-AM/FM, Roanoke, VA.

Best Documentary or In-Depth: First, Roxy Todd, Mason Adams and Jessica Lilly, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “Finding a Way Forward”; Second, Trey Kay and Kyle Vass, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “Without a Home Can You Be a Good Neighbor?”

Best Light Feature: First, Gina Gambony, WHRO-FM, Norfolk, VA, “Reporter’s Notebook: A Walk on White Cane Day”; Second, Emily Allen, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “Wrestlers and Fans Venture ‘Out of the Darkness’ With Drive-In Show.”

Best Serious Feature: First, Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, “Fentress Released”; Second, Robbie Harris, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, “Virginia Tech Cough Study.”

Best Sports Feature: First, Nick Verzolini, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, “Ciara Debell Tries out for Team USA”; Second, Andrew Rogers, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, “Obinna Anochili-Killen Standout Athlete of the Week.”

Best Sports Play-by-Play: First, Andrew Rogers, Nick Verzolini and Wesley Steele, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, “Marshall Men’s Basketball vs Southern Miss.”

Best Reporter: First, Mallory Noe-Payne, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA; Second, Robbie Harris, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA.

Best Editorial or Editorial Series: First, Trey Kay, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “Us and Them: Let Us ‘Bind up the Nation’s Wounds.’”

Best Specialty Reporting: First, Caitlin Tan, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “Folktales and Music Bring to Life the West Virginia/Welsh Connection.”

Best Multimedia/Online Journalism: First, Whittney Evans, Julia Rendleman and David Streever, WCVE-FM/VPM, Richmond, VA, “Safer at Home: Evicted During a Pandemic.”

Best Investigative Reporting: First, Dave Mistich and Brittany Patterson, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “Coal Operator Who Fought Against Black Lung Regulations Files for Black Lung Benefits”; Second, Paul Bibeau, WHRO-FM, Norfolk, VA, “Five Hampton Roads Police Departments Have Military Vehicles. Here’s How They Used Them.”

Best News Promo: First, Zane Bowles, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, “Alexis- Newscenter 88.”

Best Station Promo: First, Zane Bowles, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, “Coronavirus Recruitment.”

Best Newscast: First, WFIR-AM/FM, Roanoke, VA; Second, Benjamin Dolle, WCVE-FM/VPM, Richmond, VA.

Best Radio News Anchor: First, Jessica Lilly, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “Appalachian Strength in the Face of a Pandemic”; Second, Dennis Edwards, WRVA-AM, Richmond, VA.

Best Radio Sports Anchor: First, Gary Hess, WRVA-AM, Richmond, VA.

Best Old Dominion Heritage: First, Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, “Professor Apple”; Second, Luke Church, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, “Albert Hash.”

Best Mountain State Heritage: First, Zack Harold, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “A Family Cultivates Tradition With a Nearly-Forgotten Tomato.”

Douglas Southall Freeman Award: First, Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, “The COVID-19 Minute.”

Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: First, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA; Second, WRVA-AM, Richmond, VA.

RADIO II/NON-METRO:

Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: First, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA.

Best Documentary or In-Depth: First, Janet Michael, WZRV-FM, Front Royal, VA, “Community Health: COVID-19 Vaccine Has Arrived”; Second, Michael Guthrie, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, “The Importance of Property Rights.”

Best Light Feature: First, Randy Woodward, WZRV-FM, Front Royal, VA, “Festivals and Fairs.”

Best Serious Feature: First, Michael Guthrie, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, “How Charlottesville Has Changed Since August 12, 2017.”

Best Sports Feature: First, Jay James and Bobby Chhabra, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, “NCAA Tournament and COVID-19″; Second, Barry Richmond, WAKG-FM, Danville, VA, “Nascar Noise.”

Best Sports Play-by-Play: First, Dave Koehn, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA.

Best Reporter: First, Jay Hart, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA; Second, Janet Michael, WZRV-FM, Front Royal, VA.

Best Website: First, Janet Michael, WZRV-FM, Front Royal, VA.

Best Station Promo: First, Jon Talbott, WAKG-FM, Danville, VA, “Good Morning, I’m Jack Garrett.”

Best Newscast: First, Jay Hart, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, “Another Go at Governor for Terry”; Second, Jack Garrett, WBTM-AM, Danville, VA.

Best Radio News Anchor: First, Dori Zook, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, “Chief Lantz Crashes the Newscast”; Second, Jack Garrett, WAKG-FM, Danville, VA.

Best Radio Sports Anchor: First, Luke Neer, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA.

Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: First, Dori Zook, Rob Graham and Jay Hart, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, “We Wanna Grab Your Attention.”

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic leaders in Virginia conceded Friday that Republicans have won control of the House of Delegates.

The Associated Press has not called all of Virginia’s House races yet. But the concession means Republicans would complete an elections sweep in which they also reclaimed the offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn issued a statement acknowledging the GOP majority shortly after Democratic Del. Martha Mugler conceded defeat in a tight race against Republican challenger A.C. Cordoza in the 91st House district, located in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region. With Mugler’s concession, Republicans now expect to hold at least 51 seats in the 100-member chamber.

“While the results of the election were not in our favor, our work for the people of Virginia goes on,” said Filler-Corn.

Garren Shipley, a spokesman for House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert, said Filler-Corn called Gilbert on Friday. “The House Republican caucus appreciates her pledge to a smooth transition to the incoming majority,” Shipley said.

The GOP victories are being seen as a backlash against a Democratic majority that has pushed through a series of progressive reforms over the past two years, including the repeal of the death penalty, a loosening of abortion restrictions and the legalization of marijuana.

Democrats hold a slim 21-19 majority in the Senate. Senators are not up for reelection until 2023.

Tuesday’s marquee race in Virginia was the governor’s contest, in which Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin defeated former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The GOP also captured the lieutenant governor’s office after Republican Winsome Sears beat Democrat Hala Ayala, and the attorney general’s office with Republican Jason Miyares’ victory over Democratic two-term incumbent Mark Herring. Sears will become the state’s first female lieutenant governor and the first woman of color to win statewide office in Virginia.

Youngkin’s victory and the near-defeat of New Jersey’s Democratic governor have sparked fears that Democrats are on course to lose control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections.

Democrats held a 55-45 majority heading into the election Tuesday.

Republicans had controlled the House since 2000, but Democrats won back 15 GOP-held seats in 2017, helped by voter hostility toward then-President Donald Trump. In 2019, Democrats took full control of the legislature by wiping out slim Republican majorities in the House and Senate.

Among the surprise wins this year was that by Republican Kim Taylor over three-term incumbent Democratic Del. Lashrecse Aird in the 63rd District, which gave Republicans their 50th seat on Wednesday. Aird claimed victory late Tuesday, but a late surge by Taylor gave her a 741-vote win.

Democrat Wendy Gooditis won reelection to her third term in District 10, defeating Republican challenger Nick Clemente, a political newcomer. Gooditis’ northern Virginia district includes parts of fast-growing Loudoun County and rural areas in Clarke and Frederick counties.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A juvenile son of Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin tried twice to cast a ballot in Tuesday’s election, officials said Friday.

The 17-year-old son presented an ID but was told he was ineligible to vote due to his age and turned away, according to a statement from Scott Konopasek, Fairfax County’s general registrar. The statement said the teen did not successfully vote, made no false statements, did not disrupt voting and appeared to have committed “no election offense.”

The statement mentioned Youngkin’s son by name, saying the identification was based on contemporaneous notes by the chief election officer.

The news was first reported by The Washington Post. The Associated Press is not naming the son because he is a juvenile.

Youngkin defeated former Gov. Terry McAuliffe earlier this week to become the first Republican to win a governor’s race in Virginia since 2009. His victory was part of a Republican sweep on election night that saw the GOP retake Virginia’s two other statewide offices. Democrats also said Friday evening that they were conceding control of the House. The Associated Press has not called all House races yet.

A spokesman for Youngkin, who campaigned heavily on election integrity, said the son misunderstood Virginia’s laws.

“It’s unfortunate that while Glenn attempts to unite the Commonwealth around his positive message of better schools, safer streets, a lower cost of living, and more jobs, his political opponents — mad that they suffered historic losses this year — are pitching opposition research on a 17-year old kid who honestly misunderstood Virginia election law and simply asked polling officials if he was eligible to vote; when informed he was not, he went to school,” Devin O’Malley said in a statement.

Virginia law allows any person who is 17 and will be 18 by Election Day to register in advance and vote in any intervening primary or special election.

Jennifer Chanty, a precinct captain, told The Washington Post she encountered the son, who left after initially being told he was too young to vote. She said he returned a short time later, saying a friend who was also 17 had been allowed to cast a ballot.

Youngkin, who has four children, made election integrity central to his campaign during the fight for the GOP nomination, and he refused for months to say whether President Joe Biden was legitimately elected.

After winning the nomination in May, Youngkin mostly focused on other issues, though he drew Democratic criticism for attending an election integrity rally at Liberty University, for indirectly responding to a question about whether he would have certified the 2020 election, and for campaigning with state Sen. Amanda Chase, a prominent proponent of election conspiracy theories.

In a debate, he said “there wasn’t material fraud” in the 2020 elections, which he called “certifiably fair.”

For the latest election results click here:

https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2021%20November%20General/Site/Statewide.html

Rocky Mount, Va – October 31, 2021: On Saturday, October 30th, 2021, at approximately 5:38pm, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call for a shooting incident in the 300 block of Countryside Lane in Rocky Mount, Virginia. The caller advised that a family member had shot another family member. Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Franklin County Public Safety responded to the scene and located two males outside of the residence with what appeared to be gunshot wounds. David Ray Wyatt, 54 years old of Rocky Mount, VA, was pronounced deceased on scene from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Terry Allen Hurline, 65 years old of Rocky Mount, VA, was transported from the scene to the hospital, where he succumbed to his life threatening injuries. The investigation of this incident remains ongoing. This is believed to be an isolated incident with no threat to the public.

You are running out of time if you wish to cast an in-person vote ahead of Tuesday’s elections — Virginia’s 45-day early voting period is now down to the final two. And if you requested an absentee ballot by mail, the days are also running short. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:

Click here for full Virginia absentee and early voting information from the Virginia Department of Elections

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A. Linwood Holton Jr., Virginia’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction and a crusader against racial discrimination, has died. He was 98. His family says he died peacefully Thursday at his Kilmarnock, Virginia, home. Holton was Virginia’s governor from 1970 to 1974. A moderate, he declared an end to “Massive Resistance,” the state’s onetime official policy of opposing public school integration. He eventually fell out of favor with the increasingly conservative GOP, which he criticized as obsessed with cutting taxes at the expense of crucial services. A family statement on Holton’s death was shared by the office of Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Holton’s son-in-law,who praised him as a model of public service.

The Republican vying to be Virginia’s next Governor is vowing to empower parents , and bring a new form of leadership to Richmond. WFIR’s Clark Palmer examines Glenn Youngkin’s platform during this longer listen segment.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Culpeper woman, who went online in an attempt to hire a hitman using bitcoin, was arrested today on federal criminal charges.

According to court documents, Annie Nicole Ritenour, 25, placed an “order” via a Dark Web website that advertised murder-for-hire services. Ritenour created an account with the website and deposited approximately $3,200 in bitcoin to hire a hitman to kill her intended victim. To further assist with her “order,” Ritenour uploaded photos of her intended victim, as well as other personal information, including their place of employment, type of vehicle they own, and the best time and place to kill them.

“This case highlights the need for more intense federal enforcement of the cyber security protocols of the Internet,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia has made cybercrime a priority for this exact reason, and this murder-for-hire plot serves as an example of why we need to remain vigilant in the policing of those dark corners of the web where cybercrime thrives.”

“Upon learning of the murder-for-hire plot, the FBI moved quickly to ensure the safety of the intended victim and identified Ms. Ritenour as the person responsible for the threat,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Neil Mathison said today. “The FBI reminds the public that making threats online or using the Dark Web to hire someone to harm another has serious consequences, and we will work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to hold criminals accountable.”

Ritenour is charged with one count of solicitation to commit a crime of violence and one count of murder-for-hire. If convicted, Ritenour faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe holds a 49% to 48% lead over Republican Glenn Youngkin in Virginia’s contest for governor, according to a survey of likely voters released today by the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University. McAuliffe’s 1-point lead is within the survey’s margin of error (+/-3.5%), a virtual tie in which third-party candidate Princess Blanding’s 1% share of the vote looms larger.

With voting underway in the Nov. 2 general election, Democrats also hold small but shrinking leads down-ballot. The race for lieutenant governor tracks the top of the ticket, with Democrat Hala Ayala showing a 1-point lead over Republican Winsome Sears, 49% to 48%. Seeking a third term, Attorney General Mark Herring narrowly leads Republican Jason Miyares 48% to 47%.

Republican likely voters are significantly more enthusiastic about voting in this election than Democrats (80% to 65% very enthusiastic), an advantage that has surged 9 points since the Oct. 8 Wason Center survey.

“McAuliffe is facing strong headwinds in a state that has historically selected governors from the party not in the White House and with a Democratic president whose approval rating is underwater,” said Wason Center Research Director Dr. Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo. “Republican voters also appear hungrier for a win and increasingly see a chance to take a statewide race for the first time since 2009.”

Democratic leads that showed in previous Wason Center polls during this election have all but disappeared.

Independent voters continue to favor all three Republican candidates, while partisans on both sides are locking into position for their party’s candidates. A large, mirrored gender gap has emerged, with male voters shifting towards Republican candidates (56% to 42%) and women moving towards Democratic candidates (56% to 40%). Regionally, the hotly contested Richmond/Central region has tilted significantly in Republicans’ favor since the Oct. 8 survey, going from a 3-point Republican lead to a 12-point Republican lead (55% to 43%) at the top of the ticket.

The results of this poll are based on 944 interviews of registered Virginia voters who are likely general election voters, including 446 on landline and 498 on cell phone, conducted October 17-25, 2021. The full report is attached and online at https://cnu.edu/wasoncenter/.