Across Virginia
(Liberty University photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Jerry Falwell Jr. has sued Liberty University two months after resigning amid a series of scandals. Fallwell is alleging the evangelical school founded by his late pastor father defamed him through statements it issued. The lawsuit filed in Lynchburg Circuit Court on Wednesday also includes a claim of breach of contract. The suit alleges that Liberty officials accepted what Falwell says are false claims about whether he was involved in an extramarital affair and “moved quickly” to destroy his reputation. Liberty spokesman Scott Lamb said the school would have a formal statement in response to the lawsuit later Thursday. Falwell had served as president and chancellor of the university.
According to the latest numbers released this morning by The Virginia Department of Health there are 90 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases and 2 deaths being attributed to the Roanoke Valley.39 new cases and 2 new deaths and 1 hospitalization in Roanoke City, 31 new cases in Roanoke County, 12 new cases in Salem and 8 new cases in Botetourt County.
Governor Northam says COVID-19 case numbers are increasing at a higher rate in southwest Virginia than in other regions of the state, and he says he is prepared, if necessary, to reinstate restrictions in this part of the commonwealth. Northam said at an afternoon briefing that he is particularly concerned with areas bordering Tennessee, a state the White House Coronavirus Task Force currently lists as having the 9th-highest rate of new cases in the country. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Southwest Virginia is seeing a sustained, troubling increase in cases of COVID-19 driven partly by small family gatherings, the governor and top health officials said Wednesday, as one area health system issued a stark warning that its resources were being stretched thin.
“To be quite frank, today our region is in a really bad place in this pandemic,” said Jamie Swift, the chief infection prevention officer for Ballad Health, which serves southwest Virginia, as well as adjacent parts of Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky.
Gov. Ralph Northam said at a news conference in Richmond that Virginia overall is among just a handful of U.S. states not reporting large increases in COVID-19 cases. But the seven-day testing percent positivity rate in the region’s westernmost localities is about twice the rate of the rest of the state’s 5.1 % and has been increasing for 15 days, Northam said.
“I strongly urge everyone in the southwest — look at these numbers and step up your precautions,” Northam said.
The governor said there were no immediate plans to introduce new regional restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus, but he said such a move was a possibility if the numbers keep trending up.
Northam and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Daniel Carey said gatherings of extended family members not living in the same household were contributing to the spread. Virginia has so far reported nearly 177,000 cases of COVID-19 and just over 3,600 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to health department data.
Dr. Karen Shelton, the director of a health department district that includes much of southwest Virginia, wrote in an email that other factors contributing to what she called a “surge” in cases included: outbreaks at churches, inconsistent mask wearing, in-person schooling, social gatherings of friends and coworkers, and relatively fewer people telecommuting due to less broadband access.
Shelton also said a surge in cases in neighboring Tennessee was contributing.
“Tennessee has fewer regulations and has had events, social gatherings, and sports. Friday night football has continued with fans gathering closely in stands without masks,” she wrote.
Swift, Ballad’s infection prevention officer, said at a news conference that it was “past time” for the area to change its behaviors.
The health system said it had seen a 43% increase in the cases across its region over the past week, 88.5% of its ICU beds were full, and it had 181 team members in quarantine or isolation.
“At this rate, we’re only going to be able to care for COVID-19 patients,” said Ballad’s Chief Operating Officer Eric Deaton.
Dane Poe, the administrator of Lee County, located in the furthest southwest tip of Virginia, said the county has been lucky so far to not have more than a few dozen cases requiring hospitalization. The county’s only hospital closed in 2013.
Still, having to be prepared for the additional hospital trips has further strained the six already-strapped volunteer agencies in the country that provide ambulance services, he said.
The county is using some of its funds from the federal coronavirus rescue package to buy six more ambulances, one for each agency, said Poe, who described community members showing a “lackadaisical” attitude toward the virus, including many not wearing masks in public places.
Teresa Owens Tyson, CEO and president of The Health Wagon, a nonprofit that serves the area at mobile free clinics and three stationary sites, said her organization is seeing significant demand for COVID-19 testing and treatment.
Tyson, who is a nurse practitioner, said her “biggest fear” is the virus becoming entrenched in the area, which already has a disproportionate number of people living in poverty and with underlying health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and black lung disease.
“I feel that we’ve probably got one of the most vulnerable (populations) in the nation,” she said.
According to the latest numbers released this morning by The Virginia Department of Health there are 73 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases being attributed to the Roanoke Valley.41 new cases in Roanoke City, 8 new cases in Roanoke County, 17 new cases in Salem and 7 new cases in Botetourt County.
A new statewide poll shows Joe Biden holding a 12-pointlead over President Donald Trump in Virginia, and Senator Mark Warner’s lead is even greater over Daniel Gade. The Wason Center Poll from Christopher Newport University was released this morning, and it finds likely voters favoring Biden 53-41%, with only 4% undecided. On the Senate side, Warner’s lead is 57-37%. The poll finds that COVID-19 is the issue of greatest concern among those questioned, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports:
(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -A judge has ruled in favor of the Democratic Virginia governor’s plans to remove an enormous statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. But he says the state can’t immediately act on his order. Gov. Ralph Northam announced plans to take down the behemoth in June after the death of George Floyd. Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant sided with Northam on Tuesday, but suspended his order pending the resolution of an appeal. An attorney for the plaintiffs told The Associated Press on Tuesday that they would appeal.
Photo: wlu.edu
LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s Washington and Lee University says that there are deep divisions over its name as the nation continues to grapple with its racial past.
The school in Lexington said in a statement last week that it received 14,000 responses to a survey it has conducted as it examines issues of diversity, equity and inclusion on campus.
The school was named for founding father George Washington, an early benefactor, and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Lee was a president of the university and is buried in a campus chapel.
The school surveyed students, parents, faculty and alumni.
In July, faculty at the small liberal arts school voted to remove Lee’s name and sent a recommendation to the school’s board of trustees.
The issue of racial injustice has regained intensity since demonstrations erupted following the death in late May of George Floyd, a Black man who was in the custody of Minneapolis police.
The Virginia Lottery reports on-line sales that began this year are running well ahead of its goals. The lottery instituted on-line sales July 1st; those sales have already topped $155 million less than four months in, and that is more than 60% per of the lottery’s $250 million goal for the entire first full year. The Virginia Lottery reports that so far, more than 65,000 players have won $130 million in prizes on line. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
NEWS RELEASE: The Virginia Lottery introduced its new online game offerings on July 1. Nearly four months later, more than 65,000 registered players have shared in a combined $130 million in total prizes. During the same time period, sales of traditional lottery products at the retail counter also continued to increase, too. In the three-month period ending October 1, lottery sales at traditional brick-and-mortar retail locations across Virginia increased more than 10-percent, too.
Our working goal for online Lottery sales was approximately $253 million for the fiscal year. As of Thursday [October 22], our online sales were $155.7 million. That means that about one-third of the way through the fiscal year, we’ve achieved about 62-percent of our pre-launch sales forecast.
Playing online allows consumers to purchase and play lottery games with the convenience of their smartphone, tablet or computer. Anyone can play, as long as they are at least 18 years old and located in Virginia when they make the purchase.
Online products include many familiar and popular games such as Mega Millions, Powerball and Cash4Life®. In addition, all new instant win games are available, featuring prizes up to $500,000. So far, 18 instant win games have been introduced, and more are added each month.
“Online play is a natural progression that makes Virginia Lottery games more relevant and convenient for today’s consumers, “said Virginia Lottery Executive Director Kevin Hall. “The successful launch of online lottery play is an essential tool to help support the Virginia Lottery’s commitment to generate funds for Virginia’s K-12 public schools.”
The two biggest online wins so far are a Lunenburg County man who won $100,000 playing Powerball and a Hopewell man who won $1,000 per week for the rest of his life in the Cash4Life® game. Instant win games have also had their share of exciting wins, the biggest of which, so far, is a Richmond woman who won $51,000 playing Enchanted Winnings, one of the most popular instant win games.
You can play Virginia Lottery online from anywhere within Virginia by registering at www.valottery.com. You can also play Virginia Lottery games at any of 5,300 convenience and grocery stores or other retail businesses statewide.
Authorized by Virginia voters in a successful 1987 referendum, the Virginia Lottery generates more than $1.6 million per day for Virginia’s K-12 public schools. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, lottery customers helped generate more than $595 million dollars in funding for public education. For more information, visit the Virginia Lottery’s Giving Back page, visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and check us out on YouTube. With all gaming, please remember to play responsibly.
According to the latest numbers released this morning by The Virginia Department of Health there are 97 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases, three new deaths and one new hospitalization being attributed to the Roanoke Valley.35 new cases, 2 new deaths and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke City, 34 new cases in Roanoke County, 21 new cases and 1 new death in Salem and 7 new cases in Botetourt County.