Monday, October 7, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1763, King George III prohibited the American colonies from exploring or expanding west of the Appalachian Mountains. The order was mostly ignored as Virginians sought new land to settle.

We at The Virginia Flyover are also looking to expand, so please click here and share this newsletter with others who might be interested in what is happening throughout our Commonwealth.

Today’s sponsor is Hootie, the number one personal safety alarm for women.

Ports Operating Again

The Port of Virginia and other eastern ports reopened after a brief strike by dockworkers last week.

The port offered longer gate hours over the weekend so shippers could get back on schedule. Regular hours are now in effect.

The stoppage lasted only a few days and ended when the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance reached what both sides called a “tentative agreement on wages.”

The parties will continue to negotiate, with no further stoppages expected until January.

Virginia as Congressional Battleground

Virginia's 11 congressional districts are closely divided, with six seats held by Democrats and five by Republicans.

Democrats have had an edge since they won seven seats in the 2018 midterm elections. However, that may be about to change as two incumbent Democrats in hard-fought districts—Jennifer Wexton and Abigail Spanberger—are not seeking reelection.

In Wexton's 10th District, State Sen. Suhas Subramanyam faces Republican Mike Clancy, while in Spanberger's 7th District, Democrat Eugene Vindman faces Republican Derrick Anderson. Both districts cover sections of Northern Virginia.

Traditionally, Democratic voters tend to prefer early voting while Republicans waited until election day. But this year, more Republicans are turning out early than Democrats.

Where to Fish the James

The James River flows hundreds of miles across the Commonwealth from the mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. That means anglers have plenty of places to catch many different types of fish.

Near the coast, catfish are popular, especially below the river's fall line at Richmond. Fishers in this area also cast for bass and shad.

Further upriver, there are still catfish but also muskies, sunfish, and rock bass. Fishing is excellent where other rivers, including the Jackson and Cowpasture, join the James.

Meanwhile, those who simply want to see fish rather than catch them can look for the ancient sturgeon, a giant prehistoric fish that returns to the James to spawn. Anglers are forbidden by law from harvesting the endangered sturgeon.

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➤ Damascus: Gov. Glenn Youngkin promised he will remain focused on helping people in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and he added that Southwest Virginia will rebuild “stronger than it was before.” (Details)

➤ Roanoke: A postal carrier was seriously injured when a tree fell on his mail truck. (More)

➤ Newport News: The Navy identified welding errors on three vessels, the aircraft carrier George Washington and the attack submarines Hyman G. Rickover and New Jersey. However, the Navy said the issues do not affect safety or operations. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Virginia Commonwealth University admitted it has been undercounting the number of crimes reported on campus, including dating violence, burglary, and alcohol violations. (More)

➤ Statewide: Under a law that took effect this year, companies that offer free trials must notify subscribers and give them a chance to cancel before they can impose an automatic re-subscription. (Details)

➤ Winchester: Amanda Behan was removed from her job as city police chief just weeks after she announced she was taking a medical leave. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders cruised past the Cleveland Browns 34-13 to move to 4-1 on the year, good for first place in their division. (Details)

➤ UVA remained undefeated in ACC play by scoring 21 straight points to rally past Boston College. (More)

➤ The Richmond Spiders defeated N.C. A&T behind 200 yards rushing from Zach Palmer-Smith. (Details)

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➤ A judge ordered the Live Well Financial founder, Michael Hild, to pay more than $45 million to four lenders he defrauded before his company collapsed. (More)

➤ A survey showed that most Virginians "support more and better transit services," however, it is unclear how those services would be provided or paid for. (Details)

➤ Siemens Energy will pay $104 million to settle a federal case that claimed it used stolen trade secrets to win a contract with Dominion Energy. (Details)

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➤ Wiener dogs took center stage at the third annual Dachtoberfest at the Richmond Raceway. (Photos)

➤A state council signed off on the Joint School of Public Health, an academic tie-up between Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University. (More)

➤ Monticello hosts an annual open house on October 12 as part of Virginia Archaeology Month. (Details)

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