Thursday, November 14, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1910, Eugene Ely made the first flight from the deck of a Navy ship. There were no aircraft carriers, of course. However, the light cruiser USS Birmingham was retrofitted in Norfolk with an 80-foot-long wooden platform to serve as a runway. Ely took off, skipped off the ocean, and headed for shore, eventually landing some 2.5 miles from the ship.

Will you be watching the Washington Commanders tonight? Take our poll below and let us know! Also, our Top Stories has some positive news: opioid deaths in Virginia are trending downward.

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Opioid Fatality Rate Dropping in Virginia

The number of deaths from opioid overdoses in Virginia is projected to decline in 2024 for the third straight year. The Commonwealth is ahead of a nationwide trend that saw the number of overdose deaths come down last year for the first time in five years.

A recent report from the state Department of Health forecasts that there will be 1,552 overdose fatalities in 2024, based on the total from the first half of the year.

The overwhelming majority of drug overdose deaths (79%) involve three drugs: fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and tramadol. Fatal drug overdoses have been the leading causes of unnatural death in Virginia for the last decade.

The fight against opioids has been a critical part of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's "Right Help, Right Now" initiative that aims to help Virginians who are dealing with mental health problems.

One way the Commonwealth is fighting back is through the REVIVE! program, which has more than 800 trainers teaching Virginians how to administer naloxone when they encounter an opioid emergency.

The state also launched the Adult Psychiatric Access Line to help patients and doctors deal with substance use disorders.

More Elections in the Offing

Voters in two state senate districts will return to the polls soon to replace State Senator Suhas Subramanyam and State Senator John McGuire.

The election to replace Subramanyam is scheduled for January 7, while the other race still needs to be scheduled.

Both parties in Subramanyam's district will caucus Saturday to announce a nominee. Three Democrats have announced interest, while Republicans will choose from four contenders.

In the other contest, the Republican party's local legislative committee will select its nominee to replace McGuire, with four people in the running. The Democratic party hasn't announced its process yet.

State law requires a special election "within 30 days of the vacancy or receipt of notification of the vacancy, whichever comes first."

Democrats currently control the state senate with a 21-19 seat advantage. That is not expected to change.

Commanders Preview

The Washington Commanders take the national stage tonight, making their first Thursday Night Football appearance of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles. The game will determine the leader of the NFC East.

Washington is more banged up than Philly going into the game. The team will play without recently acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore while running back Brian Robinson's status going into the game is "limited."

The Commanders are getting used to playing meaningful games in November for the first time in years. “I’m excited just to go to Philly and that type of atmosphere,” rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels said.

The game is at 8:15, and if you want to watch, make sure you have access to Amazon Prime. For those in Northern Virginia, it will also be simulcast on the D.C. Fox affiliate.

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➤ Norfolk: Former Del. Jay Jones announced he will seek the Democratic nomination for Attorney General next year. Jones was defeated in a primary by former AG Mark Herring in 2021. (Details)

➤ Alexandria: A report from the department’s Inspector General determined that two U.S. Park Police officers were justified in their pursuit and eventual shooting of Bijan Ghaisar in 2017. The officers stopped the motorist three times, and each time he drove away from them, leading to the final confrontation. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: Mayor Bobby Dyer gave the organizers of the Something in the Water festival until tomorrow to sign a contract with the city, or else “we pull the plug and go in a different direction.” The festival was supposed to happen last month but was postponed until at least April. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: Former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins is on trial in federal court, accused of accepting more than $70,000 in bribes. Jenkins allegedly handed out auxiliary deputy sheriff credentials in return for payments. (More)

➤ Statewide: The Virginia Department of Transportation will allocate some $22 million to install electric vehicle charging stations at 35 locations along highways. The funding comes from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. (More)

➤ Richmond: Be sure to visit “rytown” soon, before any more lightbulbs burn out! Just a month after it was installed, a sign welcoming visitors to the “Carytown” neighborhood has already lost its first two letters. (See the Sign)

➤ The Washington Capitals have reacquired forward Lars Eller, a key contributor to their Stanley Cup-winning 2018 squad, from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team begins a western swing in Denver tomorrow. (Details)

➤ UVA safety Jonas Sanker was named the ACC's Defensive Back of the Week for his performance in the win over Pittsburgh. The Hoos visit No. 8 Notre Dame this weekend. (More)

➤ ODU will host JMU on Saturday in a crucial Sun Belt Conference matchup. JMU enters the game favored by a field goal. (Preview)

➤ Love college athletics? Want to stay up to date on everything related to name, image, and likeness in sports? NIL Wire is just the place for you. Sign up here with one click!

➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAF | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ The President of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank said the American economy is in "a good place." Tom Barkin credited consumers and said the Fed is well positioned to respond "regardless of how the economy evolves." (Read the Speech)

➤ Accenture Federal Services of Arlington won a $1.6 billion contract to help the Air Force improve its cloud and software services. (More)

➤ Microporous LLC will build a $1.3 billion battery technology campus on the Southern Virginia Megasite in Berry Hill, eventually bringing more than 2,000 jobs to the Commonwealth. (Details)

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➤ Fans of The Price is Right have a chance to be on the show! There is a contestant tryout tomorrow at Rivers Casino Portsmouth. (How to Participate)

➤ Loudoun County's hypothermia shelter opens tomorrow to provide a safe place for people experiencing homelessness this winter. (More)

➤ The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival announced its annual theme: Field of Blooms. The 98th edition of the festival runs from April 25 to May 4, 2025. (Details)

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