Friday, November 8, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1788, Virginia's General Assembly chose Richard Henry Lee and William Grayson to serve as the state's first two senators. Both men were antifederalists, meaning they had reservations about the recently ratified U.S. Constitution.

Welcome to The Virginia Flyover, where we bring you the latest news from across our Commonwealth. In our top stories, we'll talk about political transitions since the election and let you know what your neighbors are (probably) going to name their dog. Plus, in sports, meet the boxing family from Norfolk. If this edition was forwarded to you, just click here to sign yourself up!

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The Commonwealth's Political Changes

Virginia's congressional delegation next year will still consist of six Democrats and five Republicans, but the GOP improved its vote totals over 2020 in jurisdictions across the Commonwealth, including in traditionally blue Northern Virginia.

That move to the right caught the attention of state-level leaders. “We have a billion-dollar surplus, and I think there’s some ways to use those resources, and I think there’s a way to do a tax cut for everyday, hardworking families,” Democratic House Speaker Don Scott told reporters.

That is a switch from a few months ago when Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed tax cuts and Democratic legislators wanted more spending on social programs.

Statewide, Kamala Harris won Virginia with a smaller percentage of the vote than Joe Biden did in 2020. While Democrat Tim Kaine was returned to the Senate, he also won a smaller percentage of votes than he won in 2018.

Another change happened in Roanoke, as this was the first election in which voters cast ballots for city council members at the same time as for a council president. Republicans are set to gain a seat after Tuesday's results.

However, fewer changes are expected in the city of Richmond as outgoing two-term Mayor Levar Stoney promised a smooth transition to his fellow Democrat Dr. Danny Avula.

The State of Gambling in Virginia

State law permits up to five casinos, with control over them held by the Virginia Lottery Board. The state legislature may consider a bill that would allow a sixth, this one near Tysons in Northern Virginia.

Petersburg will move forward with a $1.4 billion casino after voters overwhelmingly approved the project on Tuesday. Developers moved down I-95 after Richmond voters rejected the proposal two times.

In Danville, Caesars Virginia plans to open a permanent casino next month that will include a hotel, a sportsbook, and a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.

The Bristol Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will open even sooner than that, with a grand opening celebration set for next Thursday.

Construction got underway last month on a casino in Norfolk, four years after voters approved of the project. The oldest permanent casino is Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which has been operating since January 2023.

Virginians wagered more than $662 million in September, 19% higher year-over-year. Meanwhile, the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling reported a 973% increase in calls to its helpline after wagering was legalized in 2019.

Call your Pet!

Experts recommend giving your pet a short name: two syllables or less. According to a list, most Virginians are following that advice.

The most common dog names in Virginia are Lucy, Daisy, Max, Luna, and Bella, according to data compiled by U.S. News & World Report.

Bella is also No. 1 nationwide, so you will probably hear that frequently if you go to a dog park.

This represents a slight change from last year, when "Lucy" was reportedly the top dog name in the Commonwealth. "Luna" took the top honor among cat names last year.

Virginia ranks second in the number of dogs owned. This number only increased when scores of rescued animals were brought to the Commonwealth to escape Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

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➤ Richmond: The Commonwealth's 68th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony begins Monday at 11 a.m. at the Virginia War Memorial. (More)

➤ Statewide: Political junkies can start focusing on the 2025 governor's election. The frontrunners are Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger. Gov. Glenn Youngkin is limited to a single term. (Details)

➤ Fairfax County: Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat just reelected to his ninth House term, announced he has esophageal cancer. Connolly plans to remain in office during treatment. (More)

➤ Suffolk: Behind closed doors, the Navy's cyber defense operations team is fighting to protect systems across the United States and overseas. (Look Inside)

➤ Vienna: The Virginia Lottery announced that Elizabeth Abiles won a $1 million second prize in a recent drawing. She matched the first five numbers and missed only the Powerball, which would have paid off $165 million. (More)

➤ Carroll County: The federal government will provide more than $9 million to hook up broadband service in underserved areas of Southwest Virginia. (Details)

➤ Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was named NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Week for the seventh time in nine weeks. (More)

➤ The Washington Capitals, off to a 9-3 start, host the hated Pittsburgh Penguins tonight before traveling to St. Louis tomorrow. (Preview)

➤ Wanda Davis will watch her three sons step into the boxing ring tonight in their hometown of Norfolk, the first time all three men have fought on the same card. (More)

➤ The head of Newport News Shipbuilding will retire this year after 37 years with the company. The outgoing Jennifer Boykin will be replaced by Kari Wilkinson. (Details)

➤ Disco Sports, a Henrico retailer, is closing up shop after 54 years of selling sporting goods. (More)

➤ Kellanova, a snack maker, announced that sales increased 6% year-over-year in the third quarter. The company is being acquired by McLean-based Mars next year. (More)

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➤ The Virginia Tech Rescue Squad is perfecting complex rope techniques that could be used in tall buildings or at the bottom of cliffs. (More)

➤ Virginia has enacted three laws in three years dealing with the regulation of PFAS, the "forever chemicals" that can be found in the water supply. (Details)

➤ Charlie Swanson, an Olympic gold medalist, will lead Richmond's Dominion Energy Christmas Parade on Dec. 7. (More)

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