Friday, November 1, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1957, the westbound lanes of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel opened to traffic. The 3.5-mile trip by road replaced ferry service on the Chesapeake Bay.

Today, the Bridge-Tunnel is being expanded. The $3.8 billion project will include two newly bored tunnels and 10 miles of new lanes on Interstate 64.

Welcome to The Virginia Flyover, where we begin November with a look at everything that is happening across the Commonwealth. Read on to learn about our tight congressional races, get tips on driving after the end of Daylight Saving Time, and see that roosters and ducks can get along. If you don't already subscribe, please click here to do so!

Virginians Voting on Paper

Voters across the Commonwealth are casting paper ballots this year, whether in person or mailed in as absentee ballots. Those votes are counted by machines, but not ones that are linked to the internet.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the Commonwealth is prepared. "We have clean voter rolls and everyone who is a citizen in the Commonwealth of Virginia should go vote," he said.

The voter roll will not contain some 1,600 names that have been removed in recent months. The Supreme Court granted a stay allowing Virginia's list clean-up to remain in place while an appeals court hears arguments about it.

The Supreme Court ruling "is a reaffirmation of our commitment to election integrity, and I look forward to ensuring that our electoral process remains secure for all Virginians," Attorney General Jason Miyares said.

Youngkin noted that Virginia's action was based on a 2006 law invoked during every presidential election year since 2008.

House Races Coming Down to the Wire

There are tight races in several of Virginia's 11 congressional districts.

In the 2nd Congressional District, near Virginia Beach, Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans is trying to hold off a challenge from Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal in a race between two Navy veterans.

The 5th Congressional District in Central Virginia features Republican state Sen. John McGwire against Democrat Gloria Witt in a district with no incumbent. McGwire ousted Rep. Bob Good in a June primary.

There is also no incumbent in the 7th Congressional District around Fredericksburg. A pair of Army vets, Republican Derrick Anderson and Democrat Eugene Vindman are going head-to-head in that contest.

Finally, in the 10th District, based in the Northern Virginia exurbs, Republican Mike Clancy is running against Democrat Suhas Subramanyam in a district with no incumbent.

In the 5th, 7th, and 10th districts, the Democratic candidates outraised their Republican opponents in the most recent quarter, and all of those Democrats had more money on hand going into the race's final weeks.

Early voting in Virginia ends tomorrow.

Pulling the Mask off of Halloween

Halloween night is over.

But before we gorge on leftover candy bars, let's look back at the most popular costumes. According to Google, what you saw last night depends on where you live.

In the Norfolk area, the top costume was "Dead Little Bo Peep," followed by "Mummy" and "Minecraft" outfits. That's opposed to the Northern Virginia region, where "Shadow," "Little Red Riding Hood," and Superman" were most common.

Richmond residents were likely to be visited by "Oscar the Grouch," "Stitch," and "Strawberry Shortcake." In Roanoke, the leading disguises were "Nurse (from Silent Hill)," "Deadpool," and "Bellatrix Lestrange."

Those costumes are a far cry from just a year ago, when "Barbie" and similar getups topped Halloween best-dressed lists.

Did you snap any photos of ghouls or goblins? Please hit reply and send us your favorite costumes. After all, it isn't too early to start thinking about ideas for next year.

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➤ Richmond: Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday when clocks drop back by one hour. VDOT offered tips to drivers who may be discombobulated by driving in the dark with the sun setting an hour earlier. (Details)

➤ Lovingston: A man was acquitted on a voter fraud charge after he attempted to vote for a second time on Election Day in 2023. Richardson Carter Bell Jr. said he “was doing a little detective work” and was not trying to commit fraud. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: School district officials admitted that standard practice was not followed on the day four non-students walked into a high school last week and allegedly assaulted a student. The school’s principal said security procedures have been updated. (More)

➤ Chesterfield County: Lt. Col. Frank Carpenter is being promoted from within the force to become the county's new police chief. (More)

➤ Statewide: The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide $13 million to improve passenger rail service across the Commonwealth. The funding includes $6 million to replace old rail tracks and ties across Central Virginia. (Details)

➤ Norfolk: The city may demand changes to a planned floodwall before it would allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with the project. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders are 6-2 and in first place, but they still have some flaws they must address before they visit the listless New York Giants on Sunday. (Details)

➤ Virginia Commonwealth broke ground on its long-planned Athletic Village. When finished, it will be a destination for university sports with a track, a stadium, and new practice facilities. (More)

➤ The Washington Wizards play Miami on a neutral court in Mexico City tomorrow after topping the Hawks to move to 2-2. (Highlights)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | LPGA

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➤ The Associated General Contractors of America's Virginia chapter released a survey that showed that 98% of construction firms are having difficulty finding qualified employees in the state. (Details)

➤ Powhatan County's Board of Supervisors approved a $2.7 billion data center project proposed by California–based Province Group. (Details)

➤ The Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition said 33 large utility-scale solar projects have been rejected in the last 18 months. The group intends to ask the state legislature to change the approval process. (Details)

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➤ King’s Dominion amusement park in Doswell is renaming its fastest roller coaster. The “Intimidator 305” will now be known as “Pantherian.” (More)

➤ Two roosters rescued by state police from a "cockfighting situation” are thriving in foster care, and one has even made a new fowl friend: a duck. (Details)

➤ A Tesla Cybertruck showed its acceleration on the busy Leesburg Pike in Tysons Corner, blowing a Lamborghini off the line before both vehicles stopped a few hundred yards along at the next intersection’s red light. (More)

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