Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1797, authorities in Virginia charged Revolutionary War vet Jacob Valentine with “committing and encouraging an Insurrection among the Slaves of the City of Richmond.” He spent several months in jail.

Thank you for coming aboard The Virginia Flyover. Our Commonwealth has a Revolutionary past and a space-age future. Be sure to check out the Et Cetera section below for stories about both.

Is there a holiday attraction you love? Hit reply and let us know. We will try to mention it in an upcoming edition.

Today is Giving Tuesday. We'll be sending a message later today from World Concern about how your generosity can help provide emergency nutrition to children in Somalia.

Today's sponsor is Frontieras, offering an investment opportunity in new coal technology.

IG Report Details Fraud and Abuse

Richmond’s inspector general released a report substantiating 25 claims of waste, fraud, and abuse by General Registrar Keith Balmer and his office.

The allegations include misusing city-issued credit cards, excessive spending, and drinking during work hours. According to the report, these actions cost taxpayers nearly half a million dollars.

The Richmond City Council asked that the city's electoral board review the I.G. findings and provide a response. The board plans to convene tomorrow to discuss what should happen next.

State election officials have declined to intervene, stating that the allegations concern local financial misconduct and do not involve election-related policies.

Abuse Allegations at Red Onion Prison

Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus called for an investigation into living conditions at Red Onion State Prison, Virginia's supermax facility in Wise County.

The state Department of Corrections said that at least six inmates at the facility have been hospitalized in recent months after burning themselves “using improvised devices that were created by tampering with electrical outlets.”

Inmates say they are harming themselves to force the state to transfer them out of Red Onion, where they allege they are subject to “racism and abuses.”

Chadwick Dotson, director of the Virginia Department of Corrections, called the abuse allegations “nothing more than bad-faith efforts to try to score cheap political points by advocacy groups who pursue prison abolition and policies that would make Virginians less safe."

He invited all lawmakers to visit the prison and observe conditions for themselves.

Christmas Time Is Here

It's finally December, and it wouldn't be the Christmas season without light displays.

Virginia Beach invites you down to the waterside to see its annual display, which starts on the boardwalk at Second Street.

In the western reaches of Virginia, Roanoke hosts the Illuminights Winter Walk of Lights. On select nights, visitors can stroll through the decorations, shop, roast marshmallows, and enjoy family activities.

If you'd rather drive than walk, the Illuminate Light Show in Doswell promises the "largest synchronized Christmas light and music show," a two-mile route with three million lights.

Or drive through the NlightN Holiday Event Series in Newport News. Attractions include a "Tunnel of Lights, Snappy the Alligator, Underwater Fish Arches, and vibrant 3D Trees."

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➤ Statewide: Volunteerism is on the rise in Virginia. Federal data show that nearly a third of us volunteered through formal organizations last year, up four points from 2021 and higher than the national rate. (More)

➤ Roanoke: In his first full year on the job, Police Chief Scott Booth has kept a promise to reduce violent crime. Homicides in the city have dropped to 10 so far this year, compared to 31 in 2023. (Details)

➤ Loudoun County: The body of an unidentified woman, exhumed 51 years after her death, will remain at the regional coroner’s office unless she can be identified through DNA testing. It is now illegal to bury an unidentified person. (Details)

➤ Henry County: Sheriff’s officials charged a 44-year-old woman with solicitation of murder and conspiracy to commit a felony after she allegedly discussed a plot with a police source. (More)

➤ Hopewell: City treasurer Shannon Foskey has been charged with embezzling public funds. Already facing four charges related to tax evasion, she is scheduled to appear in court in January. (Details)

➤ Statewide: Virginia is one of only six states that require high school graduates to pass mandatory exit exams to get their diploma. Massachusetts and New York recently removed a similar requirement. (More)

➤ The NFL's Washington Commanders released cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the team’s 2023 first-round pick, to make roster space for cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Forbes was the last remaining player drafted in the first round by former coach Ron Rivera. (More)

➤ Hockey's Washington Capitals host San Jose tonight for the only time this season. Even with Alex Ovechkin injured, the team has roared into first place in the Metropolitan Division on the strength of four straight wins. (Details)

➤ James Madison’s men’s college basketball team hosts East Tennessee State of the Southern Conference tonight. The Dukes are 4-4 after a recent loss to George Mason. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAW

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➤ The price for a gallon of gas dropped by more than two cents over the holiday week, according to a survey by GasBuddy. The statewide average is now $2.92 per gallon. (Details)

➤ Norfolk civic leaders are exploring proposals to draw development to the downtown MacArthur Center Mall, including a military-themed hotel, retail space, and new apartments. (More)

➤ The Virginia Repertory Theatre, which raised $600,000 earlier this year, remains in financial difficulty. The company may attempt to sell a building it bought in 2022 in order to secure the funds it needs to stay in business. (Details)

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➤ The holiday season began on a high note for many Virginia Beach-based National Guard members who returned from an eight-month deployment in Poland just in time to spend Thanksgiving with their families. (Photos)

➤ Fairfax County hosted meetings between George Washington and George Mason in the 1770s, making it a pivotal location in the birth of the U.S. Now, it is gearing up to help celebrate our country’s 250th birthday in 2026. (Details)

➤ Wallops Island on the eastern shore of Virginia is set to become a space exploration hub next year when the reusable rocket Neutron, developed by Rocket Lab, blasts off. (More)

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