NOW LIVE: MID-OCTOBER CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLSOURES

Which General Assembly candidates raised the most money in September? The answer can be found in campaign finance disclosures that were due at midnight. VPAP ranks candidates by the most money raised in September and the most cash on hand. For each election contest, there is a side-by-side comparison. Die-hard political junkies can browse a complete list of each candidate's contributors and expenses.

4TH DISTRICT STATE SENATE RACE BETWEEN REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT RYAN MCDOUGLE AND DEMOCRAT STAN SCOTT

Incumbent Republican state Sen. Ryan McDougle wants to continue working on the issues facing Virginia residents and businesses. He will face Democrat Stan Scott, an Army veteran and small business owner, in the Nov. 5 election for Virginia’s 4th District Senate seat.

GUNS, MINIMUM WAGE, RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW AT ISSUE IN DELEGATE FORUM

Candidates running for state delegate in the 31st and 51st districts faced off on gun reform, increasing the minimum wage and Virginia’s right-to-work laws during a recent forum at Dar Al-Noor mosque.

VETERAN DELEGATE ORROCK FACES CHALLENGE FROM FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE CANAHUI–ORTIZ

Del. Bobby Orrock had never held public office before he defeated a five-term delegate to win the 54th District House seat in 1989. Now the Republican, who has represented parts of Caroline and Spotsylvania counties ever since, is facing Democrat challenger Neri Canahui–Ortiz, who is running for public office for the first time.

VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES GATHER AT LEGISLATIVE FORUM ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

On Tuesday night, candidates on the ballot to serve in the next Virginia General Assembly talked legislation for helping those with medical disabilities. They gathered at Arc of the Piedmont for a “Coffee & Chat” to share their views with the public. All seven candidates showed up at Tuesday night's event and weighed in on several topics about medical disabilities. All of them agreed these conversations need to be held more often.

REGIONAL CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISCUSS FUTURE OF VIRGINIA

Regional candidates for the Virginia General Assembly on Tuesday discussed the importance of the Nov. 5 elections for voters in the state. “Republicans hold a single-seat majority in the state’s House and Senate,” Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford County, said during Tuesday’s Jefferson Assembly at the Bedford Columns. “If Democrats win the majority in November, they plan to repeal the right to work and mandate a minimum wage of $15 an hour. The November election could be one of the most consequential ever for people in Virginia.”

'ROBUST GROWTH' IN VIRGINIA'S STATE REVENUES, BUT FINANCE CHIEF STILL WARY

State revenues grew by $175 million in September and $367 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year compared with the same periods a year ago, but Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne has seen this scenario end badly before. The financial results “demonstrated robust growth” in almost all of the revenues that Virginia relies upon to run state government, Layne said in a letter to Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday.

GROUNDBREAKING EFFORT AIMED AT CLEARING THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED IN VIRGINIA IS WRAPPING UP

Thirteen people wrongly convicted of serious crimes have been cleared after more than a half-million old crime lab files were searched, thousands of hours were spent tracking down nearly 1,000 people, and hundreds of DNA tests were conducted. Some loose ends still need to be tied, but Virginia’s post-conviction DNA testing program is virtually over, and 13 men — who served a total of almost 150 years in prison — have been proved innocent

SUNDIAL AT WOMEN'S MONUMENT INCLUDES A COMMON VIRGINIA TYPO

A sundial amid the newly dedicated monument that honors 400 years of women’s contributions to Virginia includes a familiar typo. Dozens of localities’ names are inscribed atop the bronze sundial that sits atop a granite pedestal. Loudoun is spelled “Loudon,” missing the silent, second “u.”

A DECADE LATER, PROBLEMS REMAIN WITH STEALTH PERFORMANCE OF VIRGINIA-CLASS SUBMARINES, LAWSUIT SAYS

The Navy’s top procurement officer expressed optimism in 2011 that Virginia-class submarines would stop shedding their outer skin, consisting of a sonar-absorbing material that makes them harder to detect. But a federal lawsuit refiled Tuesday said the problem has remained unsolved and casts blame on shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries, alleging the company falsified testing, inspection results and certifications on multi-billion dollar submarine contracts.

ARLINGTON OFFICIALS NOT SATISFIED WITH AMAZON’S PLANS FOR GOING GREEN

Arlington officials are asking Amazon to go back to the drawing board for its proposed headquarters in Pentagon City to put a greater emphasis on sustainability. The 2.1 million-square-foot proposed office complex at the corner of 15th Street S. and S. Eads Street, is currently pending review by Arlington’s Planning Commission and County Board. If plans are finalized on schedule by the end of 2019, demolition is due to start early next year, according to JBG Smith’s Vice President of Development Matt Ginivan, with excavation then lasting through the end of the year.

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ASKS TO PAY LESS IN CHILD SUPPORT BECAUSE BEING ON BOARD MAKES IT HARD TO FIND WORK

A member of the Portsmouth school board repeatedly asked the court earlier this year to reduce his child support obligations, according to court documents. Part of De’Andre Barnes’ reasoning: His position on the board prevents him from landing some good-paying jobs.

FREDERICKSBURG CITY COUNCIL'S REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATE TO MOVE SLAVE AUCTION BLOCK DENIED

After two months of delays and discussion, Fredericksburg’s Architectural Review Board finally voted Tuesday on the controversial certificate of appropriateness for the removal of the slave auction block. Members remained split, but the two votes to deny and three abstentions meant that the board, in effect, denied the certificate. City Manager Tim Baroody is expected to appeal the decision to City Council in November.

FUTURE CODE: HOW WILL A TECH BOOM CHANGE THE CITY?

It’s 10am on the Downtown Mall, and already the sounds of demolition flood the area. Pedestrians stream past Mudhouse Coffee and The Whiskey Jar, and a few glance at the tall fence erected recently across the walkway, and the signs that read, “Do not trespass. Construction site.” Machinery looms over the area and a loud boom echoes across the mall, making a few restaurant patrons jump in their seats.

SLOT-LIKE MACHINES GENERATING SCRUTINY

Earlier this year, purple machines with “QUEEN” written on the side started to appear in convenience stores in the Valley with no fanfare. The image that sits on the screen is reminiscent of slot machines, which are illegal in Virginia, but according to Kevin Anderson, the head of compliance for Queen of Virginia, there’s a major difference between the machines and illegal gambling. “They’ve taken out that chance element and have inserted skill,” Anderson said.

DANVILLE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES FREE BUS RIDES TO POLLS ON ELECTION DAY

For the second year, the city will offer free bus rides on Election Day to encourage voters to get to the polls. Danville City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to provide the free bus rides in the city Nov. 5.

LAND-TAKING PRACTICE FAILS FAIRNESS TEST

The U.S. Supreme Court did not accept a Virginia case in which owners in the path of a pipeline not only lost their land under eminent domain, but suffered as construction began even before they were paid for their land — even before a price had been set for their land. Such roughshod tactics violate the very essence of our nation’s foundational belief in private property. Such tactics ought to be considered un-American.

A SCANDAL IN FRONT ROYAL HIGHLIGHTS THE EB-5 INVESTOR VISA PROGRAM’S FLAWS

Best known to Washingtonians as the northern gateway to Shenandoah National Park, rural Front Royal, Va., has been making news lately for big-city-style scandal. Some 14 current and former high-ranking public officials of surrounding Warren County, elected and non-elected — including five members of the Board of Supervisors — have been indicted for various crimes involving chicanery at the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority.

A LOOK AT THE PENINSULA'S 91ST AND 96TH DISTRICT HOUSE RACES

The Peninsula’s delegation in the General Assembly will include two new faces after Election Day, regardless of voter turnout. Dels. Gordon Helsel, R-Poquoson, and Brenda Pogge, R-James City, represented the 91st and 96th districts, respectively, before both chose not to seek re-election this November.

BLAKE & JANIK: CLOSING WAGE, LEADERSHIP GAP CRITICAL TO REGION

Have you heard that 2018 was the “Year of the Woman?” The label came from the record number of U.S. women who ran for — and won — elected office. Hampton Roads now has one female representative in Congress, Elaine Luria in the 2nd District, and eight female legislators in the Virginia General Assembly.

Barbara Blake is the chief administrative officer of The Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University. Elizabeth Janik is an independent writer and translator in Norfolk.

KISER: INVESTING IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIANS

Over the past few months, far Southwest Virginia has experienced the detrimental effects of corporate greed. Blackjewel abruptly declared bankruptcy and took back our hard-working coal miners’ paychecks. Ballad Health closed medical services in our communities while increasing our healthcare costs. For too many years, most of our assets in Southwest Virginia have been owned by outsiders and a small group of business elite,

Kiser is a doctor from Wise County and the Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates for the seat that covers Dickenson County and parts of Russell County, Washington County and Wise County.

OWENS: OUR JOBS ARE GOING TO MEXICO

Since 2005, Roanoke residents have assembled rail freight cars for FreightCar America (FCA). And before that, Norfolk Southern Railroad. And before that, Norfolk & Western Railway — arguably the principal reason why Roanoke developed into the city it is today. But unfortunately, FCA’s decision to close the Roanoke shops and move our jobs to Mexico betrays the workers and families that have built our city.

Owens is a third-generation worker at FreightCar America Roanoke and President of The Transportation Communications Union (TCU), Carmen Division Local 6016.

PAYNE: A KEY INGREDIENT TO A STRONG ECONOMY

October was first designated as “National Cybersecurity Awareness Month” 16 years ago, long before we even imagined the importance of the topic or its relevance to our everyday lives.

Brian K. Payne is vice provost for academic affairs at Old Dominion University and director of the Coastal Virginia Center for Cyber Innovation, a regional node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative.