OPEN SEAT PROFILE: HD91 IN HAMPTON AND POQUOSON

House District 91 became an open seat when Del. Gordon Helsel (R-Poquoson) announced he would not seek re-election. HD91 is one of the 25 districts redrawn as part of a voting rights lawsuit. The result: HD85 became significantly more favorable to Democrats. VPAP provides maps and charts that explore the district's demographics, voter engagement and partisan tendencies in recent statewide elections.

FOR FIRST TIME IN 24 YEARS, VOTERS HAVE A CHOICE IN CHESAPEAKE-NORFOLK STATE SENATE DISTRICT

It’s been more than 20 years, but voters in Virginia’s 5th Senate district will get to see two names on the ballot. The district’s incumbent, Democrat Lionell Spruill Sr., 72, has held the seat since a special election in 2016. Before he took the seat, it was long held by unchallenged Democrats. Voters will remember Yvonne Miller serving in the post for many years. Jeff Staples, who’s running as an independent, is mixing that up.

DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATE CANDIDATE SAYS SHE’S STILL RUNNING AGAINST INCUMBENT JOHN COSGROVE

A candidate for state Senate in Chesapeake and Suffolk says despite what she’d previously told the newspaper, she’s still running for the seat. Rebecca Raveson, the Democrat challenging Republican Sen. John Cosgrove in the 14th Senate District this November, told The Virginian-Pilot in an email Oct. 15 she was withdrawing from the race after raising objections to the paper publishing her age.

FROM SHOO-IN TO WRITE-IN: PAPERWORK STUMBLE FORCES A VA. REPUBLICAN TO RUN THE HARD WAY

Republican Del. Nicholas J. Freitas, a charismatic former Green Beret with a libertarian streak, should have been a shoo-in for reelection in a rural Virginia district east of Shenandoah National Park that heavily favored President Trump. But as he seeks a third term on Nov. 5, his name will not be on the ballot. Only one candidate will be listed for Virginia’s 30th House district — Ann Ridgeway, the Democrat trying to unseat him.

A DEBATE LIKE THE HARSH FLIERS IN YANCEY, SIMONDS RACE

Their talking points were as harsh as the fliers moderators used as the basis for questions at one of Virginia’s few legislative debates. But it came down to Democrat Shelly Simonds saying it was time for change and Republican incumbent David Yancey saying he had delivered as a delagate for Newport News.

HISTORIC TRIANGLE TAX DIVIDES CANDIDATES IN 96TH HOUSE DISTRICT

When it went through the General Assembly, the Historic Triangle’s sales tax surcharge made both major-party candidates in the 96th House of Delegates district uncomfortable — but while one wants a referendum on it, the other says he sees how it helps keep other local taxes down. The 1% surcharge, whose revenues are divided evenly between Historic Triangle tourism efforts and local government coffers, split the area’s General Assembly delegation.

RELIABLY REPUBLICAN FOR YEARS, A CHESAPEAKE AND VIRGINIA BEACH HOUSE SEAT COULD NOW BE IN PLAY

What’s long been a reliably Republican Virginia House seat representing parts of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach is suddenly in play this election, after redrawn lines have left the 81st District split dead-even between voters on either side of the aisle. Barry Knight, a Virginia Beach farmer and Republican who has represented the district since winning a special election in 2009, aims to beat back a challenge from Democratic newcomer Len Myers, a first-time candidate and consumer rights lawyer from Chesapeake.

‘FRIEND OR FOE?’ THE DEBATE OVER POLICING SCHOOLS TURNS POLITICAL

“We need to get the police out of schools.” The words, spoken by Sheila Bynum-Coleman, a Democratic candidate for the 66th House District, punctuate a recent television ad for her opponent: Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox, a Republican who claims Bynum-Coleman supports removing law enforcement officers from public schools. Bynum-Coleman, however, says the ad distorts her view:

CANDIDATES SPEAK THEIR MINDS AT POWHATAN NAACP’S COMMUNITY FORUM

Twenty men and women vying for the votes of residents shared a little about themselves and their views at a Candidates Community Forum held by the Powhatan County Branch of the NAACP. In an event that lasted a little more than three hours on Saturday, Oct. 19, candidates running for state and local positions talked about their views on a variety of issues.

VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE TO VISIT TO VIRGINIA BEACH

Vice President Mike Pence is headed to Virginia Beach, according to the Republican State Leadership Committee. He’ll be here Nov. 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. on at Kempsville Middle School, 860 Churchill Drive, the organization said.

SHAD PLANK: VCU POLL OFFERS A READ ON DC POLITICS IMPACT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION

If it seems as if the talk about Virginia’s General Assembly elections this year is all about how motivated Democrats and Republicans are by the turmoil in Washington, consider this: Virginians seem pretty evenly split when asked which party they’d like to see in control of the state legislature, a new poll from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Wilder School suggests. That’s a big difference from what the same 801 Virginians told the Wilder School poll when asked about their preferences for the presidency or Congress, or how they felt about impeachment, when Democrats and impeachment or continuing the inquiry won clear majorities.

REPUBLICANS GET HIGH MARKS FROM NRA IN LATEST RATINGS

Virginia Republicans fared well in the National Rifle Association’s latest candidate scorecards, even as some incumbents have tried to distance themselves from the group’s hardline gun policies. All but six GOP candidates received some variation of an “A,” although a handful had no recorded rating. Mary Margaret Kastelberg, a Republican running for a House of Delegates seat who has called for several gun control measures, was the sole Republican to get a failing grade of “D.”

MULTIPLE FACTORS DELAYED HOSPITAL

The final design of a critically needed expansion of Western State Hospital was approved in September, the same month the $18.2 million project was supposed to be completed under a tentative working schedule established two years ago. Under that start date, the 56-bed expansion of the state mental institution in Staunton is 19 months behind schedule.

WEXTON GRILLS ZUCKERBERG ON DOCTORED PELOSI VIDEO

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday that he was personally involved in his company’s handling of a doctored video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that portrayed her as drunk. Zuckerberg’s comments came in response to questioning from U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, a freshman Democrat from Northern Virginia’s 10th District.

VIRGINIA BEACH REP. ELAINE LURIA HAS POINTED EXCHANGE WITH NAVY BRASS OVER SLOW CARRIER MAINTENANCE

As Rep. Elaine Luria sees it, this week’s decision to extend the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln speaks to a more serious problem with the aircraft carrier fleet, and the evidence is front and center in Hampton Roads.

BLACKJEWEL PLANS TO ISSUE PAYCHECKS TO FORMER EMPLOYEES

Former employees of bankrupt coal producer Blackjewel LLC should receive owed wages in the near future, according to recent court filings and an attorney for the company. Blackjewel logo For nearly four months, miners in Southwest Virginia and other parts of Appalachia have gone uncompensated for work completed in the weeks leading up to July 1

FTC ORDERS BALLAD, INSURERS TO TURN OVER BILLING, WAGE AND QUALITY DATA

The Federal Trade Commission has ordered Ballad Health and five insurance companies to turn over patient data so it can further a study about state laws that allow hospitals to form monopolies without federal oversight. The FTC order, dated Oct. 11 and released Monday, gives Ballad Health and Cabell Huntington Hospital in West Virginia — the only other active monopoly formed under a certificate of public advantage, or COPA — until Jan. 21 to file a report

ROANOKE COUNTY NIGHT VISION FACTORY LANDS MAJOR ORDER, CHANGES HANDS

The night vision goggle plant in Roanoke County marked 60 years in the business this year with a new $249 million contract for its top-of-the-line battlefield binoculars. The new contract is driving up employment at the plant on Plantation Road, which currently employs 510 people and has a new owner.

PACKAGING COMPANY PLANS TO OPEN A PLANT IN CHESTERFIELD THAT WILL EMPLOY ABOUT 63 PEOPLE

A packaging company based in Mexico is planning to open a plant in Chesterfield County that will employ 63 people. Cartograf will invest $65.3 million to open a folding and microcorrugated package printing facility in the Meadowville Technology Park, state and local government officials said Wednesday.

HAMPTON COUNCIL GETS A LOOK AT HOW NEW HOT LANES ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT TRAFFIC ON I-64

Most afternoons, eastbound Interstate 64 is a traffic headache that spills into local neighborhoods, especially at Settlers Landing Road and Mallory Street exits. Virginia Department of Transportation officials say it’s only going to get worse, predicting an increase to traffic flow in Hampton Roads over the next two decades.

VIRGINIANS ARE BUYING LESS GAS BUT DRIVING MORE MILES

For the first time ever, Virginians are paying less in gas taxes while driving more, a worrisome milestone for transportation officials concerned about how they’ll pay for roads in a more fuel-efficient future. At a Commonwealth Transportation Board meeting in Richmond last week, state officials said they support technological advances that lead to a cleaner environment, while warning that policymakers across the country have to figure out how to replace the lost gas money.

METRO OFFICIALS DISCUSS SILVER LINE FARES, LATE-NIGHT HOURS IN CONGRESSIONAL HEARING

Lawmakers discussed bringing back late-night hours and Metro’s safety record with Metro officials at a congressional oversight hearing on the transit agency on Tuesday. An ethics investigation into former Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board chair Jack Evans was the focus of most of the hearing, which was led by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations.

DECISION ON 2ND DOMINION TOWER LOOMS LARGE OVER NAVY HILL PROJECT

When Dominion Energy announced this month it will demolish its One James River Plaza office building downtown, it remained noncommittal on whether it will move forward with its previously announced plans for a new tower on the site. That apparent indecision looms large over the financial projections of the proposed Navy Hill development that the company’s CEO is spearheading, potentially determining how much city tax revenue would go toward paying down debt for a new arena that would anchor the massive project.

CREIGHTON COURT EVICTIONS PROMPT OUTCRY, SUSPICION OF RRHA REDEVELOPMENT PLANS

One in eight families living in Creighton Court faced possible eviction by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority on Tuesday. Fifty-two of 410 leaseholders remaining in the East End public housing community that is slated for redevelopment appeared on the Richmond General District Court docket. A judge ruled that RRHA could proceed with evicting 35 from the federally subsidized apartments

SIDDIQI LAMBASTS COUNTY FOR LEGIONELLA FOUND AT ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING

In his sharpest comments on the topic to date, the vice chairman of the Chesterfield School Board last week directly accused the county government of concealing information about a positive Legionella test at one of its facilities in early August – less than a week after it initially notified citizens that the bacteria had been found at a Midlothian elementary school. “It was beyond disheartening to learn the county also had issues with Legionella and they chose to sit on it for two months without disclosing it to the public,” said Javaid Siddiqi, who made the claim during a candidate forum last Thursday

VIRGINIA BEACH TO OPEN CENTER TO OFFER COUNSELING, THERAPY FOR MASS SHOOTING VICTIMS

The VB Strong Center will open next week for a series of open houses, where city employees and the public can view the facility that will provide continued care for victims of the May 31 mass shooting. Sentara Healthcare will manage the center, which will be funded with federal money.

VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD BACKPEDAL ON SCHOOL START TIMES

After researching the issue for three years — and getting strong community support for a change — the School Board voted unanimously last year to revamp school start times. They asked administrators to develop a schedule that could be rolled out in 2020-21 for all levels.

CITY COUNCIL FINALIZES LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE MORE MONEY FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT

Funding for law enforcement responses to mental health crises, an amendment to encourage the formation of an independent airport authority, and pushing the importance of attracting and retaining business in Lynchburg are highlights of the city’s requests to this year’s General Assembly. City Council unanimously voted to adopt the 2020 legislative agenda for the General Assembly

A WORTHWHILE G-7 SUMMIT HOST IS IN VIRGINIA

There are few places in the United States where the fundamental building blocks of our democratic institutions are on full display. The nation’s capital is certainly one of those places. As is Colonial Williamsburg.

ARE NOVEMBER COUNCIL ELECTIONS WHAT THEY SEEM?

It looks as if Roanoke City Council elections will be moving from May to November —with an unexpected twist. Council had originally talked about conducting them in odd-numbered years — to avoid an alignment with presidential elections, when all talk of council issues might be drowned out by the national campaigns. Instead, council members signaled Monday that instead they will do just that.

THE LIMITS OF CONVENIENCE

On-demand services help consumers cross items off their to-do lists with less time and effort. Unmanned aerial vehicles are the next wave of change and the New River Valley is the testing ground for the first commercial drone deliveries. Last Friday, Wing — a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet — partnered with businesses to bring products to homes in Christiansburg.

GRIFFITH: HOW TO GUIDE OUR APPROACH TO OPIOID CRISIS

Oct. 24 marks one year since the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act was signed into law. The SUPPORT Act was a major step forward in the Federal Government’s response to the opioid crisis. It approached the issue through a fact-based, comprehensive, and compassionate approach.

Griffith represents the 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a Republican from Salem