All eyes on Chesterfield Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th, carried all 10 of the district's counties in defeating Democrat Eileen Bedell in 2016. That includes Henrico and Chesterfield, the suburban Richmond behemoths that accounted for more than 60 percent of the votes cast in that contest. As he tries to hold off Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger on Nov. 6, voting patterns indicate Brat will again do well in the eight largely rural counties outside suburban Richmond. As Patrick Wilson reports, that means Chesterfield, a traditional Republican stronghold that is showing signs of change, could be the make-or-break battleground. READ MORE |
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Assisted living facility forced to relocate residents after bed bugs, theft and deaths  DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/TIMES-DISPATCH | Bridget Balch reports that the Department of Social Services is shutting down a Richmond assisted living facility that has had documented bed bug infestations, soiled bed sheets, filthy toilets, mismanaged medication and five preventable deaths within the past two years. Authorities have relocated about 30 of the roughly 50 residents who were living at Jones & Jones at 7806 Forest Hill Ave. They're trying to find new homes for the 17 who remain there, but don't have a timeline for their placement, said Cletisha Lovelace, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Social Services. The facility has been operating without a licensed administrator since the license of the former administrator, Mable Jones, was suspended on April 24 amid a list of allegations, including stealing from residents' Social Security accounts to pay for gambling and vacations. READ MORE |
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Gun thefts soar in Richmond region and the consequences can be devastating  Chesterfield police | Mark Bowes reports that every day last year at least one gun on average was reported stolen from someone's car or truck in the Richmond metropolitan area. When including homes, businesses and other locations, nearly 2.5 firearms were reported stolen on average each day in either Richmond or the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover. The thefts have been rising over the last decade, and authorities say there's no sign it will abate until gun owners take more responsibility for securing their firearms, especially in their vehicles. Local police have taken 5,873 reports of firearm thefts in the region from 2010 to 2017, and many of those involve the loss of multiple weapons. Nearly a third were taken from vehicles - a great many of which were unlocked. READ MORE |
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Richmond parents want a charter middle school. It faces an uphill battle.  JOE MAHONEY | Justin Mattingly reports that Richmond is home to two charter schools - and considered a third in 2015 that never launched. A majority of the city's school board is reluctant to approve a proposal for a new charter school that would be a middle school. The idea was floated this month by some parents of students at Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, above, a public charter elementary school in Richmond's South Side. Virginia is one of six states that leave the decision on whether or not to authorize a charter school to each school board. Charter schools advocates say that cripples their ability to get alternate options off the ground. Mattingly reports that some Richmond schools officials are wary of watching limited dollars needed for the city's current underperforming schools follow students elsewhere. READ MORE |
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Wittman and Williams condemn mailing of pipe bombs and urge civil political discourse  Dan Currier | Graham Moomaw reports that during a debate Thursday night in Hanover County, Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, called the mailing of pipe bombs to prominent Democrats "acts of terrorism." Democrat Vangie Williams said the mailings "will go down in history as a shame on our country." READ MORE Wittman and Williams debated the night before authorities announced the arrest of a Florida man in connection with the case. The Associated Press reported that on Wednesday in Virginia Beach Vice President Mike Pence condemned the mailing of the bombs, saying "threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America." Pence appeared at a Regent University rally for Rep. Scott Taylor, R-2nd. In another Virginia congressional contest, Michael Martz reports that the 4th District race, where Democratic incumbent Don McEachin faces Republican Ryan McAdams, has drawn high-profile campaign stops from Pence and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. READ MORE |
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IN OTHER NEWS • Political columnist Jeff Schapiro notes that a three-judge panel is giving Virginians a chance to actually be heard on redistricting. READ MORE • In another column, Schapiro recounts that an actual U.S. Nazi ran for governor of Virginia in 1965. READ MORE • In our latest Capitol Chat podcast, Schapiro and political reporter Graham Moomaw discuss what could be baby steps toward legalized marijuana in Virginia. LISTEN HERE • John Ramsey reports that a Chesterfield man was sentenced on Friday to five years behind bars for hiding the body of a woman who overdosed in his house. READ MORE • Graham Moomaw reports that Virginia officials scrambled to prep costly state shelters for Hurricane Florence. Was there a better way? READ MORE • Michael Martz reports that the Virginia Lottery netted about $16 million in profit from the Mega Millions multistate sweepstakes in the past week. READ MORE |
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Shot of the week  BOB BROWN | Patrick Wilson and Bridget Balch report that Attorney General Mark Herring said Wednesday that his office and Virginia State Police are investigating sexual abuse within the two Catholic dioceses in Virginia. Herring announced a new confidential hotline for people to report sexual abuse by clergy. READ MORE |
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| "That's why robbers rob banks – because that's where they keep the money. You have to go where the votes are." - Garren Shipley, Virginia communications director for the Republican National Committee, emphasizing the importance of Chesterfield County in the 7th District congressional race. |
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