Verdict in School Shooting Trial

A jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Abigail Zwerner, in her civil trial in Newport News. It awarded $10 million in damages, less than the $40 million she had sought.

Zwerner was a first-grade teacher in 2023 when she was shot in her classroom at Richneck Elementary by a 6-year-old student. “I thought I had died,” she testified last week. “I thought I was either on my way to heaven or in heaven.“

The jury ruled that Ebony Parker, the school’s former assistant principal, had been grossly negligent by failing to prevent the shooting. That day, several teachers had warned Parker that the student was armed, but she did not attempt to search him for a weapon.

A bullet narrowly missed Zwerner’s heart, and it remains lodged in her body. Parker has also been indicted on eight criminal charges of child abuse and neglect.

Fewer Flights From Virginia Airports

All three D.C.-area airports, including Dulles (IAD) and Reagan National (DCA) in Virginia, are on the Federal Aviation Administration list of facilities that will see a 10% reduction in traffic starting today.

The agency is trimming travel in 40 “high-volume” markets to reduce pressure on air traffic controllers during the ongoing government shutdown.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said DCA had been unable to recruit and retain enough air traffic controllers even before the shutdown, which is adding stress for those who remain on the job.

There are about 1,110 air traffic controllers in Virginia, and all are working without pay. The White House has hinted that they may not receive back pay when the government reopens.

How UVA Football Built a Winner

The University of Virginia football team is on a roll coming into this weekend’s home match-up against Wake Forest.

The Cavaliers have won seven straight and would be the No. 11 seed in the College Football Playoff if the season ended today.

How did UVA build a winner so quickly after three straight losing seasons? Coach Tony Elliott, athletic director Carla Williams, and their team of recruiters deserve credit for rebuilding the roster through the transfer portal.

Donors, mostly anonymous, have contributed several million dollars over the past year to fund pay for players. The Cavs signed 32 transfers, including quarterback Chandler Morris, to engineer the speedy turnaround.

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➤ Statewide: Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger named nine people to run her transition team. The list includes several who worked with Spanberger in Congress, as well as some who have held positions in the Commonwealth’s education and political systems. (The Team)

➤ Arlington: The starting annual salary for county police officers will increase to almost $90,000 next year from its current level of $72,000. The bump will make ACPD the highest-paid force in the D.C. area. (More)

➤ Lynchburg: The city hired a recruiting firm to lead its search for a new police chief. The city will host a meeting on Nov. 19 to gather input from citizens about the process. (Details)

➤ Norfolk: Mercy Chefs, a disaster relief organization, handed out 500 boxed meals to furloughed government workers and military families. It was part of the group’s Feed the Force initiative aimed at helping servicemembers during the government shutdown. (Details)

➤ Botetourt County relocated its Confederate monument to make space for a new courthouse. The obelisk and other historic markers will be reinstalled in a new monument park in a nearby government complex. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads Transit will keep offering $2 rides within a 15-square-mile radius in Virginia Beach and a 20-square-mile zone in Newport News through the end of the year. The service is part of the OnDemand transit pilot program. (Details)

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➤ Washington Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin scored his 900th regular-season goal, becoming the first player in league history to do so. (Details)

➤ Virginia Tech men’s basketball is ranked No. 66 by the KenPom index, while analyst Jay Bilas has slotted them at No. 44. (More)

➤ UVA men’s basketball hosts North Carolina Central tonight. (Score)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | Soccer | PGA |NCAAF | NCAAM | NCAAW 

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➤ Newport News Shipbuilding laid off more than 100 workers. The employees had been furloughed over the summer by parent company Huntington Ingalls Industries. (Details)

➤ Rivers Casino Portsmouth employees voted overwhelmingly to unionize. Under the agreement, workers will get almost 16% in raises over the life of the contract. (More)

➤ A LEGO store is scheduled to open today at Short Pump Town Center in Henrico. The company is also building a $1.5 billion factory, slated to open in 2027. (Details)

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➤ Norfolk (No. 28) and Richmond (No. 47) moved down in this year’s list of the country’s rattiest cities, compiled by Orkin. (Details)

➤ Krop’s Crops in Great Falls is working to reopen two months after it was mostly destroyed by a barn fire. It plans to sell Christmas trees from an outdoor location. (More)

➤ The Presidential Fitness Test will be required in Virginia schools next year under an executive order from Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The original program was phased out in 2012. (Details)

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When do you decorate for Christmas?

1. Before Thanksgiving
2. After Thanksgiving
3. After Dec. 1
4. All year round!
5. Humbug

Thursday’s Results:

Do you separate your garbage and recycling? 

1. Always: 42%
2. Never: 30%
3. Sometimes: 28%

Who was Virginia’s longest-serving U.S. senator?

Show me the answer