Virginians Deploy to Jamaica

Members of Virginia Task Force 1 deployed to Jamaica to assist the country in recovering from the effects of Hurricane Melissa. The team transports emergency managers, medical personnel, and structural engineering specialists to disaster-ravaged areas.

The deployment includes 34 people and four rescue dogs. Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm this week, the most powerful to ever hit the island.

The Virginia-based NGO Mercy Chefs will also travel to Jamaica to deliver meals and emergency supplies to families.

Zoo Owner Surrenders

One of the owners of the Natural Bridge Zoo has been sentenced to spend the next 100 days in jail. Gretchen Mogensen reported to the Rockbridge Regional Jail after refusing to comply with a judge’s order that she testify about the status of two missing baby giraffes.

The attorney general’s office seized almost 100 animals from the roadside zoo two years ago, including four giraffes that were too large to move. The giraffes have been the subject of legal cases ever since.

Two of the adult giraffes apparently gave birth this year, and the babies are property of Virginia, yet officials have never seen them and don’t know where the giraffe calves may be.

Attorney General Race Update

Republican incumbent Jason Miyares led Democrat Jay Jones for attorney general in the final Roanoke College public opinion poll conducted before election day on Tuesday. The survey of more than 1,000 likely voters showed Miyares ahead 46% to 38%.

Both men sat down separately with a Roanoke television station to answer questions on the issues. The interview with Jones was conducted last month, before the controversial text messages he sent in 2022 were revealed.

Jones promised to use the power of the office to push back against Trump administration policies. “I think we can use the attorney general’s office in an affirmative way to really help people in these challenging times,” he said, specifically citing tariff policy and healthcare spending cuts.

Miyares celebrated the success of programs such as Operation Ceasefire, which has helped reduce violent crime during his tenure. “We’re so proud of this huge drop we’ve had in the violent crime rate after me inheriting an office in a Virginia that had such high levels.“

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➤ Fairfax County: A teacher filed a defamation lawsuit against the school system after it released a report that said her claims that a school social worker helped a student get an abortion were likely “false and fabricated.” “I was absolutely slandered,” Zenaida Perez said. (Details)

➤ Newport News: Abigail Zwerner, a former teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student in her classroom three years ago, took the stand in her $40 million civil suit against the Newport News School Division. “I thought I had died. I thought I was either on my way to heaven or in heaven,” she told jurors. (Details)

➤ Rockingham County: The campaign bus for Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears caught fire on the way to an event yesterday. Nobody was hurt in the incident. (Photo)

➤ Richmond: The state senate is considering whether to advance a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to draw new congressional districts in the middle of a cycle. The Democrat-controlled House of Delegates passed the bill on Wednesday. (More)

➤ Washington, D.C.: Rep. James Walkinshaw introduced a resolution to commemorate Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who was a resident of Tysons when he was killed in Turkey at the direction of Saudi royals. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner intend to introduce a matching resolution. (More)

➤ Orange County: The corn maze at Liberty Mills Farm closed for the season after its owners said they were accosted by angry customers. “Being accused of being racist, the disrespect that was shown to us by college students, disrespect to our business, it hurt,” Kent Woods said. (Details)

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➤ James Franklin, the recently fired Penn State head coach, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Virginia Tech head coach opening. Franklin led the Nittany Lions to a 104-45 record during his tenure. (Details)

➤ Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin re-injured his quad and will miss the team’s game against Seattle on Sunday. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has been practicing this week and might play. (More)

➤ The Washington Wizards added former players John Wall and Brendan Haywood to their television broadcast team. (Details)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ Norfolk City Council approved a rezoning request that could clear the way for Colonna’s Shipyard to launch an $80 million expansion that would bring a fourth drydock along the Elizabeth River. (Details)

➤ The Commonwealth was ranked the 13th best state in which to find a job in 2025 by WalletHub. (More)

➤ Virginia Pumpkin Month ends today. Almost 400 Commonwealth farms grew 4,700 acres of pumpkins last year, valued at nearly $15 million. (Details)

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Double your impact—Jamaica recovery

Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica with 185 mph winds, catastrophic flooding, and landslides that have left families homeless and communities cut off.

But help is on the way. Convoy of Hope is providing food, water, hygiene kits, baby care items, tents, tarps, and other emergency supplies for people who need them most. You can be part of this URGENT response with your generous donation, helping people who’ve lost everything.

And right now, The Flyover is matching the first $2,000 in donations, doubling every dollar you give. This means your quick response can help twice as many families recover.

➤ The Virginia Department of Forestry reported that most of the state is at or past peak fall foliage. “You’ll never see ALL of the leaves in fall splendor at the same time,” the report noted. (Details)

➤ As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday next summer, Virginia is leading the way with the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, known as VA250. (More)

➤ The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources urged hunters to take down more female deer this year as a way to thin the population. Last year, fewer than half the deer killed were does. (Details)

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What’s your favorite Halloween song?

1. Monster Mash
2. Ghostbusters
3. Werewolves of London
4. Halloween movie theme
5. Thriller
6. Other

Thursday’s Results:

Is your house decorated for Halloween? 

1. No: 40%
2. Yes: 32%
3. Not this year: 28%

How many signers of the Declaration of Independence hailed from Virginia?

Show me the answer