Early Voting Begins Today

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears picked up the endorsement of 81 sheriffs during the annual meeting of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate promised to provide tax relief to officers if she is elected. “We’re going to provide incentives. I’m going to exempt the first $20,000 of their salaries from taxation,” Earle-Sears said.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger received endorsements from across the aisle from two people who served with her in the House of Representatives: former Republican Reps. Denver Riggleman and Barbara Comstock. Last month, she accepted an endorsement from the statewide Police Benevolent Association.

Early voting for the November elections begins today, and election officials say they need volunteers to help at the polls. Any registered voter is eligible to pitch in.

Data Centers Raise Energy Cost Concerns

It is difficult to say exactly how many data centers there are across the Commonwealth. Permits are continually being issued, and new facilities are being built. Some estimates state that half of the country’s data centers are in Virginia.

Last month, the Caroline County Board of Supervisors approved plans for a 650-acre data center campus valued at approximately $8.8 billion. A Google data center planned for Botetourt County would use as many as 8 million gallons of water daily. Amazon recently unveiled plans for a third data center in Louisa County.

At a recent roundtable forum on energy, voters expressed concerns about the increase in demand for electricity. “This is the first time I’ve really seen energy as part of the conversation during election season,” the director of Virginia’s Department of Energy said.

National Guard Trains to Support ICE

Virginia National Guard (VNG) members trained this week to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations throughout the state. Additional troops—as many as 60 soldiers—will mobilize by the end of September.

“VNG personnel will not conduct law enforcement functions, and VNG support will not include making arrests,” spokesperson Cotton Puryear said. Instead, VNG members will answer phones, enter data, fix vehicles, and track fleet expenses.

VNG remains under the authority of Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the Adjutant General of Virginia. The mission is scheduled to end by Nov. 15.

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➤ Loudoun County: A federal judge ruled that Loudoun County Public Schools must hold off on suspending or otherwise punishing two boys who complained about a female student who identifies as male using the boys’ locker room at Stone Bridge High School. LCPS had imposed a 10-day suspension. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: City officials said they are working to replace temporary flood pumps with permanent ones that could be more effective during future storms. Parts of the city flooded this week when more than 7 inches of rain fell. (More)

➤ Fairfax: Former Vice President Mike Pence joined the faculty at George Mason University. Pence will be a professor of practice in the policy and government school. (Details)

➤ Chesapeake: The city police seized about 36 pounds of marijuana, more than $14,000 in cash, and 13 firearms during a raid this week. (Details)

➤ Fairfax County: Fairfax County Public Schools is using the FBI’s Rap Back program through a collaboration with Virginia State Police to perform continuous background checks on employees. (Details)

➤ Statewide: Gov. Glenn Youngkin ordered every state agency and institution to fly the POW/MIA flag for National POW/MIA Recognition Day today. (More)

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➤ Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin, and Spirit forward Trinity Rodman all made Northern Virginia magazine’s list of the 50 most influential people in the region. (Details)

➤ UVA men’s golf, ranked No. 2, finished second in its first golf tournament of the year. Senior Ben James finished third on the individual leaderboard. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech women’s tennis opens its fall season today at the Jimmy Powell Invitational in Elon, N.C. (Details)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Gov. Glenn Youngkin is scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting at Wrap Technologies’ manufacturing headquarters in Norton today. The company plans to create 120 jobs at the site. (Details)

➤ Virginia’s casinos increased their revenue by more than 30% year-over-year in August. The Virginia Lottery, which supervises casinos, said revenue reached $84.4 million last month. (More)

➤ ABB, an electrical engineering company, said it will spend $28.5 million to expand its Henrico County facilities. It expects to add 100 new jobs. (Details)

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➤ The Virginia Department of Education said it was granted more than $1 million from the state’s opioid settlement funding. It will spend the money to support student behavioral health. (Details)

➤ Virginia’s Office of Vital Records has simplified the process of getting a birth certificate, allowing new parents to obtain one in two days instead of waiting several weeks. (More)

➤ Virginia native Steve Earle will become a member of the Grand Ole Opry this year. (Details)

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Will you vote today?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet

Thursday’s Results:

Will you pick up a box of Ovi’s Great Crunch cereal? 

1. No: 56%
2. Maybe: 23%
3. Yes: 21%

What year was the Virginia colony established?

Show me the answer