Virginia Oysters Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

Raw oysters from a single Northern Neck harvester have been linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 27 people across 12 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Little Wicomico Oyster Company of Heathsville voluntarily recalled oysters harvested from the Little Wicomico River between Sept. 18 and Oct. 8 after investigators identified the company’s oysters as the common link among the traced cases. Five people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. 

The Virginia Department of Health closed the river in Northumberland County to oyster and clam harvesting on Oct. 9. Virginia has three cases in the CDC count.

Oysters from other Virginia growing areas are not part of the recall. Health officials say cooking kills the bacteria—hot sauce and lemon juice do not.

Panel Backs Itemized Public-Records Fees

A Virginia advisory panel endorsed a proposal Monday that would require government agencies to include an itemized breakdown whenever they give a requester a cost estimate for public records.

The records subcommittee of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council backed the change, proposed by the Virginia Coalition for Open Government. Supporters say it would let requesters see how a fee was calculated and decide whether to narrow or drop a request before paying.

Under current law, agencies may charge up to their “actual cost” to search for and produce records, but they don’t have to show their math. Fee estimates in Virginia have reached the thousands, and occasionally tens of thousands, of dollars. With 133 localities, requesters face a patchwork of approaches.

Past fee-reform efforts have repeatedly stalled in Richmond. The proposal now goes to the full council. Any change would ultimately need General Assembly approval.

Clear Backpacks Required Following Gun Scare

Williamsburg Christian Academy now requires all students to use clear backpacks immediately after a 10-year-old allegedly brought an unloaded handgun onto campus in a backpack last week. 

Head of School Mark Kirk announced the policy in a Monday email to parents, noting the school has already purchased clear bags for those who need them.

The change follows the Oct. 16 incident in which a fifth-grader reportedly showed the gun to a classmate before taking a bus to an after-school program. York-Poquoson Sheriff’s deputies recovered the weapon at BaePlex, the after-school facility, after the school alerted authorities. Officials said there is no ongoing threat.

Additional measures include more frequent locker and backpack checks, inspection of athletic bags, periodic law enforcement presence, and staff safety training. School leaders held a parent town hall Monday and said further long-term security improvements remain under review.

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➤ Statewide: Supporters of Virginia’s three proposed constitutional amendments have out-raised opponents by more than 5-to-1 ahead of the Nov. 3 vote, reporting $4.47 million to $871,061. The amendments cover abortion rights, voting rights for people with felony convictions, and same-sex marriage. (More)

➤ Richmond: Newly released state records show the administrator of Thrive Learning Center East had brought a loaded gun to work before, which staff reportedly called a “normal routine.” On Sept. 25, a 2-year-old got hold of the gun and put it in their mouth. (More)

➤ Also Richmond: Terry Ward, 64, was arrested Oct. 11 on felony abduction and domestic assault charges after allegedly taping his wife to a basement chair so he could watch Sunday Night Football in peace. (More)

➤ Portsmouth: A roughly 100-by-50-foot section of the Portsmouth Pavilion’s concrete pier collapsed Monday night in the venue’s VIP area. The city is investigating the cause and says there’s no risk to the public. (More)

➤ Bristol: Six candidates are running for three city council seats on Nov. 3, and several want the city to claim a bigger share of Hard Rock Casino gaming taxes. Bristol now splits that revenue equally with 13 other Southwest Virginia localities, taking about 7%. (More)

➤ Suffolk: The city is gathering public input on a proposed Martin Luther King Jr. memorial at Peanut Park, honoring King’s 1963 visit. A statue is the early favorite among design options, and the proposal would convert the park’s ballfield to turf for multiple sports. (More)

➤ Lynchburg: City school officials told the school board Tuesday that 13 of the division’s 15 schools missed Virginia’s performance expectations this year, up from 11 last year. (More)

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➤ Anthony Davis scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Washington Wizards opened the season with a 128-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks last night. (More)

➤ Unbeaten James Madison football visits App State tonight at 7 p.m. in Boone. College Football News predicts the Dukes will ride their strong running game to a 31-24 win. (See Preview)

➤ Liberty football, winner of five straight games, is predicted to edge reigning Conference USA champion Kennesaw State 27-24 Thursday in Kennesaw, Georgia. (See Preview)

➤ UVA received 30 votes and Virginia Tech one in the preseason AP women’s basketball poll, leaving both outside the Top 25. (More and See Poll)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | NBA | WNBA | NHL | Soccer

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➤ Journey to Patmos, the island where John wrote the Book of Revelation, and explore the real history behind three of its seven churches. Times of Fire brings ancient prophecy to life through archaeology, history, and Scripture — free to watch from RevelationMedia.

➤ A former nurse has filed a lawsuit alleging Chesapeake Regional Healthcare violated the Fair Labor Standards Act and Virginia Overtime Wage Act by automatically deducting 30 minutes of pay each day for meal breaks, even when employees worked through them. (More)

➤ Richmond’s Planning Commission unanimously recommended approving a special-use permit for Virginia Union University to finish an apartment complex on the grounds of the historic former Richmond Community Hospital. The city council will have the final say. (More)

➤ A Chick-fil-A at Norfolk’s Broad Creek Crossing is preparing to reopen and is hiring 160 full- and part-time workers. A reopening date has not yet been released. (More)

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➤ 19 Things to Stop Paying for When Money Gets Tight. Feeling the squeeze of rising prices? You could be wasting hundreds of dollars on everyday expenses without realizing it. FinanceBuzz reveals 19 surprising things you should consider cutting from your budget, including overlooked expenses that quietly drain your savings. Discover All 19 Money-Saving Tips Here >>

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➤ Norfolk International Airport, on track for its busiest year on record, auctioned off unclaimed lost-and-found items Tuesday, from jewelry and electronics to luggage and even a car. (More)

➤ The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk announced that Clover, an eastern mountain bongo, gave birth to a female calf last week, a milestone for the critically endangered antelope. The mother and calf are bonding. (See Photos)

➤ A one-year Virginia Tech Transportation Institute pilot on Route 460 used thermal cameras, AI software, and roadside signs to warn drivers about elk. Drivers approaching activated signs slowed by an average of 3 mph. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Expiration dates on your groceries are mostly guesses, except for the one you should never ignore. (Listen Now)

➤ An Australian lawmaker lost both of her legs after a car was deliberately driven into her outside her office. (Hear Story)

➤ Passengers began vomiting mid-flight, forcing a priority landing and a hazmat response in Germany. (Hear Details)

Is a roadside wildlife crossing detection system a good idea?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever taken in a stray animal? 

1. Yes: 64%
2. No: 33%
3. Not yet: 3%

Which Hampton Roads city has been called “The Peanut Capital of the World”?

Show me the answer