(Newport News, Va.) — Democrat Ralph Northam’s lead over Republican Ed Gillespie has narrowed in the contest to be Virginia’s next governor, according to a tracking poll released Tuesday by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University.

Northam, now lieutenant governor, is the choice of 48% of the likely voters surveyed, while former Republican National Committee Chair Gillespie is the choice of 44%.

Libertarian Cliff Hyra polled at 3%, with 5% undecided. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4.2%.

In the Wason Center’s benchmark poll, released September 25, Northam’s lead stood at 6% (47% to 41%). It grew to 7% (49% to 42%) in the first tracking poll, released October 9.

The current survey is the first in the Wason Center’s tracking series in which Northam’s share shrank as Gillespie’s increased. It is also the first in the series in which Northam’s lead is within the survey’s margin of error.

 

 

Downtown traffic affected as storm sewer upgrades begin

(Danville, Va.) — Patton Street between Craghead and Lynn streets is now closed to through traffic to allow for the start of a storm water drainage project that will affect traffic for six months or more.

The project not only will affect traffic, but Danville bus routes as well.

Danville Transit has established a detour of certain routes due to the construction.

The project will relocate storm water drainage that will be installed along Patton Street in front of the Municipal Building and the James F. Ingram Courthouse.

The project will be conducted in five phases. In the first phase, no through traffic will be allowed between Craghead and Lynn streets. Lynn and Market streets will remain open during this phase, which is expected to take one month to complete, weather permitting. (Photo: Richard T. Davis)

 
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Facebook to locate data center in Henrico County

(Richmond, Va.) (AP) — Facebook plans to build a massive new data center in Virginia.

The social media giant announced Thursday that it selected a spot in Henrico County, just outside Richmond, to build a new $750 million foot data center.

Company officials said it would be one of the most advanced and energy-efficient data centers in the world.

Facebook is partnering with electric utility Dominion Energy to offset the energy used by the data center with power produced by new solar installations around the state. Dominion said it will file a new energy rate with state regulators later this month.

Facebook will be eligible for millions of dollars in state and local tax breaks for the new project, which officials said will create thousands of construction jobs and 100 full-time employees when complete.

 
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Lawsuit over Confederate statues moves forward

(Charlottesville, Va.) — A judge in Virginia says a lawsuit over Charlottesville’s plans to remove a Confederate statue should go forward.

Judge Richard Moore ruled against the city’s request to drop the lawsuit.

A group of plaintiffs sued after Charlottesville’s City Council voted earlier this year to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Among other things, they say doing so would violate a state law that protects memorials for war veterans.

Controversy over the statue sparked an August rally of white nationalists that descended into violent chaos. Charlottesville has since shrouded the monument with a black shroud as a symbol of mourning for the woman who was killed.

The city council has also since voted to remove another statue of Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.

 

 

 
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