“These types of fires peak on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), many home cooking fires involve the stovetop/cooktop with unattended cooking as the common cause of these fires.” Read More

Virginia State Police: “Virginia’s highways and roads are likely to be crowded this holiday season, as people head out for parties, family trips, and visits with family and friends. While time is precious, rushing to get to your destination may end up meaning not getting there at all. Virginia State Police urge motorists to take a moment, assess the conditions, and give other drivers the correct time and space so that everyone arrives safely at their destination.”
“In 2022, there were 24,633 crashes caused by drivers following another vehicle too closely, 11% of all crashes that occurred on Virginia roadways. Last year, seven people died in Virginia traffic crashes resulting from vehicles following too closely.”
“The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles recommends using what is known as the ‘two, three, and four-second rule’ to guide whether you are following behind another vehicle too closely. If you are driving 35 MPH or less, allow two seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you are driving 35 to 45 MPH, allow three seconds between vehicles. Four seconds should be allowed between vehicles for speeds above 45 MPH. These times are for dry surfaces. “
“Drivers driving in wet conditions, drowsy conditions or behind a motorcycle or bicycle should add additional time.”
“The national average for a Thanksgiving meal for 10 in 2023 is $61.17, down from a record high of $64.05 in 2022, according to an annual survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation.”

The Center Square: “Just one week after Virginia’s fierce General Assembly election, 2024 is already shaping to be another dramatic election year for the commonwealth, regardless of being a presidential election year.”
“Incumbent Democratic Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton have announced they will not be seeking reelection, while a slew of congressional hopefuls are now circling their seats.”
National Weather Service: “Dry conditions tonight, lows in the 40s. Smoke from nearby wildfires continue to produce hazy skies & poor air quality. Find more info at state air quality websites.”

The Center Square: “The Virginia Public Access Project, a go-to source for Virginia election information, hosted an “After Virginia Votes” panel discussing the General Assembly election in retrospect and how Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the Democratic legislative majority can work together.”
“After coming together to pitch a Springfield warehouse as the best site for the law enforcement agency’s new headquarters, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined Democratic senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Virginia’s bipartisan House delegation last Thursday (Nov. 9) to blast the federal government for awarding the facility to Prince George’s County instead.”
“Most recently rescheduled for 2023, the project’s completion has been pushed back to 2024.”

The Center Square: “A coalition of 26 state attorneys general is calling on the new U.S. Speaker of the House to pass a Florida-sponsored bill that would grant states the authority to enforce federal immigration law when the federal government refuses to do so.”
“The AGs, led by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, on Monday. In it, they called on Congress to pass U.S. Rep. Bill Posey’s bill, the Immigration Enforcement Partnership Act. Posey, R-Florida, first filed the measure in 2022 and again in March 2023.”