Kaine and Law Enforcement React to Jay Jones Fallout; Franklin Co. Eyes Airbnb Rules; Youngkin Expands Housing Plan — Oct 13

It's Monday, October 13th. I'm Ian Price. Here's our top local story. With Virginia's general election around the corner, tensions are rising in the race for governor. During their only live debate, the two major party candidates addressed key issues, including those affecting the LGBTQ plus community. WFIR's Connor Arthur begins our election team coverage with more. Election Day is just weeks away and historic first is on the line. Who will become Virginia's first female governor? In their only live debate, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger clashed on issues ranging from immigration to the text message scandal involving Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones. Tensions rose when the discussion shifted to same-sex marriage and transgender policy. in schools. Abigail Spanberger accused Winsome Earle-Sears of opposing gay marriage, a stance Democrats have defended since the Obama era. My opponent has previously said that she does not think that gay couples should be allowed to marry. That's not discrimination. She thinks it's okay for someone to be fired from their job for being gay. That is discrimination. Winsome Earle-Sears pushed back on the claim by shifting focus to transgender policies, stating that biological men should not be allowed in female law. She voted for men nude in girls' locker rooms, in bathrooms, and in girls' sports. She will refuse to protect our girls in Title IX, which is simply an opportunity for girls to have their safe space. Are you going to change in a gym where men are nude in the locker rooms? Are you going to do that, Abigail? The choice of Virginia's next governor is now in the hands of the people, with election day set for November 4th and early voting still underway. Connor Arthur, WFIR News. Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Kaine offers his take on the gubernatorial debate between fellow Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican lieutenant governor wins some Winsome Earle-Sears. More from WFIRS, G. Morano. Abigail Spanberger, who left Congress to run for Virginia governor, has been ahead consistently in recent polling. Tim Kaine supports his Democrat colleague and said she did well last Thursday. Virginians know that these are serious times. You've got to be a serious and disciplined person to be governor. in challenging times like this. And they saw that from Abigail, seriousness of purpose, policy focus, respect, but also discipline. And what they saw from her opponent was a very kind of unsteady set of interruptions and unwillingness to follow the rules of the debate. B.Jay Jones' controversy was a point of attack for Winsome Earle-Sears, who tried to pin Abigail Spanberger down on whether she would ask Jay Jones that resigned from the ticket as a Democratic attorney general candidate. Kane was asked if better vetting of Jay Jones might have uncovered text. about former delegate Todd Gilbert and the police. I don't know how you discover somebody's private text messages in vetting to another person. If the other person doesn't release them, the whole circumstance of when these were known, when they were put in the hands of the individuals who've disclosed them. I mean, my sense is they were probably known a long time ago by a tiny handful of folks on the Republican side who waited to use them. No other Abigail Spanberger Winsome Earle-Sears debates have been scheduled before the election. Jay Jones and current... Republican Attorney General Jason Miari's are scheduled to debate this Thursday night. Gene Marano, WFIR News. The Bedford County Sheriff's Office is joining other law enforcement agencies and condemning Attorney General Candidate Jay Jones over his recent revealed text messages. In an open letter released Friday, Sheriff Mike Miller and the Department called the comments deeply troubling and said threats or references to violence are incompatible with the standards of integrity required for the state's top law enforcement position.

The chairman of Virginia's Republican Party believes the top of the statewide Democratic ticket is quietly quitting on the current candidate for Attorney General. The chair of the Republican Party of Virginia, Mark Peake, tells Fox News. Abigail Spanberger not endorsing Jay Jones is telling. They're abandoned him. They're abandoned him quietly. They won't come out and take a public stand because they're... Cowards. The guy is dangerous. He has no business being on a statewide ticket. His two running mates should say something about it. Abigail Spanberger like she has been on so many of the issues. Jay Jones is scheduled to debate as a Republican opponent and the Commonwealth's current Attorney General Jason Mierrez on Thursday. Leaders in Franklin County are considering a zoning change that could make it easier for homeowners to rent out their property short-term through platforms like Airbnb. The proposal would allow short-term rentals in residential zoning districts without a special use permit, which is currently required. The potential change would especially affect the West Lake area around Smith Mountain Lake, where some full-time residents say short-term guests have caused noise and safety issues. Supporters, including local realtors, argue the change could help boost tourism and property sales, though they also want safeguards to prevent large companies from buying up homes for rentals. The Franklin County Planning Commission will discuss the proposal at a work session on November 12th before any vote is taken. Roanoke City Planning Commission will hold two public hearings tomorrow on proposed rezoning for new developments in the city. One proposal would allow for a 195-unit townhome community called the Brandon Station Community. on about 28 acres off Stratford Park Drive. The land is owned by the same group that manages the nearby Brandon Point Apartments and is currently undeveloped. The applicant is requested to lift a 1996 condition limiting the property to 60 units and add new safety and access requirements, including sidewalks and multiple entry points. A traffic study found the project would have minimal impact on surrounding roads. A second proposal would rezone a former New Horizons health care building. This is on Valley View Boulevard for use as a residential substance use treatment center. The 80-bed facility would provide inpatient care for up to 30 days and offer both detoxification and rehabilitation services. After more than two decades on Franklin Road, George's Flowers is preparing to relocate as part of the city's flood mitigation plan. Owner George Clements says repeated flooding over the years has damaged greenhouses and wiped out inventory. And the move will help secure the shop's future. He tells WDBJ7, he was considering moving before the city received a state flood mitigation grant to buy and demolish the property, which will later become an open park space. It is very comforting to know that this is a situation that helps us out and, you know, eventually gets us into an area that will be safer and not prone to flooding.

Clement says a florist will stay in the Roanoke area and hopes to reopen in a larger location within the next year, possibly still along Franklin Road. He plans to expand with classroom space and a bigger flower market. Lynchburg City Council will discuss a proposed zoning amendment tomorrow that could change how abortion clinics are defined and where they can operate. The proposal would create a separate category for abortion clinics, requiring them to apply for conditional use permits instead of being permitted by right. The change would also have distance requirements from schools, parks, and residential areas. There are currently no abortion clinics operating in Lynchburg, according to Cardinal News, and the city's plan parenthood closed in 2009. If the council moves forward, the measure would next go to the Planning Commission for public hearings before a final vote. The governor of Virginia is touting a new round of funding for the Virginia Workforce Housing Investment Program. WFIRS Clark Palmer has that story. During a recent press conference, Governor Glenn Youngkin can announce the Workforce Housing Investment Program is committing $75 million over five years with the potential to generate $750 million and build 5,000 units of workforce housing in conjunction with economic development projects coming to the Commonwealth. Glenn Youngkin says the success of the first round of awards and the increased demand for the success in job creation have created a high demand for another round of funding. Because what we are seeing... is that when we can couple support from Virginia housing in our administration with economic development, then we can match housing needs with that growing employment base. And we can do something incredibly special in Virginia. The additional $15 million announced would not change these $75 million intended for the program. Governor Glenn Youngkin says the program provides loans, loan subsidies, and grants to support communities developing housing for homeowners and renters making 80% to 120% of the area media income. Imagine that you are accepting one of these great jobs. A great job at maybe at Lily or AstraZeneca or again, maybe at Hitachi again. And you accept the job of your dreams. You see yourself able to build a career. And on top of that, you're able to move in to a brand new home. Workforce Housing Investment Program awards of up to $3 million are available to localities within a set radius of a new or expanding business where a qualified job announcement was made within the previous fiscal year. Clark Palmer. WFIR News. An Appomattox County Farm helped bring a touch a fall to Virginia's executive mansion this week, Darkleaf Farm. A third-generation family operation delivered pumpkins to First Lady Suzanne Glenn Youngkin on Friday as part of an annual tradition organized by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Pumpkin Growers Association. Owners Bruce and Joanne Jay Jones and their four children brought the pumpkins from their farm in Appomatics and Campbell counties.

In return, the First Lady presented them with a proclamation from Governor Glenn Youngkin, declaring October as Virginia Pumpkin Month. Virginia ranks eighth in the nation for pumpkin production, with farmers harvesting more than 4,700 acres of pumpkins last year worth nearly $15 million. Two local World War II veterans are celebrating remarkable milestones, their 100th and 101st birthdays, and the community came together this weekend to honor their service. Friends, family, and fellow veterans filled Mission Barbecue in Roanoke to celebrate Joan Eakin, who turned 101, and Mary and Noel, who turned 100. Eakin served in the U.S. Army's 34th Division in northern Italy and earned the Bronze Star Medal for bravery. Noel joined the U.S. Navy at 18, serving a major Pacific battles, including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Both men say they're grateful for long lives and the freedom of their generation fought to protect. That's the latest. Check back tomorrow for our next update. Ian Price, WFIR News.