Good morning from the Mercury.
“A vote is the only way to hope things change. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.”- Wally Bunker, a 7th District respondent to The Mercury’s reader survey who named higher food prices as his top concern but doubted any congressional candidate could effectively address them.
Virginia Mercury readers who responded to an election survey cited concerns about rising costs, healthcare access and whether congressional candidates would address their priorities. (Photo illustration by States Newsroom)
By Markus Schmidt
Rising bills, concerns about the state of democracy and frustration with both political parties are weighing on Virginia Mercury readers ahead of next week’s midterm elections, with many questioning whether the candidates can deliver the changes they want.
More than 350 readers responded to The Mercury’s online survey between Sept. 22 and Oct. 17, describing the issues that matter most to them and whether congressional candidates are paying attention.
The voluntary survey was not a scientific poll, and its findings do not represent Virginia voters as a whole. Many respondents voiced opposition to President Donald Trump alongside concerns about healthcare, food prices and energy costs.
A view of an automated license plate reader in Northern Virginia. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
By Nathaniel Cline
A Virginia prosecutor’s recent decision not to charge a police officer for sharing license plate reader data with federal authorities without authorization could spur reform efforts in the commonwealth.
Automated license plate readers, commonly used to identify vehicles and investigate crimes, have drawn criticism over privacy concerns and alleged misuse, sparked disagreement over how they’re used by authorities, and forced local governments to reconsider contracts.
Under state law, law-enforcement agencies may share data obtained through ALPR systems under certain circumstances. The statute prohibits sharing or disseminating the data to “any database of any other state, federal, private, or commercial entity.”
Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)
By Charlotte Rene Woods
Virginia-based nonprofit health system Sentara announced last week that it has started using artificial intelligence technology to assist with patient monitoring and discharges.
Regard is an AI system that integrates with electronic health records. Co-founder and president Nate Wilson said it’s used by more than 150 hospitals across the country. Dr. Rollin Reeder, chief health information officer at Sentara, said that all 12 of the health system’s hospitals now use Regard.
By Shannon Heckt
Cumberland County has promised Dominion Energy two million gallons of water a day from Cobbs Creek Reservoir for its proposed three gigawatt natural gas plant. But technically, the water is not yet theirs to give away.
The county board of supervisors voted 3-1 on Tuesday night to approve the conditional use permit for the natural gas plant that would become the second largest in the nation if it is fully approved by regulators and state agencies.
COMMENTARY
By Roger Chesley
Larry Sabato, the decades-long University of Virginia political analyst, had a dire warning for Republican congressional candidates last week:
You’re going down in the U.S. House of Representatives. And you might lose your slim majority in the U.S. Senate, too, after the Nov. 3 elections.
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