Miyares, Pence, and Trump Call for Jay Jones to Quit; Tourism Record in Virginia’s Blue Ridge — Oct 7

Catch up on Tuesday, October 7th with the latest headlines across Virginia and the Roanoke Valley:Political fallout grows: Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, Donald Trump, and Mike Pence all urge Democratic AG candidate Jay Jones to end his campaign following reports of violent 2022 text messages.Congressman Ben Cline calls out Abigail Spanberger for continuing to back Jones amid the controversy.New Wason Center poll shows Democrats leading statewide races—but results were gathered before the latest revelations.Free speech report: Virginia colleges like UVA and George Mason rank among the best in the nation for open expression, even as national tolerance for opposing views continues to drop.Election charge: Roanoke County School Board member Tim Greenway faces a misdemeanor over ballot paperwork errors but remains on the November ballot.AARP voter poll: New data shows strong bipartisan support among Virginians on key policy issues.Tourism boom: Spending in Virginia’s Blue Ridge hits a record high—nearly $1 billion in visitor spending last year, with Roanoke driving more than half the total and saving local households nearly $600 each in taxes.🎧 Listen now for your weekday local news update: fast, factual, and focused on the Roanoke Valley and Virginia headlines.