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A federal grand jury has indicted Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and six others in an alleged racketeering conspiracy. Lucas faces five counts, including racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, money laundering, honest services fraud and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Two other defendants face firearms and wire fraud charges. Lucas turned herself in after the indictment was unsealed, appeared briefly in federal court and was released on her own recognizance. The charges follow an FBI raid on her office in May and reports in September that her phone had been wiretapped. Lucas has vowed to fight the case and says she will not be intimidated. Tom Perriello spent a Monday campaigning through Virginia’s 5th District, stopping at grocery stores in Keysville and Victoria to talk with shoppers about food prices and employees about the cost of doing business. The stops were part of “24 Hours of Tom,” a campaign blitz through 24 localities that began at 8 a.m. and ran around the clock. Perriello says economic hardship could help him build a coalition across party lines against Republican incumbent John McGuire. A Washington Post–Schar School poll in early October put McGuire 6 points ahead, just outside the margin of error. Four candidates for two open Radford City Council seats faced questions at a Cardinal News forum Thursday, with about 50 people listening at the Radford Library. The city’s financial troubles took center stage: candidates discussed underestimated revenue projections, the use of enterprise funds to balance the general fund and how to keep costs in check. They also fielded questions about data centers and Flock license plate reader cameras. Chad McClanahan did not respond to the invitation; Jonathan Stewart, Doug Kanipe, Charlie Meeks and Bill Kovarik participated. Voters will choose two new council members, with no incumbents on the ballot. Carilion Clinic has broken ground on a 40,000-square-foot facility in Daleville, adding a freestanding emergency department and outpatient care to its existing Family Medicine site. Emergency services will occupy the first floor; the second will house general surgery, orthopedics, cardiology, OB-GYN and imaging. The project is expected to be completed in 2027, expanding Carilion’s current 25,000-square-foot facility. It will be the only full-service hospital emergency room within Botetourt County’s borders, bringing emergency care and specialty services closer to Daleville residents. Virginia’s 2027 health insurance Marketplace opens Nov. 1, with state-funded premium savings available to some residents with low to moderate incomes. The Virginia Premium Savings program is aimed at eligible people whose household income is between 138% and 250% of the federal poverty level — about $22,000 to $39,900 for an individual, or $45,540 to $82,500 for a family of four. The state estimates 200,000 Virginians could qualify. Enrollment by Dec. 15 is needed for coverage starting Jan. 1; open enrollment runs through Jan. 29, but later sign-ups could mean a gap in coverage.

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