Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, will become Virginia’s first Black speaker of the House of Delegates after a unanimous party election Saturday. If Democrats back Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, for chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee as expected, Hampton Roads is poised to exert a new level of influence in the General Assembly.—Associated Press, Virginian-Pilot• “House Speaker Todd Gilbert fought off an effort to oust him from Republican House leadership on Sunday, defeating a group of GOP delegates who blamed their party’s losses in Tuesday’s elections on his failure to stand up to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s political team and their strategy to highlight abortion late in the campaign.”—Washington Post• European company Siemens Gamesa has canceled much-touted plans to build a Portsmouth facility to manufacture offshore wind turbine blades.—Associated Press• Sources say U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is eyeing a run for governor, although her campaign hasn’t yet confirmed the bid.—Washington Post, Richmond Times-Dispatch• After a two-month delay, a Roanoke Valley church allowed the burial of an 82-year-old grandmother, whose interment it was blocking over a dispute concerning tithes.—Roanoke Times

Source: Washington Post November 13, 2023 12:35 UTC