The fate of a former Fairfax County police officer accused of involuntary manslaughter is now in the hands of the jury. Attorneys representing Wesley Shifflett decided not to seek a mistrial yesterday, allowing the jury to begin discussing their verdict. The defense team said Wednesday that they might ask for a mistrial after bodycam footage that wasn't entered into evidence was shown to the jury by prosecutors. Shifflett is accused of acting recklessly in connection with the deadly shooting of an unarmed shoplifting suspect last year.
New research is taking a closer look at midlife adults in Virginia and finds they be in worse health than those in other countries.Preview: The National Park Service says no timeline has been set for reopening North Carolina's portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenic roadway was closed earlier this week to begin cleanup and repair from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Nearly 100 National Park Service employees from 22 states were brought to the Parkway this week to help with recovery efforts. Meanwhile, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has issued a notice to hikers to avoid using the southern half of the trail until further notice. That section of the trail stretches from Georgia to the Rockfish Gap, Virginia.