We are all devastated at the passing of our boss and friend, Congressman Donald McEachin. Valiantly, for years now, we have watched him fight and triumph over the secondary effects of his colorectal cancer from 2013. Tonight, he lost that battle, and the people of Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District lost a hero who always, always fought for them and put them first. Until a new representative is elected, our office will remain open and continue to serve our constituents. The family asks for privacy at this time. Arrangements will be announced over the next few days. Tara Rountree, Chief of Staff to Congressman McEachin

Late Monday evening news broke that Congressman A. Donald McEachin had lost his long battle with the after-effects of colon cancer. Rev. McEachin was 61.

Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), who represents part of Northern Virginia, tweeted: “Heartbroken to learn of Don McEachin’s passing. A noble friend, husband, and father. An environmentalist, civil rights advocate, faithful public servant, and a man of consequence. There was no better ally to have. I will miss him terribly.”

"Donald and Colette McEachin have been wonderful friends to me and Lisa for more than thirty years. We often bonded over stories and laughs about our mutual challenges raising families with three strong-willed daughters. Up until the very end, Don was a fighter. Even though he battled cancer and faced other trials in recent years, he never lost his focus on social and environmental justice. Tonight, Virginia has lost a great leader and I have lost a great friend," tweeted Senator Mark Warner.

Tim Kaine tweeted: "I was listening to a recording by Nina Simone—I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free—when I heard the news that my friend Donald had passed on. Save a spot for me brother..."

by Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury
November 28, 2022

EMPORIA – In the hundreds of pages of legal documents filed in a Southside Virginia courthouse as part of a closely watched gambling lawsuit, an image from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” succinctly captures what the surrounding legalese is about.

It shows the android character Data standing at a craps table in a spaceship casino, using superior robotic precision to throw winning dice rolls over and over. 

Theoretically, a human could try to become so skilled they achieve similar dice mastery, a gambling consultant working with the state of Virginia wrote. But in the real world, no matter how much players want to believe they’re in control, a dice roll is fundamentally a matter of chance, not skill.

The notion that profit-seeking companies would design betting machines that the most skilled  players can beat every time is a similarly far-fetched idea, according to two gambling experts Virginia hired to help defend its ban on so-called skill games, the slots-like devices widely available in truck stops, sports bars and convenience stores despite lingering questions about their legality.

The skills required to play the games, the state’s experts contend, are either so trivial they only require a toddler-level grasp of tic-tac-toe patterns or so advanced players would need superhuman abilities to consistently win on skill alone.

“If players COULD readily beat the game in this manner, then one should expect that they WOULD be doing so regularly,” consultant Mark Nicely wrote in an algorithmic breakdown of a dragon-shooting game that he says requires players to solve complex equations in their head as rapidly as three times a second. “However, the fact that these machines are reported to generate tremendous profits for their operators speaks to their inability to be beaten by human achievable skill.”

A gambling expert hired to poke holes in the skill-game ban came to a sharply different conclusion, saying Virginia’s new laws “turn the history of the control of gambling on its head” by criminalizing far more than what lawmakers intended.

“The reach of the new law is enormous,” wrote I. Nelson Rose, a professor emeritus at California’s Whittier College. “Virtually every game, both in the real world and online, would be outlawed.” 

Over months of legal wrangling, the state government and the skill-game industry have filed reams of documents in the Greensville County Circuit Court in a case that touches on free speech, the nature of video games, legislative privileges, the origins of pinball, lobbying ethics, whether Virginia’s Indian tribes are beyond the reach of court subpoenas, the gambling norms of ancient Rome and Pac-Man.

But before the court gets to any of that, the judge has to resolve the more mundane matter of whether the General Assembly’s habit of tucking unrelated legislation into the state budget has gotten so bad it violates the Virginia Constitution.

A difficult-to-enforce ban

Since the summer of 2021, skill machines — many of which feature the same spinning reels and nine-square layout as slot machines but require players to take some action to complete a winning pattern — have officially been banned in Virginia. But that policy decision is proving stubbornly difficult for the government to execute due to strong opposition from the industry and its small-business allies.

The legal challenge pending in Greensville, brought by Southside Virginia truck stop owner and former NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler, led to a temporary court injunction late last year blocking state officials from enforcing the ban. Sadler, who is now running for the Virginia Senate as a Republican, and his attorney, state Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, say the state’s ban is an overbroad and improper attempt to crack down on smaller local establishments that pose competition for big gambling interests planning to build full-blown casinos. In their telling, the law singles out a specific type of game they say isn’t all that different from anything found in an arcade.

Emporia’s Sadler Travel Plaza, part of the lawsuit challenging Virginia’s skill-game ban, has had the machines for roughly two decades, according to court filings. (Graham Moomaw/Virginia Mercury)

The clear difference from the state’s perspective is that skill machines pay out in cash or cash-equivalent credits, whereas successful play of regular arcade games might mean free plays, a plush toy or tickets redeemable for merchandise at a prize counter. According to the state, the government has a clear interest in maintaining a state-sanctioned and regulated gambling industry, and devices it sees as unregulated and illegal slot machines undercut that effort and pose risks to Virginians playing machines that have gotten little vetting to ensure they work as advertised.

The pro-skill game side insists the state is targeting certain games because of their aesthetic resemblance to slots, which they say is a free speech violation based on the “adult” vibe of the games. The state contends the games aren’t a form of expression because they lack the storylines and characters present in most other video games. And regardless of any First Amendment-protected messages the games might communicate, the state says, the law targets the wagering activity, not the games themselves.

The case was supposed to be heard in May, but it was pushed back to early November due to the correct assumption the General Assembly would try to toughen the ban through the state budget approved in June. 

The November trial date was also pushed back, leaving the machines completely unregulated for at least another month as another General Assembly session approaches. The upcoming session could complicate the case given Stanley’s status as a sitting lawmaker with privileges that let him postpone court dates when the legislature is in Richmond.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Dec. 5, when retired Judge Louis R. Lerner is expected to rule on the state’s latest effort to dismiss the legal challenge.

The ‘one object’ rule

Though the broader issue remains the distinction between games of skill and games of chance, the two sides are now battling over the General Assembly’s effort to pass budget language with a direct bearing on the lawsuit, according to court records reviewed by The Virginia Mercury.

Stanley, working with lawyers affiliated with leading skill-game company Queen of Virginia and one of the nation’s top free-speech attorneys, is arguing the General Assembly violated a constitutional rule requiring all bills to have “one object” stated in the legislation’s title. The pro-skill game team argues the 2022 budget provision on skill games was a rushed, opaque attempt to broaden the reach of a law that carries criminal penalties.

“The public should not be expected to read hundreds of pages of the Budget Bill over [the] Memorial Day holiday in order to determine what new crimes the General Assembly is considering,” Sadler’s attorneys wrote in a Nov. 14 filing. “Nor should the public be surprised by such new crimes becoming effective 10 days after being signed by the Governor.”

Attorneys for the state say gambling policy is relevant to the state budget because efforts to create a state-sanctioned gambling industry have a direct tie to state tax revenues. If the court were to side with the skill-game industry, state lawyers wrote in their Nov. 14 filing, it would upend 200 years of precedent in how the “one object” rule has been interpreted.

“Gambling is germane to the budget,” wrote Assistant Attorneys General Erin McNeill and Calvin Brown. “Furthermore, it is simply good public policy to allow lawmakers to cure a potential constitutional defect in a previously-passed statute, even if that good medicine is delivered in an amendment to the budget.”

The budget amendment specified that skill games are considered illegal gambling and got rid of an earlier exemption for “family entertainment centers,” which the industry had attacked as an unconstitutionally discriminatory distinction based on how businesses market themselves to the public. The idea that skill games should be OK in a bowling alley or family-friendly arcade but not in a bar or a truck stop, the plaintiffs argued, contradicted claims the crackdown would prevent minors from having access to the loosely supervised machines.

In an attempt to paint the state as hypocritical, the skill-game industry tried to pull the arcade/restaurant chain Dave & Buster’s into the litigation, filing a subpoena seeking a detailed accounting of how the ticket-based prize system works at its four Virginia locations. Attorneys for Dave & Buster’s filed a motion to quash the subpoena, saying it has nothing to do with the issues in the lawsuit.

“Dave & Buster’s does not host or allow gambling in its locations,” the company’s lawyers wrote. “It seems apparent from the face of the subpoena that Plaintiffs do not know what they are looking for but are ‘fishing’ for some as yet unknown information that they think Dave & Buster’s may or may not possess.”

Fights over subpoenas

The skill-game industry is using aggressive legal tactics to try to get the ban nullified, sending numerous subpoenas in August to state agencies, state officials and other gambling interests. The subpoenas seem aimed at substantiating theories the anti-skill game budget amendment came at the request of competing casinos.

The effort included a request for documents from Sen. Janet Howell, a high-ranking Democratic senator who plays a key role in crafting the budget as chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee. The subpoena requested all of Howell’s communications concerning skill games with several other legislators, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office, Attorney General Jason Miyares and his office, the Virginia Lottery, and a dozen entities affiliated with casinos.

Responding on Howell’s behalf, the attorney general’s office said the subpoena should be quashed due to legislative privileges that prevent “exactly this type of intrusion into the legislative process.”

The plaintiffs also tried to subpoena the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, which is involved in a project to open a casino in Norfolk by 2024. In a response noting Virginia has recognized the Pamunkey since “colonial times,” lawyers said the tribe is “cloaked with sovereign immunity” that keeps its tribal government records off limits to the state government’s courts.

“Accordingly, this Court has no subject matter jurisdiction over the Tribe,”  wrote the tribe’s lawyer, Betty S. W. Graumlich of Reed Smith.

A more narrowly tailored subpoena to the Virginia Lottery raised specific questions about the role of the Eckert Seamans law firm, which previously represented both Queen of Virginia’s parent company, Georgia-based Pace-o-Matic, and a Pennsylvania casino venture with an adversarial interest in the legality of skill games. The subpoena claims a deeper conflict existed in Virginia because Eckert was also consulting for the Virginia Lottery, which had taken aim at the skill-game industry for allegedly eating into lottery ticket revenues. The Lottery subpoena sought documents that would shed light on whether any of Pace-o-Matic’s “confidential information and proprietary data” made its way to the Lottery as the state tried to get rid of skill games.

It’s unclear how much information the subpoenas turned up. In a filing last month, pro-skill game attorneys indicated the state defendants named in the suit — Youngkin, Miyares and the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority — had “uniformly refused to produce any documents” detailing their communications on skill games.

Dueling experts

The two legal teams are also battling over what type of expert testimony should be permissible if the case advances to trial, a dispute that has led to both sides’ expert reports already being filed in court as evidence.

In a report prepared for the attorney general’s office by Spectrum Gaming Group, consultant Michael Pollock pointed to a YouTube user named “JeffTheHokie” who has published how-to videos purporting to show his system for beating Queen of Virginia’s games. 

Much of JeffTheHokie’s content focuses on ways players can improve their chances with a “Follow Me” mini-game that lets players win back their wager plus 5% if they can repeat a 20-step randomized pattern. The expert report notes that JeffTheHokie says the mini-game is “made slow and boring on purpose” and “you would have to be Rain Man” to do it by memory alone, a reference to the 1988 movie in which an autistic savant played by Dustin Hoffman helps his brother win big by counting cards in Las Vegas.

“JeffTheHokie is the exception that makes the rule,” Pollock wrote in his report. “To assume that players would endeavor to master a complex system in order to win back their bet plus five percent is absurd, and it is clearly antithetical to the business model embraced by the operators and suppliers of these machines. … Building on that theory, such players could bankrupt the house.”

In a pair of reports filed for the plaintiffs, Rose, the Whittier College professor emeritus, said Virginia is confusing a skill versus chance distinction that’s been well understood for centuries, noting that ancient Roman authorities only loosely enforced anti-gambling rules due to “Romans’ intense love of dice games.” Early pinball machines were once considered a form of illegal gambling, he said, until the addition of player-controlled flippers, which made them games of skill. Because classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Galaga award free lives, Rose wrote, they too could potentially be construed as illegal skill games in Virginia.

He suggested the defense experts were applying a “Goldilocks test”  by claiming some skill games are illegitimate for being too easy and others for being too hard.

“Different people have different levels of skill. One person may be better at golf than another,” Rose wrote. “It may be virtually impossible for some of us to play a round of golf under par, but that does not mean that golf is not a game of skill.”

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sarah Vogelsong for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter.

By: Martin Short, Lead Economic Development Specialist & Public Information Officer

Thanksgiving week kicks off the busiest time of the year for retail businesses. Many businesses, particularly small retail shops and restaurants, rely heavily on the end of year sales to close out the year in the black. Together with American Express, the SBA sponsors Small Business Saturday each year to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for our communities.

The year’s Small Business Saturday is November 26^th. Small business owners can participate in Small Business Saturday in many ways. 

1. Get free Small Business Saturday marketing materials including sample posters, press releases, and social media updates
2. Utilize social media platforms to connect with current and potentially new customers
3. Implement an email marketing campaign 
4. Connect with customers and make their experience special, unique, and safe

Supporting our small businesses is a way to support the well-being of our neighborhoods and communities. The more we value our common resources, the more resilient we become.

Please join the SBA, American Express and others across the country in supporting your local small business by Shopping Small!  Please visit us at www.sba.gov under Small Business Saturday to learn more.

Southside Virginia Community College hosted a Nurse Aide Pinning Ceremony on November 16th for its graduates that attended classes at the Southside Virginia Education Center in Emporia. The graduates were: Tamira Allen, Zakia Bacon, Shaquanta Drumgoole, Elizabeth Barnes, Mallie Manning, Marissa Boyd, Stacey Vaughan and Annie Hill. SVCC Nurse Aide training can be completed in seven weeks, for more information, visit: https://southside.edu/nurse-aide-training.

RESOLUTION 23-29
GREENSVILLE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
SUPPORTING OPERATION GREEN LIGHT FOR VETERANS

WHEREAS, the residents of Greensville County have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all of the men and women who have selflessly served our country and this community in the Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, the contributions and sacrifices of the men and women who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by our citizens; and

WHEREAS, Greensville County seeks to honor these individuals who have paid the high price for freedom by placing themselves in harm's way for the good of all; and

WHEREAS, Veterans continue to serve our community in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, religious groups, civil service, and by functioning as County Veteran Service Officers in 29 states to help fellow former service members access more than $52 billion in federal health, disability and
compensation benefits each year; and

WHEREAS, approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian communities annually; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 20 percent increase of service members will transition to civilian life in the near future; and

WHEREAS, studies indicate that 44-72 percent of service members experience high levels of stress during transition from military to civilian life; and

WHEREAS, Active Military Service Members transitioning from military service are at a high risk for suicide during their first year after military service; and

WHEREAS, the National Association of Counties encourages all counties, parishes and boroughs to recognize Operation Green Light for Veterans; and

WHEREAS, the County of Greensville appreciates the sacrifices of our United States Military Personnel and believes specific recognition should be granted.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, with designation as a Green Light for Veterans, the Greensville County Board of Supervisors hereby declares from October through Veterans Day, November 11th 2022, a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform transitioning from Active Service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in observance of Operation Green Light, the Greensville County Board of Supervisors encourages its citizens in patriotic tradition to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying a green light in a
window of their place of business or residence.

By Chloe Voss, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – The housing market in Virginia’s 4th District is turbulent on many fronts, but reelected Democrat U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin says he will fight to ease the crisis for his constituents. 

McEachin for a third term will represent a district that generally encompasses a swath of territory stretching from parts of Henrico County down south past the city of Emporia, westward to Brunswick County and east over to Surry County. 

McEachin secured a victory with almost 65% of the vote against previous Republican challenger Leon Benjamin, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

“I am going to continue fighting for forward-looking policy solutions that address the issues most important to Virginians: rising costs and inflation, job creation, the right to choose, gun violence, and housing insecurity,” stated McEachin in an email.

The most populous areas of the 4th District have faced a tumultuous few years in almost every aspect of the housing market. 

• Richmond City experienced a 14% rent increase on the low end and Henrico County experienced a 28% rent increase on the high end from 2021 to 2022 according to CoStar data published in March.

• Evictions have increased 678% in Chesterfield County, 340% in Henrico, 513% in the city of Hopewell, 582% in the city of Petersburg and 751% in Richmond from 2021 to 2022 according to data from the RVA Eviction Lab.

• Median home sale prices have increased 3.7% in Richmond, 8.7% in Henrico and 12.5% in Chesterfield from September 2021 to September 2022 according to data from Redfin.

• The median household income varies throughout the 4th District, but a recent market value analysis report shows most homes are unaffordable.

McEachin’s campaign did not tout housing reform or relief as a platform issue, but he said he is aware of the problems in Virginia.

“I will continue fighting to expand and improve affordable housing, bolster rental assistance and other resources and explore additional legislative avenues to help tackle our nation’s housing crisis,” McEachin stated in an email. 

House lawmakers have introduced several bills to combat housing insecurity, which have not yet come to a vote, but McEachin’s staff said he is committed to helping those in need through policy. 

“Rep. McEachin remains committed to advancing smart policies that will provide much-needed assistance to renters and home buyers, as well as improve and expand affordable housing,” stated Shahid Ahmed, McEachin’s communication director, in an email. 

 McEachin helped secure $1.6 million in Housing and Urban Development funding to combat youth homelessness earlier in the year, along with almost $400,000 from Veteran Affairs to help with housing for homeless veterans.

“My staff and I will also continue to keep our localities apprised of federal grants and other funding opportunities to help improve affordable housing and reduce housing insecurity,” McEachin said.

The RVA Eviction Lab conducted through the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University released its third quarter data last month showing evictions are quickly climbing in the Richmond metro area.

State lawmakers began tackling housing reform legislation the year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, after five Virginia cities ranked in the top 10 for national eviction filing rates, including Richmond, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Chesapeake. 

Renters have more legal protections in place than before the pandemic, but emergency housing protections that expired in June were most effective at keeping evictions at bay.

“I think there's certainly a risk that that could happen [pre-pandemic eviction rates] based on how it's already happened in certain places, but it's by no means inevitable,” said Ben Teresa, RVA Eviction Lab co-director. 

There is still time for policymakers and advocates to help prevent the situation from worsening, Teresa said. 

While housing aid may be available, the conversation around fiscal aid does not address helping those in need more permanently, according to Jatia Wrighten, an assistant professor of political science at VCU.

“This is the conversation of the deserving and undeserving poor,” Wrighten said. “Virginia actually does a pretty good job of allotting funds for social programs like housing, but they are very difficult to gain access to.” 

 A lot of housing solutions are going to be temporary, according to Wrighten. “Temporary is sort of the name of the game as it relates to social welfare programs.”

Resources for those in uncertain housing situations can see if they are eligible for aid on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website. 

WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden's Cabinet for America's 33 million small businesses, calls on Americans to "Shop Small" throughout this holiday season and on Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 26.

"As our economy continues to stabilize, it's more important than ever that consumers shop and dine small during the holiday shopping season," said Administrator Guzman. "We continue to see positive impacts and opportunities for our small business owners through President Biden's economic agenda, and Small Business Saturday is another chance for us to further strengthen America's entrepreneurs with our local and online spending and promotion." 

The Biden-Harris Administration has been aggressive in laying the foundation for small business growth through the American Rescue Plan and the equitable implementation of SBA economic relief programs. Thanks to President Biden's economic leadership, we saw a record number of Americans apply to start nearly 8.5 million new businesses – higher than any similar period on record.

Small Business Saturday, founded by American Express, is a day dedicated to supporting the diverse range of local businesses that create jobs, help boost the economy, and enhance neighborhoods around the country. According to American Express, the projected total reported spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday last year hit a record high with an estimated $23.3 billion1. The SBA has cosponsored Small Business Saturday since 2011, and the Agency continues to help entrepreneurs leverage new opportunities with the 13th annual Small Business Saturday.

Small business owners look forward to another strong year, and the SBA is doing its part by expanding and retooling resources to support all small business owners throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. For more information on SBA's programs and services and to find an office near you, visit www.sba.gov.

To learn more about Small Business Saturday, visit www.sba.gov/saturday.

[1] The American Express 2021 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey was conducted by Teneo on behalf of American Express. The study is a nationally representative sample of 2,426 U.S. adults 18 years of age or older. The sample was collected using an email invitation and an online survey. The study gathered self-reported data and does not reflect actual receipts or sales. It was conducted anonymously on November 28, 2021. The survey has an overall margin of error of +/- 2.0%, at the 95% level of confidence. Projections are based on the current U.S. Census estimates of the U.S. adult population, ages 18 years and over.

By Darlene Johnson, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – William H. “Bozo” Winston Jr. was athletic and family oriented up until the day of his murder in 1986. He was 23 years old.

“We played football, basketball — whatever — together,” said Taras Winston Sr., William’s brother and youngest of four siblings. “When he had a chance, he would always pick me, put me on his team.”

William played football at Armstrong High School and basketball at the Powhatan Community Center in Richmond, his brother said. He also played baseball and was a lifeguard.

Taras Winston had a good relationship with his brother until William started selling drugs, he said.

 “He just got involved with the wrong gang and it cost him his life,” said brother Darryl Winston.

On the morning of March 12, 1986, Taras Winston told William he loved him and would see him after school. William was not there when he returned home.

Taras Winston was home alone that night when Henrico County police rang the doorbell. Police held William’s ID. Taras Winston thought William was in trouble with the law, but police eventually told him William was found dead near a creek. 

William was shot in the head and multiple times all over his body. He was the first murder victim in the county that year, according to a video about the case made by Henrico County. His case remains unsolved almost four decades later.

Virginia State Police partnered this year with enforcement agencies across the state to create a database of unsolved, or “cold” cases. The database, launched in June, includes unsolved homicides and unidentified and missing people cases. The Winston family hopes the database could surface more leads to find William’s killer.

Tragedy struck the Winston family again almost a year later when they lost their cousin Judson Calvin to gun violence. The Winston brothers think Calvin’s murder was connected to William’s murder. They believe Calvin, whose case also remains unsolved, may have been murdered for what he knew about William’s murder.

Del. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, had unanimous support from both chambers for her 2020 measure to create the statewide database. She introduced the bill in 2018, but it was killed in appropriations. Lawmakers appropriated over $100,000 to create the database and fund a full-time employee to maintain the website. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, budget spending was put on pause because of economic uncertainty, Roem said. Virginia State Police began designing the website based on unsolved case databases in other states, such as Connecticut and Florida.

“We put this [the bill] in because other states have existing precedence or other cases being solved because other states have cold case databases,” Roem said.

The database could bring closure, accountability and justice to unsolved crimes, Roem said. It was also important that the public knows about unsolved cases, she said, to make this information accessible while maintaining “government transparency and government accountability.”

The database has expanded to over 100 cases and more will be added over time. There have been over 100 clicks to the website since its launch in July, stated Corinne Geller, Virginia State Police public relations director, in an October email reply.

News coverage, along with promotion from law enforcement, state prosecutors and courts will help garner attention to the database and cases, Roem believes.

Darryl and Taras Winston said news, media and digital billboards should be utilized to raise awareness for unsolved cases. 

The state police’s goal is to “keep increasing awareness of the cold case website and its reach among the public,” Geller stated.

“Just because the murders haven’t [been] solved doesn’t mean they’re not still relevant,” Roem said.

Darryl and Taras Winston hope to see Williams’s case put into the database. Henrico County, where William was murdered, is not one of the 15 law enforcement offices listed on the site as database contributors. 

The discussion of Henrico County police joining the state database is ongoing, Lt. Matthew Pecka stated in an email. Spreading information about these cases is important to generate leads and new discussions, he stated.

“We’re looking for something to be done about it,” Taras Winston said. “Any help that we can get at solving my brother’s case, we’ll greatly appreciate that … the smallest thing might be the thing that breaks the case open.”

Key witnesses sometimes wait “years later” until they feel safe to speak to law enforcement, or sometimes suspects make a “deathbed confession,” Geller stated.

“Sometimes a person's conscience gets the better of them and prompts them to turn themselves in,” Geller stated.

Darryl Winston believes witnesses may have been worried about their own encounters with law enforcement. He hopes people will be more comfortable coming forward now since 36 years have passed.

People can contribute tips — even anonymous tips — through the website, or contact the lead law enforcement agency investigating a case.

An unsolved homicide case dating back to 2003 received new leads thanks to the database, according to a report from The Roanoke Times.

“It’s effective and it works,” Roem said, “but it will only be effective and it will only work if the public knows about it and if the public engages with it.”

Other cold cases out of Henrico County currently not in the database are the violent murders of Mike Margaret and Donna Hall in August 1984. Margaret, 21, and Hall, 18, were found stabbed to death with their throats cut in a wooded area that is now a suburban landscape. The narcotic sedative Demerol was found in their blood, police said. There has long been speculation they knew their attackers and that the couple were dabbling in drug use with possible interest to purchase a larger quantity. 

Police have never unearthed any clear motive for the gruesome murder. Investigators had limited access to DNA from the crime scene, due to heavy rains between when the murders likely took place and when the bodies were found by a dog walker. 

Scott Margaret, Mike’s brother, is satisfied with police work on the case “in a lot of ways,” but he thinks “too much red tape” gets in the way of solving the crime. Some agencies might not want to work together because they want to solve the cases on their own, he said.

“The quicker you get outside help in some of these cases, the quicker you will be able to solve a lot of them,” Margaret said.

To raise more awareness for unsolved cases and the database, Margaret suggested ads on local news stations, pop-up ads online and information on interstate billboards.

Margaret will request his brother and Hall’s case be added to the unsolved case database.

Roem recommends citizens visit the website at least once, to see if they recognize a case or have a tip to contribute. 

“Don’t just see this as a nice gesture from the state,” Roem said. “There is potential for positive outcomes as awareness of the database grows.”

Cases are displayed on the homepage at random to ensure all victims are highlighted equally, according to state police. Cases are also spotlit on associated anniversary days.

“Enhancing the website to include additional features is a goal of ours we hope to achieve over time,” Geller stated in an email.

Citizens can search cases by name, date, location, reporting agency and type of case — and case pages can be shared. People can request a case to be included in the database by contacting the lead agency of the case. People can leave questions or comments on the website, and choose to remain anonymous. There is also an option to be emailed back.

“The stories are screaming out silently right now and they’re waiting to be retold,” Roem said.

The November, 2022, Community Meal at Main Street United Methodist Church will be held a week early so that Thanksgiving Meal Kits may be given away.

The Meal Kits will contain everything you need for a basic Thanksgiving dinner except the turkey and will be given to guests at the November Community Meal on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 5:30 pm. Members of the Church will be preparing 50 bags for the giveaway at 500 South Main Street in Emporia.

Minestrone soup, bread and dessert will also be served to guests at the Community meal.

"During this time of Thanksgiving we are grateful for the opportunity and privilege to bless our neighbors with anything that make their holiday season less stressful," said Rev. Penny Rasnake, Pastor at Main Street UMC.

The Community Meal Mission has been running at Main Street UMC since 2018 (with time off during the COVID pandemic), and was started to help feed those who found themselves with "more month than paycheck," or just in need of fellowship while they ate a fresh homemade meal. While the Meal Kits are intended for those in need, the Community Meal itself is for anyone, regardless of income. The Membership at Main Street understood, from the outset, that it was not only those in need who needed fed, but those who were lonely, too. Meals are also delivered to the homebound.

Each gift bag cost $17 and contains Yams, Green Beans, Chicken Stock, Gravy, Stuffing Mix, Rolls, Instant Mashed Potatoes and a Pie. If you would like to donate to this Mission, you may mail your donation to Main Street UMC, 105 Church Street, Emporia, VA 23847.

Members of the Church will be performing a similar outreach for Christmas with similar Meal Kits that will also include Christmas Gifts for members of the family picking up the bags.

Ten members of the Petersburg Kiwanis Club recently volunteered their time and talent to help Jackson-Feild put a fresh coat of paint on the wooden decks around the Gwaltney School.

Jackson-Feild’s students attend the on-campus school for their educational instruction. Gwaltney School is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education and is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Educational Facilities. The school specializes in teaching those students who have been unable to reach their age-appropriate grade level due to circumstances in their lives to “catch up to their grade level”.

The volunteers had a crisp fall day and were able to complete painting the entire school deck in a few hours thanks to the hard work of these dedicated volunteers. After painting, they gathered in the dining hall to enjoy a nice lunch. The children and staff at Jackson-Feild are incredibly grateful to the members of the Petersburg Kiwanis Club.

Kiwanis International is a global organization of members dedicated to serving the children of the world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs- nearly 600,000 members strong- annually Dedicate more than 18 million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children. The objective of the Petersburg Kiwanis Club is to bring aid to children in need. The club has financially supported the children at Jackson-Field for years and conducted numerous volunteer service projects to further its mission.

The mission of JFBHS is to provide high quality evidence-based psychiatric, residential, educational and recovery treatment services for children who suffer from severe emotional trauma, mental illness and/or addiction. The goal is to restore wellness and provide support for successful reintegration into homes, families and communities. We value each of our residents’ ability to lead well-rounded lives not only after their stay at Jackson-Feild, but also while on our campus. A large part of their experience is education.

After this summer's redistricting City Council candidate Denise Webb was drawn out of District 7, but persisted in running in the race for that district's City Council seat.

The result of a Denise Webb win, given her ineligible status as a resident of another district, would have been a special election at taxpayer's expense.

The voters of District 7 took that and Council Member Hines' record of helping her constituents into consideration as they re-elected Council Member Yolanda Hines to the seat she has held for 4 years by a 15.96% margin on Tuesday.

Hines won 69 votes to Webb's 50 in the low-turnout election. 94 of those votes were cast on Election Day (Hines 52-Webb 42), while the early in-person vote accounted for 19 (Hines 11-Webb 7). Seven voters cast Absentee Ballots (Hines 6-Webb 1).

George E. Morrison, III, Chair of the Emporia-Greenaville Democrats commented that "We are excited and happy to see her win re-election and to see her continue her hard work to move the City of Emporia forward. We are also hopeful that Hattie Sue Jefferson will be able to join Mrs.Hines on City Council after today's canvas of the results."

Council Member Hines won this seat 4 years ago, defeating Mark Mitchell by ten votes.

Council Members Threat and White ran unopposed and will both be returning to City Council.

In City Council District 4 three candidates vied for the seat of late Council Member F. Woodrow Harris by Write-in. There were 149 Write-in Votes cast and the results will not be known until after the City of Emporia Board of Elections canvasses the results Wednesday. The Three were Hattie Sue Jefferson (Who was running with the support of the Emporia-Greensville Democrats), Mark Lily and Melinda Ann Terry.

Congressman Donald McEachin has defeated Leon Benjamin in a landslide. Currently, the margin is McEachin 64.4%-Benjamin 35.41%.

To the Editor:E

Election Day is here and some major decisions are at hand!

On behalf of the City of Emporia and Greensville County Democratic Committee I write in full support of the candidacies to re-elect Congressman Donald McEachin, the Hon. Mrs. Yolanda Hines for City Council in District 7. Also, I fully stand with the members of our committee to support our member Mrs. Hattie Sue Jefferson in District 4 as a write-in candidate.

In Congressman McEachin our communities of Emporia-Greensville have an unwavering supporter that fights for us!  He has fought and will continue to fight to protect Social Security and Medicare while continuing to rebuild our economy as well as further creating and attracting quality jobs here in the Fourth Congressional District.  The Congressman has involved himself and his office in addressing the concerns of our residents regarding the slow and poor quality of mail delivery throughout the County and City. Our Congressman works in tandem with President Biden and Vice President Harris to address the most important and necessary needs of our community!

In District 7 the City of Emporia finally has a Council Member that represents them fairly and one which unequivocally has their best interest at heart!  Rarely do you see an elected leader that has responded to the call of her fellow citizens that gets it…and Yolanda Hines GETS IT!  As a member of our committee, she sought our endorsement to run for city council under our banner to continue to effectuate positive change.  In Yolanda’s impassioned plea seeking our support she clearly understands that our city is near to turning the corner as we progress through a difficult crossroads – where we can either idly watch as our city folds with ever increasing water bills, “shell games” of devaluing property assessments while increasing property taxes, as well as decreasing city service.  OR…the city council and its leaders can “take the bull by the horns” and address the city’s need for stronger and more frequent efforts to spur on Economic Development efforts.  She believes that it is time to try regular and persistent intelligent conversations during each and every city council meeting about recruiting employers with jobs that can pay a living wage and take proactive steps to recruit developers that are willing to invest in our city.  Additionally, we should continue to encourage entrepreneurs and small business owners – as we all know a rising tide lifts ALL boats!  When investment is encouraged, new jobs are sought and created, the quality of our schools’ performance increases and in turn the will of future generations to return home and know they are wanted and needed to keep writing the city of Emporia’s future success story!  She has assisted many citizens not only from her district but other districts as well as across the city and county with job searches through her former work with head start and Southside Virginia Community College. She has her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from Averett University. She IS the only candidate that is ready to address the REAL concerns of the City of Emporia’s District 7!!!

However, Council member Hines can’t do it by herself.  She needs the help and support of others on City Council.  After the sudden death and untimely passing of District 4’s representative and the immediacy to find a candidate to place on the ballot the Democratic Committee sought out Mrs. Hattie Sue Jefferson to run as its write-in candidate to win the vacant District 4 seat on Council. 

Mrs. Hattie Sue Jefferson, a long-time resident of Emporia and Greensville County native is married to Charles Jefferson and has one son, Quinton; a PhD student at Old Dominion University.  Hattie Sue has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marketing/Communications from Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia and she holds her Master’s in Business Education from Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia. Further, she has attended Penn State University studying Labor Relations. In her leadership capacities she has served as a representative for the City of Emporia with the Crater District Area Agency on Aging.  She has served as a Career Counselor for Southside Virginia Community College and has been a Special Education Teacher.  She is a past President of Local Union CWA 2275 and was elected to serve as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention.  Hattie Sue is retired and has the undivided attention to commit to serving as the Council representative from District 4!

Both Council Member Hines and Candidate Mrs. Jefferson are ardent supporters for after school and year-round recreational opportunities for our children and youth.  They are firm believers that governments place emphasis on the things which are of the utmost importance to them and for them, that emphasis should be greatly shared with the future and hope of our community – our children.  Yolanda and Hattie Sue are equally as concerned about their fellow citizens in that they put their money where their mouths are.

There are no others better qualified and suited to stand and fight for this community and its citizens than Yolanda Hines and Hattie Sue Jefferson!  Combined they have more than five plus decades in public service and they truly understand the need to attract new Employers, affordable quality housing and year-round youth programs.

Congressman Donald McEachin, Council Member Yolanda Hines and Mrs. Hattie Sue Jefferson comes to the table with a wealth of experience and are prepared to take on the challenges presented in this Country, our Fourth Congressional District, County and City!

I ask on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 that our fellow citizens in Emporia-Greensville and Districts 4 and 7 make your way to your polling place - the fire department for District 7, the Band Room for District 4 and cast your votes for Donald McEachin for

U.S. Congress, Yolanda Hines, City Council – District 7 and Write-in Hattie Sue Jefferson for District 4!  The polls open at 6 o’clock in the morning and close at 7 o’clock in the evening – stop by and vote for a Positive CHANGE!!! 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Emporia-Greensville Democrats,

George E. Morrison, III, Chairman

Chloe Hawkins, Capital News Service 

RICHMOND, Va. – Thousands of Virginians used a warm November Saturday to cast ballots on the final day of early voting.

Lawmakers passed a series of election reform measures in recent years that expand the voting period and allow for no-excuse absentee voting, or early voting.

Virginia voters will elect a member to the U.S. House of Representatives in all of the state’s 11 congressional districts, with varying districts also voting on local candidates and initiatives. Over 1 million absentee ballots were requested, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. Over 940,000 ballots have been received as of Nov. 7. Over 680,000 ballots were returned in person, and over 226,000 ballots were mailed. 

Polls were open on weekdays except for the two Saturdays preceding the election. A steady line of people waited five to 10 minutes outside the Henrico County Western Government Center to vote Saturday. Some people waited longer than they might on Election Day, but appreciated the convenience of checking voting off their to-do list.

Henrico County general registrar Mark Coakley has held the position for 18 years, he said. Coakley, who studied political science in college, said he chose to be a part of the political process because it’s been a passion of his since he was a young adult.

“I’m really excited for voters showing up,” Coakley said. “Today, and on Election Day.”

Voters are happy with this shift, he said.

“With early voting, the voters get to choose to wait in line at 8:30 on a Saturday morning,” Coakley said. “It’s their choice — they’re not forced to vote on a Tuesday after a long workday.”

Alan Wagner is a voter who lives in Henrico County, parts of which are in congressional District 1. Wagner is concerned about crime, and the economy—especially the rising costs of items due to inflation, he said.

“I’m afraid to go into downtown Richmond sometimes,” Wagner said. “And the gas and food prices are outrageous.” 

This is the first year Wagner voted early, in four decades of voting, he said. He decided to vote early due to the uncertainty of his work schedule on Election Day. 

“I’m really busy working 10-hour shifts,” Wagner said. “I don’t know what the lines will look like at the precinct after 5 o'clock on Tuesday.” 

Virginia residents have more of a voice in elections such as midterms, Coakley said, when they choose representatives to speak on their behalf in Congress. But, turnout is always higher in a presidential election. Almost 2.7 million early votes were cast in 2020 in Virginia, according to the state’s Department of Elections. For the gubernatorial election last year, over 1.1 million people voted early, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, or VPAP. 

Although voter turnout in the 2018 midterm election was historic, an expanded time frame for early voting did not exist, Coakley said, which makes turnout comparisons more difficult.

“These laws weren’t put in place in 2018,” Coakley said. “But they have caused an increase in early voting.” 

For example, over 330,000 early votes were cast in 2018 in Virginia, and that number will likely be at least three times higher this year, according to data from the Virginia Department of Elections. But, 1.2 million more people voted in 2018 than the previous midterm election. It remains to be seen if turnout this year will reach similar participation.

There is a 70% return rate of absentee ballots overall in Virginia as of Nov. 7, with the lowest district return rate at 64% and the highest at 76%, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

Election Day is Nov. 8. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by that date and received by noon three days after the election to count. Voters can find their polling place on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Voters can also register to vote on Election Day, though they will be given a provisional ballot.

Payments Issuing to Producers of 2021 Crops Triggering Safety-Net Program Payments  

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2022 – Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Monday, and producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.  

“It’s that time of year for produces to consider all of their risk management options, including safety-net coverage elections through Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We recognize that market prices have generally been very good, but if the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, frequent catastrophic weather events and the Ukraine war have taught us anything, it’s that we must prepare for the unexpected. It’s through programs like ARC and PLC that FSA can provide producers the economic support and security they need to manage market volatility and disasters.”  

2023 Elections and Enrollment   

Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County (ARC-CO) or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual (ARC-IC), which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2023 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Also, if a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm and makes an election change for 2023, they must sign a new contract.     

If producers do not submit their election by the March 15, 2023 deadline, their election remains the same as their 2022 election for crops on the farm.  Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the farm.      

Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.    

Web-Based Decision Tools   

In partnership with USDA, the University of Illinois and Texas A&M University offer web-based decision tools to assist producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations. Tools include:    

• Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, a tool available through the University of Illinois allows producers to estimate payments for farms and counties for ARC-CO and PLC.  
• ARC and PLC Decision Tool, a tool available through Texas A&M that allows producers to obtain basic information regarding the decision and factors that should be taken into consideration such as future commodity prices and historic yields to estimate payments for 2022.    

2021 Payments and Contracts  

ARC and PLC payments for a given crop year are paid out the following fall to allow actual county yields and the Market Year Average prices to be finalized. This month, FSA processed payments to producers enrolled in 2021 ARC-CO, ARC-IC and PLC for covered commodities that triggered for the crop year.    

For ARC-CO, producers can view the 2021 ARC-CO Benchmark Yields and Revenues online database, for payment rates applicable to their county and each covered commodity. For PLC, payments have triggered for rapeseed and peanuts.  

For ARC-IC, producers should contact their local FSA office for additional information pertaining to 2021 payment information, which relies on producer-specific yields for the crop and farm to determine benchmark yields and actual year yields when calculating revenues.   

By the Numbers  

In 2021, producers signed nearly 1.8 million ARC or PLC contracts, and 251 million out of 273 million base acres were enrolled in the programs.  For the 2022 crop year signed contracts surpassed 1.8 million, to be paid in the fall of 2023, if a payment triggers.  

Since ARC and PLC were first authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and reauthorized by the 2018 Farm Bill, these safety-net programs have paid out more than $34.9 billion to producers of covered commodities.   

Crop Insurance Considerations   

ARC and PLC are part of a broader safety net provided by USDA, which also includes crop insurance and marketing assistance loans.    

Producers are reminded that ARC and PLC elections and enrollments can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products.    

Producers on farms with a PLC election have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider; however, producers on farms where ARC is the election are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres for that crop on that farm.    

Unlike SCO, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by an ARC election.  Producers may add ECO regardless of the farm program election.   

Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan (STAX) on their planted cotton acres for that farm.     

More Information    

For more information on ARC and PLC, visit the ARC and PLC webpage or contact your local USDA Service Center.   

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.   

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

By Meghan McIntyre, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Food and Drug Administration added Adderall to its drug shortage website last month, and doctors say Virginia patients being treated for ADHD are feeling the impact. The leading reasons for the shortage, which primarily affects immediate-release Adderall and similar generic versions, are manufacturing delays and insufficient supplies to meet market demands, according to the FDA.

Virginia patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder have “absolutely” been impacted by the shortage, said Dr. Dorothy O’Keefe, outpatient clinic director for the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Virginia Treatment Center for Children.

Dr. Kara Beatty, an adult psychiatrist with her own private practice and the president of the Psychiatric Society of Virginia, said her office is “getting phone calls left and right” from patients who say their Adderall prescriptions can’t be filled.

Stimulants such as Adderall are the most commonly used medications to treat ADHD in children and adults, according to prescription price comparison service GoodRx.

Stimulant prescriptions dispensed in Virginia rose 11% from the start of 2021 to June 30 of this year – the largest increase of all controlled substances overseen by the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program, according to its most recent report. The active ingredients in Adderall are some of the stimulants monitored in the program, O’Keefe said. Child psychiatrists or pediatricians are unlikely to use stimulants for any other indication than ADHD, she said.

Data is not recorded in a way to determine the exact percentage of each type of stimulant monitored by the program, stated Diane Powers, director of communications for the Virginia Department of Health Professions, in an email.

Patients treated for ADHD in Beatty’s practice typically start off with prescriptions for Adderall or Ritalin, another stimulant monitored in the program, Beatty said.

Nationwide, Adderall prescriptions for patients ages 22-44 jumped 15% from 2020 to 2021, according to Trilliant Health, a firm that provides market analytics to the health care industry. Other age groups remained relatively stable.

Doctors can prescribe some controlled substances such as Adderall through online telehealth services since the federal government declared a public health emergency in spring 2020, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The health emergency has been renewed several times since the pandemic began, most recently last month.

As a result there was an uptick in online mental health care startups that began prescribing Adderall, Beatty said. Mental health startup Cerebral is currently being investigated by the federal government for potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act, according to CBS.

The Virginia Board of Pharmacy “would like to caution consumers to the risk of purchasing drugs online or through social media from rogue outlets preying on increased demand during drug shortages,” Powers stated.

Meaghan, 43, works in insurance and was diagnosed with ADHD three years ago. She requested to have her last name withheld because she said there is a stigma around ADHD and its treatment. She knows firsthand what it’s like to not be able to access her prescribed Adderall for days due to shortages.

“I’m not going to accomplish what I could have the days that I did have my medication,” Meaghan said. “It’s life changing for a lot of people.”

Children without access to their prescribed Adderall can struggle in school and social relationships, O’Keefe said. Their behavior might become problematic as a result.

“The biggest thing I would say for people with ADHD, besides being impulsive and wanting to do things instantly, is to be able to do the time management,” Meaghan said. “That’s a coping mechanism a lot of people have to develop.”

Going without medication can be “like an inability to function,” Beatty said. There are other types of treatments for people with ADHD, she said, but transitioning from one to another can be frustrating.

Some patients make the switch to Ritalin or nonstimulant medications due to the shortage, but O’Keefe said it can be a gamble whether the new medicine will be as effective.

“If we are forced to make the change because they can’t get the product that they’re used to, it may turn out just fine,” O’Keefe said. “But it may turn out that they end up with a medicine that doesn’t work as well or causes more side effects.”

Patients by law can only get a 30-day supply of Adderall. They can have a difficult time managing insurance policies and trying to figure out which pharmacy has the drug in stock each month, O’Keefe said.

Meaghan’s pharmacy has run out of stock of her prescription several times, she said, and as a result has gone days without it. Some people notice when she hasn’t taken her medication, she said.

“I’m a little quicker on responses, more impulsive in my responses,” Meaghan said. “I tend to get distracted easier than I would without my medication.”

The shortage primarily affects instant release Adderall, according to the FDA, although it depends on the manufacturer and the dosage strengths. Some manufacturers aren’t experiencing any shortage as of Nov. 1, according to the FDA’s drug shortages website.

“We are still writing the prescriptions because it’s not that nobody can get it,” O’Keefe said. “We don’t necessarily know when I write your prescription.”

Teva Pharmaceutical is the largest seller of Adderall in the U.S Their products are estimated to be in short supply anywhere from now until December, according to the FDA. The company “has been supplying above typical forecast due to increase in market demand,” according to a statement on the FDA’s drug shortages website.

“Even though it’s not a deadly consequence,” O’Keefe said, “it is a disruption in their lives.”