Dogwood Daily: The most popular baby names in Virginia

Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got a round-up of all of today’s Virginia news coming right up. And if you’re a fan, please forward to three friends who need to know what’s going on in the Commonwealth and tell them to subscribe here. 

But first…

It’s looking like lots of Williams, Avas, Liams, and Olivias will graduate from area high schools in 2036, judging by this list of the most popular baby names of 2018 in Virginia. WTVR has more.

Five things you need to know today …

1. Superfund sites vulnerable to climate change–  A government watchdog group found that 15 Virginia Superfund sites are vulnerable to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. In a study on how climate change could impact 1,757 hazardous waste locations across the country, the Government Accountability Office warned that 15 sites in Virginia could endanger public health if flooded. –Virginia Mercury
   
   
2. Board of Elections recommends expanding early voting– The Virginia State Board of Elections has recommended that the state expand the early voting window from seven days to 45. Last year, the General assembly passed a bill allowing people to vote absentee starting a week before the 2020 elections without having to provide an excuse such as travel, work, disability, or military duty. While the Virginia State Board of elections welcomed the expansion, it also criticized the legislation as unnecessarily complicated and potentially confusing for voters. Supporters of early voting say it would boost voter turnout, but critics say it makes elections more challenging to manage. -Virginia Mercury
   
   
3. Virginia Beach approves new project– Virginia Beach city council voted 10-0 in support of a $325 million development agreement with Venture Realty Group for a three-block “entertainment hub.” The Pharrell-backed plans include a state-of-the-art surf park, live entertainment venue, offices, and apartments in the center of the city’s resort area. The agreement ends a 25-year search for a developer to transform the undeveloped site previously occupied by The Dome, an old concert venue. The city will finance the project using a mixture of bonds, real estate taxes, and tourism dollars. –The Virginian-Pilot
   
   
4. McCabe pleads not guilty– Former Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe pleaded not guilty to 11 corruption charges during an arraignment hearing Tuesday afternoon. McCabe is accused of accepting bribes from co-defendant Gerald F. Boyle, who allegedly gifted McCabe with money in exchange for government contracts. The alleged scheme dates back to 1993, when McCabe was first elected. He will now go on trial in front of a jury on May 27, 2020. -WTKR
   
   
5. Buttigieg leads in fundraising– Pete Buttigieg currently leads the Democratic candidates in Virginia fundraising. Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has reported almost $1 million in contributions from Virginians. Following Buttigieg is former Vice President Joe Biden with about $750,000, and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who have each raised a little less than $400,000. Despite Buttigieg’s fundraising edge, Biden still holds a considerable lead over all other contenders, per the latest poll of registered voters in Virginia. –WHSV 

A map before you go…

EPA Superfund sites are contaminated locations where hazardous waste has been dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. The map below marks every Superfund site in Virginia.