But in a country where mental health services are sparse for those who need them and nearly everyone has ready access to guns, the overheated rhetoric in the public arena is increasingly dangerous — and those who desire to lead must do better.

On Sunday, the U.S. Secret Service thwarted what it termed an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump as he played golf at his country club in West Palm Beach, Florida. That incident follows one in July in which a gunman opened fire on a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, killing one person and injuring others, including the former president, who was struck in the ear.

Details are still emerging about the alleged gunman but, as with the shooter in July, his political views appear chaotic and hard to discern. He claims to have voted for Trump in 2016 before shifting allegiances to other Republican presidential candidates this year, and he appears to have been animated by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Reporting suggests he also has a lengthy criminal record for weapons violations, calling into question how he was able to obtain the AK-47 Secret Service officers say they recovered at the scene. However, it is a fact of American life that those determined to access firearms can do so, even when they are a demonstrable threat to themselves and others.

Couple that with mental health services that are difficult for those in crisis to access, and together they form a volatile stew for those with ill intent. Wave after wave of disinformation, from domestic and international sources alike, seeks to divide the American electorate, pitting neighbor against neighbor and causing otherwise reasonable citizens to view others as a threat to their way of life.

Worse, though, are candidates and officials who peddle in disinformation as a pathway toward election. Those who willfully traffic in lies do not have your best interests in mind. They do not care about you or your families. And they are unconcerned by the effects of their poisonous rhetoric.

On this, no side is blameless. Both Republicans and Democrats have the opportunistic among their ranks who convince themselves that doing anything to win is simply how the game is played, consequences be damned.

That is why it’s so important, especially at such a fraught moment for our republic, that those seeking elected office and those who hold sway in the political arena seize this moment to elevate the tenor of our debate — to inspire rather than degrade, and to appeal to the better angels of our nature instead of the lowest common denominator.

Case in point: Only hours after the Secret Services detained the alleged gunman on Sunday, Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance baselessly blamed Democratic rhetoric for inspiring the suspect in Florida. He said this even as his hateful attacks on Haitian immigrants — which he admitted on Sunday were fabricated — inspired bomb threats that paralyzed the town of Springfield, Ohio.

Such lies and baseless speculation are incredibly irresponsible. It’s a lack of judgment that those on the campaign trail should wholly reject rather than emulate, and the sort of talk that could make a perilous situation far worse.

We can be thankful that those who represent Virginia, and many of those who seek elected office this year, have responded thoughtfully to these events, including this week after the incident in Florida. All Americans should be thankful that Trump again avoided serious injury this weekend.

There are deeply troubled individuals in this country who need guidance away from violence and back to the realm of respectful, honest debate. They are smoldering with rage, and those worthy of our trust — and of our vote — will dampen those embers with water rather than dousing them with gasoline.

The money coming to the organization is part of $421million awarded to a coalition of environmental groups in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland. In a laudable feat of interstate collaboration, the groups worked together to apply for one of the highly competitive awards and was one of 25 winners nationwide from nearly 300 applications.

North Carolina’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources led the effort, called the Atlantic Conservation Coalition. The aim is to use established science to take advantage of natural processes in wetlands and forests to reduce the carbon emissions that drive dangerous climate change.

The Nature Conservancy Virginia will use the money to improve forest management in southeastern Virginia and help restore tidal wetlands on the Eastern Shore. It will work with forest restoration and protection in the western part of the state, and planting trees in cities and preserving farmland and open spaces across Virginia.

Here in the eastern part of the state, there will be special emphasis on restoring and rehabilitating salt marshes and peatlands, which, like forests, naturally store carbon that would otherwise be polluting the atmosphere.

Peatlands are boggy areas where waterlogged conditions keep plant material from fully decomposing. Peat, a surface layer of soil made up of partially decayed plant and other organic material, including sphagnum moss or peat moss, naturally sequesters carbon.

As when forests are cut down, when peatlands are drained, the carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Restoring peatlands is a natural way to reduce carbon in the atmosphere.

The Nature Conservancy’s plans draw on more of the kind of collaboration, public and private, that will be necessary to make real, lasting progress in the battle against climate change.

The millions coming to Virginia and the other states in the coalition come from Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, a program created by the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. It would be hard to overstate the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act, as it funnels billions of dollars into programs and tax incentives to promote cleaner energy, increasing resilience and cleaner air. It also helps people in economically depressed areas and places that have been dependent on the fossil fuel economy adapt to new ways of doing things.

It’s critically important here in Hampton Roads, where rising sea levels threaten our way of life and economy as well as the military bases that are essential to national security. And, of course, restoring wetlands and forests also helps reduce the threat of flooding, another serious threat in Hampton Roads.

Virginia’s departments of energy and environmental quality also received one of the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, $100 million that will be used to cut emissions of methane. Carbon dioxide makes up the largest part of the detrimental emissions in Virginia but there are other problematic greenhouse gases. Methane, often a byproduct of agriculture, wastewater treatment plants and landfills, is far more powerful than carbon when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Virginia’s environmental officials will use the grant money to capture methane from active and abandoned coal mines in southwest Virginia and from landfills around the state. Methane is the main ingredient in natural gas, and captured methane can be used to produce electricity and as fuel for a variety of uses.

The state also will use some of the money to fund programs at colleges and universities to compost food waste while saving edible food for needy people rather than throwing it away.

The millions coming into the state through the Inflation Reduction Act will pay for important projects that will help Virginia do its part to combat climate change — all while making local communities and the economy stronger and more resilient. It’s good news all around.

But being ready for acts of nature is an act of compassion and love — for your family, friends and the larger community. That’s why the theme of this year’s National Preparedness Week is “Start a Conversation,” urging Americans to develop plans to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property in the event of a disaster.

While it’s been a few decades since Hampton Roads endured the full-on fury of a hurricane, residents along the coast know the threat is ever-present. Alarmingly high ocean temperatures and changing wind patterns this year had forecasters calling for a very active Atlantic hurricane season this year, which thankfully has not yet come to pass.

Tropical systems are a leading concern for our region when considering the potential for extreme weather. Even a swipe by a powerful storm can cause a host of problems, especially in low-lying communities.

Virginia doesn’t share California’s concern about earthquakes, for instance, nor do most residents of the commonwealth have to shovel out from the paralyzing snow accumulation recorded in regions such as the Northeast.

Recently, however, residents here have sheltered from destructive tornadoes, sought air-conditioned spaces to avoid triple-digit temperatures and limited time outdoors because of wildfire smoke. And there’s always the issue of recurrent flooding — even on sunny days — as that problem becomes more pervasive with each passing year.

As the frequency of extreme weather increases, so must communities ramp up their preparation and resilience efforts to protect lives, homes, businesses and essential infrastructure. But individuals cannot rely solely on government initiatives and services to protect them when things go bad.

The mission of National Preparedness Month is to encourage self-sufficiency, as much as possible, by those who have the means and ability to care for themselves in an emergency. Government has a role to play, but ultimately people must take responsibility for their well-being and that of their families in an emergency.

That means having supplies on hand to shelter in place should a storm threaten. It means residents signing up for alerts from their local governments and keeping track of the weather. It means developing an emergency plan that everyone in a household knows. And it means being ready to evacuate should that be necessary.

Being prepared helps reduce the burden on law enforcement and rescue services in the event of dangerous conditions, which helps the whole community by freeing them to care for those most in need. Every minute spent fishing out a car deliberately driven into floodwaters is a minute that should be spent helping a senior who’s lost power or someone who needs immediate medical care.

While everyone’s first responsibility is to ready themselves and their families for extreme weather events, it’s also important to consider those around you. The elderly widower who lives alone next door who might need help making storm preparations; the single mother in an apartment down the hall who will need an extra hand wrangling her kids into a car for an evacuation.

“Start a Conversation” urges people to be a good neighbor before the storm hits, by reaching out to those who may need assistance, building a relationship and letting them know help is available if needed. It asks us to be proactive, and to be ready when the wind whips up and the driving rain starts.

We cannot stop the weather — this year’s hurricane forecasts are a gentle reminder even predicting it is a challenge — but we can strengthen our communities through preparation and communication, to ensure our neighbors, as well as our families, remain safe. Talking about extreme weather may be uncomfortable, but readiness can begin with a conversation.

His determined research into the specifics of the African landing, and his commitment to correct the historical narrative, has deepened understanding of those consequential events, not only for members of the Black community, but for all Americans who should know this nation’s story — including the worst parts — to forge a stronger, more inclusive future.

These days, it’s understood that the first enslaved Africans brought to English North America landed at Point Comfort in Hampton, now the location of Fort Monroe. But that was not always the case.

For decades, historians contended the landing occurred at Jamestown, home to the first permanent settlement of English colonists. And that is where the first group of “20. and odd Negroes” lived after being traded for food by privateers aboard the White Lion, an English ship, that arrived in August 1619.

In 1985, Pearson found information that suggested the landing had occurred at Point Comfort and not at Jamestown. He conducted extensive research on the subject, before launching an effort to correct the official record and commemorate the true site of their arrival. He first published his findings in a Daily Press column published in 1994.

Rewriting history based on new discoveries may be common, but it often requires considerable work. Pearson was relentless in his advocacy, and in 2007, the city of Hampton and officials at Fort Monroe installed the first African Landing Marker at the fort to mark the site.

Pearson’s work not only changed minds, it helped the nation to better know the origins of slavery, an institution that would permanently shape the American experience. His Project 1619 Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to promoting African American history in Hampton Roads and across the nation, has been a respected voice in those efforts. (Project 1619 is distinct from “The 1619 Project,” published by the New York Times in 2019.)

His organization was instrumental in efforts to build an African Landing Memorial at Fort Monroe. That $9 million project is still in the works, and Fort Monroe Authority Chief Executive Officer Glenn Oder told a Daily Press reporter this week that Pearson was involved in committee work, site selection, the design process and the selection of the artist.

Pearson also stood at the center of related commemorations and celebrations about the African American experience in Hampton Roads, helping to lead Fort Monroe’s annual African Landing Day program and promoting the preservation and teaching of Black history in Hampton.

How dedicated was he? Hampton School Board member Ann Stephens Cherry told reporter Josh Janney that Pearson even combed through dumpsters to retrieve trophies and memorabilia from Phenix High School, where Black students attended during the segregation era, after those items were thoughtlessly discarded when it was renamed Pembroke High School in 1968.

Pearson’s was a life of service. Born in Newport News and raised in Hampton, he spent 30 years working for that city, rising to become Hampton’s supervisor of parks and recreation. He also served as a board member for the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, an organization dedicated to making Juneteenth a national holiday, a measure approved in 2021.

For several years, Virginia has been embroiled in a debate about history instruction — what to teach and how to teach it. Critics of reforms advanced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin claim they would marginalize minority voices, though the governor insists commonwealth students will learn all of our history — the good and the bad.

Pearson called us to confront the worst chapter of our American story, accurately and with clear eyes, so that we might better know ourselves. His work was invaluable, not only to today’s students but for generations to come.

His is a remarkable legacy, a life that made us all more knowledgeable about the past. By learning about it, we honor his memory and his life’s work.

The 15-year-old boy fatally shot in Newport News on Tuesday morning was doing the same as other students at the bus stop in the city’s East End neighborhood. He was waiting to go to school. Nothing more.

Instead, he was the victim of yet another tragedy. Another young life needlessly and senselessly cut short by gun violence. And another opportunity for the people of Hampton Roads to declare, with resolve and commitment, that they’ve had enough.

Public school classes resumed in Newport News a scant two weeks ago. Perhaps the excitement and first-day jitters have subsided, but the wonder and possibilities that mark the start of a new academic year remain strong for students throughout the district.

By Tuesday morning, however, those same students were mourning one of their own, a 15-year-old Menchville High School student killed in an inexplicable act of violence while he waited with classmates at the intersection of 16th Street and Garden Drive for the bus to come.

Reporters for The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press spoke to witnesses who described their terrifying experience of seeing a man, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a blue medical-style mask, who ambled around the area before opening fire toward the gathered students.

There was no warning, only bullets. The children scattered. But the 15-year-old, struck by gunfire, did not escape. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. His name has not yet been made public.

Only families who have lost a child can comprehend the depths of grief his family, loved ones and friends must be experiencing today. Nothing can make them whole again, though they should be supported with every ounce of love and sympathy our community can muster. No parent should endure such agony.

When experts suggest that gun violence should be treated as a public health crisis in addition to what justice the courts mete out, this is what they mean. It’s not only a victim and his family who suffers, but all those connected to the tragedy.

The other students at the bus stop, who ran for their lives when the shooting started.

His fellow classmates, as well as teachers and staff, at the high school, who will feel his absence in the weeks and months to come.

Those who live in the nearby Stuart Gardens apartments, who heard the gunfire and now know the horror which transpired on their doorstep.

Police officers and emergency techs who responded and treated a teenager — a child — with fatal injuries.

Everyone in positions of authority in Newport News, who will internalize this pain and wonder if different decisions, different policies, could have produced a better outcome.

And everyone in the larger community, in Newport News and across Hampton Roads, who will hold their kids a little tighter and a little longer tonight, thankful for their safety and fearful of a society where children may not return when they leave for the morning school bus.

This is not normal, nor should we allow it to be. We cannot accept this as our reality, nor should we be asked to.

Just last week, a 14-year-old boy killed four people and injured seven others in a shooting with an AR-style rifle at a high school in Winder, Georgia. That was among the 139 incidents of gunfire that have occurred on school grounds, resulting in 42 deaths and 91 injuries, this calendar year, according to statistics compiled by Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control. It’s only September.

Thoughts and prayers have their place, and they are needed for a grieving family today, but they are insufficient to the challenge before us. When the facts of this tragedy are made clear, we must be ready to act, putting forth every effort to halt the scourge of gun violence in Hampton Roads, and ensuring that our children, most of all, can go to the bus stop without fear.

This effort remains slow going, mired by arguments between state and federal officials, between elected officials and internet providers, and even within Virginia government itself. But bringing this essential infrastructure to the commonwealth’s rural corners remains a laudable goal, even if the pace of it is cause for frustration.

Congress approved the Biden administration’s ambitious Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, which included $42 billion in funding for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (or BEAD) program. Its goal is to provide high-speed internet service to the estimated 8.5 million Americans whose homes and businesses are without it.

In announcing the initiative, President Joe Biden compared the BEAD program to the electrification efforts of the 1930s that provided power to communities across the nation. At the time, some 90% of American farms didn’t have electricity, and construction of the power grid enabled residents there to share in the bounty offered by reliable power.

What was true of power lines then — and roads and telephone lines before that — is true of broadband today. Reliable, affordable and fast internet service connects communities to one another, links small businesses to a global marketplace regardless of their location, provides new opportunities for public schools and colleges, extends the reach of libraries … and the list goes on. It is essential infrastructure in our digital age.

So there were big hopes for rural communities across the nation when the infrastructure bill cleared Congress and Biden signed it into law. But three years later, not a single shovel of dirt has been moved to extend broadband lines to homes and businesses without it.

Standing up any federal program takes time, so nobody expected funds to roll out immediately. Regulators called on states to submit detailed applications for their share of the money, including how it would be used, communities it would service and, importantly, assurances about the cost for consumers.

The commonwealth was fortunate to already have existing programs intended to connect rural communities, the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative, giving it an advantage over other states starting from scratch. Last September, Virginia became the first state to submit all the required paperwork for its $1.48 billion share of the BEAD funding, but that application wasn’t approved until July.

Reporting by Politico found there was plenty of blame to share for the delays, including arguments between state and federal officials about specific provisions of the legislation about affordability. The Washington Post reported in April that large telecom companies were fighting a requirement to provide a low-cost access point, and that one company threatened legal action if Virginia imposed a price cap for low-income households.

Ultimately, those issues were resolved, and Virginia’s application was approved, but the time lost may prove problematic as the program proceeds. The BEAD program is expected to take 10 years to complete, meaning a new administration or a new Congress could scuttle it before it ever really gets started.

Given that the beneficiaries of this program are those too often ignored in the halls of power, it’s essential that this program have the chance to work. Bringing affordable high-speed internet to places such as the Eastern Shore, the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia would make a huge difference for those communities and benefit the commonwealth as a whole.

Virginia was justifiably proud earlier this year when cable channel CNBC named it the best state for business, but too many of our residents cannot share in that prosperity because they lack the essential infrastructure to access it. State officials must make certain that the BEAD program stays on track and that the money to extend broadband internet across the commonwealth is seen to completion.

As with the previous debate in June between Trump and President Joe Biden, Hampton Roads viewers should look for the candidates’ positions on issues central to the region, particularly those about the military and climate change. Policies in those two areas will shape the future of coastal Virginia and should carry considerable weight with area residents.

A little more than 10 weeks ago, Biden and Trump met on a stage in Atlanta in a debate that would alter the course of the campaign and, in no small way, the future of the United States. The shortcomings of both men were made plainly obvious. Biden spoke haltingly, looking frail as he struggled to argue his positions with clarity or intensity, while Trump began with plenty of energy, but his fact-free bluster petered out over the course of 90 minutes.

For Biden, this was effectively the end of his campaign. He withdrew from the race on July 21, and formally endorsed Harris as his successor. The party coalesced around her, formally making her the Democratic nominee through a virtual roll call of delegates on Aug. 6.

Though she has been in the spotlight for weeks — holding rallies, selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, accepting her party’s nomination at the DNC — there is still a sense that the nation doesn’t really know Harris or what her election would mean in terms of policy.

She delivered a detailed economic policy speech in North Carolina last month and has been increasingly more specific about her plans if elected. Still, there is no better opportunity than in a debate with Trump for Americans to gain a better sense of what a Harris administration would do to improve their lives.

This is also a pivotal moment for Trump, who now faces a difficult bid for another term as president. While he led Biden in most swing states, Trump now trails Harris — and the debate may be one of the last opportunities to reverse that decline.

Trump, of course, is a known quantity, with a four-year record in office that spells out the type of leader he was and would be. On the campaign trail, though, his lengthy, often-rambling speeches are short on policy specifics and long on half-truths, grievances and promises of revenge.

For Hampton Roads voters, Tuesday’s debate may offer a chance to hear the two candidates sound off about defense policy and climate change. These two issues, more than others, will define the trajectory of the region and shape the future of our communities.

Our area is home to more than 80,000 active-duty service members and about 120,000 retirees, and the region is heavily dependent on defense spending to power its economy. As such, the policies of the next commander in chief are hugely consequential here and questions about the military deserve to play prominently at the debate.

So, too, should climate policy be central to the debate, not only for Hampton Roads but for communities across the nation threatened by extreme weather and the perils of a warming planet. The United States should be a leader, not only in defending against climate change, but in turning crisis into opportunity through the development of a green energy economy and resilience solutions for at-risk areas.

Though vice presidential candidates Walz and Sen. JD. Vance will debate each other in October, this could be the last chance to see both presidential candidates head-to-head. Hampton Roads voters should hope this event is marked by substance rather than spectacle and that Americans come away knowing more about how those vying to be the next president will address the important policy questions facing our nation.

It’s therefore incumbent on area residents planning to cast a ballot this year to give ample time to these municipal elections, where decisions directly affect their families, homes and businesses. The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press believe part of our service to readers is covering these vital local contests and this year will be no different as voters gather information essential to making informed choices at the polls.

Historically, Labor Day weekend marks not just the traditional end of summer, but the moment campaigns for the November election kick into high gear. That’s not the case with the presidential race, of course, but candidates for municipal offices typically make their push after students have returned to school and autumn is around the corner.

The expansion of early voting has changed that calculus. This year, Virginians can begin casting ballots in less than three weeks, on Sept. 20. Most of those voters don’t need to be persuaded; they are ready to vote on Day 1 of early voting.

But the majority of people intending to participate in November’s election will soon begin reviewing candidate lists, checking campaign websites, attending rallies and debates, and otherwise involving themselves in the process.

Trouble is, the races for many municipal offices struggle to find oxygen in a crowded electoral ecosystem. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump dominate everything, from news coverage to fundraising to campaign staffing. That energy and money trickles down to other races, but don’t expect to see advertisements for school board candidates at every intermission while watching professional football today.

They can’t compete with the national campaigns, or even the U.S. Senate campaign in Virginia between incumbent Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican challenger Hung Cao. Instead, they’ll have to use social media platforms, in-person rallies and on-the-ground get-out-the-vote efforts to connect with likely voters. It can be a slog.

Ultimately, they’re depending on a curious electorate to take an active interest in those competing to serve in municipal offices. They need would-be voters to look further down the ballot, to take an active interest in local races, and to come to the voting booth (or to fill out their absentee ballot) having done their research in order to make informed decisions for every race.

City councils in our region make a host of decisions that affect countless aspects of their communities. They set the property tax rate, oversee police and fire services, make planning and zoning decisions, and otherwise have a hand in numerous aspects of daily life.

School boards may not have taxing authority — district budgets depend on city council appropriations as well as state and federal support — but they do make policy and leadership decisions and even what books they consider “suitable” for public schools.

It would be folly to overlook those races or to allow others to make those decisions. So now is the time to dive in.

The Virginia Department of Elections has updated candidate lists on its website, elections.virginia.gov. Virginians can also confirm or update their voter registration, or register to vote by the Oct. 15 deadline. They can request absentee ballots as well.

The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press will publish voter guides prior to the start of early voting with information about the races and candidates seeking municipal offices. Readers should visit pilotonline.com/election-2024 and dailypress.com/news/politics/election for all our reporting about this year’s elections.

Along with candidates’ social media and in-person outreach, there is ample opportunity to be an informed voter this year — and no excuse not to be. It might require area residents to wade past the buzz around the federal races, but that effort is more than worthwhile.

Mail service has improved somewhat, and there is reason to believe that will continue thanks to continued pressure from elected officials and the public. But delivery issues loom large in advance of the November election, and voters who intend to vote by mail must make accommodations to ensure their ballots are counted.

Predating American independence, the U.S. Postal Service tied a far-flung nation closer together and enabled people on either side of a vast expanse to communicate. As a testament to its reliability, Pew Research Center reported in August that 72% of Americans had a favorable view of the Postal Service and, demonstrating rare bipartisan agreement, that includes 76% of Democrats and 68% of Republicans.

That polling wasn’t broken down by state, but it would be interesting to see the strength of USPS support in Virginia following a year of chronic delivery problems amid a reform effort meant to streamline the agency’s operations.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-year Delivering for America plan, introduced in 2021, aims to put the USPS on a path to financial sustainability through sweeping changes throughout the service. A key part of the blueprint is the reorganization of mail processing through consolidated distribution hubs, allowing the agency to accommodate growth in package volume.

In July 2023, the first Regional Processing and Distribution Center opened in Richmond to serve central Virginia, Hampton Roads and parts of eastern North Carolina. It did not go well.

Residents throughout the service region experienced lengthy delays for mail delivery, if they received mail at all. Essential medication was delayed. Christmas cards showed up months late. Things were broken.

A March report by the USPS inspector general found piles of mail stashed in various locations, some of it two months old, and staff members who didn’t have duties or workflow clearly communicated to them. Worse, a plan intended to lower costs had instead increased them as workers logged more overtime to handle severe disruptions in processing, sorting and delivery.

By April, Virginia’s mail delivery rate was 66.1%, by far the worst in the country. Wyoming was second at 79.6%

Elected officials — U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman and Jennifer McClellan — pushed for action, conducting their own on-site inspections and pressuring DeJoy into righting the ship.

Their intervention seems to have helped. Virginia’s delivery rate is now 78.1%, an improvement though still behind the target rate of 93%. Sen. Tim Kaine said recently that DeJoy has been responsive and meeting with him and other members of the delegation regularly to resolve the ongoing problems.

That’s welcome news, but improvements won’t come fast enough for November’s election.

Speaking to a state House committee on Wednesday, Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals warned that ongoing delivery issues would demand more of residents planning to vote by mail. She urged them to complete their ballots quickly after receiving them, to return them promptly and to use the commonwealth’s online ballot tracking tool (available through elections.virginia.gov) to ensure it arrives on time.

Voters should also consider dropping off their absentee ballots at their local registrar’s office or using a safe and secure drop site to ensure timely delivery. Notably, Beals said the USPS issues — not fraud or non-citizen voting or any other partisan conspiracy nonsense — to be the largest threat to this year’s election.

There may be no stronger argument about the urgency to get the USPS issues corrected than the potential impact on voting. In the meantime, though, those sending ballots by mail should expedite the process and track them to ensure their votes are counted.

After more than four years of dealing with the threat of COVID-19, it’s tempting to think of the deadly virus as an unpleasant chapter in the past.

Unfortunately, COVID is very much still with us. Thank goodness the newer strains are not as lethal as the original virus, at least for most people. But it would be folly to assume that even weakened variants aren’t responsible for grave illness and even death.

These days, COVID circulates similarly to influenza. It’s been more than a century since the flu pandemic of 1918 killed 675,000 people in the U.S., but it’s still important for most of us to be vaccinated against the dominant flu strain as winter approaches. Like COVID, flu threatens the most vulnerable, especially the elderly and people with various medical conditions.

Unlike the flu, there is the added threat of long COVID, which can last months and even years. There is no test for long COVID but those suspected of the diagnosis report debilitating fatigue, memory loss and confusion, dizziness, tingling in extremities and loss of taste and smell for extended periods.

Don’t assume that you’re protected because you’ve had COVID or have been previously vaccinated. Immunity wanes, and the COVID strain continues to mutate.

That’s why the federal Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone 6 months and older should get the latest COVID booster, which was recently made available. Yes, you can get the flu shot (available to most people free or at little cost) and the COVID booster at the same time. Most local pharmacies offer the shots. As always, discuss any medical decisions, including the COVID booster, with your doctor.

Health officials keep track of COVID-related deaths. They also monitor data on cases that send people to doctors and to hospitals, and the percentage of lab tests that are positive. But many cases go unreported, especially now that many people with relatively mild symptoms don’t get medical attention or test for inflection.

Officials try to get a better picture by monitoring wastewater. Virginia state health officials have found “very high” levels of coronavirus in wastewater recently, suggesting that the virus is actively circulating — likely in far greater numbers than the case data shows.

Those levels are higher than at this time last year, and Virginia officials also report an increase in emergency room visits by people who are diagnosed with COVID.

There’s usually a COVID surge in the heat of summer, and that held true this year. The next surge begins as students return to public schools and colleges. Then the fall and winter holidays, with people traveling and gathering indoors, intensify the problem.

The best way to prepare is to get the latest booster. Those with medical conditions that make COVID more of a threat should consider wearing masks when in crowded, indoor spaces. Talk with your doctor about the best approach.

It’s also important to keep the safety of other people in mind. Staying home when you have even mild COVID will avoid spreading the virus to people who may be more at risk.

If you think you might have COVID, don’t shrug it off because you aren’t terribly sick. Use one of the easy self-testing kits, so you’ll know what you’re dealing with and what you should do to protect others. If you test positive, stay away from other people until, for 24 hours, you’ve felt better and had no fever, without the use of antifever medication.

Free tests will soon be available again by mail from the federal Department of Health and Human Services at Covidtests.gov. Knowledge is power. COVID is still with us, but we can do our part to protect ourselves and those around us.