Monday, May 5, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, Union forces under Gen. George B. McClellan attacked the retreating Confederate army near Williamsburg during the Peninsula Campaign.

The state’s updated budget includes a tax cut but also hedges against the financial uncertainty brought on by recent changes in federal funding policies. See details in The Virginia Flyover’s Top Stories.

The Flyover Podcast—have you listened to our national podcast yet? If you haven’t, you are really missing out. It’s a quick, new way to get the same no-spin, common-sense news you trust from The Virginia Flyover, now in audio and video. It’s your daily companion for the top national headlines shaping the country—fast, clear, and bias-free. Whether you’re driving, working out, or just catching up in the morning, it’s built for common-sense Americans like you.

Click HERE to listen or HERE to watch. And please let us know what you think in the comment sections.

Today, we’re sponsored by Timeplast, offering an investment opportunity in environmentally friendly plastic technology from Japan.

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Governor Amends and Signs Budget

Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an amended state budget that includes $1 billion in tax cuts and $4.2 billion in new spending on education, health care, infrastructure, and other programs.

The governor also vetoed 37 projects and programs that had been approved by lawmakers. Youngkin’s $900 million in last-minute cuts will be set aside to cover potential shortfalls from President Trump’s changes to federal funding policies.

“The President’s actions to reset fiscal spending and reset unbalanced trade relationships are expected to have some impact in the near term on not only the Virginia workforce, but also the revenues that we collect,” Youngkin said, adding that he supports Trump’s ongoing efforts.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surrovell criticized Youngkin’s late changes. “He should have had a dialogue with us during the session so he could try to reach a mutual understanding or compromise about it,” the Democrat said.

MS-13 Members Accused of Attacking Prison Guards

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) is investigating a stabbing attack on corrections officers at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap.

Five officers were transported for outside medical treatment, with two admitted to a hospital in stable condition.

“Five of the six inmates involved in the attack are confirmed MS-13 gang members from El Salvador, who were in this country illegally,” VADOC said in a news release.

All five suspects have been convicted of violent crimes, including aggravated murder, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and rape.

Exploring Underrated State Parks

The Commonwealth is famous for iconic national and state parks, including Shenandoah National Park and Smith Mountain Lake. However, many smaller Virginia state parks are waiting to be discovered by visitors this summer.

Just an hour west of Richmond, Bear Creek Lake State Park—located within the Cumberland State Forest—offers a variety of watersports on a 40-acre lake.

At Grayson Highlands State Park, near the community of Mouth of Wilson, visitors can explore the Appalachian Mountains. The park features scenic trails for hiking and horseback riding, with views of mountains, streams, and waterfalls.

In the Northern Neck, visit Westmoreland State Park to hike six miles of scenic trails or collect relics along Fossil Beach.

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Flying together with our sponsor

Japanese Water Soluble Plastic Has American Competition

Japan’s RIKEN institute recently unveiled a plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours — a breakthrough in the fight against pollution. But Florida-based Timeplast may have quietly surpassed it.

With seven patents and a proprietary process called “molecular disintegration,” Timeplast’s plastics dissolve not just in seawater, but also in freshwater, rain, humidity, and soil. Unlike traditional solutions, these materials leave no microplastics behind and maintain the strength of conventional plastics. Already used in 3D-printing and flexible composites, Timeplast’s lineup is versatile and scalable.

They’re on a mission to revolutionize multiple industries:

Packaging
3D Printing
Healthcare
Agriculture
Consumer Goods
Marine
Construction
Retail & Events

As you can see, the market potential is enormous ($1.3T in total). That’s just one reason why they’ve already attracted over 6,000 investors.

This is your opportunity to join Timeplast as they lead a plastic revolution with global implications. Become a Timeplast shareholder now.

➤ Statewide: Becca Glover has taken over as head of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC. Former executive director Matt Moran resigned last week after GOP lieutenant governor candidate John Reid accused him of defamation and sent him a cease-and-desist letter. (Details)

➤ Washington, D.C.: The Federal Election Commission reported that Rep. Eugene Vindman paid more than $38,000 in campaign funds in March to a Miami bookstore promoting his brother’s book. The Democrat labeled the spending as a “fundraising expense.” (More)

➤ Portsmouth: The city unveiled plans for a $200 million AI-controlled recycling center. The facility will “put Portsmouth at the forefront of smart, sustainable innovation in Hampton Roads,” Mayor Shannon Glover said. (Details)

➤ Henrico: The county’s Economic Development Authority has sued Green City Development Corporation to reclaim the former Best Products Property after the company’s plans to build an arena on the site fell through. (More)

➤ Richmond: The city slashed 200 slots from its Head Start program for next year after it failed to hit enrollment targets. Of 614 slots available, only 503 are filled on average. (Details)

➤ Suffolk: A truck blew a tire on an I-664 overpass, flipped over a wall, and burst into flames on the roadway below. The driver was injured, but there were no fatalities. (Watch Video)

➤ The Washington Nationals took two of three in Cincinnati to improve to 16-19. The Nats host the Guardians tomorrow. (Details)

➤ Virginia Tech softball, ranked No. 16, won its final regular-season game against No. 9 Florida State to move to 40-10 on the year. The Hokies begin the ACC tournament on Thursday. (Box Score)

➤ UVA men’s and women’s tennis teams both advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 next weekend. In the second round, the men topped Princeton while the women beat Illinois. (More)

➤ The NCAA women’s golf NCAA Charlottesville Regional tees off today with the Cavs as a No. 2 seed. (Details)

➤ Changes in name, image, and likeness policies are driving the future of college sports. Sign up for NIL Wire to know what’s happening.

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➤ Dominion Energy announced that federal tariffs have increased the projected cost of its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project by $120 million. The utility reported that its $10.8 billion, 2.6GW project remains on schedule for commissioning later this year. (Details)

➤ The Paradise Ocean Club in Hampton said it is ready to open for the summer season with a new business model after a “steady” 2024. (More)

➤ Georgia-Pacific stated that it has shuttered its plywood plant in Emporia, which will result in the loss of 550 jobs. “The employees will continue to get paid and benefits for 60 days after today,” said Rick Kimble, Georgia-Pacific’s director of public affairs. (Details)

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Meet the Genius Who Invented Plastic That Dissolves in Water

The world produces 450 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. Microplastics are seeping into our oceans and food. They even show up in our bodies. So you can imagine how revolutionary a new kind of plastic that completely dissolves in water can be.

Thatʼs exactly what Timeplast created. The company patented a water-soluble, time-programmable plastic that vanishes without harming the environment. Major players are already partnering with Timeplast for their patented technology.

Now you can invest in Timeplast as they scale in their $1.3 trillion market. Become a Timeplast shareholder here.

This is a paid advertisement for Timeplast’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.timeplast.com.

➤ Officials gathered for a topping ceremony—marking the placement of the final and highest steel beam—at the new Central State Hospital building under construction in Dinwiddie County. The $400 million facility is scheduled to open in 2027. (Details)

➤ The spotted lanternfly, a nuisance pest native to China, continues to spread across the Commonwealth despite ongoing containment efforts. (More)

➤ Flags across the state were flown at half-staff yesterday in honor of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day. (Details)

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