Commonwealth Adopts Tax Credit 

Virginia is the first state to opt in to the Education Freedom Tax Credit, a federal program that encourages taxpayers to donate to fund scholarships for K–12 students.

The Commonwealth named eight scholarship-granting organizations—two based in Virginia—that are eligible to receive donations. The money is intended to help families cover the costs of private school tuition, tutoring, and similar educational services.

“This decision expands school choice for families across the Commonwealth by opening access to federally tax credit-funded scholarships,” outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin said.

Under the program, people and companies can claim a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualifying donations. The program takes effect next year.

Weighing New Trail and Rail Proposal 

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority will take control of an abandoned rail line in the Shenandoah Valley with the goal of building a pedestrian trail while maintaining the tracks for potential future use by passenger or freight trains.

The nearly 50-mile rail line connecting Front Royal to the town of Broadway has been idle since 1989.

“The question posed is whether the Commonwealth should pursue a rail and trail concept or only a trail,” outgoing state Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller said. “The administration believes that pursuing both delivers the greatest benefit to the citizens of the Commonwealth.“

The Department of Transportation estimated that a recreational trail alone could cost $164 million, while having a trail and tracks side by side could cost $687 million.

Drone Locates Missing Teen

The Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office deployed a drone to track and locate a runaway teenager last week. The 14-year-old was being driven from West Virginia to Newport News when she fled from her transport team during a pit stop at a convenience store.

Deputies coordinated with other area authorities, including the Lexington Police Department, Virginia Military Institute Police Department, and the Rockbridge Regional Public Safety Communications Center.

Searchers deployed a heat-seeking drone and located the teen behind a coffee shop. She was checked out and safely continued on her journey.

“At no time during this incident was there a threat to the general public,” Rockbridge County Sheriff Tony A. McFaddin Jr. said.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: Protesters turned out in locations across Virginia over the weekend to memorialize Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE agent in Minnesota last week. The 37-year-old was a graduate of Old Dominion University. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Randon Alexander Sprinkle, a political operative for Virginia Democrats, is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court today on a charge of distributing child sexual abuse material. If convicted, the 30-year-old could face a prison term of between five and 20 years. (More)

➤ Fairfax: The Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund accused the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney of “offering preferential and/or lenient treatment” to illegal immigrants in the county’s custody. The group called for a federal civil rights investigation. (More)

➤ Richmond: A total of 68 interns, the most ever, will take part in the Virginia Capitol Semester Program when the state legislature convenes this week. The program is administered by Virginia Commonwealth University. (Details)

➤ Herndon: Ismael Cruz-Delcid accepted a plea bargain that sentences him to a decade in prison for the 2024 killing of a 14-year-old in a hotel parking lot. Cruz-Delcid had been tried for the crime, but the jury couldn’t reach a verdict. Prosecutors offered the deal when a key witness refused to testify. (More)

➤ Statewide: Employers said a shortage of affordable child care makes it more difficult to do business in Virginia. (Details)

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend! ✈️

➤ Virginia Tech women’s basketball crushed Boston College 78-56 yesterday to improve to 13-5 on the season. (Details)

➤ UVA women’s basketball suffered its first ACC loss, falling to Syracuse 79-60 in Charlottesville yesterday. (More)

➤ Reserved tickets for the Virginia Derby on March 14 are sold out, but general admission tickets may still be available. The race is in its second year as a Kentucky Derby qualifier. (Details)

Yesterday’s results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer | H.S. Boys Basketball

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Discover exclusive senior discounts that can help stretch your budget further on everyday essentials, travel, prescriptions, insurance, and more. This free resource shows seniors how to unlock hidden savings programs and special offers they may already qualify for—helping you save money without changing your lifestyle.  (LEARN MORE)

➤ Haygood Skating Center in Virginia Beach closed over the weekend after more than 50 years in business. (Details)

➤ GameStop will close 10 retail locations in Virginia, part of the company’s plan to shutter almost 400 stores nationwide. (More)

➤ The Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia will host a session on Jan. 27 about how to start a small business. The virtual event runs from noon to 1 p.m. (Register)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Life Insurance May Cost Less Than You Think. Life insurance doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With Corebridge Direct, you can get term life coverage starting around $13 a month for $250,000 in protection. Quotes take just minutes, applications can be completed fully online (or with help from an agent), and policies can be tailored to fit your budget and goals. It’s a straightforward way to help protect the important people in your life — often for less than you’d expect. VIEW RATES

Flying together with our sponsor

Investors Can’t Get Enough of This Precious Metal

The price of lithium recently hit its highest levels since late 2023.

No surprise with experts expecting demand to jump 30-40% next year and Google deploying 100+ million lithium-ion cells to help power their AI data centers.

Even less surprising? 40,000+ people joined General Motors as early-stage EnergyX investors to get a piece of this boom. Their patented tech recovers up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. It’s more than the tech turning heads, though.

They’re moving toward commercial production on 100,000+ acres of lithium-rich Chilean land, a potential $1.1B annual revenue opportunity at projected market prices. Next up? ~50,000 acres of deposits in Arkansas and Texas.

Become an early-stage EnergyX investor today.

➤ The first Made in Virginia market will be held in Richmond on Friday, featuring more than 40 vendors from across the state. The market’s theme is United for Virginia’s Future. (Details)

➤ Harrisonburg City Public Schools is below the state average on Standards of Learning test results, but Chief Academic Officer Joy Blosser said the district is making progress each year. (More)

➤ The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board is looking for a new leader to replace Daryl Washington, who will become the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ This mind-bending research shook the medical world to its core! It seems 97% of the people who get Alzheimer’s and dementia…Use specific words in conversations 3 years before the disease strikes…This word especially is a precise indicator of early Alzheimer’s…Find out all about it here: Alzheimer’s Words in Conversation

How should the Shenandoah Valley rail line be restored?

1. Pedestrian trail
2. Rail line
3. Both
4. I don’t care

Friday’s Results:

Are you participating in “dry January”? 

1. No: 37%
2. What’s that?: 34%
3. Yes: 29%

What year did Mills Godwin High School in Henrico County open?

Show me the answer