Friday, February 6, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1993, tennis legend Arthur Ashe died at age 49 from complications of AIDS. Ashe, a Richmond native, won Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open during his tennis career before devoting the rest of his life to humanitarian work. He contracted the virus after a blood transfusion.

On Groundhog Day, Chesapeake Chuck at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News failed to see his shadow, thus predicting an early spring. But—stop us if you’ve heard this before—another Groundhog Day is on tap in the Commonwealth.

Icy conditions prevented prognosticating rodent Bowman Bill from appearing in Stephens City at the Handley Regional Library System’s annual event on Monday. He is scheduled to make his prediction tomorrow at 11 a.m.

This week, The Flyover team is in Colorado, meeting in person to plan how to make The Flyover even better in 2026. As a result, today’s edition is intentionally more abbreviated, and we’ll be back to normal on Monday.

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Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Governor Voids ICE Agreements

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order ending state police and other state agencies’ participation in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program. The agreements to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were signed last year by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Spanberger said that the agreements gave federal agents control over Virginia law enforcement officers. “I have full confidence that Virginia law enforcement agents are keeping Virginia safer when exercising their authority under Virginia law,” Spanberger said.

“She’s making Virginia less safe,” Republican Assembly Leader Terry Kilgore said. “That’s the bottom line. We need to be cooperating.”

A total of 27 sheriffs’ departments and regional jails in Virginia have active agreements with ICE, and those remain in place despite the executive order.

Democrats Agree on Redistricting Map

Virginia Democrats said they have agreed on a redistricting map that could net the party as many as 10 of the state’s 11 congressional seats in the 2026 midterm elections. The plan could be published as soon as today.

“We are proud to deliver a map that stands up for democracy, to stand up for Virginians, to stand up and give us a voice,” Democrat Sen. Louise Lucas said.

“If the Democrats are so confident Virginians want such a radical change in our representation, they would leave the maps alone and let the voters decide for themselves,” said Finlay Lee, speaking for Virginians for Fair Maps.

The new map may be moot. The state Supreme Court will decide whether to allow the amendment to go to voters in April.

Last week, a judge in Tazewell County ruled that the amendment violates state law. An appeals court ruled that the case is “of such imperative public importance as to justify the deviation from normal appellate practice and to require prompt decision in the Supreme Court.“

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➤ Richmond: House Democrats passed more than half a dozen bills aimed at imposing restrictions on gun owners. The minority Republicans warned that the package of legislation is unconstitutional and will be challenged in court. The proposals now head to the Senate. (Details)

➤ Statewide: The Virginia Department of Health reported that the number of respiratory illnesses in the Commonwealth remained low last week. (More)

➤ Prince William County: The starting salary for police officers will jump 19% this year, to $74,000, bringing it in line with other jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach is the country’s fifth-most affordable place to host a Super Bowl party, according to The Action Network. A home party costs an average of $30.59 per guest. (Details)

➤ Troy: Viewers in Central Virginia may see a familiar figure if they flip away from the Super Bowl to watch the Puppy Bowl on Sunday. Figgy, who has been adopted, will be one of the pups on display. (More)

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➤ William & Mary women’s basketball visits Towson in a Coastal Athletic Association game tonight. (Score)

➤ Washington and Lee women’s basketball, undefeated and ranked No. 5 in DIII, visits Lynchburg at 2 p.m. tomorrow. (Schedule)

➤ The Washington Commanders’ official website posted a never-before-seen emblem on their most recent mock draft article—sparking questions throughout the fanbase of whether they were beta testing a new logo. (Details)

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