Thursday, March 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1612, King James I issued the Third Charter of Virginia, expanding the colony to include Bermuda and allowing for a lottery to raise funds for the territory.

After more than 75 years, Tazewell County native Marvin Patton finally returned home. Patton was serving as a corporal with the Army’s 24th Infantry Division when he was listed as missing in action in Korea on July 5, 1950. His remains were interred this week with honors at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin.

“We finally get closure,” his niece, Susan Bartlett, said. “We’ve got happy tears, and we got sad tears, but mostly happy because we get to bring him home.“

Patton’s brother Johnny was also killed in Korea, but his remains have not yet been accounted for.

Baby Boomers are entering retirement with a financial edge that many younger Americans may never experience. The Flyover Podcast shares how the older generation built so much wealth and why younger generations are facing a far steeper climb. Tune in here!

Later today, keep an eye on your inbox for a partner message from RAD Intel on how AI is helping major brands predict which marketing campaigns will work before they spend.

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Hundreds of Stolen Vehicles Located

Virginia State Police recovered 346 stolen vehicles last year and arrested 252 suspects in connection with the thefts.

The details were released in a report from the Help Eliminate Auto Theft (HEAT) Program, which tracks car thefts. It found that more than 10,500 vehicles were stolen in Virginia last year, costing owners $150 million.

Authorities said drivers can take simple steps to protect their vehicles, including locking doors, parking in well-lit places, and removing valuables.

In addition to the vehicles recovered by troopers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than $8 million worth of stolen vehicles that were being prepared for export at the Port of Virginia last year.

Naked Intruder Burgles Homes

Fairfax County Police are looking for a man accused of breaking into at least four homes in Centreville, including at least two while “fully nude.”

“The times have been from about 3:30 in the morning to 6 o’clock in the morning,” a police spokesman said.

Despite the fact that he has been seen naked several times, police said they have only a limited description of the suspect. No surveillance images have been captured.

In each case, the man appears to have entered through an unlocked door.

New Board Members Named

Gov. Abigail Spanberger named 13 new members to three state boards: the Virginia Parole Board, the Virginia Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments, and the Virginia Racing Commission.

“I know these Virginians will serve our neighbors with integrity, and I look forward to their service,” Spanberger said.

Additionally, at least six senior officials at the Virginia Department of Corrections have been replaced under the department’s new director, Joseph Walters, who was appointed by Spanberger in January.

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➤ Virginia Beach: Property taxes soared last year, even though the city’s property tax rate remained unchanged at 97 cents for every $100 of assessed property value. The increases were driven by steep jumps in the estimated market value of area homes. (Details)

➤ Dumfries: Louis Anthony Boone, 18, was killed, and four others were wounded after gunplay erupted at outdoor basketball courts at Potomac Shores Fitness Barn on Monday afternoon. (More)

➤ Giles County: Appalachian Power asked regulators to allow it to build a new landfill on the grounds of its shuttered Glen Lyn coal-fired power plant. The facility would cost $340 million and be used to store coal ash. (Details)

➤ Appomattox County: Hundreds of area residents packed a meeting to discuss a proposal to run high-voltage power lines for more than 100 miles, from Campbell County to Spotsylvania County. (More)

➤ Arlington: Authorities charged 47-year-old Jonathan Rogers with malicious wounding and assault and battery after he allegedly attacked a political candidate gathering signatures to run for the county board and a bystander who attempted to help. (Details)

➤ Wise County: Union High School hired Jamie Harless, a former head coach at Lord Botetourt High School, to lead its football team this year. He replaces Travis Turner, who disappeared in November and is being sought by state police. (More)

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➤ Norfolk State and UVA tip off in their respective men’s basketball conference tournaments today. (See Schedule)

➤ The women’s basketball teams for Liberty, William & Mary, and Norfolk State also play in conference tournaments today. (See Schedule)

➤ The Washington Wizards gave up 83 points to Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, the second-most by a single player in NBA history. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders signed edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson to a one-year, $12 million deal for the upcoming season. (More)

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➤ The Commonwealth joined a multistate lawsuit that aims to overturn President Trump’s latest round of tariffs. Officials estimated these tariffs could increase household costs in the state by up to $3,000 annually, raise unemployment, and disrupt the manufacturing sector. (Details)

➤ A new report from The Hoover Institution found that Virginia has successfully trimmed more than 30 percent of its regulatory requirements. The Commonwealth’s government has improved business operations and can serve as a model for other states, an essay said. (More)

➤ SAC III Acquisition Co. said it plans to buy almost 3,000 acres at the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill for a project that could create more than 2,000 new jobs and $73 billion in investment over the next three decades. (Details)

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➤ Hunter Ringer, a senior at Brentsville District High School, was named chair of the Prince William-Fairfax Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee. It’s the first time a high schooler has chaired a chapter of the organization. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Department of Forestry warned that most of the state was at high fire danger yesterday. The unseasonably hot temperatures are forecast to plunge today. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach rerouted next weekend’s Shamrock Marathon to avoid a pair of military installations that are usually part of the course. (Details)

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