Saturday, May 9, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, the Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain, also known as Battle of Cloyd’s Farm, took place in Pulaski County. A Union division defeated a Confederate force that was attempting to protect the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. After the fighting, the Union destroyed a railroad bridge.

A deadly virus just killed three people aboard a cruise ship, and passengers have now scattered to more than a dozen countries, including here in the United States. It’s not COVID. It’s not the flu. It’s Hantavirus, and the way it spreads might already be hiding in your home. On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Amy Hess reveals the five things every American needs to know before this gets any closer. Tune in here!

It is Saturday, and “there are so many good Virginia whiskies to choose from, they could keep you happy for a number of evenings!” one reader told us recently.

Some offered concoctions. “My favorite mixed drink with bourbon is a boulevardier, which is 1/3 bourbon, 1/3 sweet vermouth and 1/3 Campari with some Aztec chocolate bitters,” one wrote. “A sazerac with Copper Fox bourbon, served in a smoked glass for a southern smoky back finish,” another suggested.

Finally, others take their liquor “straight up,” as one reader wrote. “‘Why start a fire if you’re gonna put it out?’” However you enjoy your weekend, thank you for making The Virginia Flyover part of it!

Today’s sponsor, Oricle Hearing Aids, is helping readers hear more clearly without the sky-high prices—offering a tiny, easy-to-use hearing aid with clear sound and all-day power for under $100.

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.

Court Strikes Down Redistricting Map

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Friday to strike down the voter-approved redistricting amendment, keeping the Commonwealth’s current congressional maps intact.

Writing for the majority, Justice D. Arthur Kelsey found that Democrats in the legislature violated procedural requirements when placing the constitutional amendment on the April 21 ballot. The court declared the referendum “null and void,” Virginia Mercury reports.

Democrats had hoped new maps would net up to four additional U.S. House seats heading into the 2026 midterms, offsetting Republican-led redistricting efforts elsewhere in the country.

Canvas Cyberattack Hits Virginia Schools

The ShinyHunters criminal hacker group breached Instructure, the company behind the Canvas learning platform used at VCU, Virginia Tech, Liberty University, and schools across the state.

VCU took Canvas offline after learning of the breach, with officials noting the attack “potentially affects thousands of institutions worldwide, not unique to VCU.” Virginia Tech students encountered a ShinyHunters message when logging into Canvas on May 7, and service was restored at Virginia Tech by 7:30 a.m. the following morning.

The hackers set a May 12 deadline to negotiate before threatening to release all stolen data.

This marks ShinyHunters’ second school data breach in May 2026, and Virginia K-12 school districts are among those impacted as well.

Virginia Traveler Home from Hantavirus Ship

A Virginia traveler has safely returned home after being aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship at the center of a deadly international hantavirus outbreak.

The Virginia Department of Health confirmed the traveler is in good health and under public health monitoring. VDH reassured residents of the Commonwealth that the risk to the general public remains low.

WHO was notified of the outbreak on May 2, 2026, with infected passengers hospitalized across multiple countries. The MV Hondius, which had been detained near Cape Verde, is expected to dock in Tenerife as international health authorities coordinate a response.

The CDC is closely monitoring the global situation alongside international health partners. Unlike most hantavirus strains, the Andes virus in this outbreak can spread between people through very close contact—though WHO and CDC assess the broader public health risk as low.

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Richmond: A driver has been charged in connection with the death of Bill Martin, longtime director of the Valentine Museum, who was struck and killed while walking in the city. (More)

Virginia Beach: City leaders approved a $1 million marketing campaign to counter negative perceptions following two recent Oceanfront shootings, aiming to protect the resort city’s family-friendly image heading into summer. (More)

Virginia Beach: The city honored fallen officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese at its 2026 law enforcement memorial, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty. (More)

Elkton: Flock Safety license plate reader cameras appeared across town without residents being consulted, raising questions about surveillance policy and local government transparency in the Shenandoah Valley. (More)

Alexandria: A man faces up to 21 years in prison after a second round of felony convictions for illegally accessing government computers and illegal firearms possession. (More)

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➤ James Madison travels to Athens this fall to open their soccer season at Sanford Stadium, the Georgia Bulldogs’ 92,746-seat football venue. (More)

➤ Former Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke announced his retirement from the NFL this week. He became a fan favorite in Washington during the 2020 and 2021 seasons after stepping in as an emergency starter. (More)

➤ No. 4 seed Richmond hosts its first-ever NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament game tonight against Duke at Robins Stadium. The Spiders are 14-1 and have won 23 of their last 25 games. (More)

➤ UVA men’s golf associate head coach Dustin Groves won the Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award, becoming the first Cavalier assistant to ever earn the honor. (More)

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➤ The VB Wave beach trolley kicks off its summer season Sunday—and this year there’s extra reason to celebrate. The service surpassed pre-pandemic ridership in 2025 for the first time, a good sign heading into Memorial Day weekend. (More)

➤ Fort Loudoun in Winchester comes alive this weekend as George Washington’s Virginia Regiment returns for a living history event at the historic site, with a book sale and children’s activities in tow. (More)

➤ European embassies are opening their doors to the public this Mother’s Day weekend, alongside spring festivals and markets across Northern Virginia and the DMV—a lovely excuse to skip the brunch wait. (More)

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