Saturday, May 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1975, Busch Gardens Williamsburg opened its gates. The park was originally developed with the theme “The Old Country” by brewer Anheuser-Busch, which also built a brewery, the Kingsmill Resort, and residential and office properties nearby.

Virginia is blessed with a plethora of wildlife, from the menhaden and oysters in Chesapeake Bay to the state mammal (the Virginia big-eared bat) to the soaring birds of prey in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

However, sometimes those wild animals get a bit too close for comfort. Scroll down to Top Stories to learn more about a black bear who wandered into a Richmond neighborhood this week, then hit reply to tell us if you’ve ever had an encounter with a wild animal in your neighborhood.

These are the three incredible benefits of drinking coffee in the morning that researchers say could have surprising effects on your long-term health. Your daily cup is reportedly doing far more than boosting energy, including helping protect one of your body’s most important organs. Tune in to The Flyover Podcast as Amy Hess breaks down the latest research on coffee’s unexpected health benefits and what you should know before your next sip. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, Money.com, is helping homeowners unlock record levels of home equity by matching them with HELOC providers that could save thousands in rates and fees in under a minute.

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.

Virginia’s Gun Ban Draws Instant Lawsuits

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the Commonwealth’s first ban on the sale of “assault firearms” and high-capacity magazines Thursday night, the most sweeping gun legislation in Virginia history.

The law, effective July 1, bars the sale, purchase, import, and transfer of certain semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns with specified features, along with magazines over 15 rounds. Current owners may keep firearms acquired before that date.

Within hours of the signing, the NRA, Second Amendment Foundation, and Firearms Policy Coalition filed a joint federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia, arguing the law violates the Second Amendment. The NRA also filed a separate state court challenge.

The U.S. Department of Justice has signaled it will sue as well. Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon, who warned Spanberger in April, posted “See you in court” on X after the signing.

The Ford Comes Home to Norfolk

The USS Gerald R. Ford is set to return to Naval Station Norfolk this morning, capping the U.S. Navy’s longest carrier deployment since the Vietnam War.

The Ford’s nearly 11-month voyage took her through operations across three command areas, with multiple extension orders pushing the homecoming months past its original schedule. Thousands of Hampton Roads military families gathered at the pier Saturday morning for reunions that had stretched, in some cases, to nearly a year.

The carrier’s arrival completes a homecoming that began with Carrier Air Wing 8’s return earlier this week, when fighter squadrons landed at NAS Oceana and Naval Station Norfolk ahead of the ship. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group’s full return marks the end of a deployment the Navy described as the longest for a carrier since the late-Vietnam era.

Richmond’s Urban Bear Gets a Lift

A juvenile male black bear spent Thursday morning in the trees of Richmond’s Oregon Hill neighborhood before wildlife officials arrived to safely send him on his way.

VCU Police were called around 7 a.m. after the roughly 100-pound bear was spotted climbing a backyard tree. Officers contained the animal across several yards until Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologists tranquilized him around 11 a.m.

The bear will be relocated to a wildlife management area after a health check—Richmond’s first bear sighting of the season. Each spring, DWR says, young males leave their dens in search of new territory, sometimes wandering into unexpected neighborhoods.

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➤ Buckingham: Virginia health officials declared a measles outbreak in Buckingham County, with at least 12 confirmed cases. VDH and CDC say general public risk remains low, but urge unvaccinated residents to check their immunization records. (More)

➤ Hampton: City Council approved a $708 million budget in a split vote, keeping the real estate tax rate at $1.14 per $100 of assessed value. The budget takes effect July 1. (More)

➤ Richmond: Virginia legislators are expected back in June for a special session on the state budget and redistricting, after the Supreme Court struck down the voter-approved congressional map amendment. (More)

➤ Northern Virginia: An annual count found a slight increase in homelessness across the region, with officials citing pressure from rising housing costs and reduced pandemic-era support. (More)

➤ Roanoke: The 2025 homicide total climbed to 13 after the medical examiner ruled a recent death a homicide—the victim had been assaulted last year and died months later. Police are treating the case as a fresh investigation. (More)

➤ Statewide: Gov. Abigail Spanberger faces a 10-day deadline to act on cannabis bills returned after April’s reconvene session. The governor has not committed, with competing interests pressing from multiple sides. (More)

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➤ Virginia men’s tennis beat Mississippi State 4-1 in Thursday’s NCAA quarterfinals to reach the national semifinals for the 13th time in 19 years. The fourth-seeded Cavaliers face top-seeded Wake Forest today for a spot in the championship. (More)

➤ Virginia baseball won its series opener at Louisville Friday behind Eric Becker’s return—the junior went 3-for-4 in a Cavaliers victory that bolsters their NCAA Tournament positioning heading into the final regular-season weekend. (More)

➤ ODU Monarchs beat James Madison 5-1 Thursday in the TowneBank Royal Rivalry Series, moving to the brink of qualifying for the Sun Belt Tournament. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders will open the 2026 NFL season with back-to-back road games at Philadelphia and Dallas before a Week 4 trip to London to face the Colts. (See Schedule)

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➤ The Norfolk Greek Festival at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Norfolk wraps up Sunday with free admission—authentic Greek food, live music, dancing, and vendors. (More)

➤ Fort Loudoun Day brings the French and Indian War to life Saturday in Winchester, with George Washington’s Virginia Regiment and re-enactors on site at the 1756 fortification. Free and open to all. (More)

➤ The Chesapeake Jubilee continues through Sunday with live music, carnival rides, food, and fireworks—one of Hampton Roads’ biggest annual outdoor festivals. (More)

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