Virginia DMV Launches Digital ID

The Virginia DMV has launched Virginia Mobile ID, a free app that stores a resident’s driver’s license or state ID on their phone.

The credential works at more than 350 TSA checkpoints nationwide, plus select state ABC stores, some businesses, and a few law enforcement agencies. Users must still carry their physical card.

Rather than handing over a whole license, people share a QR code and photo, choosing how much information each scan reveals depending on whether they’re verifying age, travel, or identity.

“You have the ability to control the information that you share,” said Camila Barco, a DMV spokeswoman. The agency says it’s still adding businesses and agencies that accept the credential. View a list of currently participating businesses and organizations here.

New Citizens Sworn in at Mount Vernon

On the Fourth of July, 150 people from 50 countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens on George Washington’s lawn at Mount Vernon.

The ceremony fell on America’s 250th birthday, a milestone with deep roots in Virginia, the birthplace of Washington and more U.S. presidents than any other state.

Among them was U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare of Guinea, who stood in dress blues with three medals pinned to his chest. Sangare saluted through the national anthem.

Speakers read out all 50 countries—from Albania to Mongolia—as each person rose. Historian Douglas Bradburn told them, “All the stories that are part of you now become American stories.”

Virginia Ranks 10th for Independence

Virginia placed 10th on a new 2026 ranking of the nation’s most independent states, scoring 57.99 out of 100.

The commonwealth’s strongest marks came in financial measures: second nationally for median household income adjusted for cost of living, and eighth for financial dependency.

It also ranked third for the small share of its economy tied to exports. Virginia shipped about $19 billion in goods worldwide in 2025, led by sales to Canada and Mexico.

The study weighed 39 indicators across consumer finances, government reliance, the job market, international trade, and personal habits, with Idaho ranking first overall.

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➤ Norfolk: The U.S. Navy suspended its search for a Norfolk-based sailor who went missing after an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter crashed in the Arabian Sea last week. (More)

➤ Goochland County: Eight girls escaped the Hallmark Youthcare psychiatric treatment facility on West Creek Parkway around 2 a.m. Sunday, prompting a state police search. All were found safe by late morning and returned to the center. (More)

➤ York County: A passing boater rescued six people, including two children, after their boat capsized in the York River on Saturday night. (More)

➤ Chesapeake Bay: The latest winter dredge survey counted roughly 228 million juvenile blue crabs in the bay, more than double last year’s total. Overall, the population grew to around 349 million, up 46% from a year ago. (More)

➤ Richmond: Virginia’s new state budget set aside an unexpected $15 million to tear down the long-vacant Richmond Coliseum, which closed in 2019. City officials call razing the 1971 arena a key first step toward a downtown hotel and redevelopment. (See Details)

➤ Also Richmond: Fire destroyed the former Good Shepherd Baptist Church on Sunday evening, a historically black congregation central to the city’s civil rights movement. Crews kept the flames from spreading to neighboring homes, and investigators are still working on the cause. (See Details)

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➤ Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams was voted a starter for the National League All-Star team, while outfielder James Wood will be a reserve. (More)

➤ A behind-the-scenes look at the Commanders’ rebrand reveals that Oreo executive Mark Clouse, who was hired to lead the team’s business operations, used brand-building lessons from the cookie company to reshape Washington’s identity. (More)

➤ NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing left his role as the New York Knicks’ ambassador to join the Washington Wizards’ coaching staff as an assistant under Brian Keefe. The Wizards reportedly value his ability to mentor a roster that now includes No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders signed veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas to a one-year deal worth up to $3.8 million. Douglas started 13 games for the Dolphins last season and had two interceptions and 13 passes defended. (More) 

Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA 

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➤ Under HB 975, which took effect on July 1, venues with more than $48,000 in monthly food sales face no ratio, midsize venues ($25,000–$48,000) drop to 30%, and smaller venues remain at 45% (or 30% if under 30 seats). (More)

➤ Churchill Downs is running petition drives to bring Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums, its historical-horse-racing betting parlors, to Pulaski and Amherst County, where local officials are weighing the potential tax revenue against residents’ concerns about expanded gambling. (More)

➤ City Dogs in Roanoke paused daycare and new boarding on Monday during an active investigation by the Police Department’s Animal Protection and Services Unit, which hasn’t said what prompted it. Owners were told to pick up their pets. (More)

➤ Roanoke College launched an artificial-intelligence program for working professionals, part of a wave of new AI offerings at Virginia schools. (More)

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➤ Cheese slaw in the Roanoke Valley remains a beloved local riff on pimento cheese: a spicy, creamy blend of Swiss cheese, banana and jalapeño peppers, and green onions, sold at spots like Crystal Spring Grocery and served at area restaurants. (See Photo)

➤ Virginia’s most popular dog breed is the Labrador Retriever, according to a map built from 1.2 million pet-insurance records. The Lab tops 16 states, more than any other breed. (See Map)

➤ Volunteers planted 507 American flags at every mailbox in Fairfax County’s McLean Hamlet neighborhood ahead of the July Fourth holiday to mark the nation’s 250th birthday. (See Photos)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Skip the expensive creams, because here are five sure-fire remedies to calm sunburned skin and speed recovery. (Hear Details)

➤ Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin heads to a Utah courtroom this week, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. (Hear Episode)

➤ China test-fired a long-range ballistic missile from a submarine into the South Pacific, inside a decades-old nuclear-free zone. (Listen Now)

The Roanoke Valley’s beloved cheese slaw mixes Swiss cheese, banana peppers, jalapeños, and green onions. Are you in?

1. Love it
2. I’d try it
3. Hard pass

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you enjoy crossword puzzles? 

1. Not my thing: 41%
2. They’re OK: 30%
3. Love them: 29%

What 18th-century artifacts were unearthed by archaeologists during George Washington’s Mount Vernon mansion revitalization?

Show me the answer