TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1619, Virginia’s first General Assembly ended its historic session at Jamestown’s wooden church. Meeting since July 30 under Gov. Sir George Yeardley with councilors and 22 burgesses, it formed America’s first representative legislature, enacting laws and establishing self-government.

Have you ever forgotten to attend a court date? A new study finds that text reminders may be the solution—and save Virginia money. Learn more in Top Stories.

What if the biggest threat in your diet isn’t sugar or fat, but something hiding in more than half of everything you eat? Ultra-processed foods have been linked to plenty of chronic conditions, all of which can shorten your life. And they’re lurking in products you’d never suspect, from your morning bagel to the sauce on your stir fry. The good news? You don’t have to overhaul your kitchen or your budget to cut them out. On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla reveals six everyday swaps that push these foods off your plate, plus the one trick that exposes them on any label. Tune in here!

If you haven’t compared your car insurance in a while, there’s a good chance you’re paying more than you need to. Even if you checked rates a year ago, the market has changed. That’s why today’s sponsor, Insurify, makes it easy to compare quotes from more than 120 insurers in just a few minutes.

Virginia Votes in Delayed Primary

Virginia holds its primary today, nearly two months later than usual, after a redistricting fight scrambled the election calendar.

Voters had approved a Democratic-backed amendment to redraw the state’s congressional map in an April 21 referendum, but the Virginia Supreme Court struck it down in May, leaving the 2021 map in place. The delay pushed the vote from mid-June to Aug. 4.

On the Republican side, three candidates are competing to challenge Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat running for what he says is his last term, and the GOP holds U.S. House primaries in the 5th, 7th, and 10th districts. Democrats have House primaries in the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 9th, plus a Chesterfield County supervisor special election.

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line at closing can still vote. Winners advance to the Nov. 3 general election. View live updates of the results here.

Court Text Reminders Could Save VA Millions

Sending automatic text reminders for court dates could save Virginia $3.4 million per year, a new Pew Charitable Trusts analysis found.

Missed court appearances cost the state about $17 million in 2023 and led to roughly 23,000 arrests, according to Pew. Studies show reminders cut no-shows by 20% to 40%.

Virginia already sends reminders, but the system is opt-in and reaches only 16% of eligible cases. A bill to switch to automatic enrollment, House Bill 885, passed the House unanimously last year before stalling in a Senate committee.

The upgrade would cost about $1.5 million upfront and $150,000 a year, Pew estimates, and the state would recoup that in the first year. Lawmakers are expected to revisit the measure in 2027.

VA Schools Start Dates Vary Widely

Virginia public schools begin the 2026-27 year on staggered dates, with the earliest openings on Aug. 5 in districts including Danville, Buckingham County, Cumberland County and Orange County.

Many southwest and central divisions follow in the first two weeks of August, while others open later in the month.

Larger districts such as Henrico, Chesterfield, Richmond City, and Hanover County start around Aug. 24, often with staggered schedules for younger students or new middle- and high-schoolers. Fairfax typically begins around Aug. 24, while Loudoun starts a bit earlier, around Aug. 17.

Families can find a list of all Virginia public schools here, and should check their local division’s official calendar, as start dates and any staggered plans differ across the state’s more than 130 districts. Most aim to complete 180 instructional days by early to mid-June.

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Your Insurance Rate Might Be Higher Than It Should Be

A lot can change in a year. Insurance companies constantly adjust their pricing, and the company that offered you the best rate last time may no longer be the most competitive. In fact, Insurify projects rates will change in 35 states this year, making it worthwhile to shop around even if you’ve been with the same insurer for years.

Instead of calling multiple companies or filling out the same information over and over, Insurify lets you compare personalized quotes from more than 120 insurance providers in one place. The process is free, takes just a few minutes, and could help you find the same coverage for less.

Many drivers simply renew their policy every six months without checking what else is available. A quick comparison could be one of the easiest ways to lower a monthly bill.

Compare your rates with Insurify today and see if you could save.

➤ Statewide: A federal judge refused to block new Medicaid work requirements challenged by 25 Democratic-led states, including Virginia, clearing the way for the rules to take effect Jan. 1. Recipients will have to work, study, or volunteer at least 80 hours a month to keep coverage. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: A year after Virginia set aside $50 million to help Southwest Virginia recover from back-to-back floods, only 13% of the money has reached residents. (More)

➤ Reston: Former state Sen. Janet Howell, a Fairfax County Democrat who became the first woman to chair the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, has died at 82. She served in the General Assembly for more than three decades. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: A Northern Virginia court awarded a teacher and a parent more than $1 million combined after false online accusations, with the state’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law helping shield them. (More)

➤ Richmond-based Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods is recalling about 22,880 pounds of baked spaghetti and chicken cobbler—six products in all—over concerns they may contain small pieces of metal. (More)

➤ Onancock: Repairs are progressing at the Historic Onancock School on the Eastern Shore, around six months after a January fire shuttered the community and arts center. All insulation and ceiling tiles have been installed on the building’s upper level. (More)

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➤ The Washington Commanders signed center Trey Hill, a former sixth-round pick who has bounced between five teams since being drafted by the Bengals in 2021. (More)

➤ UVA swimmers won 13 individual national titles at the 2026 Toyota National Championships in Irvine, California. Junior Katie Grimes broke a program record in the 1500-meter freestyle, and sophomore Maximus Williamson won his first career national title in the 200-meter individual medley. (More)

➤ UVA quarterback commit Lonnie Andrews III will miss his senior season at Oscar Smith High School due to an undisclosed injury. Andrews led his school to back-to-back state championships and went 30-1 as a starter over the past two years. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Little League Softball World Series

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➤ Beat the heat without blasting your whole house with air conditioning. evaCHILL is a compact personal evaporative cooler that cools, humidifies, and purifies the air around you while using minimal power. Just add water, plug it into any USB power source, and enjoy hours of refreshing comfort at your desk, bedside, or on the go. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Sentara Health has notified Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield that it will let its contract expire unless a new reimbursement deal is reached. The Norfolk-based system sought a 6.2% increase, while Anthem proposed a 1% cut. (More)

➤ Watchtower Homes & Construction and George Real Estate Group are building 16 units—eight pairs of three-bedroom duplexes—in Richmond’s Swansboro neighborhood, priced around $400,000 each. Construction is expected to finish in early 2027. (More)

➤ Lori Traficanti plans to open Goochland County’s only dedicated independent coffee shop, Sipping Sunshine Cafe, this fall, with plans to move from the mobile trailer she now runs to a brick-and-mortar location. (More)

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➤ Turn overflowing piles of kids’ artwork into lasting keepsakes with Artkive. Simply send in your child’s drawings, paintings, and school projects, and Artkive professionally photographs, organizes, and transforms them into beautiful hardcover books or custom mosaics—preserving precious memories while helping you reclaim space at home. (LEARN MORE)

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Five Minutes Could Save You Hundreds

Insurify estimates drivers who switch through its marketplace can save up to $1,100 per year, simply by comparing offers from multiple insurers side by side. The service is free, there are no hidden fees, and you’ll see real quotes from trusted insurance companies based on your information.

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➤ A pet pig named Elmer is recovering after Virginia Tech veterinarians relieved a blocked bladder caused by a sandy buildup of minerals. The smart, stubborn pig had been in obvious pain before the surgery. (More)

➤ Lucy Dacus, a Hanover County native and three-time Grammy winner, came home to screen her new music video, Planting Tomatoes, at Richmond’s historic Byrd Theatre. (More and Watch Video)

➤ Virginia residents can find the locations of Flock cameras—automated license plate readers scanning vehicles and storing data for police—via maps like DeFlock.org. (More)

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➤ The Real Reason Skin Starts To Thin After 50 (It’s Not What You Think. Remember when bruises faded fast and skin bounced back? New research shows a particular deficiency impacts strength and dark spots too—and you don’t have to accept paper-thin, discolored skin as the “new normal.” Unfortunately, most people don’t know that thinning, aging skin is often caused by this. Learn More

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:

➤ Hidden ultra-processed ingredients lurk in over half your diet, but there are six simple swaps to fight back. (Hear Details)

➤ The first deaths have been reported in the nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, with two victims confirmed in Michigan. (Hear Episode)

➤ New Yorkers can finally camp overnight in Central Park, but scoring a free spot means winning a coveted citywide lottery. (Listen Now)