Trump Sends Virginia $122M for Rural Health

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz joined Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia Beach Friday as the Trump administration announced $122 million for Virginia through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The money is part of the commonwealth’s larger $189 million fiscal 2026 award.

During the visit, Oz and Kiggans toured Sentara Princess Anne Hospital and met with providers at Tidewater Community College. The roundtable covered affordability, staffing shortages, Medicaid policy, administrative burdens, and access to care.

Funding will expand remote patient monitoring, virtual care, mobile clinics, maternal care, community paramedicine, rural medical residencies, apprenticeships, and provider training.

The investment comes as Virginia’s rural hospitals face financial pressure. A state legislative report identified seven of the commonwealth’s 36 rural hospitals as facing the highest risk of closure or financial distress. The program was created under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, passed by congressional Republicans and signed by President Donald Trump.

Virginia Removes Three Confederate Memorials

Virginia crews removed three Confederate memorials from Capitol Square in Richmond on Friday under a budget provision approved by the General Assembly. The work began without an advance public announcement.

The monuments honored Confederate Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, former Virginia Gov. William “Extra Billy” Smith, and physician and Confederate surgeon Hunter Holmes McGuire. Unveiled between 1875 and 1906, the memorials had stood on the Capitol grounds for more than a century.

The General Assembly transferred the memorials to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, which plans to preserve and relocate them to battlefield sites. Officials have not decided what will replace them.

Supporters said the removals move Confederate figures out of a place of state honor without erasing history. Critics argued that they diminish the Capitol’s historical context, particularly given McGuire’s contributions to military medicine.

McGuire drafted the 1862 Winchester Accord, which helped establish the treatment of captured medical officers as noncombatants—a principle later reflected in international humanitarian law.

Virginia’s Longest-Serving Sheriff Dies

Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper, Virginia’s longest-serving sheriff, died Saturday following a terminal pulmonary illness, according to the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association.

Draper began working at the Martinsville City Jail in 1973 and won election as sheriff in 1993. He was sworn in Jan. 1, 1994 and later served as president of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office praised Draper’s decades of service, influence on fellow officers, and work building regional law enforcement partnerships.

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➤ Virginia Beach: Police asked for help identifying a man accused of entering a Hafford Road property and attempting to peer inside the home on June 23 and Aug. 25. Authorities said he wore a graphic hoodie and socks without shoes during both incidents and has a tattoo on his right hand. (More)

➤ Richmond: A former breast surgeon obtained licenses in eight states shortly before surrendering her Virginia license amid disciplinary proceedings. She faces dozens of malpractice lawsuits, though her attorneys deny negligence. (More)

➤ Norfolk: City Council authorized stormwater and wastewater bonds along with up to $200 million in tax-backed bonds to reimburse previously completed capital projects. (More)

➤ Salem: Anna Guardipee, paralyzed in a 2019 tractor-trailer crash that killed her best friend, is lobbying Congress for mandatory automatic emergency braking and speed limiters on semi-trucks. (More)

➤ Amherst: The town imposed mandatory conservation rules as reduced Buffalo River flow strained its drinking water supply, limiting lawn watering and other nonessential uses. (More)

➤ Lynchburg: City Schools will intensify attendance tracking and hold weekly administrator meetings after more than 26% of students were chronically absent last year. (More)

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➤ Virginia capped its season-opening 34-8 rout of NC State with a 23-play drive that drained 12:15 off the clock and ended with a Xay Davis touchdown run. (More)

➤ William & Mary football pulled off a dramatic comeback in its season opener on Friday to defeat No. 7 Villanova, erasing a double-digit deficit with less than one minute left on the clock. (See Ending)

➤ The Washington Commanders were blown out 41-3 in their preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens. In a press conference shortly after the game, head coach Dan Quinn called out the team’s lack of effort. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NCAAF | Soccer | WNBA | Golf | NASCAR | IndyCar | LLWS

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➤ A 1741 Loudoun County estate reportedly visited by George Washington is listed for $8.4 million. The 43-acre Wheatland Farm includes a six-bedroom manor, two guesthouses, a restored Daniel Boone log cabin, historic barns, and extensive equestrian facilities. (See Photos)

➤ Smith Mountain Lake is turning 60 with a retro-themed party coming Sept. 5 featuring 1950s- and 1960s-inspired attire, diner food, root beer floats, dancing, and live music. (More)

➤ Martin Horn Helps has been named the new Charlottesville-area affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, keeping free monthly books flowing to more than 2,300 local children and pledging two months of deliveries in tribute to Parton. (More)

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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, straight from the heart of the country. 

➤ Forecasters can’t agree whether fall will bring sweaters, storms, or lingering summer heat. (Hear More)

➤ Thieves pull off a massive beer run involving 1,600 cases.(Listen Now)

➤  A veteran’s final words capture a life filled with family, laughter, and adventure. (Podcast Available)

Have you been to Dollywood?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite old-fashioned candy?

1. Necco wafers: 25%
2. Circus peanuts: 24%
3. Lemon drops: 17%
4. Mary Janes: 15%
5. Stick candy: 12%
6. Ribbon candy: 7%
7. Other: 0%

What breed is the Virginia state dog?

Show me the answer