The Virginia Flyover

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, the Third Battle of Winchester—the largest and bloodiest Civil War fight in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley—saw Union Gen. Philip Sheridan’s forces decisively defeat Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early, shifting momentum and launching Sheridan’s campaign that wrested the Valley from Southern control.

The Pentagon just released more UFO files, and this batch digs into a secret military program most people have never heard of. Why was the government commissioning studies on wormholes? What happened to the three engineers who got sick after an encounter nobody can explain? And after six releases in five months, are we any closer to knowing what’s actually going on? Amy walks through the full timeline of the release program and breaks down what’s real, what we know, and what’s still a mystery on The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, AutoCamp, has turned more than one million guests into happy campers—and now hundreds of those guests have become investors as the outdoor hospitality brand sets its sights on expanding from eight locations to more than 100.

Virginia Faces $1.7B Highway Shortfall

Virginia faces a projected funding gap of at least $1.7 billion for highway maintenance, potentially forcing the state to shift money from new construction to road and bridge repairs.

Transportation officials proposed adding roughly $290 million annually to maintenance beginning in fiscal 2028 and continuing for six years. Without other adjustments, funding for the state’s Smart Scale construction program could temporarily fall by about 51%, affecting projects awarded to localities.

Officials attributed the shortfall to rising construction costs, previous budget assumptions, and a growing transportation network that now includes 21,200 bridges and 59,700 miles of pavement.

Transportation Secretary Nick Donohue is expected to present mitigation options next month. The Commonwealth Transportation Board is scheduled to vote Dec. 9 on its maintenance strategy and the amount transferred from construction programs.

Spanberger Unveils Data Center Framework

Gov. Abigail Spanberger unveiled a framework Friday aimed at increasing oversight of Virginia’s data center industry and protecting residents from higher energy and environmental costs.

Executive Order 22 immediately bars executive branch entities from entering into or requiring nondisclosure agreements for data center projects. It also accelerates noise regulations, orders a review of backup generators, and creates an AI task force focused on workforce displacement, data privacy, and cybersecurity.

The broader plan calls for local approval of data centers using more than 25 megawatts, an end to automatic approvals and certain state subsidies, and greater responsibility for industry-related power costs. Many of those measures require legislative approval in 2027.

FBI Links Wilmer to 1988 Disappearances

The FBI has officially linked the 1988 disappearances of Christopher Newport University students Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey to Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., a deceased Lancaster County man connected to several other Colonial Parkway cases.

Call, 20, and Hailey, 18, vanished after leaving a Newport News party on April 10, 1988. Call’s car was found later that day near the York River Overlook, but neither student has ever been found.

Investigators cited similarities in the timing, location, and circumstances of the disappearances and Wilmer’s known pattern. Although no direct forensic evidence is available, federal prosecutors said the evidence would have supported charges had Wilmer, who died in 2017, still been alive.

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Inc: In Less Than 30 Days, This Brand Raised $1.2M From Its Own Guests

That’s Inc’s headline from July when outdoor hospitality market leader AutoCamp opened its doors to retail investors for the first time. The moral? Those who know the brand best sprung to action.

Less than 30 days. That’s how long it took for more than 350 AutoCamp customers to move from visitors to shareholders, investing $1.2M+ into the company’s future. A closer look at the company’s success is all you need to see why.

By merging iconic outdoor destinations like Yosemite, Zion, Cape Cod and Joshua Tree with boutique-hotel comfort, AutoCamp has transformed $732B in hospitality markets.

Now, after surpassing their initial $1.2M target, AutoCamp has extended the opportunity for those who missed out. And with 1M+ happy campers so far, there’s a big pool of potential investors.

AutoCamp already operates in eight locations nationwide today. Claim your early-stage stake in AutoCamp as they work to expand to 100+.

➤ Arlington: Corso Italian has permanently closed after flooding damaged its dining room and basement at the Village at Shirlington. The restaurant closed Aug. 2 and initially planned to reopen after repairs. (More)

➤ Richmond: City officials are nearing completion of a rewrite of Richmond’s zoning code, which is more than 50 years old. The latest draft limits most lots in detached-home neighborhoods to two residences and directs more housing growth toward major transit corridors, but residents continue to raise questions about density and neighborhood impacts. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Early in-person voting for Virginia’s Nov. 3 general election began Friday and continues through Oct. 31. The deadline to register or request a mailed ballot is Oct. 23, while proposed federal mail-ballot restrictions remain blocked. (Voting Information)

➤ Roanoke County: Public schools demonstrated the Raptor Alert system used for lockdowns, attendance checks, and law enforcement notifications. The district has used the technology for six years, and any teacher can initiate a lockdown alert through the system. (More)

➤ Roanoke: The Wasena Bridge replacement is about 95% complete, with the bridge deck and a new 12-inch waterline finished. City officials hope to reopen the crossing later this fall after the remaining road and structural work is completed. (More)

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➤ The Washington Commanders are covering startup costs for new girls flag football teams at all five Newport News high schools, supplying uniforms, equipment, and $3,000 per school. Virginia now has 103 club teams, up from 51 last year. (More)

➤ Washington Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray was activated Thursday, 896 days after his last appearance on a major league mound. Elbow and forearm injuries and repeated setbacks cost the 2023 All-Star nearly three full seasons. (More)

➤ VCU men’s basketball scheduled a home-and-home series with Wichita State, hosting the Shockers in Richmond next season before a return trip in 2028-29. The two programs have met six times, including in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. (More)

➤ No. 25 Virginia faces West Virginia today in the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte, and Virginia Tech travels to Maryland for a primetime kickoff. JMU heads to San Diego State for a late-night game. (See Full Schedule)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | WNBA | Golf | Soccer

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➤ Gold’s next big opportunity may be hiding in smaller mining companies. Golden Portfolio’s Garrett Goggin has identified three junior miners he believes could become attractive acquisition targets as major gold producers look to replenish reserves. Get his top three picks, ongoing research, bonus recommendations, and more with Golden Portfolio IV.

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Hotels Ditch Blackout Curtains for Beautiful Canyons

Guests are trading early-morning housekeeping wakeups for breathtaking views. And industry giants clearly think it’s no fad.

Marriott just launched the “Outdoor Collection,” opening properties in destinations like Jackson Hole. Hyatt partnered with a brand specializing in off-grid, safari-style tents.

Meanwhile, Hilton Hotels formed a first-of-its-kind partnership with outdoor-lodging leader AutoCamp. That makes AutoCamp the only outdoor lodging bookable for 200M+ Honors members at Hilton.com. And their boutique approach doesn’t compromise comfort for beauty.

They’ve been building toward this moment since 2013. 1M+ happy campers across 9 locations. An exclusive Airstream partnership no competitor can replicate. Now, AutoCamp’s inviting everyday people like you to invest for the first time.

The giants are validating the category. Claim your piece as an AutoCamp investor as they work to expand to 100+ locations.

This is a paid advertisement for AutoCamp Regulation Crowdfunding offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.autocamp.com. Forward looking statements were included here that the Company believes to be accurate given the current information. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors which if changed may affect the outcome(s). Past performance is not indicative of future results.

➤ A new career center opened at Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa, offering career counseling, résumé assistance, mock interviews, job searches, and internship connections. Officials are also considering satellite locations in Cape Charles and Chincoteague. (More)

➤ The 44th annual West Point Crab Carnival returns Oct. 2–3 with free admission, live music, carnival rides, fireworks, 24 food trucks, and 165 vendors. Organizers expect approximately 16,000 people to visit downtown West Point during the two-day celebration. (More)

➤ William Byrd High School’s choir won a competition to perform with Foreigner during the band’s Sept. 23 concert at the Salem Civic Center. Choir director Matt Bartley said the Vinton students are preparing for what he called “A Night to Remember.” (More)

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➤ Dry Eyes? Here are 5 reasons drops aren’t working. Are you wasting your money on eye drops? Here are 5 reasons drops won’t work for dry eyes and why you should be doing THIS instead. PS – If you really care about your eye health…⇒ Read this short article before you spend another penny on eye drops… (You are probably being misled).

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.

➤ Newly released Pentagon UFO files reveal a secret military program studying warp drives and unexplained injuries. (Listen Now)

➤ The lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial is disputing fellow jurors’ accounts of what happened behind closed doors. (Hear Details)

➤ Top tech executives are reportedly joining Trump’s state dinner for China’s leader, and AI is on the table. (Podcast Available)