Panel Reports VA Boys Falling Behind

Virginia boys trail girls at nearly every educational milestone, according to a report released Thursday by the Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission.

Only 48% of boys met kindergarten readiness benchmarks versus 56% of girls, and fourth-grade boys scored 13.5 points below girls on 2024 reading tests—the widest such gap in the nation.

Boys drop out of high school at a 50% higher rate, comprise just 44% of undergraduates, and only 39% of men ages 25–34 hold bachelor’s degrees compared with 48% of women.

The commission cited school environments poorly matched to boys’ development and a shortage of male teachers. Recommendations include separate literacy tracking, earlier vocational dual enrollment, and male pathways into healthcare.

The 18-member panel voted unanimously to send the report to the General Assembly and Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

AG Challenges Federal Voter Records Search

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones told the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday that its hunt for noncitizens on state voter rolls “potentially violates several Virginia laws,” demanding the effort stop and that related records be turned over. 

In a letter to Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Jones cited three state statutes, arguing that registration data and voting history are protected and require a court order for federal access. He also asked DHS to confirm in writing whether staff was directed to look up Virginians’ records without permission and to preserve logs and materials.

The claims stem from an anonymous whistleblower report released Monday by Senate Democrats that alleges immigration staffers were reassigned in late August, given brief training, and told to check DHS lists against state voter tools. The account remains unverified.

Shenandoah Nat’l Park to Automate Entrances

Shenandoah National Park will begin installing automated entry stations at all four entrances this fall, paid for by donations to the park. 

Visitors will be able to buy standard seven-day passes—for vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, or on foot—with a credit or debit card.

Annual and lifetime passes will still be sold only at staffed booths, and anyone with an existing pass or receipt can scan the barcode to get through the gate when staff isn’t there. 

The park says the machines will also sharpen emergency response. Each includes a gate system that lets rangers close Skyline Drive remotely when road conditions turn dangerous. The National Park Service has posted details for visitors.

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➤ Statewide: Virginia ranks 35th of 50 states in the Heartland Institute’s new Medicaid Report Card, scoring 39 of 100—strongest on program integrity, weakest on its provider market, with certificate-of-need laws and 8.78% five-year spending growth counted against it. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: Hungarian Olympian Réka György, who missed an NCAA final spot after racing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, faulted Gov. Abigail Spanberger for dropping a proposed rule barring biological males from female teams and changing spaces. Spanberger’s administration withdrew the action July 30. (More)

➤ Southwest Virginia: Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge recorded a second straight year of record visitor spending in 2025, topping $970 million, and expects a third consecutive record next year amid strong regional tourism growth. (More)

➤ Richmond: Protesters lined up outside Richmond International Airport on Saturday morning to demand a stop to ICE flights at the airfield, which demonstrators called “un-American.” (More)

➤ Shenandoah Valley: Winchester’s Commonwealth attorney, serving as special prosecutor, found deputies’ use of deadly force justified in the June 23 killing of Claudia Muterspaugh, 49, in Stanley. Muterspaugh pointed a handgun at officers before they fired. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: University of Virginia student Ashley Ferguson joined cancer advocates in Washington this week, urging Congress to prioritize funding for research and prevention programs as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. (More)

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➤ The Washington Commanders fell to 0-2 yesterday after a 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Following the game, concern shifted to Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, who appeared to dislocate his left elbow for the second time in as many seasons. (More)

➤ Washington Nationals star outfielder James Wood was benched by manager Blake Butera over the weekend after he showed a lack of effort running out a ground ball. (More)

➤ UVA men’s soccer saw its early-season struggles continue on Saturday against Wake Forest, mounting an impressive two-goal comeback just to fall on a go-ahead goal with just 14 seconds remaining. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | WNBA | Golf | Soccer

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Flyover Focus takes a deeper look at the topics that matter. Click the link to watch this week’s full episode.

➤ Your grocery bill, your mortgage, and your retirement check all move with the cost of living. So what’s actually behind that number? (Tune in here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we get into how the cost of living is measured, why the official figure doesn’t always match what you see at the register, and whether the yearly raise to Social Security checks actually keeps anyone afloat. We also look at who’s feeling the squeeze hardest, and whether there’s any relief in sight. (Watch Now)

In case you missed it, last week on Flyover Focus, we broke down artificial intelligence, tune in here.

➤ Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced TECHnista will invest $15.1 million in Danville, leasing a 30,000-square-foot Cyber Park building and creating at least 22 jobs to expand K-12 workforce training for defense and advanced manufacturing. (More)

➤ Carilion Clinic drew a bigger-than-expected crowd Saturday for its first public screening for peripheral artery disease, with patients lining up outside its Crystal Spring Drive office in Roanoke nearly an hour before doors opened. (More)

➤ Two Richmond-area crafters, Vanessa Reyes and Amy Yates, opened Glue Craft Studio Saturday in a formerly abandoned Church Hill storefront, offering upcycling-focused classes, workshops and open studio time with mostly secondhand supplies. (More)

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➤ Crowds at the 2026 NAS Oceana Air Show in Virginia Beach celebrated America’s 250th anniversary and freedom with aerial demos by the Blue Angels and others, while honoring the service members who protect the nation. (Watch Video)

➤ Virginia Beach ranks 51st, Norfolk 68th, and Chesapeake 80th among America’s 100 largest cities for coffee lovers, with Virginia Beach also posting one of the lowest shares of adult coffee drinkers. (See Rankings)

➤ Virginia Film Office director Andy Edmunds wrote, directed, and helped bankroll The Cashier, which premieres Tuesday to kick off the Richmond International Film Festival. It was shot entirely in Richmond and stars Tim and Daphne Reid. (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. 

➤ The drug-pricing deals the White House celebrated turned out to have terms nobody was supposed to see. (Hear Terms)

➤ President Trump says he is close to a decision on Iran and named the three paths on the table. (Hear Options)

➤  A homeschooled firefighter in Nebraska applied for a paid job and was told his diploma did not count. He has 30 days to sue. (Hear Story)

Have you ever met a movie star?

1. Yes (reply to tell us who)
2. Not yet
3. Can’t remember

Monday’s Results:

What’s your favorite Cracker Barrel meal?

1. Not a Cracker Barrel fan: 27%
2. Old Timer’s Breakfast: 26%
3. Country Fried Steak: 13%
4. Momma’s Pancake Breakfast: 11%
5. Other: 10%
6. Hashbrown Casserole: 8%
7. Fried Chicken: 5%

What Virginia city provided the 18th- and 19th-century streetscapes for several major productions about freedom fighters, presidents, and Revolutionary War spies?

Show me the answer