The Virginia Flyover

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1956, American film and television producer Mark Gordon was born in Newport News. Known for producing Saving Private Ryan, Speed, The Day After Tomorrow, Grey’s Anatomy, and Criminal Minds, he also served as president of the Producers Guild of America.

About 200,000 people are expected on Richmond’s riverfront this weekend as the Richmond Folk Festival marks its 22nd year, and tonight’s headliner is a family affair, with about 45 of the late D’Angelo’s relatives taking the stage in his honor. Find out more in Et Cetera!

Speaking of live music, we want to hear from you: What’s the best concert or music festival you’ve ever been to? Hit reply and let us know.

Is the government really about to hand you $1,000 a year for retirement? The IRS has started mailing notices to millions of Americans about a new program that deposits federal matching money directly into retirement accounts, rather than just shave it off your tax bill. But there’s a catch. Plenty of savers will get the full $1,000, while others won’t see a dime, and the difference comes down to a few details on your tax return. So who qualifies, and how do you actually claim the money? Amy has the full story on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor is Curated Gift Guides, rounding up 37 of the most useful and ingenious gadgets of 2026 designed to solve everyday problems and make great gifts.

22 Downtowns Split $615K in Grants

Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday announced $615,000 in Main Street grants for 22 Virginia downtowns, with projects ranging from directional signs to alley murals.

The biggest checks, $75,000 each, went to Farmville for downtown wayfinding and to Hampton’s Phoebus neighborhood for its Clock Alley project. In Southwest and western Virginia, Galax drew $50,000, while Christiansburg, Pulaski, Rocky Mount, and Clifton Forge got $15,000 apiece and Boones Mill got $5,000.

Galax and Pulaski are putting their money toward new directional signs, while Clifton Forge is buying amphitheater seating. In Fredericksburg, $17,000 will pay for three murals, new banners, and lighting in the alley leading into Market Square.

The governor’s office said the grants are expected to draw more than $230,000 in matching local public and private money.

Google Commits $10M to Home Repairs

Google is giving $10 million to help Virginians cut their utility bills, including about $1.8 million for homes near the data center it’s building in Botetourt County.

The Virginia Community Action Partnership gets about $9.5 million for statewide work, and Dillwyn nonprofit FLIPP Inc. gets $500,000 to train home-repair workers. Google said low- and moderate-income households near its data centers in Botetourt, Loudoun, Prince William, and Chesterfield counties and Hampton Roads will get priority.

In Botetourt, Roanoke-based Total Action for Progress will help about 80 homeowners near the Greenfield industrial park make repairs over the next year, and $260,000 will train 40 people for construction, HVAC, and electrical jobs. Google said many of those homes are older, with leaky roofs, poor insulation, and outdated wiring, adding, “Many households need more than the available programs can cover.”

The money comes from Google’s $15 million Energy Impact Fund, which the company launched in June.

Virginia Tech Dogs Sniff Out Lanternflies

Virginia Tech is training dogs to sniff out spotted lanternflies and the egg masses the invasive bugs hide in hard-to-see places.

The research, underway since 2023, has found that trained dogs can find the insects better than people can. Sally Dickinson of the university’s School of Animal Sciences said, “The egg masses are typically laid in really hard to see places. And so, the dogs use odor to detect those.”

Dickinson said dogs could be trained to detect almost any major pest, giving vineyards, lumber yards, and other outdoor businesses a way to clear out invasive insects on their own. She added that the work has helped shy dogs become more confident, since searching by smell comes naturally to them.

A total of 182 dogs have been admitted to the program, and a few dozen dog-and-handler teams are still carrying on the research.

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The 37 Best Gadgets of 2026 You Won’t Find in Stores

The best gadgets aren’t just cool… they solve real everyday problems. From clutter-busting tools to clever tech upgrades, these picks are making waves for their usefulness and ingenuity. We’ve rounded up the most talked-about items that people can’t stop adding to their carts.

Each one combines practical function with a touch of genius, making them perfect for your home, office, or even as gifts. But be warned… demand is skyrocketing, and these top gadgets are already selling out faster than expected.

Learn More

➤ Haysi: All six Town Council members voted to begin expelling Mayor Larry Yates after his September arrest on felony embezzlement, credit card fraud, and public-asset charges. Yates, free on bond, can appear before the council at an Oct. 19 hearing. (More)

➤ Bedford County: The School Board votes Oct. 15 on closing a second school: Otter River Elementary, Big Island Elementary, or Bedford Primary. Its redistricting plan already closes Stewartsville Elementary, and some parents say Forest-area schools are nearing capacity. (More)

➤ Manassas: Police shut down six massage businesses and arrested three people Tuesday in Operation False Front, seizing several hundred thousand dollars in cash. Police said they found several human-trafficking victims and connected them with services. (More)

➤ Amherst County: Geenex Power wants to build a small modular reactor project generating up to 650 megawatts on about 250 acres between Joshua Falls Road and a bend of the James River, across from Appalachian Power’s Joshua Falls substation. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads and Richmond: Haynes Furniture and The Dump Luxe Furniture Outlet are closing for good after 128 years, ending four Haynes stores in Newport News, Virginia Beach, and Richmond, plus Dump locations in Norfolk and Richmond. Liquidation sales began Thursday. (See Stores)

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➤ A former Cavalier whose rise with her twin sister inspired the 2002 Disney Channel movie Double Teamed has died at 54. Heidi Burge Horton helped Virginia reach three Final Fours before playing for the Los Angeles Sparks and Washington Mystics. (More)

➤ Central Virginia high school football teams took the field last night for Week 7, with scores and highlights from across the Richmond area. (See Scores)

➤ Virginia hosts Syracuse tonight in a primetime Homecoming game at Scott Stadium, looking to bounce back from last week’s loss at Florida State. All three Virginia On SI staff writers pick the Cavaliers to win by double digits but say UVA must clean up its missed tackles and revive the run game that powered its first three wins. (See Predictions)

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Genius Gadgets: The 37 That Actually Earn Their Keep

Smart shoppers know the secret: the best gadgets earn their keep. These 37 picks prove it. They aren’t gimmicks or dust collectors, they’re practical innovations that deliver real value every single day.

Whether you’re organizing your space, upgrading your routine, or getting a head start on gifts, this list highlights what’s genuinely worth buying right now. The catch? These popular items are selling faster than anticipated, so availability won’t last.

Click Here

➤ The Richmond Folk Festival continues today and Sunday on the riverfront for its 22nd year and is expected to draw about 200,000 people over three days, with free admission and a $10 daily donation requested. Saturday’s 5 p.m. headliner at Allianz Amphitheater is a tribute to the late R&B singer D’Angelo, with about 45 of his relatives on stage. (More)

➤ The Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s 2026 Christmas ornament features Colonial Williamsburg’s reconstructed Capitol, where Virginia’s first General Assembly met in October 1776. It’s the ninth ornament in the museum’s annual series. (More)

➤ Eleanor Ipson, wife of Holocaust survivor and Virginia Holocaust Museum founder Jay Ipson, died Oct. 5 at 87. When Jay first saw her dancing at a party in Canada, he told a friend, “That’s the woman I’m going to marry,” and they were married 67 years. (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.

➤ The IRS is mailing notices about $1,000 in free retirement money, but strict cutoffs apply. (Listen Now)

➤ This year’s Nobel Peace Prize went to a South African jurist, drawing swift condemnation from Israel. (Hear Details)

➤ Severe turbulence forced a Colombia-to-New York flight to divert to Miami, sending at least eight people to the hospital. (Podcast Available)