Bedford County Votes To Close One School

The Bedford County School Board voted unanimously Thursday to close Stewartsville Elementary after this school year, the only school it will shutter for now.

Stewartsville operates at less than 45% capacity, the lowest in a county where enrollment has dropped more than 22% in 20 years. The board rejected proposals that would also have closed Bedford Primary School, Big Island Elementary School, or Otter River Elementary School, with Chair Chris Daniels saying, “The juice would not have been worth the squeeze.”

Consultants will develop up to three proposed attendance maps for a Nov. 12 hearing before the board’s final vote Dec. 10. Board member Steven Hill said a countywide plan would make it nearly impossible to continue the usual practice of letting rezoned students remain at their current schools.

Kennedy, Kiggans Discuss Healthcare Shortages

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans for a closed roundtable Thursday at Tidewater Community College’s Regional Health Professions Center in Virginia Beach. The discussion focused on healthcare workforce shortages and expanding access to care.

Kiggans, a Navy veteran and one of two nurse practitioners in Congress, said the group discussed making it easier for veterans to transfer their military experience into civilian healthcare careers.

Kennedy said the National Health Service Corps now has 22,000 practitioners serving rural communities. During a news conference after the roundtable, he also defended his department’s response to recent measles outbreaks.

NASA Readies Largest Flying Laboratory

NASA Langley is preparing its newest and largest airborne laboratory, a modified Boeing 777, for its first mission in January. NASA acquired the more than 200-foot aircraft in 2022 to replace its retired DC-8.

The plane can fly at 43,000 feet, carry 75,000 pounds of equipment, and remain airborne for up to 18 hours. Retrofitted power and communications systems, along with floor portals for scientific instruments, will allow it to carry more than twice as many researchers and instruments.

The inaugural NURTURE campaign will carry about 20 instruments over the North Atlantic to study atmospheric conditions that produce severe winter weather. Previous aircraft used for the research could accommodate only about two instruments.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: Virginia’s kindergarten readiness climbed to 57% in 2026, with gains among Latino, black, low-income, and English-learner children, state education officials reported. Gaps persist, and social-emotional skills remain a concern. (See Report)

➤ Henrico County: Police arrested Northern Virginia resident Yaoxu Zhou on three felony charges in an alleged scheme that used stolen identities to lease Teslas for shipment to China, with court documents connecting the case to more than 70 fraudulently leased vehicles. (More)

➤ Richmond: A 73-year-old man was charged with burglary with intent to commit murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling after his 47-year-old neighbor was fatally shot outside the home. The victim’s sister, Sondra Champion, said she felt “numb.” (See Charges)

➤ Statewide: Virginia’s fall wildfire season began Oct. 15 and runs through Nov. 30. Forestry officials urged residents to use caution when burning and to clear combustible debris from around their homes, noting that 90% of the state’s wildfires are human-caused. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: A UVA Health study found that black children faced a higher risk of a severe form of asthma called T2-high asthma. Researchers said earlier testing could help children receive targeted treatment sooner. (More)

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend! ✈️

➤ With the regular season ending Nov. 7, the latest VHSL football playoff rankings show the postseason fields taking shape across Virginia’s 24 regions, which use several different qualification systems. (See Rankings)

➤ No. 8 Virginia women’s golf began play Friday at the Stanford Intercollegiate, a three-day, 54-hole tournament concluding Sunday. The 17-team field includes five other ranked programs, and the event is raising money for breast cancer research through its PlayForHer initiative. (More)

➤ Virginia swimming alumnae Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass set U.S. Open records during Friday morning’s UVA Short Course Meters World Prep Pro-Am session. Walsh posted a world-leading 53.04 in the 100 butterfly, while Douglass clocked 22.94 in a 50 freestyle time trial and won the 200 breaststroke in a world-leading 2:15.65. Current Cavalier Claire Curzan tied for the year’s fastest 50 backstroke at 25.43. (See Results)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NCAAF | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Tennis

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ What Chuck Norris discovered about “Rapid Aging” before he died. Chuck Norris spent his life always preparing for the unexpected. But before he passed, he said the most dangerous threat he ever faced wasn’t outside his door…It’s inside our bodies. And according to the research he spent years digging through, there are 3 “internal enemies” that could be rapidly aging your body right now. Chuck recorded a video explaining it all before he passed. Watch this short video here >>

Flying together with our sponsor

Morgan Stanley Calls this a $9T Opportunity

Morgan Stanley predicts that the flying car industry will grow 185,850% by 2050. In fact, they say it will reach $9 trillion in size, more than twice as valuable as today’s global car market. 

And 17,000+ investors believe Doroni will lead the charge.

Designed for everyday life, Doroni’s H1-X aircraft charges like an EV, fits in two-car garages, and requires just 25 hours of training to pilot. 

And while Tesla just unveiled a prototype, Doroni already unveiled a full-scale showroom model 600+ people already ordered in March. 

Now, Doroni’s targeting commercial deliveries by 2028; the same year Tesla plans to just start production. This is the final week to invest Doroni at $3.30/share until the share price changes after 10/22. 

This is a paid advertisement for Doroni Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.doroni.io Forward looking statements were included here that the Company believes to be accurate given the current information. A reservation of the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that we will be listed on the NASDAQ. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. 

➤ Skyview High School students will begin working directly with a quantum computer in spring 2027, learning how the technology differs from traditional computing. (More)

➤ The Virginia Museum of History & Culture opens Barbie: A Cultural Icon Saturday, featuring more than 250 vintage dolls, a room from Barbie’s Dreamhouse, and life-size Barbie and Ken boxes for photos. (See Photos)

➤ CarMax Park will host RVA NYE with live music from Three Sheets to the Wind, complimentary drinks, a digital ball drop, and midnight fireworks. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Looking for Ways to Earn Extra Cash? The Penny Hoarder shares practical ideas for boosting your income without taking on another full-time job. From flexible side hustles and online opportunities to simple ways to make money from home, discover options that fit your schedule. Explore extra income opportunities today!

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. 

➤ Some of your fridge’s most trusted drinks carry health reputations that research can’t back up. (Top 10)

➤ New details are emerging about the Oregon elementary school shooter, including how he got the shotgun used in the attack. (Hear Story)

➤ Federal investigators subpoenaed Rep. Ilhan Omar’s relatives days before searching her Washington home. (Hear Details)

Have you ever been to a fall bonfire party?

1. Grew up with them
2. Does a campfire count?
3. Not yet
4. Not my scene

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you been to the Virginia Zoo?

1. No: 57%
2. Yes: 30%
3. Not yet: 13%

What nickname was given to the USS Langley due to its distinctive appearance?

Show me the answer