Friday, March 13, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1863, the Confederate Laboratory, located on Brown’s Island in the James River, exploded. Ten people were killed outright, and the death toll would eventually reach 50. Most of the workers harmed in the explosion were women. The 66th Annual Highland County Maple Festival will run […]

Thursday, March 12, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1612, King James I issued the Third Charter of Virginia, expanding the colony to include Bermuda and allowing for a lottery to raise funds for the territory. After more than 75 years, Tazewell County native Marvin Patton finally returned home. Patton was serving as a […]

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1861, George W. Summers delivered a long speech to the Virginia Convention in Richmond, meeting to consider whether the state should remain in the Union or secede. Summers called on the delegates to reject secession. Severe Weather Awareness Week, scheduled by the Virginia Department of […]

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1864, members of the Virginia government who had remained loyal to the Union met in Alexandria and voted to abolish slavery in the state. “Slavery and involuntary servitude (except for crime) is hereby abolished and prohibited in the State forever,” they wrote. It could not […]

Monday, March 9, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1862, ironclad ships fought for the first time at the Battle of Hampton Roads when the USS Monitor steamed into the Chesapeake Bay to confront the CSS Virginia. They exchanged fire inconclusively for four hours before the Virginia withdrew to Norfolk. Lawmakers in the House of […]

Friday, March 6, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1882, Virginia State University was founded by an act of the state legislature. It launched its first academic year in 1883 with 126 students and seven faculty members, all of them black. We asked readers to share their favorite Patsy Cline songs. I Fall to […]

Thursday, March 5, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1963, country music star and Winchester native Patsy Cline died at the age of 30 in a plane crash. A decade later, she became the first solo female artist elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. What’s your favorite Patsy Cline song? Hit reply […]

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1801, President Thomas Jefferson was sworn in and delivered his first inaugural address. After a divisive campaign, Jefferson called for national unity, saying, “We are all republicans: we are all federalists.“ The state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation has designated next week as Flood Awareness Week, […]

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1775, the Virginia Gazette warned residents of James City County that an armed British ship had landed at Kingsmill. The ship’s mission was to search all vessels traveling on the James River. Readers asked about a budget amendment we reported in yesterday’s edition. “What’s with that […]

Monday, March 2, 2026 Good Morning! On this day in 1865, Union troops under Gen. Philip Sheridan routed Gen. Jubal Early’s forces at the Battle of Waynesboro. More than 1,500 Confederates surrendered, and the victory gave the Union control of the Shenandoah Valley. Virginia lawmakers are split in their responses to the U.S. attack on […]