High School Football Championships

Virginia’s six high school football champions will be crowned at three sites across the Commonwealth tomorrow.

There will be a pair of doubleheaders at each location: Classes 1 and 2 will play at Salem City Stadium, Classes 3 and 4 will play at Liberty University, and Classes 5 and 6 will play at James Madison University.

In Salem, second-seeded Essex faces third-seeded Grayson County for the Class 1 title at 11:30 a.m. Then second-seeded Strasburg takes on top-seed Graham at 5 p.m. in Class 2.

At Liberty’s stadium, second-seed Kettle Run plays top-seed Liberty Christian in the Class 3 championship at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Class 4 game between number-one Phoebus and number-two Varina at 5 p.m.

The Class 5 championship is between number-one Maury and number-two Briar Woods at 11:30 a.m. in Harrisonburg. At 5 p.m. a pair of top seeds face off when Oscar Smith plays James Madison High School.

Busy Holiday Travel Season Brewing

The American Automobile Association said the number of holiday travelers could hit a record this year, surpassing the pre-pandemic year 2019.

In Virginia alone, AAA expects some 2.9 million people to hit the roads between Dec. 21 and New Year’s Day. It said that 90% of those traveling this holiday season will do so by car.

Drivers are getting a break at the gas pump. GasBuddy said the average price of regular fuel in the Commonwealth last week was $2.88, more than 16 cents less than last year.

Airports will be busy as well. An analysis by an online booking platform forecast a 5.1% jump in daily passenger traffic at Virginia airports this holiday season, with almost 75,000 people flying each day.

Virginia’s airports handled the onslaught well last year. A report by Local Insider called Dulles the best airport in the nation for on-time departures during the holidays, while Reagan National ranked fifth in that category.

Commonwealth National Parks

Virginia is known for its recreational spaces, from beaches to mountains, and the 22 National Parks in the Commonwealth offer a convenient way to enjoy those spaces.

Park Ranger John runs a Website dedicated to parks and provided a handy breakdown of all those parks. They range from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) that cuts across our state to the coastal settlements of Colonial times.

He also reviews many battlefields in Virginia. Americans ended the Revolutionary War by forcing the British to surrender at Yorktown, and then the Union fought Confederates in battles from Manassas to Appomattox.

Whether you are looking to drive, hike, or learn, there is a National Park in Virginia that is right for you.

There are several days when it is free to enter National Parks. The next day is Jan. 20, MLK Day.

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➤ Washington, D.C.: Republican governors of 26 states, including Virginia’s Gov. Glenn Youngkin, signed a letter vowing to support “the Trump Administration’s efforts to deport dangerous criminals, gang members, and terrorists who are in this country illegally.” (Read the Letter)

➤ Virginia Beach: The school board voted to allow students to use cell phones during lunch but not during instructional periods. The Commonwealth recommended that schools adopt a “no cell from bell to bell” policy, but local districts can change that policy. (More)

➤ Augusta County: The Big Levels Fire was 25% contained and not expected to spread further, as rainy conditions helped slow its expansion. The U.S. Forest Service has almost 100 people fighting the blaze, which it says was “human-caused.” (Details)

➤ Dulles: Customs and Border Protection agriculture agents intercepted two invasive insects in a shipment of flowers from South Africa. One of the bugs had never been seen in Virginia before. (More)

➤ Galax: FEMA permanently closed its Hurricane Helene disaster recovery centers on Dec. 7, but the Small Business Administration’s walk-in business recovery center agency remains open. (Details)  

➤ Fairfax County: A study showed the number of pedestrians and cyclists killed in accidents in the county has doubled this year. A total of 19 pedestrians and one cyclist have lost their lives in traffic incidents. (More)

➤ Washington Commanders DB Marshon Lattimore is expected to debut with the team on Sunday when it visits New Orleans to face his former team, the Saints. (More) 

➤ Navy and Army will play for the 125th time tomorrow. The Cadets are 11-1 and nationally ranked, while the 8-3 Midshipmen will wear uniforms celebrating the Virginia Beach-based Jolly Rogers fighter squadron. (Details)

➤ UVA swimmers set four world records on the first day of a swim meet in Hungary. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ One-third of homes in the Old Dominion are owned mortgage-free, according to a survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. Some 1.5 million homes here are mortgaged. (More) 

➤ The New Year may bring new labor unrest at the Port of Virginia and other East Coast facilities. The International Longshoremen’s Association suspended a strike in October until Jan. 15, but the sides have yet to agree to a new contract. (Details)

➤ DroneUp, a Virginia Beach-based autonomous drone delivery company, earned FAA Part 135 Air Carrier and Operator Certification, allowing it to expand operations. (More)

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➤ Wreaths Across America will decorate the graves of American heroes at Arlington National Cemetery tomorrow. (Details)

➤ The Dome in Virginia Beach is still under construction, but performers are already booking their 2025 appearances. Artists will include Diana Krall, Cody Jinks, and Kevin James. (More)

➤ Leesburg’s Christmas and Holiday Parade is scheduled for tomorrow at 6 p.m. (Details)

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Who will win the Army-Navy game?

1. Go Navy!
2. Go Army!

Thursday’s Results:

Should Virginia lawmakers give themselves a pay raise? 

1. Yes, they are underpaid compared to other states 49.7%
2. No, they make enough as it is 50.3%

What is Navy’s record against Army?

Show me the answer