Friday, July 3, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1973, actor and singer Patrick Wilson was born in Norfolk. He rose to prominence in Broadway musicals like The Full Monty and Oklahoma!, earning Tony nominations. He gained acclaim for Angels in America and starred in Insidious, The Conjuring series, Watchmen, and The Phantom of the Opera.

July Fourth festivities are planned across Virginia, but it’s going to be hot. Check out Top Stories for a roundup of Independence Day events taking place across the Commonwealth.

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July Fourth Events Planned Across VA

Virginia is gearing up for a patriotic July Fourth weekend as the nation marks its 250th anniversary.

Colonial Williamsburg is offering free admission to its Historic Area on Saturday, with readings of the Declaration of Independence, family activities, performances, and a special America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together evening event.

Hampton Roads localities are hosting parades, concerts, and fireworks in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Chesapeake, and other cities, with several events adjusted for extreme heat.

Richmond cancelled its July Fourth fireworks celebration at Dogwood Dell due to heat and safety concerns, but it will move forward with a naturalization ceremony at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Other Central Virginia communities like Chesterfield, Crozet, Powhatan, and Goochland plan fireworks, concerts, and reenactments.

In Southwest Virginia, events include parades, car shows, festivals, concerts, and fireworks ranging across cities and towns like Roanoke, Lynchburg, Christiansburg, Danville, and Buchanan.

DOJ Sues Virginia over Firearms Ban

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Virginia on Wednesday, arguing the state’s new ban on selling and manufacturing certain semi-automatic firearms violates the Second Amendment.

Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the law in May, making the sale, manufacture, purchase, or transfer of the covered firearms a Class 1 misdemeanor. It exempts guns owned before the law takes effect and those used in law enforcement.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Second Amendment “is not a second-class right,” while a spokesperson for the Virginia Attorney General’s office called the ban a “commonsense” measure.

The law was already on hold. A Lancaster County judge blocked it on June 25 amid a separate suit by gun-rights groups, one of at least five challenges—four state lawsuits plus this new federal one.

VA Launches First-in-Nation Speed Limiters

Virginia is officially the first state to let judges order habitual reckless drivers to install devices that physically cap their cars’ speed.

The Intelligent Speed Assistance program, effective July 1, uses GPS and road data to keep a vehicle from exceeding the posted limit. Courts may require it for reckless-driving convictions and must impose it on drivers caught above 100 mph, in place of license suspension or jail.

Drivers pay for the device and face a Class 1 misdemeanor for tampering with it. Enrollment typically runs 60 days to six months, with longer terms for repeat racing convictions or heavy demerit-point totals.

The measure, sponsored by Del. Patrick Hope, a Democrat, and signed by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, drew bipartisan support. Nearly half of Virginia’s 918 traffic deaths in 2024 involved speed, state officials said.

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➤ Statewide: Health officials are urging residents to avoid strenuous activity during peak afternoon hours during the holiday weekend, and pointed them to an online cooling-center locator. (More)

➤ Statewide: A federal judge temporarily blocked Virginia’s new law requiring federal immigration officers to show identification and limiting when they can wear masks, ruling it likely an unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal agents. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: Vice President JD Vance honored more than 200 sailors and Marines at Naval Air Station Oceana on Wednesday, appearing alongside Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary. (More)

➤ Norfolk: A Navy aircrewman remains missing in the Arabian Sea after an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Norfolk-based USS George H.W. Bush made an emergency water landing Wednesday. Three of the four crew members were recovered in stable condition. (More)

➤ Blacksburg: Gov. Abigail Spanberger publicly defended her removal of Virginia Tech Rector John Rocovich for the first time, calling it within her authority to shape university boards. She again declined to detail his alleged ethics violations, despite Republicans demanding an explanation. (More)

➤ Stafford County: Charter bus driver Jing Sheng Dong, 48, pleaded not guilty to three involuntary manslaughter counts and reckless driving in the May 29 I-95 crash near Quantico that killed five and injured over 40. He faces two more manslaughter charges, with trial set for October. (More)

➤ Augusta County: The Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency over worsening drought, and Augusta Water asked its roughly 16,000 customers to voluntarily cut back as nearly the entire commonwealth sits under a state drought warning. (More)

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➤ Washington Commanders pass rusher Odafe Oweh hosted a free football camp for military children at Fort Lee this week as part of a ProCamps event. The two-day camp was open to children ages 6 to 14 of active-duty service members, reservists, and retirees. (More)

➤ Alex Ovechkin re-signed with the Capitals on a one-year deal worth $4.75 million, marking his 22nd season in Washington. The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer turns 41 in September. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Capitals also signed winger Alex Tuch (eight years, $84 million), former Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner (four years, $23 million), and defenseman Vincent Desharnais (four years, $16.8 million). They even dipped into the trade market by acquiring forward Jordan Kyrou from St. Louis. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA | Golf

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➤ Powhatan County supervisors unanimously approved rezoning for a 32-unit assisted living facility and a new Walmart fuel center with a convenience store on Anderson Highway. Both projects advance to construction, addressing local senior care needs and retail expansion. (More)

➤ Benny’s Pizza, the Blacksburg-born chain known for 28-inch pies and slices that need two paper plates, opened its second Richmond store in Scott’s Addition on West Marshall Street. Founded in 2011, Benny’s now has nearly 40 locations nationwide. (More)

➤ Taylan Bozkurt, former CEO of MedRVA Healthcare, launched Biggie’s Bakes, a small-batch, preservative-free dog treat brand named for his bernedoodle that is currently sold in three flavors at Richmond grocers. The startup will move to the South Richmond incubator Hatch this month. (Read Story)

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➤ Southwest Virginia’s monthlong Blue Ridge Games outdoor scavenger hunt returns Aug. 1 through Aug. 31, awarding cash prizes to players who rack up points by hiking, biking, paddling, and photographing landmarks like the Roanoke Star. (See Rules)

➤ A rare corpse flower nicknamed Lady Macdeath on bloom watch at Norfolk Botanical Garden is expected to open between July 4 and 8 and release its trademark rotting-flesh stench for just 24 to 48 hours. It may not bloom again for a decade. (See Video)

➤ Virginia ranks 18th best overall among U.S. states for summer road trips in 2026, due to its strong activities and safety, though higher costs, for which the state ranks 37th, temper its appeal. (See List)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Trump Accounts launch on the Fourth of July with a $1,000 federal deposit, though most eligible families have yet to enroll. (Hear Details)

➤ Wisconsin school officials barred a graduating senior from including a Bible verse in the ceremony slideshow. (Hear Episode)

➤ Brooklyn bodegas are openly selling an experimental weight-loss drug over the counter, despite a federal ban on its commercial sale. (Listen Now)