Friday, June 19, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1863, in Middleburg, Union Col. J. Irvin Gregg’s brigade advanced against Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart, driving Stuart’s forces one mile beyond the town to high ground at Mount Defiance. Both sides were reinforced, and skirmishing continued until Stuart was gradually pushed from his position, setting the stage for the Battle of Upperville two days later.

Spectacular tall ships are floating along Hampton Roads’ shores this weekend. Learn more in Top Stories.

If you’ve been reading The Flyover for a while, you’ve probably heard us talk about LMNT before. It’s become one of our favorite sponsors because it solves a real problem many people deal with every day: staying properly hydrated. With summer temperatures climbing, now is a great time to see why so many of The Flyover readers have made LMNT part of their routine.

60+ Tall Ships Set Sail Today

More than 60 international tall ships begin their 26-nautical-mile Parade of Sail today, the centerpiece event of Sail250 Virginia and America’s 250th anniversary celebration.

The USCG Barque Eagle leads the fleet from Lynnhaven Roads anchorage near Virginia Beach at 7:35 a.m., with ships traveling through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, past Old Point Comfort, through Hampton Roads, and up the Elizabeth River to Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk, arriving around noon.

Viewing is free from dozens of spots along the route, including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Ocean View, Lambert’s Point, and the Norfolk and Portsmouth waterfronts.

Participating vessels from 20 countries began arriving in Hampton Roads on Wednesday morning. The festival runs June 19–23 at Town Point Park, with free public ship tours all weekend and a Naval Station Norfolk open house Saturday and Sunday. Click here for updated viewing information and event details.

Virginia Shutdown Clock is Ticking

Virginia lawmakers have just 12 days to reconcile House and Senate budget proposals or trigger the state’s first-ever government shutdown on July 1.

The primary impasse remains tax breaks for data centers, which cost the state over $1.6 billion annually in lost revenue. While the House seeks to preserve exemptions through 2035 with a new study commission, the Senate proposes a tiered impact fee to generate roughly $1.7 billion.

Differences extend to education, with the Senate offering a 4% teacher raise versus the House’s 3%, alongside varying healthcare and housing investments. Both chambers support cannabis retail market provisions and Medicaid funding amid federal pressures.

Optimism persists, with leaders like Del. Sam Rasoul, D-38, confident a deal will emerge by June 30. Local services, schools, and public safety hang in the balance as negotiations intensify.

James River Batteau Festival Kicks Off

The 41st annual James River Batteau Festival kicks off this weekend, with a launch party tonight at Percival’s Island in downtown Lynchburg, and the ceremonial batteau launch tomorrow, June 20. A handcrafted flat-bottomed replica batteau will then begin an eight-day, 120-mile journey down the James River along the historic 18th-century trading route to Maidens Landing west of Richmond.

These historic boats once served as the “semi-trucks” of the James, poling tobacco and goods downstream to Richmond.

The multi-day event features crews navigating the river, evening celebrations with music, storytelling, and camping along historic stops.

The tradition, revived in the 1980s after archaeological discoveries, honors the ingenuity of the Rucker brothers and the labor of enslaved and free black boatmen who powered Virginia’s early economy.

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➤ Statewide: Early voting kicked off Thursday for Virginia’s Aug. 4 primary, covering U.S. House and U.S. Senate races statewide—though some registrar offices are closed today for the Juneteenth holiday. (View Precint Map)

➤ Richmond: SwimRVA announced it will reopen its summer camp programs following a temporary closure after the tragic death of a 9-year-old participant at its Henrico facility earlier this week. The nonprofit aquatic organization plans enhanced safety measures as it resumes operations. (More)

➤ Botetourt County: More than 350 residents packed Lord Botetourt High School on Wednesday night for Google’s first public open house on its planned Greenfield data center campus, where water-use concerns dominated the questions. (More)

➤ Roanoke County: USA Cycling announced that Roanoke and Roanoke County will host the Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships again in 2027, extending their commitment to Virginia’s Blue Ridge region for another year. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: The U.S. Army has filed plans for a major expansion of Fort Belvoir’s 800-acre North Area campus in Springfield, including two six-story administrative buildings and three six-story parking garages, with an Environmental Assessment draft due for public release July 8. (Read Story)

➤ Blackstone: The Town of Blackstone’s 6th annual Juneteenth festival on June 27 is moving to the Harris Memorial Armory Community Center this year, with Virginia Union University President Dr. Hakim Lucas as keynote speaker and 4,000-plus attendees expected. (More)

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➤ Virginia Tech unveiled 2026 football theme days, group ticket offers, and Effect games at Lane Stadium, featuring Salute to Service vs. Old Dominion, Homecoming vs. Georgia Tech, Ag Day vs. Stanford, and Youth Sports Day vs. VMI. (More)

➤ South Carolina wide receiver Tajeh Watson committed to UVA over offers from Stanford, Wake Forest, and other schools after a strong official visit. Watson praised instant connections with coaches like Adam Mims and Tony Elliott, and the other 2027 recruits. (More)

➤ UVA swimmers, including stars like Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, and Claire Curzan, are competing at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis through tomorrow, June 20. The competition marks the final stop before the Pan Pacific Championships. (More and See Results)

➤ Four UVA track athletes—Henry Acorn, Cassie Callis, Anders Felts, and Ava Rice—are competing at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., which concludes today. (More and See Results)

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

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➤ Richmond Flying Squirrels owners offered $1.75 million to buy a disputed half-acre retail parcel beside CarMax Park last November, but Diamond District developer Thalhimer Realty Partners sought over $3 million and preferred leasing instead, based on newly released emails. (More)

➤ Hardywood co-founder Patrick Murtaugh and his wife Stephanie Murtaugh have purchased and reopened the popular North End juice bar in Richmond’s Museum District. Richmond chef Jason Alley is helping craft the new menu. (More)

➤ Fralin & Waldron submitted a zoning application to Botetourt County for a 50,800-square-foot grocery store with a pharmacy drive-thru in Daleville’s Town Center at Route 220 and Glebe Road. (More)

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➤ A Virginia Beach fishing crew aboard a 30-foot boat had a close encounter with a nearly 15-foot great white shark that circled their vessel about 27 miles offshore, captured on video. (Watch Video)

➤ A roundup of locations where wild horses roam free across the U.S. includes Virginia, which claims famous herds on Assateague Island spanning the Maryland-Virginia border and the ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park in Southwestern Virginia. (See Photos)

➤ Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet will host its free “A Berry Fun Weekend” festival this weekend, June 20-21, featuring u-pick peaches and blueberries, live music, family activities, and orchard-themed treats. (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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ The flip phone is making a comeback, and this time it is built to keep you off your phone. (Hear Details)

➤ Several high-ranking Trump officials have adopted the same diet, and one credits it with reversing a heart condition. (Hear Episode)

➤ A Los Angeles warehouse fire released hazardous gas and smoke, forcing air quality warnings across the region. (Listen Now)