Friday, May 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House began. Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick died in the battle, the highest-ranking Union officer killed during the war.

Readers shared their patriotic license plates with us. “We enjoy road trips throughout the USA,” one reader wrote. Their plate says, “WESEUSA.” Another driver sports “1U1S1A.” A third has “Sea2-Sea.” “We drove our RV from the Atlantic to the Pacific.” And a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution went with “DAR 250.”

Others chose religious themes. “PRAZNJC” for “praising Jesus Christ” and “Ephes 2-8,” citing the Bible passage. Finally, a Smith Mountain Lake resident went with, “I LV SML.” Thanks for sharing your plates!

Say goodbye to backbreaking scrubbing and tangled cords. Today’s sponsor, the HydroX5 Cordless Pressure Washer delivers powerful, hassle-free cleaning that makes spring refreshes faster, easier, and oddly satisfying.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Louise Lucas’ Office Raided

The FBI served a search warrant and sent agents into the Portsmouth office of Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, an action the bureau called “court-authorized law enforcement activity.” Federal agents provided few additional details about the investigation.

Lucas was a driving force behind Virginia’s redistricting efforts and pressed for a map that would give Democrats an advantage in 10 of the Commonwealth’s 11 districts. She is also the state Senate President pro tempore and the chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

“What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: when challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices who stand up to them,” she said about the raid.

Abigail Spanberger’s office declined to weigh in. “In the absence of additional details, the Governor will not be commenting on a federal investigation at this time.”

Agents also raided a cannabis business that Lucas owns next to her political office.

Governor Signs Environmental Laws

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a cache of bills intended to protect the Commonwealth’s water from pollution and preserve its coastline in the face of rising seas.

Most of the new laws were passed by the legislature this year with bipartisan support, including moves to protect drinking water from PFAS (forever chemicals) and protect wetlands.

“Virginians will see less pollution, more climate resilience, and ultimately a healthier Chesapeake Bay thanks to these bills,” according to Jay Ford of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

The signing ceremony was held at Widewater State Park in Stafford.

Murder Sentencing Delayed

Brendan Banfield’s sentencing for double murder had been scheduled for today, but will be delayed until next month as the court reviews a motion filed by his defense team.

His lawyers claim prosecutors made three notable mistakes during Banfield’s trial: using his silence as evidence of guilt, calling a surprise witness, and failing to correct false testimony.

Banfield was convicted in January of killing his wife and Joseph Ryan, a stranger who’d been lured to the family’s home to be framed for killing Christine Banfield. Banfield, father of a four-year-old daughter, was having an affair with Juliana Peres Magalhães, the family’s au pair.

Magalhães is serving a 10-year sentence for manslaughter imposed after she testified against Banfield. She is reportedly considering selling the film rights to her story.

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➤ Statewide: The state Supreme Court has not yet issued decisions in two cases that challenge the legality of the April 21 constitutional referendum to allow redistricting this year. Although Virginians narrowly approved the measure, “candidates are in limbo, voters are in limbo,” Randolph-Macon professor Rich Meagher said. (Details)

➤ Cumberland County: Dominion Energy announced plans to build a 3-gigawatt, natural gas-fired plant that could power 750,000 homes. The proposal must be approved by the State Corporation Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: Hayden Holmes, a city police officer, was awarded the Life Saving Medal after he performed chest compressions before medical units arrived to get a baby breathing again. (Details)

➤ Roanoke: The Virginia State Police will move into a new, $18 million regional headquarters. “It’s got room for growth. It’s got room for everything we need,” one officer noted. (More)

➤ Bristol: More than 45 suspects were arrested after a multi-agency, anti-drug operation last month. (More)

➤ Southwest Virginia: The Secular Society, a nonprofit organization, said it paid off more than $51 million in medical debt owed by people in 18 regional counties. Eligible debtors will be notified that their balances have been wiped out. (Details)

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➤ UVA men’s tennis hosts South Carolina today in the NCAA Super Regional. (Details)

➤ James Madison’s new football coach, Billy Napier, criticized his former employers, including Florida, saying he “inherited a positive culture” at JMU compared to previous stops where he had “long lists of problems to solve.” (More)

➤ Virginia Tech football coach James Franklin said keeping in-state talent is a top priority as he builds the Hokies’ program, insisting that the Commonwealth produces enough high-level recruits to sustain a contender. (More)

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➤ The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company held an employment fair to recruit drivers and announced it is moving toward restoring Sunday bus service. (Details)

➤ The owners of 303 W. Broad St. in Richmond evicted Common House, a social club, after six years, and plan to unveil a similar coworking, dining, and event venue at the site. (More)

➤ New Kent Winery said it lost most of this year’s crop in a late April freeze, but it intends to fertilize and treat its vines for the rest of the season so they will produce fruit in the years ahead. (Details)

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➤ The Collegiate Times, Virginia Tech’s student-run newspaper, will no longer produce a print edition but will transition to a digital-only format. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will host a virtual public meeting on May 27 to collect input on proposed transportation and rail projects. (More)

➤ VDOT rolled out a statewide plan to expand and connect multi-use trails across the Commonwealth. (Details)

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