VA One of 22 States Suing Over Driver Records

A coalition of 22 states, Virginia among them, is suing the Trump administration in federal court in Alexandria to block the seizure of a database holding personal records for about 17 million commercial drivers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration demanded the files from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Arlington-based group that runs the shared licensing system, threatening to pull more than $10 million in funding if it refused to turn over the data by today, Aug. 17.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the government is entitled to the data and needs it for highway safety. The states counter that the demand oversteps federal authority and threatens drivers’ privacy. 

A federal judge has since issued an administrative stay halting the handover.

Shenandoah Board to Appeal School Names Ruling

The Shenandoah County School Board voted 6-0 to appeal a federal order requiring it to strip the names of Confederate generals from two schools.

On Aug. 6, U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski ruled that the board’s 2024 vote to restore the names Stonewall Jackson High and Ashby-Lee Elementary violated students’ civil rights.

Board members say they are defending local authority over school naming and challenging legal errors in the ruling, with member Lewis Michael Scheibe stating, “we should not be bullied by strong-arm tactics.”

The plaintiffs—the Virginia NAACP and six students’ families—had offered to fund mediation to establish a community-driven renaming process, warning that an appeal would drive up costs. Total attorneys’ fees have exceeded $15 million so far.

Carrier Kennedy Passes Acceptance Sea Trials

The future USS John F. Kennedy has completed its acceptance sea trials, clearing a major hurdle before the aircraft carrier is delivered to the Navy.

Newport News Shipbuilding, which builds the nation’s aircraft carriers, said Saturday that the ship returned to the yard after testing its systems at sea. The USS John F. Kennedy is the second Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, following the USS Gerald R. Ford.

“It is an honor to take Kennedy to sea to demonstrate the quality work and commitment by our shipbuilders,” said Derek Murphy, the yard’s vice president of new construction aircraft carrier programs.

Next comes preliminary acceptance, after which the Navy begins its own underway testing. Delivery is projected for spring 2027, with seven of the ship’s 11 advanced weapons elevators now installed.

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➤ Eastern VA: Del. Mark Downey, a pediatrician and first-term Democrat, will challenge Republican Sen. Danny Diggs in the 24th Senate District next year. Downey joins Democrat Jason Parker in seeking the party’s nomination. (More)

➤ Ettrick: Camron Harris, 19, was arrested after a shooting outside Virginia State University dorms Saturday during Welcome Week left five people wounded, one critically. Chesterfield County police found him hiding in a closet on campus. (More)

➤ Bedford County: Liberty Counsel has appealed to the Court of Appeals of Virginia after a judge dismissed its challenge to the abortion-rights amendment set for the November ballot. The suit argues lawmakers skipped required procedural steps, but the state says those steps weren’t mandatory. (More)

➤ Roanoke: The city council is weighing whether to bring a casino to the aging Berglund Center as the anchor of a new entertainment district. The idea has stalled in the General Assembly, which must approve any Virginia casino, and a city focus group will present recommendations to the city council this fall. (More)

➤ Petersburg: Meanwhile, the temporary Live! Casino Virginia has drawn nearly 480,000 visitors and generated about $16 million in taxes in its first six months. The Cordish Companies is building a permanent resort next door, due to open by the end of 2027. (More)

➤ Accomack County: A wildfire near Nandua Creek on the Eastern Shore has burned about 360 acres of marsh and woodland and was roughly 80% contained as of Saturday. No homes were threatened. (More)

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➤ UVA alumna Kate Douglass broke the 50m freestyle world record twice on Saturday, recording a time of 23.49 in the preliminary heat before breaking the record again with a 23.19 in the final. (More)

➤ Washington Nationals injured players James Wood and DJ Herz appear to be approaching a return to the MLB. Wood has progressed to playing catch and swinging a bat at moderate intensity, while Herz tossed two perfect innings in his recent rehab start at AA Harrisburg. (More)

➤ Former JMU safety Jacob Thomas made his mark in his NFL preseason debut on Saturday with the Minnesota Vikings, snatching an interception in the team’s 13-10 win over the New York Giants. (See Highlight)

➤ Former Patrick & Henry Community College pitcher Bradley Hanner became the school’s first Major Leaguer when the New York Yankees called him up. The 27-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut Friday against Toronto. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Golf | IndyCar | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Virginia is imposing a $179,000 civil penalty on the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline for environmental violations, including inadequate erosion and sediment controls, during its expansion project in Pittsylvania County. (More)

➤ Great Big Game Show, an interactive live experience with rotating mini-games like trivia and team competitions, opened Aug. 15 at Short Pump Town Center in Richmond as the chain’s 25th location, charging $39.99 per person. (More)

➤ Jetset Pilates, a reformer-Pilates chain, will open its first Richmond-area studio in early 2027 at Winterfield Crossing in Midlothian. The franchisee plans four area locations and has claimed Northern Virginia’s Tysons market. (More)

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➤ Operation Foster is helping deployed military members and veterans in Virginia and other states by serving as temporary foster families for their pets. The nonprofit has arranged more than 3,500 placements nationwide, with owners covering the costs. (More)

➤ New Kent paralegal Danielle Tawney is expanding her pop-up bookshop, Paperback Parlor, into a mobile truck, launching Sept. 12 at Brambly Park to sell new romance, fantasy, and sci-fi titles across the Richmond region. (See Photo)

➤ Virginia’s average in-state tuition and fees at public four-year universities stand at $16,095 for 2025-26, placing the state among the pricier options nationwide, though below the Northeast’s highest costs. (See Map)

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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:

➤ Navy SEAL candidates cover more than 200 miles on roughly four hours of sleep, and most still don’t finish. (Hear Toughest Training)

➤ Two million American raccoons have taken over Germany, and the Nazi commander blamed for it didn’t do it. (Hear Real Culprit)

➤ Your beach read reveals which of four anxieties is quietly driving you. (Hear Your Type)

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Do you live in a Virginia location that is hard to pronounce? 

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