Redistricting Will Go to Voters 

The state Supreme Court agreed to allow an April 21 voter referendum that would amend the constitution to permit congressional redistricting this year.

However, the justices set a final deadline for filing legal briefs on April 23, meaning they will issue a ruling on whether the vote is legal after the referendum happens. Early voting begins on March 6.

Last month, a Tazewell Circuit Court judge ruled that the referendum violates Virginia law. Around the same time, Democrat lawmakers released a version of the map that would give their party an advantage in 10 of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts.

“Certainly, the General Assembly was clear with the amendment process they put forward, and now it’s up to voters,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger said.

House Republican leader Terry Kilgore responded that the Supreme Court’s decision “just shows that we’ve got to win the referendum and we’ve got to win in court. I think we can do both.”

Popular Vote Proposal Advances

State lawmakers in both houses passed a bill proposing that Virginia join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. If Gov. Spanberger signs it, the Commonwealth would be the 19th member to join the movement.

“The states in that compact would automatically cast their electoral votes for the winner of the popular vote,” Larry Sabato, the executive director of UVA’s Center for Politics, said. “So that way you abolish the electoral college, really, without abolishing the electoral college.“

The reform would take effect when states that cumulatively possess a majority of the electoral votes have agreed to it.

In this century, both George W. Bush (2000) and Donald Trump (2016) were elected without winning the nationwide popular vote. Virginia’s electoral votes went to Donald Trump’s opponent each of the three times he has run for president.

Sewage Spill Triggers Warning

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) imposed a recreational water advisory for much of the Potomac River last week.

The move comes after a pipe break in Maryland dumped hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the river on Jan. 19, potentially the largest wastewater spill in American history.

The advisory is in effect from Fairfax County downriver to the Route 301 bridge in King George County.

VDH said it has seen no evidence of impacts to drinking water. Fairfax County draws its water from a pipe on the Potomac that’s upstream from the spill.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Northampton County: A tractor-trailer driver died after his rig crashed from the southbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel into the water. The accident damaged a guardrail and caused delays at the crossing. (Details)

➤ Staunton: The city will start the first phase of its Downtown Tunnel Repairs Project tomorrow. Actual structural work on the project should get underway later this month. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: A judge sentenced Juliana Peres Magalhaes to 10 years in prison—the maximum sentence possible—for her role in the murder of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan three years ago. The former au pair testified against Brendan Banfield in return for a reduced sentence. (Details)

➤ Richmond: State revenues dipped year-over-year in January, although fiscal year-to-date collections remain above expectations. “Over the past several months, employment growth has slowed significantly across the country, and working families are feeling the squeeze,” Gov. Spanberger said. (More)

➤ Richmond: A fired employee sued former Attorney General Jason Miyares in federal court last week, alleging wrongful termination. Linda Orr said she was let go after raising concerns about a payment she thought might be a conflict of interest. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: A North Atlantic right whale washed up on a barrier island last week, the second such animal to die in the area this month. Biologists are trying to determine what killed the 3-year-old whale. (More)

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend! ✈️

➤ UVA baseball set a program scoring record on Saturday night with a 31-8 drubbing of Wagner, giving the Cavaliers a sweep in their opening series of the season. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech women’s basketball moved to 10-5 in the ACC with a 68-58 win at Cal. (More)

➤ Liberty men’s golf finished seventh in a deep field at the Gators Invitational. (Scoreboard)

➤ UVA men’s tennis, ranked No. 1, takes on No. 2 Ohio State in the semifinals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship today. (Details)

Yesterday’s Results: Olympics | Daytona 500 | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Ready for big Presidents Day savings? Snag early deals on tech, gadgets, kitchen gear, and must-have Amazon finds—plus exclusive gizmos at up to 70% off and early markdowns before the holiday rush. Shop this limited-time Presidents Day event and score huge discounts while stocks last!  (SHOP NOW)

➤ Umbra, a space technology company, will spend $6.75 million to build a 20,000-square-foot facility in Reston and create more than 100 jobs. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach is reviewing at least six offers to purchase the Virginia Beach National Golf Club. Visitors play an estimated 50,000 rounds at the course each year. (More)

➤ The National Innovation Quarter opened last week. The “innovation district” spans Arlington and Alexandria and aims to bring together public- and private-sector leaders to address national problems. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ MetLife Pet Could Save You Thousands. Things are already expensive enough as it is—let alone a $10,000 veterinary bill for a single visit. MetLife Pet Insurance offers customizable plans you can tailor to your pet’s needs, with coverage available for all breeds and ages. Plus, with a 0-day waiting period for accidents and Preventive Care, protection can kick in almost right away. Get a free quote to see if MetLife is a fit for you and your pet. PROTECT YOUR PET

Flying together with our sponsor

The Only Crew with Access to a $450M ‘Gold Rush’

Decades of combined experience working with finance leaders like Goldman Sachs is a business advantage. Add that to operating America’s largest tungsten mine, and it’s a massive opportunity. Now, United States Tungsten is sharing access to 1 million untapped tons of precious metals with investors. 

The amount of tungsten-bearing minerals in the “Tungsten Queen” is estimated to be worth $450 million at today’s prices. That’s because  the metal is in urgent need for military tanks, aircraft, missiles, and more. 

Don’t miss this chance to back the company that holds the lease. 

This is a paid advertisement for United States Tungsten Company’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.unitedstatestungsten.com/

➤ The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts debuted an exhibition that shows the ways artists have depicted George Washington through the years. “We’re seizing the moment of Virginia 250 to look anew and to rethink not so much Washington, but rather how we picture and how we think of Washington,” the exhibit’s curator said. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Supreme Court decided that a U.S. Marine and his wife may keep an Afghan orphan they adopted in 2020 despite a federal government decision to return her to Afghanistan. (More)

➤ Virginia’s 2026 Statewide Tornado Drill will take place at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10. The annual drill highlights the importance of preparedness. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Are you ready for Christ’s second coming? Unearth important historical and Biblical facts about the island of Patmos and three of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation by watching The 7 Churches of Revelation: Times of Fire. This critically acclaimed documentary is brought to you for free by RevelationMedia.

Which Virginian do you think has the best chance of being elected President?

1. Abigail Spanberger
2. Glenn Youngkin
3. Tim Kaine
4. Mark Warner
5. None of the above

Friday’s Results:

When was the last time you shopped at JCPenney? 

1. This century: 44%
2. The 20th century: 36%
3. Never: 20%

How many of the eight presidents born in Virginia served two terms?

Show me the answer