Saturday, May 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1738, Charles Washington, the youngest full brother of George Washington, was born at Hunting Creek. He later laid out plans for Charles Town (now in West Virginia) and donated the land for the town square.

Welcome to the first Saturday edition of The Virginia Flyover! Beginning today, we’ll be delivering state news to your inbox seven days a week. Let us know what you think by replying to this email.

There is a famous horse race this afternoon, right next door to our Commonwealth in what was once known as Kentucky County. The three-year-old named Incredibolt, who won the Virginia Derby, will race as an underdog out of the No. 11 slot.

It’s been a wild week of news, and some of the biggest stories may have flown right under your radar. President Trump hinted that a major UFO file release is coming “in the near future,” engineers are using sound waves to extinguish wildfires, and Saudi investors are pulling the plug on LIV Golf. Tune into The Flyover Podcast as Amy Hess takes an in-depth look at some of the most interesting stories of the week. Tune in here!

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. If you haven’t started shopping, start here: our 2026 Gift Guide has thoughtful, practical, and indulgent picks for every kind of mom.

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is sharing 19 smart expenses to cut when money gets tight—practical tips that could help you save more, reduce stress, and take control of your finances faster.

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.

Virginia’s Incredibolt Eyes Derby Glory

Incredibolt—winner of the $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in New Kent County—enters today’s 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs as a 20-1 long shot with something to prove.

The son of Bolt d’Oro is a perfect 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs, including a Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes win last fall. His Virginia Derby performance—a four-length victory in March—earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88, and his late April workout at Churchill ranked second-fastest of 71 horses clocked that morning.

Trainer Riley Mott, making his Kentucky Derby debut, described Incredibolt as “a racecar, plenty of gears underneath the hood.” His father, hall of famer Bill Mott, won last year’s Derby with Sovereignty—setting up a potential back-to-back father-son feat.

Jockey Jaime Torres, who won the 2024 Preakness with Seize the Grey, drew post 11. Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone predicted Incredibolt will “give a good showing” and outrun his odds. Post time is 6:57 p.m. ET.

Railroad Giants File for $85B Merger

Union Pacific filed a revised merger application with federal regulators Thursday, its second attempt to win approval for an $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern—the largest proposed railroad deal in U.S. history.

The Surface Transportation Board rejected the initial application in January, citing insufficient detail on how the deal would affect competition among the five remaining major freight railroads. Regulators now have 30 days to decide whether to accept the new filing, after which a full review likely lasting more than a year would begin.

Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena says the merger would shave one to two days off many delivery times and shift 2.1 million truckloads to rail, saving shippers $3.5 billion. Rival railroads BNSF and CPKC formed a coalition Wednesday against the deal, citing fears of rate hikes for chemical companies and agricultural customers.

Virginia has direct stakes: Norfolk Southern runs major corridors through the Commonwealth, and approval could reshape freight service to the Port of Virginia in Norfolk.

Flags Lowered for Cerina Fairfax

Gov. Abigail Spanberger has ordered Virginia flags lowered to half-staff on Monday, May 4, in memory of Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax and in honor of all Virginia victims of domestic violence.

Dr. Fairfax—a dentist, mother, and community member—was killed on April 16. Flags will fly from sunrise to sunset statewide. “We remember Dr. Cerina Fairfax’s life and her devotion to others, her patients, and most especially, her children,” Spanberger wrote in issuing the order. “We honor her educational achievements, professional success, service to our Commonwealth, and her deep love for her family.”

Her death has drawn renewed attention to Virginia’s domestic violence prevention laws. New state measures expanding protective orders and establishing early-warning systems for abuse cases have been spotlighted in the wake of her loss.

If you or someone you know needs help, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 800-799-7233 or by texting BEGIN to 88788.

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Money is tight, and with prices on the rise, deciding where to cut back can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight to see a difference.

Here is how to start: Browse FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies below and choose just one or two to try today. Even a single small change can create the breathing room you need to breathe a little easier.

LEARN MORE

➤ Abingdon: Virginia’s Farm Recovery Block Grant Program reopened Friday, giving Southwest Virginia agricultural producers hit by Hurricane Helene another shot at assistance. An in-person training session helped farmers through the application process. (More)

➤ Fairfax: A homeowner who built a nationally viral three-story addition was dealt a final blow when Fairfax County denied his appeal, capping a legal fight that drew far more attention than the neighborhood expected. (More)

➤ Richmond: Virginia officially rejoined ERIC—the bipartisan Electronic Registration Information Center—as of Thursday, restoring access to multi-state data that helps identify deceased voters, moved residents, and duplicate registrations. The Commonwealth left the group in 2023. (More)

➤ Richmond: Mayor Danny Avula sent a letter to Gov. Spanberger’s administration Thursday outlining concerns about two collective bargaining bills moving through the General Assembly, warning the legislation could create financial strains for Richmond and other localities. (More)

➤ Richmond: The Virginia Supreme Court has until May 6 to uphold or strike down the redistricting referendum voters approved last month—or the new legislative maps could be voided ahead of 2026 elections. Justices heard oral arguments last week. (More)

➤ Blacksburg: Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors approved the purchase of more than 100 acres of Canadian land from Johns Hopkins University—the university’s first international land acquisition in its 154-year history—to permanently host atmospheric research instruments in northern Canada. (More)

➤ Suffolk: Virginia farmers say the 2026 drought is the worst in decades, with the U.S. Drought Monitor rating conditions severe statewide and extreme in southeastern areas. Some weekend rain is possible, but crops are “just powder dry.” (More)

➤ No. 17 Virginia Tech softball wraps its regular season with a must-win three-game series at Syracuse this weekend—a series win is the Hokies’ ticket to hosting an NCAA regional. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech men’s tennis earned the top seed in the UTR Sports NIT Championship, opening play Thursday, May 7 against the winner of UT Chattanooga vs. NC Central. (More)

➤ The Richmond Flying Squirrels rallied from a 4-2 deficit to force extras, then erupted for 12 runs in the 11th inning to crush the Altoona Curve 18-6 on Thursday. (More)

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Your money is getting tight. Prices are going up. And figuring out what to cut back on can feel overwhelming. Here’s what you can do: Read FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies below, and start with one or two today. Even doing just one can help you breathe a little easier.

LEARN MORE

➤ The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art opened its stunning new home on the Virginia Wesleyan University campus in Virginia Beach with a gala Thursday, marking a new chapter for one of Hampton Roads’ premier arts institutions. (More)

➤ The Virginia Guesthouse opened its doors on UVA’s Charlottesville campus, giving the university a boutique hotel and event venue complete with tours and tastings of local food and drink. (More)

➤ Northern Virginia’s spring event calendar fills out with First Fridays in Manassas, Leesburg, and Fredericksburg, and free summer concert series launching across the region. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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