The Virginia Flyover

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1903, composer, songwriter, arranger, and saxophonist Joseph C. Garland was born in Norfolk. He was best known for In the Mood and Leap Frog, and performed with Louis Armstrong. He joined The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1941 and died in Teaneck, New Jersey, in 1977.

Speaking of Virginia’s tech footprint, Loudoun County has quietly become the data center capital of the world, with some 250 facilities already humming and 100 more on the way. Now some residents want to hit pause, saying the sprawl is swallowing land meant for schools and homes, while Gov. Spanberger says that call belongs to each community, not the state. So we’re curious: would you welcome a data center near your neighborhood, or fight to keep it out? Hit reply and let us know.

Have you cracked your knuckles today? Most chronic knuckle crackers have been told that the habit would come back to haunt them in the form of arthritis. That old warning has echoed across dinner tables for generations, and it turns out science has been putting it to the test the entire time. One doctor was so determined to settle the argument that he cracked the knuckles on just one hand, every single day, for fifty years, then compared the results. What he found earned him a prize and might change how you feel about that satisfying little pop. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Amy cracks the case on one of America’s most nagging health questions. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor is Medical Guardian, helping older adults stay independent while giving their families greater peace of mind. As a Flyover reader, you’ll receive a special offer: use promo code FLYOVER to get FREE equipment on all of Medical Guardian’s top-selling products. Learn more below.

Spanberger Opposes Statewide Data Center Ban

Gov. Abigail Spanberger says the decision to pause AI data center development should rest with individual communities, not a statewide moratorium, as Loudoun County weighs a pause of its own.

Loudoun has become the unofficial data center capital of the world, with roughly 250 facilities handling much of the globe’s internet traffic and about 100 more in the works. Supervisor Juli Briskman is pushing a moratorium, arguing the sprawl has industrialized the county and crowded out land residents want for schools and homes.

Speaking in Ashburn on Thursday, Spanberger said some localities have chosen to welcome data centers while others have moved to restrict them, and that the state’s role is to set the highest possible standards in partnership with the General Assembly.

The county Board of Supervisors says it lacks the legal authority under Virginia law to halt new applications outright, and has asked staff to find a way to pause data center and utility-substation requests while it reworks zoning and its comprehensive plan.

Jones Launches Worker Protection Unit

Attorney General Jay Jones on Friday announced the creation of a new Worker Protection Unit within his Richmond office, focused on enforcing Virginia’s labor laws and representing workers in legal disputes.

The unit will investigate potential violations such as wage theft and worker misclassification, and Jones said his office would work with the Department of Labor and Industry to identify cases and hold employers accountable. He said the office could pursue back pay on its own and coordinate with local law enforcement where criminal charges are warranted.

Jones traced the unit to a campaign promise, saying the idea grew out of conversations with labor organizations, and framed misclassification, workers treated as contractors rather than employees owed more pay and benefits, as a recurring problem across the state.

To start, the office plans to hire a unit manager, an assistant attorney general, and an investigator. “We’re gonna fight to vindicate their rights, to combat wage theft, worker misclassification, to make sure that workplaces are safe,” Jones said.

Virginia Hemp THC Cap Takes Effect

A new Virginia law capping hemp products at two milligrams of THC per package took effect at midnight this morning after a federal judge cleared the way for it.

Written into the state budget, HB 30 eliminates the “25:1 CBD-to-THC ratio” exception, making it illegal to produce or sell higher-THC hemp products in the Commonwealth. Seven Virginia hemp businesses had sued to block it, warning the cap would render many of their products illegal and threaten their livelihoods.

U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou denied their request for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction, allowing the law to take effect as scheduled while the case proceeds.

Attorney General Jay Jones welcomed the ruling, calling the cap “a reasonable, evidence-based public-health measure” that sets clear rules rather than ordering inventory seized, and said the state would keep defending it to protect Virginians, especially children, from unregulated intoxicating cannabis products.

Flying together with our sponsor

You Can’t Be There Every Minute. Medical Guardian Can.

You want your parents to stay in the home they love, live independently, and keep doing the things that make them happy. But that worry in the back of your mind never really goes away. What if something happens when you’re not there?

Medical Guardian gives you both. Their medical alert systems are designed to fit seamlessly into your parents’ lives, whether they’re relaxing at home or out running errands. With 24/7 emergency monitoring, optional fall detection, GPS-enabled devices, and simple two-way communication, help is always within reach the moment they need it.

It’s not about expecting the worst. It’s about giving yourself the peace of mind to stop checking your phone every hour, knowing they’re never truly alone.

Claim your FREE equipment now with promo code FLYOVER. Call 800-994-1752 to take advantage of this offer or click here to learn more.

➤ Statewide: More than 150 Virginia law enforcement agencies now use Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers, but the technology is drawing pushback in both rural and urban communities. Two cities have rejected the company’s gunshot detectors. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads: Tony Camarillo, a 31-year-old Norfolk musician and creative entrepreneur, was shot and killed Wednesday night on his way to the Naro theater for the premiere of a short film he co-produced for the 48 Hour Film Project. Police are investigating. (More)

➤ Also Hampton Roads: Thousands of Dominion Energy customers across several Newport News neighborhoods lost power yesterday afternoon, with the outage peaking above 13,000 customers around 2 p.m. before easing to about 6,800. The largest share of the impact hit the Kiln Creek area, which Dominion attributed to a circuit failure. (More)

➤ Central Virginia: Appalachian Power wants to build one of the country’s first small modular nuclear reactors at a Campbell County substation. Neighbors are raising concerns about property impacts, water use, transmission lines, and a decision-making process they say left out community input. (More)

➤ Richmond: A lab staffing firm at Altria’s downtown research building, Eurofins Professional Scientific Services, will lay off 68 employees by Oct. 9 after losing a contract at the site, according to a state filing. The cuts hit about 30 scientists, 25 technicians, and 10 managers at the Altria Center for Research and Technology, which VCU plans to acquire for nearly $230 million to house new dental, public health, and pharmacy programs. (More)

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

➤ Richmond Athletics announced its five-member 2026 Hall of Fame class this week, highlighted by All-American linebacker Eric McBride and baseball legend Vito Chiaravalloti. (More)

➤ UVA linebacker Kam Robinson was named to the Butkus Award preseason watch list, given annually to the nation’s best linebacker. Robinson is the nation’s only returning semifinalist after a season-ending injury cut short his 2025 campaign. (More)

➤ Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels became the butt of a joke by ticket reseller StubHub, which announced it would stop selling tickets in groups of five “out of respect for Jayden Daniels.” The joke came amid Daniels’ dispute with LSU over the school reissuing his former No. 5 jersey. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Give Tired Feet a Comfort Upgrade. Liftly Insoles combine 4D Cloud Cushioning, targeted arch support, and built-in massage nodes to help reduce pressure and foot fatigue throughout the day. Their shock-absorbing, trim-to-fit design slips easily into your favorite shoes for personalized comfort wherever you go. Shop Liftly Insoles and save 75% today >>

Flying together with our sponsor

Give Them Independence. Give Yourself Peace of Mind.The best safety devices are the ones that let your parents forget they’re even there. Medical Guardian’s comfortable, easy-to-use systems help your loved ones stay independent without disrupting the way they live. Whether they’re heading out for a morning walk, taking a road trip, or simply enjoying time at home, you’ll have the confidence of knowing help is always within reach if they ever need it.

As a Flyover reader, use promo code FLYOVER to receive FREE equipment on Medical Guardian’s top-selling products. Call 800-994-1752 to claim this offer or click here to learn more.

➤ Summer camps run by the Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, and Rappahannock tribes are helping young Native American Virginians connect with their heritage through language, dance, and traditional skills, with organizers stressing the importance of keeping kids involved. (More)

➤ A Henrico teen has launched an app to help residents track water and lead concerns, built in response to the 2025 RVA water crisis that disrupted life across Central Virginia. (More)

➤ The Water Lantern Festival returns to Central Virginia on Aug. 22 at Henrico’s Dorey Park, where attendees decorate biodegradable lanterns with messages of hope, then release them onto the water at sunset amid live music and food trucks. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Elevated blood pressure can be influenced by constricted blood vessels and excess fluid in the bloodstream, making the heart work harder. Surprisingly, one common everyday food may contribute to both issues—and it might not be the food you expect. Knowing what to watch for could make a difference.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ One doctor cracked only the knuckles on his left hand for 50 years to settle the infamous medical argument. (Hear More)

➤ American shoppers cut back sharply in July, raising fresh doubts about the strength of the economy. (Listen Now)

➤ Police have recovered more than $10 million in masterworks stripped from an Italian museum in a three-minute heist. (Podcast Available)