Lawmakers Push to Slow Merger Review

State lawmakers from both parties renewed their push this week for a special session to extend the State Corporation Commission’s deadline to review Dominion Energy’s proposed merger with NextEra Energy.

Under state law the commission has 180 days from the July 15 filing, putting its deadline at Jan. 11. South Carolina regulators, who also must sign off on the $67 billion deal, set theirs for Jan. 29.

Roanoke County Republicans, Sen. David Suetterlein and Del. Joe McNamara, argue that deciding first costs Virginia negotiating strength when the Commonwealth is forced to move before anyone else.

Sen. Russet Perry, D-Loudoun, renewed her own call after South Carolina set the later date. As reported Friday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she would formally intervene, which makes her a party to the case but does not change the timeline.

Rain Eases Drought, Dry Pockets Remain

Virginia’s drought monitoring task force has recommended easing drought warnings in 15 counties and 10 cities after weeks of heavy rain.

Extreme drought now covers about 4% of the Commonwealth, concentrated in two pockets: one near Farmville, the other near Danville.

Farmers are still counting losses. At Cave Hill Dairy Farm in Botetourt County, hay yields fell 80%, forcing Courtney Henderson to start feeding her herd its winter supply months early.

Down the road in Troutville, Tom Williamson watched a spring-fed creek on his family’s farm run dry for about a week. It had not gone dry in roughly 90 years.

Portsmouth Sewage Repairs Finished

The Hampton Roads Sanitation District finished emergency repairs Friday on the Portsmouth pipe that spilled about 3.15 million gallons of sewage this week.

A 30-inch force main failed Tuesday evening on Douglas Avenue near Rolfe Terrace in the Port Norfolk area, during severe weather. Wastewater ran three to four feet deep for roughly 11 hours.

Because the line could not be diverted, crews ran a round-the-clock pump-and-haul operation using 30 trucks. A 40-foot section of pipe has been replaced and returned to service.

Sanitation district official Buddy Beaman said heavy rain surges the system until pressure finds a weak spot in the line. The Portsmouth Health Department’s recreational water advisory for Hull Creek remains in effect. 

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➤ Norfolk: Brittany Ramirez Corona, 18, says federal agents detained her Friday on Tidewater Drive when she came to retrieve her husband’s vehicle, though she told them she is a U.S. citizen. She initially did not show identification. Her husband remains in ICE custody. (More)

➤ Henrico County: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden made workers a “best and final” pay offer Friday, which the machinists union will vote on next week. The union called it the best yet but still disappointing. CEO Brian Trader says the garden has bargained in good faith. (More)

➤ Richmond: City Council unanimously directed planners to draft a preservation plan for Historic Westwood, founded more than 150 years ago by formerly enslaved people from the Patterson plantation. Homes a few blocks away now list above $1.2 million. (See Details)

➤ King George County: The ACLU of Virginia sued the county School Board, superintendent, and middle school principal in federal court, alleging they blocked two students from starting a Gay-Straight Alliance club while letting yearbook, robotics, and outdoor clubs run. The board narrowed its policy in November. (More)

➤ Accomack County: Almount Gunter, 43, of New Church was sentenced to two years in federal prison and ordered to repay $411,823 for stealing more than 60,000 pounds of copper cable from the Navy while working as a Defense Department contractor. (More)

➤ Roanoke: More than 35 volunteers spent Saturday morning hauling trash and tires out of Tinker Creek and the Roanoke River for the city stormwater division’s 10th annual cleanup. Crews average about four tons of trash and 50 tires per event. (See Report)

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➤ The Washington Wizards have officially released their preseason schedule. The team will return to the floor for the first time on Oct. 8. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech tight end Luke Reynolds has been added to the Mackey Award watch list. The trophy is awarded to the top tight end in college football each season. (More)

➤ The Virginia High School League’s realignment proposal would move seven Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Southside programs into new classes for 2027-28 through 2030-31. Patrick Henry jumps from Class 5 to Class 6; G.W. Danville, Liberty Christian, and Tunstall drop; Grayson County moves up. Schools have until Aug. 10 to appeal. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Golf | Soccer | Little League Softball World Series

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➤ The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival wraps its 16th year at Maymont today, with Erykah Badu headlining alongside Samara Joy, Johnny Gill, Leon Thomas, and Doug E. Fresh. (See Lineup)

➤ A 24-hour pet microchip scanner now sits outside the Danville Police Department’s safe exchange zone, donated by Best Friends Animal Society. Anyone who finds a stray can scan it and trace the chip. The push followed a shelter’s wrongful euthanasia of a 12-year-old dog. (See Details)

➤ The Virginia Beach Tattoo Festival closes today at the convention center, where quiet rotary machines have largely replaced the buzzing coil guns. Artist Anna Froehler is sticking with the old kind: “I’m just loyal to the coil.” (See Video)

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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, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ The Postal Service’s massive quarterly losses places thousands of post offices at risk. (Hear More)

➤ A new generation of companies view space junk as a potential gold mine. (Listen Now)

➤  Fleetwood Mac’s most famous feud finally came to an unexpected end. (Podcast Available)

Do you have an Appalachian accent?

1. Totally
2. Somewhat
3. Not a chance

Yesterday’s Results:

Is “y’all” a part of your vocabulary?

1. Of course: 51%
2. Never: 26%
3. I’m working on it: 23%

From where does the Southern American accent originate?

Show me the answer