The Virginia Flyover

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1846, John Burwell “Texas Jack” Omohundro Jr. was born near Palmyra. A Confederate scout, Texas cowboy, frontier guide, and actor, he partnered with Buffalo Bill Cody in Wild West shows, popularized roping on stage, and guided notable hunts. He died of pneumonia on June 28, 1880, in Leadville, Colorado.

Alexandria’s gas-powered leaf blower ban takes effect later this year after an 18-month phaseout. Do you use a gas-powered blower, and what do you think about the ban? Hit reply and tell us.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla tackled the weather pattern that could rewrite the entire winter. Forecasters now put the odds at 81% that El Niño reaches “very strong” status by winter, potentially one of the largest on record, and every corner of the country will be affected. When a pattern this powerful takes over, it doesn’t just tweak the forecast, it decides which states get soaked and which dry out. Ayla broke down the five ways forecasters say this El Niño will shape the months ahead. So which side of the split does your state land on? Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, BluSky AI, is sharing how it aims to address the growing demand for AI infrastructure by developing data centers designed to come online faster and support the computing power behind modern AI applications.

Virginia Man Charged in Four-Year Abduction

A Virginia man faces kidnapping, child enticement, and child-abduction charges after a Milwaukee girl missing since 2022 was found nearly four years later.

Authorities located the girl in May while responding to a domestic dispute. She initially gave another name before identifying herself as the missing teenager.

Investigators say the girl was 15 when Owen Anderson contacted her online, persuaded her to leave home, and arranged transportation from Milwaukee to Chicago.

Anderson allegedly took her to Virginia and held and abused her until May 2026. Authorities charged him Friday in connection with her disappearance.

FBI Investigates School Payment Scheme

Buchanan County Schools said a payment intended for the contractor building its new high school was targeted in a misdirected payment scheme.

The district immediately contacted local law enforcement, which brought in federal authorities and the financial institutions involved in the attempted transfer.

School officials also hired outside legal counsel experienced in cybersecurity incidents and cybersecurity specialists to guide the district’s response and recovery efforts.

Officials said the scheme was largely thwarted, most of the targeted funds are being returned, and multiple investigations, including one by the FBI, remain underway.

Feature Film Selects Coastal Virginia

The feature film America’s Favorite has selected Virginia as its filming location, with production scheduled to begin across the Coastal Virginia region this summer.

Dane DeHaan will play reporter-turned-TV host Peter Bale. Eric Bross will direct, while Barbie executive producer Robbie Brenner joins the project.

The thriller follows Bale as he attempts to revive his career by investigating unsolved murders during a live broadcast that may conceal a larger scheme.

The production will hire Virginia crews and use local vendors and locations. It marks producer Stephen Israel’s fourth feature film in Coastal Virginia.

Flying together with our sponsor

The $7.6 Trillion Flowing Into AI Is Not What You Think

Goldman Sachs is projecting $7.6 trillion in AI investment by 2031.

The common assumption is that all of the AI money flows to names like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. But that is not where the infrastructure dollars are going.

Every AI model, chatbot, and recommendation engine needs compute power to run. And compute power needs physical infrastructure. Data centers. Lots of them.

The problem: AI demand has increased 1 million times in the last two years, stated Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s CEO. Meanwhile, traditional data centers take 3 to 7 years to build. The infrastructure cannot keep up.

BluSky AI has developed a premanufactured solution ready in months, not years. They have a robust portfolio of sites with negotiated power ready for deployment. BluSky AI utilizes less power, smaller footprints, little to no water, and minimizes the impact on communities.

For the first time, everyday investors can back BluSky AI as they build the backbone of AI.

➤ Alexandria: Gas-powered leaf blowers will be banned citywide beginning Nov. 17, when an 18-month phaseout ends; violators may receive citations. (More)

➤ Hanover County: Greenwood Church Road will close between Mountain and Rosmarin roads from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 29 for pipe replacement work. (More)

➤ Lynchburg: A petition seeks to name the Odd Fellows Road bridge over U.S. 460 for local NASCAR legend Earl Brooks. (More)

➤ Chesterfield County: Virginia authorities arrested a North Carolina man charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 70-year-old High Point resident. (More)

➤ Newport News: Ferguson will move its CEO and approximately 25 to 50 executives to a new Tampa office by April while keeping its headquarters in Virginia. (More)

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

➤ The Washington Nationals painted one of the seats in the third deck of Nationals Park red to honor right fielder James Wood, who recently became one of the few players to reach that section of the 18-year-old ballpark. (More)

➤ James Madison University field hockey has announced its first signing class under new head coach Alyssa Parker Rosenblum, who is replacing legendary coach Christy Morgan, who led the team for 21 seasons. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders have placed three players on the physically unable to perform list ahead of the start of training camp, including 2025 second-round pick Trey Amos. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Golf

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ FREE Full-Size Tube. What if the biggest myth about joint discomfort is that it’s “just part of getting older”? Thousands are discovering Rub On Relief and a different approach to soothing stiff, achy joints. For a limited time, Flyover readers can request a FREE full-size tube.

Flying together with our sponsor

Data Centers Built For Coexistence

Communities across the country are pushing back on data centers, and for good reason. Massive facilities are draining local water supplies, straining power grids, and disrupting neighborhoods, all while offering little in return.

BluSky AI took a different approach.

Their SkyMod prefabricated, AI-ready data centers use less power, require little to no water, and fit onto smaller footprints. This minimizes the impact on the communities they’re built near, from Colorado to Texas. This is AI infrastructure designed to coexist, not compete, with the people around it.

BluSky AI’s model is a unique solution to meet the high market demands that aren’t being met by the industry.. Become a BluSky AI shareholder as they open the door to everyday investors.

This is a paid advertisement for BluSky AI Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.bluskyaidatacenters.com/

➤ Longtime WSET anchor Noreen Turyn signed off after 36 years, receiving a standing ovation from colleagues, family, and viewers across Central Virginia. (More)

➤ Alexandria’s Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is bringing back Harry Potter-inspired tours featuring botanical science, historic remedies, and a take-home potion for families. (More)

➤ A Lego display featuring Fairfax County landmarks from all nine districts is now on view at Tysons Corner Center through January 2027. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Apply This Before Bedtime To Smooth 75% Wrinkles By Morning. A powerful anti-aging nutrient helps relax facial muscles while you sleep, leaving wrinkles visibly softer by morning – without needles or costly creams. Watch the video here.

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:

➤ Delivery giants are rushing to keep weight-loss drugs cold. (Hear More)

➤ Thousands celebrated the birthday of the internet’s favorite little monkey. (Listen Now)

➤ A beloved honey farm teetered on collapse, but one beekeeper refused to quit. (Podcast Available)