Sunday, May 10, 2026

Happy Mother’s Day! On this day in 1611, Sir Thomas Dale arrived in Virginia as deputy governor of the struggling colony. He quickly took charge and imposed military discipline on the settlers, which eventually helped transform it into a reasonably well-run colony.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown explored concerns about what heavy AI use may be doing to our brains—a phenomenon researchers call “cognitive surrender.” How can we avoid the trap? Listen here.

Today’s sponsor is American Veterans Center. As America approaches its 250th birthday, they’re honoring those who served with the National Memorial Day Parade—funded entirely by private citizens. Learn more.

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.

Fairfax Prosecutor Under Federal Microscope

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has opened a formal investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano over a policy directing prosecutors to weigh defendants’ immigration status in plea deals and sentencing—alleging it may have delivered more favorable outcomes to defendants in the country illegally at the expense of U.S. citizens.

Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon said the probe would determine whether Descano was “putting the community at risk” with what she called sweetheart deals, while Descano fired back on X that his policies are “fair, legal, and reflect the values of my community.”

The investigation arrives as Descano is already scheduled to testify before a House Judiciary subcommittee on May 14, with critics citing the February stabbing death of Stephanie Minter at a Hybla Valley bus stop—allegedly by a man whose prior charges had been dropped—as a consequence of his approach.

AI Firm Plants Flag in Virginia

TurbineOne, a defense AI company delivering machine-learning software for frontline military operations, is relocating its headquarters from San Francisco to Chantilly—opening T1 Edgeworks, an R&D facility where defense and intelligence partners can preview its AI tools in realistic mission environments.

The move puts TurbineOne in the Dulles Technology Corridor as the Pentagon expands its AI footprint—most visibly with a $500 million contract awarded to Scale AI, five times its deal from last year—and pledges to diversify its vendor pool, a posture that benefits startups like TurbineOne.

Northern Virginia’s defense-tech corridor supports hundreds of thousands of contractor jobs and tens of billions in annual federal contract awards, making it a natural landing spot for any AI-native firm looking to grow alongside the Pentagon.

Virginia Vet Makes Game Show History

Vanesa McCaskell, a retired Army veteran and mother from Toano, made game show history on The Price Is Right Friday when she won $240,150—the largest prize ever awarded in a single pricing game in the CBS show’s 54-year history.

McCaskell served 20 years in the Army before retiring to James City County. Playing a new jackpot-building game called “The Lion’s Share,” she shattered the previous record of $210,000 that had stood since 2016.

The win landed on a special Mother’s Day episode of the show, which made the moment all the sweeter for McCaskell and her family. Her total haul was $227,500 in cash plus a Morocco trip valued at $12,650.

McCaskell told reporters she had watched the show her entire life and that attending as a contestant was a lifelong bucket-list dream. The record-breaking win drew national coverage from People, Today, and Variety.

This year’s National Memorial Day Parade, hosted by Honorary Grand Marshal Gary Sinise, is set to be the largest in its history. It stands as a powerful tribute to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms.

What makes this event even more meaningful is how it is funded. The American Veterans Center receives no federal funding for the parade. It is made possible entirely by private citizens who believe in honoring those who served.

Your support helps bring this national moment of remembrance to life while also funding year-round efforts to preserve veterans’ stories, educate future generations, and produce documentaries that highlight the true cost of freedom.

If honoring our veterans matters to you, this is a meaningful way to take part.

➤ Virginia: Gas prices have climbed to an average of $4.33 per gallon statewide as the Memorial Day driving season nears, with more than $0.60 separating the Commonwealth’s cheapest and most expensive fill-up spots. (More)

➤ Harrisonburg: Virginia’s 6th Congressional District race narrowed to two candidates after the state Supreme Court struck down the redistricting amendment, reverting the electoral map to its previous boundaries. (More)

➤ Roanoke: Residents gathered this week for the fourth Entertainment District Focus Group session, sharing ideas for the Berglund Center arena’s future as City Councilman Phazon Nash leads the downtown development effort. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: The city’s new Oceanfront parking voucher program is working through a backlog of requests after demand surged in its inaugural year, offering residents affordable options just ahead of summer. (More)

➤ Richmond: Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s inaugural fund donated $1 million to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, supporting seven regional food banks and roughly 1,100 food providers across the Commonwealth. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: Small businesses in the city and Albemarle County can apply through May 22 for one of nine $10,000 Envision Enterprise grants supporting local growth and expansion. (More)

➤ Virginia’s tennis team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals yesterday, edging No. 13 South Carolina 4-1 as the No. 5 seed. The Cavaliers head to Athens, Georgia, for the Elite Eight. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech’s men’s tennis team claimed the 2026 NIT Championship with a 4-2 win over North Alabama in Rome, Ga. Sophomore Blake Hilsen went 4-0 in the tournament and earned MVP honors. (More)

➤ No. 23 Virginia baseball dropped a 7-4 decision to Cal at Disharoon Park on Friday night, falling to 32-17 on the season in the first game of its senior weekend celebration opener. (More)

➤ No. 18 Virginia Tech softball fell 2-1 to No. 10 UVA softball in the ACC championship game yesterday after a second-inning passed ball ended up being the difference in the game. (More)

➤ The Washington Wizards hold a 14% chance to win tonight’s NBA draft lottery, which will award the winning team the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Support your wellness goals with Akemi Slim Patch, the easy-to-use transdermal patch designed to fit seamlessly into your daily routine. Using a slow-release formula, it’s made to help support appetite control, metabolism, and energy without pills or complicated regimens. Simply apply, wear comfortably, and stay focused on your health journey. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Beyond the parade, your contribution supports programs that record oral histories from veterans across generations, host conferences connecting young cadets with firsthand accounts of service, and produce television specials that keep these stories alive.

As we approach America’s 250th birthday, there is a unique opportunity to ensure these sacrifices are never forgotten.

Consider making a gift today to support the National Memorial Day Parade and its mission.

➤ Richmond Metro Habitat for Humanity completed its 400th home this week, a milestone reflecting years of community-driven construction serving families throughout the metro Richmond region. (More)

➤ Virginia Commonwealth University celebrates its spring 2026 commencement this weekend, with thousands of Ram graduates marking the milestone at one of Richmond’s largest annual ceremonies. (More)

➤ The Virginia Tech class of 2026 is gathering in Blacksburg this weekend for commencement, celebrating 6,741 degree candidates from all eight colleges. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Elon Musk’s latest venture is making headlines nationwide after reportedly receiving White House clearance and expanding across all 50 states. Some analysts believe this new currency initiative could surpass the impact of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI combined. Discover why investors are calling it one of the biggest opportunities of the decade — before the rollout gains even more momentum.