Manhunt Underway After Deputy’s Death

A Carroll County sheriff’s deputy was killed Friday and another was injured while conducting a welfare check at a home near Hillsville.

Authorities said a man opened fire on the deputies, who returned fire during the exchange.

Deputy Logan Utt, a military veteran who joined the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office in 2023, died from his injuries. The second deputy was struck in a ballistic vest and was reported in stable condition following medical evaluation.

Authorities identified the suspect as 55-year-old Michael Timothy Puckett and launched a search Friday evening. Officials urged residents to remain vigilant, describing him as armed and dangerous, while Gov. Abigail Spanberger offered condolences to Utt’s family and fellow deputies.

Virginia Assembly Sets Special Session Dates

Virginia’s General Assembly has called a special session to break the state budget impasse, with the House returning June 18 and the Senate June 22.

Lawmakers have less than two weeks to pass a budget before the July 1 deadline. The stalemate centers on disagreements over tax incentives for data centers.

Without a deal, Virginia would face its first-ever partial government shutdown, halting services for hundreds of thousands of residents.

Virginia Drought Won’t Quit Despite Rain

Virginia is still mired in severe drought—12 watersheds remain under warning even after this week’s rains, the Department of Environmental Quality reports.

Parts of the state recently endured the second-largest precipitation deficit since the 1890s. The DEQ says beneficial rains helped but weren’t nearly enough to end the crisis.

In Bedford County, crops are running a full month behind schedule, with farmers raising concerns about the summer harvest.

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➤ Virginia Beach: Seven years after the May 31, 2019 mass shooting killed 12 at the Municipal Center, the 5/31 Memorial officially opens to the public today—giving victims, survivors, and the community a permanent place of remembrance. (More)

➤ Northern Virginia: UVA’s Weldon Cooper Center is forecasting Virginia will shed nearly 17,800 jobs in 2026—losses comparable to the Great Recession—with federal workforce and contracting cuts hitting the region hardest. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads: Bright orange microchip scanning stations at Virginia Beach SPCA and Chesapeake Humane Society are helping reunite lost pets with owners faster than traditional shelter routes—and they’re catching on as a go-to community resource across the region. (More)

➤ Norfolk: Avolta has locked in a 12-year deal to run retail and dining at Norfolk International Airport, extending a nearly 30-year partnership at ORF with new hybrid store formats designed to boost passenger spend. (More)

Keezletown: Shenandoah Valley beekeepers are keeping a close eye on hives after months of shifting weather conditions, saying drought, frost, and heavy rain can affect nectar production, honey yields, and pollination. (More)

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➤ UVA baseball took down No. 9 Southern Miss 15-11 in extra innings in a back-and-forth elimination game at the Hattiesburg Regional yesterday. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech baseball saw its season come to an end in a heartbreaker at the Los Angeles Regional yesterday. The Hokies held a 5-3 ninth-inning lead over No. 1 UCLA, but allowed three runs in the bottom half of the frame, resulting in a 6-5 loss. (More)

➤ Liberty baseball fell 6-2 to Georgia at the Athens Regional yesterday, sending it to the loser’s bracket, where it will be tasked with a rematch against Boston College, which the Flames defeated 4-3 in their first game of the tournament. (More)

➤ VCU baseball avoided elimination with a gutsy 5-4 victory over Tennessee yesterday. VCU redshirt senior starting pitcher led the way on the mound for the Rams, striking out 10 opposing hitters. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | MLB | Soccer | NCAASB | NCAAB | WNBA | Golf

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➤ The Patriotic Festival is returning to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in 2027 with three country music headliners, reviving a Hampton Roads Fourth of July tradition after its recent run at Norfolk’s Scope Arena. (More)

➤ Northern Virginia Magazine unveiled its 2026 Best of NoVA reader-voted winners across dining, shopping, services, and community in its annual celebration of everything that makes the region unique. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech football revealed kickoff times and TV assignments for five 2026 games, including the season opener, giving Hokies fans a preview of when they’ll be cheering this fall. (More)

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With Memorial Day just behind us, what’s your go-to summer Virginia destination?

1. Virginia Beach / Oceanfront
2. Shenandoah National Park / Blue Ridge
3. Colonial Williamsburg / Historic Triangle
4. Smith Mountain Lake
5. Staying local — too much traffic!

Yesterday’s Results:

UVA or Virginia Tech — who are you rooting for in the NCAA baseball tournament this weekend?

1. Go Hoos! (UVA) – 22%
2. Let’s go Hokies! (VT) – 25%
3. Root for all four Virginia teams – 22%
4. I don’t follow college baseball – 31%

Smith Mountain Lake, one of Virginia’s most popular summer destinations, features approximately how many miles of shoreline?

Show me the answer