Spanberger Orders Emergency Readiness Overhaul

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 19 on Tuesday, creating a statewide Unified Readiness Framework to coordinate how Virginia prepares for and responds to emergencies.

The order extends well past hurricane season and directs executive branch agencies responsible for emergency management, public safety, and public health to designate a readiness coordinator, share data, and participate in statewide planning and drills.

Spanberger said the framework “breaks down operational silos and builds a stronger, more resilient Commonwealth.” Her office said it grew out of seven regional readiness summits this spring that drew more than 750 responders and officials.

Agencies must review and update their emergency plans with the state by Dec. 31. The order also folds in cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and supply chain threats.

Central Virginia Measles Outbreak Declared Over

The Virginia Department of Health declared the central Virginia measles outbreak over on Tuesday, 42 days after the last case.

The outbreak began in Buckingham County in May and spread to neighboring Cumberland County, sickening 154 people before the final case was reported June 29.

Nearly two-thirds of those infected were children under 18, and four people were hospitalized. No one died, and every patient was unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.

State officials called the milestone one of “cautious optimism.” It was a historic year—one of only four times in nearly five decades that Virginia reached over 100 cases.

Thomas Jefferson High Ranks 6th Nationally

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County ranked sixth in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s new high school rankings.

The magnet school tied for first nationally in the three measures the rankings weigh most heavily: the College Readiness Index, graduation rate, and state assessment proficiency.

U.S. News education editor LaMont Jones said the school “continues to perform at a very, very, very high level.” U.S. News & World Report account holders can view the national rankings here.

Nearly 18,000 high schools were ranked. Nearby Washington, D.C.’s School Without Walls placed fifth, leaping from 69th a year ago.

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➤ Statewide: State Corporation Commission Chair Kelsey Bagot, a former NextEra attorney, declined to recuse herself from the proposed $67 billion Dominion–NextEra merger. At a legislative hearing Tuesday, experts warned lawmakers there’s no guarantee rates won’t climb once a promised customer bill credit runs out. (More)

➤ Ettrick: Ja’niah Johnson, 19, turned herself in to Chesterfield County Police after the accused gunman in the Aug. 15 Virginia State University shooting hid in her dorm room. She faces obstruction and accessory charges and was released pending her next court date. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach’s city council voted 10-0 to pause new data center applications for 12 months while it writes rules for the industry. Mayor Bobby Dyer has said the city wants to keep out large-scale data centers built without industry standards. (More)

➤ Chesapeake’s city council, meanwhile, voted 9-0 to approve a data center zoning ordinance limiting the facilities to a conditional use in industrial areas, barring their use of groundwater and pausing new applications for eight months. (More)

➤ Henrico County schools will cap screen time for the youngest students to 15 minutes a day in pre-K and up to 90 minutes through fifth grade. The district will also drop digital homework at the elementary level. (More)

➤ Pulaski: A new mural celebrating the town’s history that was painted by artist Jay Scott went up on the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley, the second piece in the Round the Mountain Community Mural Initiative. (See Mural)

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➤ UVA men’s basketball coach Ryan Odom agreed to a contract extension through the 2031-32 season after leading the Cavaliers to a 30-6 record and finishing second in the ACC regular season last year. (More)

➤ James Madison University women’s soccer heads to Sanford Stadium tonight to face Georgia in the first soccer match between the hedges since the 1996 Olympics. Georgia is aiming to break the NCAA regular-season attendance record of 14,410. (More)

➤ Washington, D.C., tied for 21st out of 30 NFL markets in a new Nielsen fan passion index that tracked TV viewership, radio, merchandise, and five other metrics. Buffalo, Kansas City, and Green Bay topped the list. (More)

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

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➤ Kroger paid $4.4 million for 23 acres on Kings Acres Road in Hanover, where it plans a 120,000-square-foot store to anchor a shopping center called Telegraph Commons, developed with Roka Partners. Construction is expected to start in mid-2027. (More)

➤ Colonial Heights’ city council voted 6-1 to sell a 38-acre former landfill near Southpark Mall for $1 to Sina Hospitality, which plans a youth sports complex with turf fields, a 130-room Marriott, and a Mellow Mushroom. Full build-out is pitched at $180 million. (More)

➤ Lightwell Development, a Hampton Roads firm, has taken over a stalled plan to convert the former Great Hope Baptist Church at Venable and 21st streets in Richmond’s Union Hill into 19 apartments, reviving a two-year-old project. (More)

➤ Condair Group, the Swiss maker of commercial humidifiers, faces a proposed $40,000 fine after Virginia’s Occupational Safety and Health program found that two workers at its Chesterfield County plant were exposed to formaldehyde above the action level. (More)

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➤ Henrico County awarded a $1.6 million contract to stabilize Varina on the James, an 1853 home at the 2,095-acre former plantation on the James River it bought in 2023 and 2024. Work on the brick, wood, and porches begins in September. (More and See Photo)

➤ Richmond’s free Music at Main Street Station Thursday concert series returns to the station’s patio for four September nights, opening Sept. 3 with a Michael Jackson tribute. Attendees should bring a lawn chair. (See Lineup)

➤ While the Kennedy Center closes for a two-year renovation, the National Symphony Orchestra will spread its 2026-27 season across six area venues, including nine concerts in Alexandria and eight at George Mason University in Fairfax. The season opens Sept. 26. (See Details)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Remodeling triggers regret in 74% of homeowners, with these 10 “upgrades” causing the most trouble. (Hear Details)

➤ American forces are reportedly running a secret nightly operation to move millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. (Hear Episode)

➤ Russia has placed RFK Jr.’s son on its most wanted list over accusations that he fought for Ukraine. (Listen Now)

Have you attended a professional orchestra concert?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Depends on what you consider professional

Yesterday’s Results:

Did you attend public or private schools? 

1. Public: 55%
2. Both: 18%
3. Private: 11%
4. I was home-schooled: 8%
5. Other: 8%

What unique passenger system did Eero Saarinen introduce at Dulles International Airport in 1962?

Show me the answer