Thursday, February 26, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1925, the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry made its first trip across the James River. The vessel, known as the Captain John Smith, could haul 16 Model T Fords on each trip.

We noted yesterday that the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is marking its 125th anniversary this year with special events and discounts. One reader told us that during last year’s government shutdown, “the zoo was free for furloughed workers. It was my first visit, and I loved it. The tapers were the biggest fun surprise.“

We also asked yesterday whether you can drive a manual transmission. Scroll down to today’s Poll to see the results.

What do the Clintons have to do with the Epstein investigation? In today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown covers why Hillary and Bill Clinton are set to testify behind closed doors, and what lawmakers say they’re looking for in the records. Watch to learn more.

Later today, keep an eye on your email inbox for a partner message from EnergyX on how the lithium revolution is creating new investment opportunities.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, explains why surging demand for physical silver is putting retirement savings at risk — and how a free Wealth Protection Guide can show you ways to legally diversify with gold and silver.

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.

Primary Moved to August

Primary election voters in Virginia will have to wait longer this year before casting a ballot. A recently enacted law moved the 2026 primary from June 16 to Aug. 4.

The Virginia Department of Elections said this is a one-time change that will happen whether or not the tentative April 21 constitutional referendum proceeds as previously planned.

Early in-person voting for the August primary begins on June 19 and ends on Aug. 1.

The August primary means that candidates for the House of Representatives have until May 26 to file to run.

State of the Union Response

Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democrats’ response to the president’s State of the Union address late on Tuesday night.

She made her address in front of a small crowd in the chambers of the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg. Her speech lasted about 12 minutes, after President Trump spoke for about 107 minutes in his address.

“The United States was founded on the idea that ordinary people could reject the unacceptable excesses of poor leadership, band together to demand better of their government, and create a nation that would be an example for the world,” Spanberger said.

After Trump’s speech, Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans said, “The American people heard directly from the President of the United States about the meaningful progress made over the past year to strengthen our nation, lower costs for working families, secure our border, and restore America’s leadership on the world stage.“

Fairfax Casino Measure Approved

A House of Delegates committee approved a measure that would allow a casino to be opened anywhere in Fairfax County, pending approval by local voters. A different version of the bill has already passed the Senate.

The latest bill would also increase a potential casino’s license fee from $15 million to $150 million. Half of the fee would be returned to the host locality.

All four of the delegates whose districts include parts of Fairfax County oppose the bill, including committee chair Del. Paul Krizek.

Lawmakers also outlined the process they would follow before allowing online gambling. The bill to legalize such wagering would need to pass in two legislative sessions and could not take effect before 2028.

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Silver’s Rise Can Make or Break Your Retirement

It has surged over 300% over the past 12 months. It’s crucial to the AI revolution, but demand is far outstripping supply. It has become a go-to safe haven asset for global institutions, Wall Street investors, and everyday Americans as the economy becomes more unhinged. And before this current run-up, almost no one gave it a second thought.

Physical silver is quickly becoming the #1 commodity in the world. And now is your chance to benefit from it!

Retirement savings like 401(k)s and pension plans are growing increasingly vulnerable. A bursting stock bubble, a collapsing dollar, or one conflict halfway around the world can send your funds’ value plummeting.

You can protect that value with physical silver. Thanks to an IRS loophole, you can legally transfer the value of your 401(k), TSP, Pension, or IRA into physical silver and gold.

Silver is unique among commodities, with soaring demand from investors and industry. And its 6-year supply deficit gives price a solid floor and no ceiling. Bank of America said silver could break $300 this year. Don’t miss this opportunity to fortify your finances with vital physical assets.

Download the FREE 2026 Wealth Protection Guide to see how you can initiate this transfer tax-free, without penalties.

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➤ Centreville: The National Transportation Safety Board removed a section of polyethylene plastic pipe from a natural gas line that leaked and triggered a house explosion this month. No other leaks were discovered, but more than a dozen homes in the neighborhood remain evacuated. (Details)

➤ Statewide: A bill under consideration in the Senate would require hunters who use dogs to obtain a permit from the Department of Wildlife Resources. (More)

➤ Petersburg: Six agriculture research professors who were fired by Virginia State University last year said they were wrongfully let go and asked to be reinstated. “These terminations intentionally disrupted ongoing studies that VSU had already committed to support, thus costing the taxpayers over $10 million,” said Vitalis Temu, one of the six. (Details)

➤ Lynchburg: A 65-year-old man from Florida pled guilty to a scheme to defraud a doctor out of almost $500,000. Tommie Lee Nelson could face up to 20 years in prison. (More)

➤ Henrico: Two county supervisors—Dan Schmitt and Tyrone Nelson—were appointed to the Virginia Association of Counties. Each will serve on a different VACo steering committee. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: Chandler Morris, the starting quarterback for the University of Virginia last season, sued the NCAA after it denied him an extra season of eligibility. Morris has played in six seasons for four teams and has frequently missed games due to injuries. (Details)

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➤ Liberty men’s basketball, 15-1 in Conference USA, visits Kennesaw State tonight. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech edged James Madison 5-4 in baseball on Tuesday to improve to 7-1. The Hokies face ranked teams in their next three games. The Dukes dropped to 3-4. (Details)

➤ The Washington Commanders will host a game in London this season, replacing one of their stateside home game slots. (More)

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➤ Kenny Minor recently marked three decades working at the same Food Lion in Chesterfield. “He’s very accommodating, he’s very polite, and people just love his personality,” one regular customer said. (Details)

➤ Alexander D. Dodd was named chief financial officer of Richmond-based Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation. He is moving from TD Bank Group. (More)

➤ Merchants in Bedford expressed concerns that several empty buildings downtown are hurting businesses in the area. “We could dress them up a little. They could be more attractive,” a shop owner said of the vacant storefronts. (Details)

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Inflation is rising, recession is looming, and the stock market bubble looks ready to burst. While dollar-denominated assets like stocks and bonds could plummet, physical gold owners could soon be celebrating.

President Trump’s proposed “Gold Reset” could mark America’s greatest wealth creation event in nearly a century. This historic move would revalue the nation’s gold reserves overnight, catapulting owners of physical gold to new heights as the value of government gold skyrockets 9,000%.

To learn how to protect your savings and potentially benefit from this coming revaluation, claim your FREE 2025 Wealth Protection Guide today.

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➤ Drama erupted at last week’s Prince William County School Board meeting after officials set limits on the sets students can build for productions. “Platforms are not a decorative extra. They are essential to theater performance,” one theater teacher said. (Details)

➤ The third annual Ruck Cancer Run will be held on March 21 in Chesapeake, with all money raised going to support firefighters who are battling cancer. (More)

➤ A developer backed away from plans to knock down the centuries-old farmhouse called Huntingdon near Roanoke. “We’re going to take a more moderate approach to the land, just developing the road frontage with potentially keeping the house,” contractor Sullivan Moore said. (Details)

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