Thursday, June 25, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, during the American Civil War, Union troops from the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry—many of them coal miners—began digging a tunnel stretching more than 500 feet under Confederate lines at Petersburg. Led by Lt. Col. Henry Pleasants, the plan aimed to plant explosives beneath Confederate fortifications to break the siege’s stalemate.

Yale just tracked over 11,000 seniors for more than a decade, and what they found breaks every rule you’ve been told about getting older. Nearly half of them didn’t decline. They got BETTER. Cognitively. Physically. And the researchers found the one hidden factor driving it… It’s not genetics. Ayla breaks down what it is, and the four things you can start doing today to be in that improving half. Coming up on The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Your home address, phone number, and even family connections may be easier to find online than you think. Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Incogni, on how to take that information back.

Today is the day. Over the past week, we’ve shared details about the Freedom Summit. If you’ve been meaning to sign up, this is your last chance before the event begins later today. Registration is FREE, and you can claim your spot here.

Today’s sponsor, Sonic Glow Tooth Brush, uses powerful sonic vibrations and built-in blue light technology to help remove plaque, protect sensitive gums, and promote a cleaner, brighter, healthier smile in just seconds a day.

Virginia Prisons Get a Safety Overhaul

Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced major reforms at the Virginia Department of Corrections on Tuesday, crediting new leadership, a code of ethics, de-escalation training, and an end to five-point restraints with significant safety improvements.

The changes have produced dramatic results. Comparing January-May 2026 to the same period last year, serious inmate-on-staff assaults dropped 56%, confirmed overdoses fell 47%, use of force decreased 39%, full lockdowns declined 27%, and restorative housing use decreased 20%—all despite a 21% staffing vacancy rate.

Spanberger also launched the Community Partnership Council on Corrections to foster ongoing dialogue with advocacy groups, formerly incarcerated individuals, and community stakeholders on reentry, family engagement, and accountability.

Spanberger called the progress one of her proudest accomplishments.

GO TEC Grant for Middle Schools Set to Expire

Virginia’s GO TEC program, which introduces middle school students to engineering, manufacturing, and technical careers through hands-on labs, is facing uncertainty as state funding runs out.

Launched in 2018, the initiative has reached nearly 39,000 students across 49 school divisions, helping to attract businesses such as Tyson Foods and Microporous to Southside Virginia by building a skilled talent pipeline.

The current GO Virginia grant expires at the end of June 2026. Program leaders had sought two-year bridge funding for sustainability efforts, but the latest state budget proposal excludes it, despite earlier House support.

Temporary aid from other grants and schools will sustain operations through the year’s end.

15 Sites Added to Virginia Landmarks Register

The Virginia Board of Historic Resources has added 15 new sites to the Virginia Landmarks Register, recognizing places of historic, architectural, archaeological, and cultural importance across the commonwealth.

The designations include the Bacova Historic District in Bath County, a former company town tied to lumber and oil industries; the sprawling Calvary Rural Historic District in Halifax County, emblematic of Southside Virginia’s pastoral farming heritage; and Dublin High School in Pulaski County, an International Style building from the 1950s.

Other entries highlight black history, such as Mary Nottingham Smith High School and Oakland Baptist Church.

The listings, which carry no property restrictions, aim to honor Virginia’s heritage while supporting preservation awareness. Sites span Accomack, Bath, Frederick, Halifax, Lee, Loudoun, and Prince Edward counties, plus the cities of Alexandria, Lynchburg, and Richmond, as well as locations in Highland, Rockingham, and Pulaski counties.

Full details are available through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Statewide: House Republicans are launching a major ad blitz with $22 million in Florida and Virginia to capitalize on favorable redistricting wins and defend their narrow House majority in the 2026 midterms. (More)

➤ VA Coast: The federal government is seeking industry interest in offshore mineral mining off Virginia’s shores to boost domestic production of materials like titanium and rare earth elements for electronics and defense products. (More)

➤ Christiansburg: Residents who discovered their town had been quietly using Flock Safety cameras to scan and log license plates across town are pushing back, raising questions about data retention and surveillance without community input. (More)

➤ Lynchburg: School officials are calling Virginia’s 4% teacher pay raise an unfunded mandate, warning it will strain local budgets as the state only covers part of the increase for qualifying positions. (More)

➤ Norfolk: A sinkhole caused by a water main break swallowed the front of a vehicle at an I-264 West exit ramp on Tuesday, trapping the driver. An officer waded into the water to free her from the vehicle. She didn’t require hospitalization. The exit ramp was closed while crews responded. (See Photos)

➤ Fairfax County: The National Weather Service confirmed that a powerful microburst with winds up to 90 mph caused extensive tree damage and downed power lines in Burke during Monday’s severe storms. (See Photos)

➤ Prince George County: Severe thunderstorms that delivered quarter-sized hail brought down trees onto homes in Birchett Estates, causing significant structural damage, power outages, and debris, but no reported injuries. (See Photos)

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➤ The Washington Capitals traded Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and the 16th overall pick to the St. Louis Blues for forward Jordan Kyrou, a three-time 30-goal scorer. (More)

➤ VCU basketball lost a non-conference opponent this week after NC State backed out of a scheduled road game in Richmond. The Rams will receive a $190,000 buyout as a result of the cancellation. (More)

➤ The NCAA approved a waiver allowing the NC State at Virginia football game to remain a Week 0 contest on August 29 in Charlottesville after the matchup was relocated from Brazil earlier this month. (More)

➤ Virginia men’s basketball coach Ryan Odom hired Luke Toburen as the program’s director of sports performance. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA

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➤ Amazon Prime Day is here, and some of the biggest discounts of the year are live now. From tech and home essentials to kitchen gadgets, fashion, and more, Deal Watchdogs has rounded up standout deals worth your attention. Browse the best savings before these limited-time offers disappear. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Five Central Virginia nursing homes with poor federal quality ratings and histories of complaints—including one under elder abuse investigation—are being sold by Medical Facilities of America to Prestige Healthcare, with the deal expected to close June 30. (See Details)

➤ Eli Lilly’s $5 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Goochland’s West Creek Business Park is on hold pending State Corporation Commission approval of a new $87 million Dominion Energy 230-kV transmission line needed to supply the project’s 33-37 megawatts of power. (More)

➤ Virginia officially added “agrivoltaics”—the practice of co-locating solar arrays on active farmland—to its code of laws, paving the way for a new generation of farm-scale solar projects that could benefit both energy production and agricultural income. (More)

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➤ Markets are volatile. Inflation remains a concern. And every week seems to bring a new economic headline. When times are uncertain, getting good information matters. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Freedom Summit, a free online event happening tomorrow, featuring economists, investors, and business leaders discussing what’s next for the economy, inflation, and financial markets. Registration is free. Save your spot today.

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Three screech owl eggs stolen from a Giles County nest last year—and hatched by a local woman who took them—have grown up to become wildlife ambassadors at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, where they now help educate the public about the region’s native owl species. (Watch Report)

➤ Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium cracked Electronic Arts College Football 27’s list of the 25 toughest places to play at No. 22, a newcomer to the rankings despite the Hokies going 2-5 at home last season. (More)

➤ Denbigh High School sophomore running back Brian Gray went viral with millions of views for intense trash can workout videos, earning college camp invites from top programs like Alabama and Florida State. (More and See Workout)

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:

➤ A Yale study tracked 11,000 seniors for over a decade and found nearly half didn’t decline with age; they improved, and one hidden factor explains why. (Hear What)

➤ The military is reinstating flu shots for recruits after an outbreak swept a Texas training base. (Listen Now)

➤ The average couple drops over $6,000 on the honeymoon now, and Gen Z would rather splurge there than on the wedding. (Listen More)