Thursday, June 4, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1922, U.S. Navy officer Samuel L. Gravely was born in Richmond. Gravely served during World War II and was the first black naval officer to command a ship. He retired as a vice admiral.

Speaking of World War II heroes, two over the age of 100 were honored in Roanoke for their service during the Normandy invasion. Learn more in Et Cetera.

Social Security’s full retirement age just climbed again, and if you’re thinking about retiring this year, the timing could permanently cost you. What’s actually driving the change? On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla shares how much your retirement could be cut depending on timing, plus exclusive tips on how to squeeze the biggest possible check out of your benefits. Tune in here!

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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.

Virginia a Leader in AI Adoption Surge

Virginia ranks fourth nationally in artificial intelligence adoption, according to a new Microsoft report on AI adoption across the United States.

While 31.3% of Americans ages 18-64 have used AI tools, Virginia performs well above the national average at 34.7%—largely due to having multiple university communities with high concentrations of young residents.

Among counties and county-equivalent areas with at least 10,000 residents, each of the top 15 by AI user share contains a college or university. Williamsburg, home to the College of William & Mary, ranks as the top AI-using college town in the country, with user share at 73.2%. Harrisonburg, home to James Madison University, is next at 67.9%.

Madison, Idaho, home to BYU-Idaho, ranks third at 67.7%, and Brazos County, Texas, home to Texas A&M, ranks fourth at 64.5%.

Lexington, Charlottesville, and Montgomery County round out the state’s top five, all exceeding 50%.

Virginia Primary Races Take Shape

Virginia’s congressional primary races for the Aug. 4 election are beginning to take shape after the state Supreme Court struck down the voter-approved redistricting amendment, leaving the current congressional districts in place for the 2026 midterms.

Both parties have certified their candidates, with Democrats fielding contested primaries in five districts and Republicans in three. The largest field is in District 1, where seven Democrats qualified. High-profile matchups include former Rep. Elaine Luria in the 2nd District and former Rep. Tom Perriello in the 5th District.

In the 8th District, longtime Democrat Rep. Don Beyer faces several party challengers, while self-described Reagan conservative Tony Sabio, a national security professional, is among the candidates running for the Republican Party. Republican primaries are also heating up in the 5th, 7th, and 10th districts.

Several incumbents from both parties secured nominations without opposition. Access a list of all certified candidates here.

Cannabis Market Deal May Be Within Reach

Virginia’s long-delayed cannabis retail market may finally arrive through the back door—folded into the state’s stalled budget negotiations.

Sen. Lashrecse Aird and Del. Paul Krizek, both Democrats who led earlier legalization efforts, said they see “a pathway to adopt a form of compromise” before lawmakers return to Richmond this month.

Virginia legalized possession five years ago but never created a way to legally purchase marijuana, leaving residents in a gray-market limbo. The General Assembly passed a retail framework in March, but a full budget deal—including cannabis licensing language—has eluded both chambers.

The proposed framework would allow the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to begin issuing licenses by Sept. 1, with retail sales starting Nov. 1, 2026.

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➤ Statewide: Virginia’s revenue forecast has surged by $1.5 billion over the next three fiscal years, offering lawmakers new flexibility to resolve the ongoing budget impasse ahead of the June 30 deadline, according to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration. (More)

➤ Roanoke: Law enforcement officers from across Virginia and North Carolina gathered Monday to honor Deputy Logan Utt, a Carroll County deputy killed in the line of duty, at a funeral procession attended by hundreds of first responders. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech: The Board of Visitors unanimously voted for Jim Miller to be the new rector and Nancy Dye to be vice rector, effective July 1, following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s removal of prior rector John Rocovich. (More)

➤ Page County: Shenandoah National Park will begin sobriety checkpoints along Skyline Drive beginning this month through Nov. 15 to reduce impaired driving on the road. (More)

➤ Chesterfield County: Police named officers Jacob Clark, 25, and Jacob Wells, 40, as the two critically injured in a May 31 domestic call shooting. Suspect Gary G. Shaw, 65, faces attempted murder charges after also wounding a K9 named Knight, who died from his injuries. (More)

➤ James River: The Richmond Department of Public Utilities reported that nearly 2 million gallons of untreated storm and wastewater entered the James River on May 25 due to a UV disinfection system malfunction, but officials anticipate no environmental impact. (More)

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➤ UVA golfer Ben James will go straight from college to the PGA Tour next week, one of just four players ever to earn a Tour card directly out of a college program. (More)

➤ UVA’s season-opening football game against NC State—originally scheduled in Rio de Janeiro as the first FBS game in South America—has been relocated to Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. (More)

➤ UVA athletics unveiled plans for the 1931 Club, a premium seating area on the 50-yard line at Scott Stadium that will open in 2027, its name a nod to the stadium’s 1931 debut. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech launched a separate business arm for its athletic department called “Hokie Ventures” to chase new revenue and handle NIL and donor operations. (More)

➤ Former Washington Commanders tight end and Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas will sign autographs June 13 from noon to 3 p.m. at B&C Sports Inc.’s new location in Roanoke’s Valley View Mall. (More)

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➤ Workers at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol have voted to unionize with Teamsters Local 519, seeking collective bargaining for better wages, benefits, and consistent working conditions. (More)

➤ Richmond-based Lady Chiller, a cocktail ice cube company founded by Caitlin Pierce, has launched a new ice sculpture service offering custom carvings from 300-pound blocks for events, weddings, and corporate clients. (More)

➤ Thalhimer Realty Partners sold the 12-story Towers on Franklin apartment building at 311 W. Franklin St. in Richmond, which contains 128 one-bedroom or studio units, to KRS Holdings for $10.9 million. (More)

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➤ The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford invites Virginians to mark the 82nd anniversary of the Normandy landings on Saturday, June 6—an especially poignant occasion as the town holds the highest per-capita D-Day losses of any U.S. community. (More)

➤ Two World War II veterans, George Hubbard, 100, and James Flinchum, 103, were honored at a ceremony in Roanoke with Freedom 250 Hometown Hero awards for their service during the Normandy invasion. (More)

➤ Fast food workers in Virginia earn a median hourly wage of $14.48 in 2025, ranking 23rd nationally, with the state employing about 104,000 workers in the industry, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. (See Data)

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