Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1863, Confederate Brig. Gen. William “Grumble” Jones led 2,900 men from Lacey Springs on a mission to disrupt the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Over the next month, Confederate troops captured hundreds of head of cattle and damaged or destroyed dozens of railway bridges.

Yesterday, we shared a note from a reader who said Bluefield is Virginia’s highest town. Another reader disagreed.

“I dispute Bluefield’s claim. The town of Monterey, the incorporated seat of Highland County, has a higher elevation (2,894 feet). Bluefield’s elevation is 2,369 feet,” the second reader wrote.

What do you say? Hit reply to join this elevated dispute.

A bombshell new study just dropped on some of the biggest news platforms on the planet, and the findings are raising serious questions about what you’re actually being shown, and what’s quietly being hidden from you. We’re talking about the world’s largest news aggregators, and the data is striking. Right? Left? Conservative? Liberal? On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown breaks down exactly what this report found, which platforms it calls out by name, and what it means for every American who thinks they’re getting the full picture. Plus, where does The Flyover rank? We’ll share that too. And we think you’ll like the answer. Tune in. You’re going to want to hear this one.

Later today, watch for a quick note from our partner, Fisher Investments, with a free guide on one of retirement’s biggest questions: when the time is right to step away from work.

Today’s sponsor, Goldco, offers a trusted way to protect your savings with gold and silver—longtime safe-haven assets that Americans like Dennis Quaid rely on to hedge against uncertainty and market volatility.

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.

Election Day Arrives

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today for the referendum on whether to change the state constitution to allow congressional redistricting ahead of November’s elections. Lawmakers in the General Assembly redrew the map to give Democrats an advantage in 10 of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts.

If the change is approved, state lawmakers would retain the ability to redraw district boundaries until October 2030, when that authority would be returned to a nonpartisan redistricting commission. Anyone who votes will be required to present identification.

Today’s results could have national consequences. “If the amendment passes, that’s a significant advantage for Democrats going into those November 2026 midterms,” University of Mary Washington Professor Stephen Farnsworth noted.

Regardless of today’s outcome, legal challenges remain. The state’s Supreme Court allowed the referendum to proceed, but may declare the entire process unconstitutional.

Police Officer Arrested

Matthew Sylvester, a 40-year-old sergeant with the Fairfax County police force, was arrested in Fauquier County in the early morning hours of April 18 on two charges of aggravated sexual battery.

The alleged incident occurred while Sylvester was off-duty, and he is believed to have known both victims. No further details about the circumstances of the incident have been released.

Sylvester, who has been on the force for 16 years and works in the Internal Affairs Bureau, was placed on administrative leave, which will remain in place pending the outcome of investigations.

Freezing Weather Returns

A wild seasonal swing brought winterish weather to large parts of the state this week, including a freeze warning in place for Northern Virginia this morning. The cold snap follows temperatures in the 90s late last week.

Cold-sensitive plants should be brought indoors if possible until it warms up at night later this week. Early spring vegetation that has been growing in the heat is especially vulnerable to a cold snap.

Virginia isn’t only cold, it is also dry, with almost two-thirds of the state classified as being in severe drought.

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➤ Alexandria: Madison Warner, the 36-year-old daughter of Sen. Mark Warner, passed away after a decades-long struggle with juvenile diabetes and other health issues. “She filled our lives with love and laughter, and her absence leaves an immeasurable void,” the senator and his wife, Lisa, said in a statement. (More)

➤ The Red Sea: The USS Gerald R. Ford broke the post-Cold War record for length of deployment. The ship hasn’t returned to Norfolk in 300 days and may remain deployed for up to 11 months total. (Details)

➤ Rocky Mount: Police raided three vape shops to investigate whether they were selling illegal, cannabis-related products. (More)

➤ Norfolk said it is ready to welcome more visitors to its beaches after Virginia Beach imposed a 9:30 p.m. weekend curfew last week. “The city has taken steps to enhance staffing and security presence at several Norfolk parks and beach locations,” City Manager Pat Roberts said. (More)

➤ Madison County: A hiker was airlifted off Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park on Sunday after suffering a head injury. The operation was complicated by windy conditions, but was carried out successfully. (Details)

➤ Charlottesville: The “Then & Now” exhibit put together by the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society takes a groovy look at ten works by local artist Frances Brand that spotlight regional leaders of the 1970s. (Details)

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➤ Longwood baseball, 23-17 overall, hosts VMI today in Farmville. The Keydets are 26-13. (Matchup History)

➤ UVA men’s tennis fell 4-2 to Wake Forest in the ACC championship round, marking the Cavaliers’ third straight loss in the conference final. (Details)

➤ Former VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr. committed to Tennessee out of the transfer portal after averaging 15 points per game for the Rams this season. (More)

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➤ The average price of gas dropped 10.1 cents per gallon in the week that ended yesterday, coming in at $3.88 according to the tracking site GasBuddy. That is 8 cents per gallon more than last month and 85.9 cents per gallon more year-over-year. (Details)

➤ A federal judge in California blocked Nexstar’s acquisition of Tysons-based Tegna. Nexstar will appeal. (More)

➤ Raytheon, based in Arlington, won a more than $900 million missile defense contract modification from the Army. (Details)

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➤ Harbor of Stories, a sailboat sculpture that honors the history and community of Kempsville, was unveiled last weekend. (Details)

➤ State officials warned about the spotted lanternfly’s return for the spring season. “About 60% to 70% of the Commonwealth now has confirmed populations of spotted lanternfly,” David Gianino with the state agriculture department said. (More)

➤ The UVA AI Literacy Lab recently launched with the goal of helping students “become leaders and responsible citizens in a world where AI is really embedded in our everyday lives.” (Details)

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