Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1635, Royal Governor John Harvey was accused of treason and arrested after a disagreement with the Council of State, which was composed of some of the colony’s richest men, over a potential tobacco monopoly. Despite King Charles I’s support, Harvey was eventually replaced.

A federal lawmaker proposed sweeping Alexandria and Arlington back into the District of Columbia, drawing mixed reactions from readers.

“Yes, take back Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax! They don’t belong in Virginia!” one wrote. Another added, “They voted overwhelmingly for redistricting. Let them be re-districted.“

Others recommended a different course. “I propose we make DC smaller and send the land that Maryland gave to the District of Columbia back to Maryland,” one wrote. That would leave only what is currently the National Mall—where few people live—in a smaller DC.

Life insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all, and picking the wrong policy can mean overpaying for coverage you don’t need or leaving your family short when it matters most. Who’s the most affordable? Who has the best customer service? Who’s the best if you want to skip the medical exam? On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown breaks down the top life insurance companies for seniors in 2026, shedding light on which one might be best for you. Tune in here!

Still figuring out what to get Mom? We did the hard part for you. Our 2026 Mother’s Day Gift Guide has picks she’ll actually use, love, and maybe even brag about.

Today’s sponsor, Incogni, helps protect your personal information by removing it from data broker sites and keeping your private details out of the hands of advertisers and scammers.

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.

Paid Family Leave Delivered

Virginia will become the first southern state to enact a Paid Family and Medical Leave program, starting April 1, 2028.

Workers will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave through the program to care for a newborn, recover from a health event, care for an ailing family member, or deal with domestic violence. The program will be funded through shared payroll contributions.

“If you make $50,000, you‘re talking about $5 a week for each, for the employer and the employee to pay in, about the [cost] of a cup of coffee these days,” bill sponsor Sen. Jennifer Boysko said.

Republicans questioned the program’s value. “They’re taking hundreds of dollars out of our paychecks, they’re taking hundreds of dollars away from employers,” GOP Delegate Eric Zehr said.

The Virginia Employment Commission will run the program.

Governor’s First 100 Days

Gov. Abigail Spanberger held events in Roanoke and Richmond yesterday to mark her first 100 days in office. A key political occurrence on her watch was the referendum that voters approved last week, which would change the constitution to allow redistricting this year.

The state Supreme Court heard arguments about the issue yesterday. “As the court continues to weigh the discussions this morning, my hope is that the court will recognize just how seriously and how valid more than three million Virginians knew that election to be,” Spanberger said.

She also touted her Affordable Virginia Agenda and blamed federal policies for raising costs in the Commonwealth. “We’ve done real work to tackle the most pressing challenge facing our friends and neighbors today, the high cost of living,” she said.

“Abigail Spanberger’s first 100 days in office have been a disaster when it comes to economic development,” argued former Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Flying Squirrels Soaring

The Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Double-A Eastern League posted minor league baseball’s best record through Sunday.

The team wrapped up the second series in its new home ballpark with a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Somerset. The team is 11-1 at home and 17-3 overall.

Richmond’s CarMax Park opened this month, replacing The Diamond next door. “The energy was unlike anything we’ve ever seen. We’re just getting started,” Managing Partner Lou DiBella said after the opening week.

The Flying Squirrels have led all 30 Double-A clubs in total and average attendance in each of the past four seasons. The team begins a series at Altoona tonight.

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➤ Statewide: A new law that takes effect in July will allow couples seeking a divorce to file for a “bed and board” version on day one, so they can begin dividing property and making custody agreements without going through a year of separation. (Details)

➤ Newport News: The U.S. Department of Energy selected Virginia Tech and the Southeastern Universities Research Association to manage its Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. (More)

➤ Roanoke: The city is considering installing 75 gunshot detectors managed by the data-collection company Flock. The devices would be paid for with $57,000 in grant funding from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program. (Details)

➤ Southwest Virginia: State police will launch Operation Drive Safe 220 on Friday to step up enforcement on Route 220, which stretches from Martinsville to the West Virginia state line. (More)

➤ Arlington: The county’s oldest continuously used church site will debut its restored building this weekend. Mount Olivet United Methodist Church has been closed since suffering a fire almost four years ago. (More)

➤ Blacksburg: Virginia Tech’s collegiate quiz bowl team captured its second straight national championship. Tech’s trivia masters won both the NAQT Undergraduate National Championship and the ACF Nationals Undergraduate titles this month. (Details)

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➤ UVA men’s golf toppled Stanford 3-2 to claim the ACC Championship at Shark’s Tooth Golf Course in Panama City Beach, Florida. (Scores)

➤ Former Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones agreed to a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers after going unselected in the NFL draft. (More)

➤ The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inducted its 2026 class, headlined by former Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick and former UVA basketball coach Tony Bennett. (Details)

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➤ Doctors say memory loss is just aging, but new research points to a toxic “brain rust” buildup that harms focus and recall. Medications don’t fix it. A simple 3-ingredient protocol using raw honey may help clear it in weeks. See how people are improving memory fast—watch the free video now.

➤ The average price of gasoline climbed 4.9 cents in the last week, coming in at $3.93 per gallon yesterday, according to the tracking firm GasBuddy. That’s up 6.1 cents since last month and 95.2 cents year over year. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach will mark Economic Development Week next week. (More)

➤ George Mason University rebranded its Manassas innovation district as Nexus234. The nearly 6,000-acre business destination aims to bring together partners from the university, the county, and the city of Manassas. (Details)

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➤ Vida Spencer of Moseley turned 102 over the weekend and credits her longevity to giving thanks to the Lord for all he has done for her and to eating “lots of sweets.” (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach unveiled the lineup for its 11-concert summer series, Bands in the Sand. The series begins on May 7. (More)

➤ Richmond’s Maymont will reopen its Virginia Wildlife Trail on Saturday following a two-year enhancement project. (Details)

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