Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1933, the USS Ranger was launched at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. It was the first and only ship of its class to be designed and built from the keel up as an aircraft carrier. It went on to earn two battle stars during World War II before being decommissioned at Norfolk in 1946.

The federal government is laying off some Virginians, and the state government wants to help. The Virginia Flyover has more in Top Stories.

Did you know that the team that makes The Virginia Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

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National Park Service Cuts Hit Shenandoah

The federal government has fired 15 National Park Service (NPS) employees at Shenandoah National Park and six more at other parks in Virginia as part of President Trump’s plan to remove about 1,000 NPS and 3,400 Forest Service employees nationwide.

At Shenandoah, the terminated workers include fee collectors and trail maintenance employees. “Fewer staff means shorter visitor center hours, delayed openings, and closed campgrounds,″ a spokesperson at the National Parks Conservation Association said.

Democratic lawmakers from across the state sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, asking him to reverse the job cuts. “These roles are critical to protecting America’s treasured natural assets, maintaining public safety, and promoting exceptional standards expected at national parks across Virginia and the nation,” they wrote.

According to a federal report released last year, tourist visits to national parks brought more than $1.5 billion to Virginia’s economy in 2023, making it fifth in revenue in the nation. The Commonwealth is home to 22 national parks, trails, and designated historic sites.

State Wants to Help Fired Feds

Gov. Glenn Youngkin introduced a resource package to help displaced federal workers find other jobs. “There are opportunities in Virginia, and we want to help you find them,” Youngkin said.

It is part of the state’s overall plan to fill more than a quarter of a million jobs. The “Virginia Has Jobs” website lists job openings by region and whether they are in the public or private sector.

Some private sector employers highlighted on the site include Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, MITRE, and Deloitte.

The state’s unemployment insurance fund has more than $1.5 billion in it, Youngkin said. “We care about you, we want to support you,” the governor added.

Fun Virginia Factory Tours

The Commonwealth’s economy encompasses a range of skills, from knowledge workers to the factory floor. While you can’t tour the inside of a data center, you can see plenty of hands-on professions up close.

Consider jewelry making. At The Museum of American Jewelry Design & Manufacturing in Harrisonburg, visitors can see how the industry has evolved here in Virginia and learn about its future.

If you need a boost, consider Affordable Lifts in Lynchburg. The company designs and builds all its products at the facility and is happy to provide tours by appointment.

A sweeter tour awaits at Nancy’s Candy Company in Meadows of Dan. Drool over 45 flavors of fudge, 85 regular chocolates, and 25 sugar-free chocolates.

For a more academic view of the history of factories in the Commonwealth, visit Richmond for the Made in Virginia exhibit at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

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➤ Seoul, South Korea: Figure skater Sarah Everhardt of Haymarket captured the bronze medal at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. It was her first appearance at the event, which serves as a precursor to next year’s Winter Olympics. (Details)

➤ Henrico: More than 100 teams from across the Commonwealth participated in the Special Olympics 2025 Basketball Championships. “It’s just a wonderful way to celebrate what our athletes have done with this sport,” the president of Special Olympics Virginia said. (More)

➤ Blacksburg: Virginia Tech’s Giving Day this year brought in over $21 million to support the university. More than 24,000 individuals chipped in. (Details)

➤ Surry County: The Virginia Department of Transportation will study the potential need for a new bridge across the James River due to economic growth in the area and a reduction in the number of ferry trips across the river. (More)

➤ Statewide: The rough winter is taking a toll on Virginia’s roadways. VDOT said it is getting twice the number of complaints about potholes than it fielded last year. (Details)

➤ Augusta County: Interstate 81 was closed for hours yesterday near mile marker 210 after a tanker truck carrying ammonia hit another vehicle and crashed on the median. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech’s baseball team took two of three from UNCG, closing out the series with an 8-3 win at home yesterday. (More)

➤ The Washington Capitals NHL hockey team host Calgary tonight. They have the league’s best record and are coming off a weekend when they won two games by pouring in 15 total goals. (Preview)

➤ VCU’s men’s basketball team, leading the Atlantic 10 Conference after a home win against George Mason, visits crosstown rival Richmond tonight. (Details)

➤ James Madison visits Louisiana-Monroe tonight in men’s basketball. The Dukes have won nine straight Sun Belt games and lead the conference. (Details)

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➤ The average price of gasoline dropped 5.6 cents to $2.97 per gallon across the Commonwealth last week. GasBuddy reported that the price is down 12.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and 22.5 cents per gallon from last year. (Details)

➤ TECfusions announced plans to build an additional 300 megawatts of high-density data center capacity on 73 acres in Clarksville. (More)

➤ Frontier Airlines announced that it will add flights from Dulles Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Service will begin on May 22. (Details)

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➤ A recent study showed that efforts to restore oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay are succeeding and that the expanding oyster population is helping clean up nearby waterways. (Details)

➤ Swords into Plowshares has issued a “request for qualifications” from artists interested in creating new public art using the melted metal from the former Robert E. Lee statue that once stood in downtown Charlottesville. The deadline is April 25. (More)

➤ The Virginia Orchid Society announced it will hold a show and sale this weekend at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond. (Details)

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