Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1759, George Washington married the widow Martha Dandridge Custis at her New Kent County home. Washington had recently resigned his commission after serving in the Seven Years’ War.

Police in Fairfax County said their new drone fleet allows them to respond more quickly and have a better idea of what they are walking into when they get an emergency call. “It mitigates a potential use-of-force scenario of a person in a mental health crisis,” Police Chief Kevin Davis said. The drones respond, on average, in less than 90 seconds.

Would you want your local police to adopt a similar program, or are you concerned that drones might compromise privacy? Hit reply and let us know what you think.

Later today: You will find a quick sponsor message in your inbox from FinanceBuzz on a cash-back card that could pay off if you shop on Amazon or at Whole Foods.

Today’s sponsor, LeanBliss, is sharing a science-backed weight loss approach that flips conventional dieting on its head—showing how a simple twist on eating chocolate could help target stubborn belly fat.

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.

Flu Bug Bites

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) warned that flu cases are increasing across the Commonwealth, with ER visits in the state up about 10% in recent weeks. The Centers for Disease Control lists Virginia as having “very high” flu activity.

This year’s flu season is particularly severe among younger people. “The risk for severe illness does go up again once you are elderly,” Department of Health spokesperson Rachel Dumene said. “But kids are reporting higher frequency of emergency department visits than adults at this time.“

Clinics filled up over the long holiday weekend. “Right now we are looking at having capacity constraints,” Dr. Carlton Stadler of the Bon Secours urgent care system in Virginia said.

VDH said only about a third of Virginians have had a flu shot.

Judge Delays Dominion Lawsuit

A federal judge scheduled the next hearing on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project for Jan. 16.

Judge Jamar Walker declined to issue an injunction last week that would have allowed Dominion Energy to resume construction at the site, dozens of miles off the coast. Instead, the case will be treated as a request for a preliminary injunction under procedural law.

The Interior Department imposed a 90-day freeze on all offshore wind projects last month, citing potential national security concerns. Dominion responded in a statement that the project would enhance national security by providing a reliable energy source to the Commonwealth’s grid.

The project had been on track to begin delivering electricity this spring. Dominion said the halt costs it $5 million per day, which will eventually be passed along to ratepayers.

Virginia Must Reduce SNAP Errors

Virginia is taking steps to reduce the state’s error rate on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The federal government shutdown last fall caused a pause in the food stamps program, but the Commonwealth was already at risk of losing benefits because its error rate was 11.5% in 2024. The Department of Agriculture wants that rate to be less than 6%.

Failure to reduce the error rate could cost Virginia more than $270 million per year, which led outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin to introduce the SNAP Forward program to address mistakes.

Youngkin’s final budget proposal allocated approximately $2.4 million to focus on eliminating errors.

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➤ Norfolk: The driver in a disabled vehicle was killed inside the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel when the broken-down car was struck by another car traveling “at a high rate of speed,” state police reported. The driver of the second car was hospitalized. (Details)

➤ Alexandria: A state trooper was injured when the officer crashed while avoiding another vehicle during a pursuit on the Capital Beltway. The trooper is expected to recover, but it is unclear whether the suspect in the chase has been apprehended. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: Police charged 32-year-old Brooke A. Maddox with delivering a controlled substance to a prisoner after she allegedly dropped off a medical brace packed with 100 sheets of suboxone at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. (Details)

➤ Grayson County: Authorities lifted a CODI Alert that had been issued on Sunday for 12-year-old Sierra Dawn Felts after the girl was located safe and unharmed. (More)

➤ Russell County: Five first-responder agencies agreed to work together to form the Russell County Technical Rescue Team, which should enable authorities to answer emergency calls more quickly. (Details)

➤ Statewide: The Department of Education reported that 99% of Virginia’s publicly supported early childhood education providers meet or exceed quality expectations. (More)

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➤ VMI wrestling earned 10th place among 19 schools competing at the Soldier Salute meet in Iowa. (Wrap)

➤ UVA men’s basketball dropped two spots to No. 23 in the latest AP poll. The Cavaliers host Cal tomorrow night. (See Poll)

➤ Former JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett III committed to the University of Central Florida out of the transfer portal, ending his career with the Dukes. He threw for 5,433 yards and 49 touchdowns during his four years at JMU. (More)

➤ Former Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph committed to Wisconsin out of the transfer portal. (More)

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➤ The price of a gallon of gas in Virginia dropped 3.8 cents over the week that ended yesterday, according to GasBuddy. The average price is $2.68 per gallon, 18.6 cents less than last month and 24.9 cents less than last year. (Details)

➤ Michael Waltrip Brewing in Bristol closed over the weekend. The company said it is making plans to reopen in a new location. (More)

➤ Some national retailers in Henrico County started charging customers five cents for each plastic bag starting on New Year’s Day, even though it is the city of Richmond, not Henrico, that imposed the levy. (Details)

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➤ Virginia Tech researchers hosted a workshop to discuss the pluses and minuses of data centers. The Commonwealth hosts over 600 data centers, with more on the drawing board. (Details)

➤ New Brocks Gap in Rockingham County, Virginia’s newest preserved natural area, shelters a rare strand of northern white cedar trees. (More)

➤ The Virginia Department of Education announced that more than 56,000 Virginia students were homeschooled last year, a 4.3% jump year-over-year. (Details)

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