Spanberger Faces Dem Revolt

Six months into her governorship, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger sat down with Jen Psaki to defend her wave of vetoes as fellow Democrats grow openly hostile.

Spanberger is navigating sharp intra-party clashes over the state budget and her record 31 vetoes of Democratic priorities, as well as a June 30 deadline to avert a potential shutdown.

Tensions center on data center tax incentives worth $928 million (based on fiscal year 2023 figures), with Spanberger favoring a cautious approach and a study commission, while some senators are pushing for cuts.

Frustrated lawmakers and labor groups have criticized her vetoes of bills on collective bargaining, cannabis sales, and other issues, arguing she bypassed legislative input with late amendments.

Spanberger defends her actions as responsible governance and highlights signed achievements like paid family leave and assault weapons restrictions.

Tangier Island Fights Rising Waters

Tangier Island, a Virginia fishing community on a 1.2-square-mile land mass in the Chesapeake Bay, is losing its battle with rising waters. Its residents may not have many years left there.

First settled during colonial times and home to between 252 and 430 people—based on U.S. Census data and other sources—the island has lost more than two-thirds of its land since the 1850s due to the surrounding sea levels rising at roughly twice the global average.

Congress approved a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jetty project, which launched in 2020, but funding has been slow, and the island keeps shrinking faster than the project can move. The crabbing community fears it won’t survive long enough to see it completed.

The state has studied relocation options, but most residents want to stay where their colonial ancestors settled.

Microsoft Reverses Clean Energy Pledge

Microsoft is quietly walking back its clean energy promise even as it expands its data center footprint across Northern Virginia.

The tech giant, which already had a presence in Southern Virginia, had pledged to cover its power use with renewable energy matched hour-by-hour on the same grid. It is considering dropping that requirement to a weaker annual average standard.

Virginia is the world’s largest data center market, with Loudoun County hosting more capacity than any other place on earth. The move lands as Virginia lawmakers fight over whether to end an annual data center tax exemption.

Critics say subsidizing the industry while companies abandon clean energy commitments is indefensible. A Microsoft spokesperson said in May that the company is still exploring ways to maintain an annual matching goal.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: Virginia will begin distributing $120 one-time summer grocery benefits to eligible children starting June 29, with 85% of qualifying kids automatically enrolled through the state’s SUN Bucks program. (More)

➤ Central Virginia: Powerful storms knocked out power to nearly 50,000 customers, mainly in Henrico, Hanover, and Richmond, with outages dropping significantly by late evening. (More)

➤ Southeastern Virginia: Meanwhile, strong thunderstorms left up to 22,000 customers without power in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads area, with additional outages in the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. (More)

➤ Chesapeake Bay: A new peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Marine Science links starving osprey chicks across the area to declining menhaden availability, while the Reedville-based fishing industry pushes back on the findings. (More)

➤ Richmond: The Children’s Museum of Richmond unveiled its largest renovation in 25 years, updating exhibits like the Art Studio and Water Table, and adding a whimsical “magic meadow” portal for young visitors. (More)

➤ Blacksburg: More than 40 middle school students are attending Virginia Tech’s fifth annual Imagination Drone Camp this week, learning to build, fly drones, and earn FAA safety certification. (More)

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend! ✈️

➤ Virginia Tech is spending $192,000 to renovate James Franklin’s office before he’s even coached a football game, an upgrade predecessor Brent Pry never received during his 16-24 tenure. (More)

➤ The Washington Wizards are the only NBA team Kansas guard Darryn Peterson plans to meet with before the June 23 draft, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Washington holds the No. 1 pick, and Peterson is widely considered the top prospect alongside BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. (More)

➤ Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams leads all NL shortstops in the first phase of All-Star fan voting, edging out the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts by about 12,000 votes. Abrams is hitting .294 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs this season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | WNBA

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Pack smarter for summer travel with Aerless vacuum compression bags. Instantly shrink bulky clothes and fit more into your carry-on, saving up to 60% space while keeping items clean and organized. The compact, rechargeable pump works anywhere—so you can skip checked bag fees and travel lighter, faster, and stress-free.

➤ Northern Virginia’s housing market surged in May 2026, with closed sales up 11% and total sold volume rising 16.4% year-over-year amid strong buyer demand and limited inventory. (More)

➤ After 52 years, the Daniels family is selling Mill Quarter Plantation Golf Course in Powhatan to a local developer. Operations are expected to end after this season, with potential redevelopment into housing. (More)

➤ The City of Portsmouth began demolishing its former jail tower Monday morning, advancing efforts to clear the waterfront municipal center site for future mixed-use redevelopment. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ While many investors chase AI giants like Nvidia, others are looking at the companies supplying the technology behind the boom. A new report highlights three AI infrastructure plays: a high-growth connectivity company, a voice AI platform with major commercial partnerships, and a data services firm working with leading tech companies. Get the free report and discover the AI supply chain opportunities many investors may be overlooking.

Flying together with our sponsor

A Drone Expert Is Making Flying Cars Real

After years working on military drones, Doron Merdinger began sketching a flying car in 2016. He saw how quickly the tech had advanced. Soon, people would fly from driveways. So he built Doroni.

It’s great timing, too. The urban air mobility market is worth $4B today. By 2040, Morgan Stanley puts it at $1 trillion. By 2050, $9 trillion. And with 600+ reservations for Doroni’s aircraft and $240M+ in potential revenue already, the demand for this innovation is undeniable. 

With commercial deliveries planned for 2028 and $1.4B+ in annual revenue targeted by 2032, Doroni’s scaling fast. They even just reserved the Nasdaq ticker $DRNI. But don’t wait. Invest in Doroni before their share price changes on June 18th.

 This is a paid advertisement for Doroni Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.doroni.io/

➤ Virginians with young children, seniors, or disabled household members in need of summer cooling assistance can now apply for financial help with electric bills, AC repairs, window units, and fans through the Department of Social Services on a first-come, first-served basis. (More)

➤ Speaking of cooling off, Moose Tracks is partnering with Mayfield Dairy Farms to serve 10,000 free scoops of ice cream in Richmond’s Monroe Park today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., donating $1 for every scoop served to Feed More. (More)

➤ And speaking of ice cream, Virginia ranks 20th among U.S. states in ice cream obsession, according to search interest data, with a solid mid-tier score of 45.51—well behind Northeastern states like New Jersey, but ahead of much of the South and Midwest. (See Rankings)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Hot cacao vs Green Tea… Which of these hot drinks was proven in a study boost stem cells by 220% in 30 days?  Billionaires drop 6 figures on stem cell therapy, but this hot drink costs 50 cents a day and boosts anti-aging stem cells improving heart health, blood pressure, and longevity.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ With the U.S.-Iran war ending, here are five ways the deal could impact your wallet. (See List)

➤ The U.K. announced a sweeping ban on social media use for everyone under 16. (Hear Episode)

➤ A free climber known as Yemen’s “Spider-Man” fell to his death scaling a volcanic crater. (Listen Now)

How would you describe your relationship with ice cream?

1. I’m obsessed
2. It’s OK
3. Not a fan

Sunday’s Results:

Do you plan to vote early in the Virginia primary?

1. No: 37%
2. Yes: 36%
3. Not sure: 27%

Where did the original settlers of Tangier Island come from?

See the answer