Feds Weigh Changes Near National

The U.S. Senate will consider legislation that would require all aircraft operating near Arlington’s busy Reagan National Airport to use upgraded communication systems that clearly communicate their position to flight controllers and other aircraft operators. 

The proposal was introduced by Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, who said the Jan. 29 air disaster over the Potomac demonstrates “an urgent need for improvements to aviation safety to make certain the airspace near some of our nation’s busiest airports are safe.“

The Federal Aviation Administration also admitted that a dedicated phone line that air traffic control workers at the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport are supposed to use to coordinate flights has not worked since early 2022.

The FAA met with military leaders and may restrict non-emergency helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport.

Newborn Giraffes Missing

State officials at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County yesterday began the process of moving three female giraffes that the Attorney General’s office officially seized in 2023 due to allegations of neglect.

Those animals were allowed to remain on the property while a suitable home was located.

According to court documents, two of the giraffes were pregnant last year and have since given birth. However, officials report they do not know where the baby animals are.

Veterinarians said that giraffe calves should stay with their mothers for almost two years after birth. In court testimony, the zoo admitted that its practice has been to separate calves from their mothers on the same day they’re born and bottle-raise them.

Invented in Virginia

Richmond TV station WRIC released a list yesterday of things most people don’t realize were invented in Virginia. 

For example, ChapStick, long used to treat dry, chapped lips, was created in Lynchburg by Dr. Charles Browne Fleet in the late 1890s. The formula has remained almost unchanged for most of a century.

Virginia was also the site of the first legislative body in America in 1619 and the first public mental health facility in 1773. In addition, Cyrus McCormick revolutionized farming with his mechanical reaper in 1831.

What’s your favorite Virginia invention? Hit reply and let us know.

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➤ Blacksburg: An associate dean at Virginia Tech said the university has met Trump administration requirements and expects to continue receiving its portion of a federal grant aimed at teaching environmentally friendly farming techniques. The program represents the largest grant in school history. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Virginia Commonwealth University eliminated some jobs and reassigned people in others as it worked to respond to new federal guidance on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. (More)

➤ Statewide: A report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform said eight rural hospitals in the Commonwealth are at “immediate risk of closure” if federal lawmakers proceed with proposed cuts to Medicaid. (Details)

➤ Fairfax: The County Courthouse reopened to the public this week after the building was closed for two days last week due to undisclosed technical difficulties. Some proceedings were held virtually while the building was closed. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: Last week’s heavy rain swelled rivers and filled reservoirs across the state, resulting in faster flows and degraded water quality. Officials urged caution. (More)

➤ Statewide: Director Bryan Horn will leave the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development at the end of the month. Horn, part of the Youngkin administration since 2022, spearheaded the governor’s “Make Virginia Home” initiative. (Details)

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➤ The Washington Nationals open a three-game home series against the Braves today, after completing a weekend sweep of Baltimore. (Preview)

➤ Fencer Nathaniel Wimmer, a 16-year-old from Fairfax County, became the 2025 Cadet Men’s Épée World Champion. He’s just the fourth American to hold that title and is looking forward to the 2028 Olympics. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech opens play at the ACC baseball tournament today as a No. 12 seed, facing No. 13 Stanford. (Details)

➤ Changes in name, image, and likeness policies will remake the future of college sports. Follow NIL Wire to know what’s going on with your school.

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | Soccer

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➤ Gas prices climbed 1.5 cents per gallon last week in Virginia, according to GasBuddy. A gallon averaged $2.96 yesterday, 6.4 cents less than last month and 42.8 cents less than last year. (Details)

➤ Beale’s taproom in Bedford County will close this weekend after eight years. The brewery will continue to make beer to distribute to bars and stores around the state. (More)

➤ Virginia pharmacists warned that federal tariff policies may increase prices for prescription drugs. “What I would suggest is that people at least start getting a 90-day supply, and on top of that to keep 30 days ahead of their supply of medication,” said Dr. Anna Peoples at Peoples Pharmacy in Norfolk. (Details)

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Zillow’s Co-Founder Has a Big New Idea

Spencer Rascoff co-founded Zillow, scaling it into a $16B real estate giant. But everyday investors couldn’t invest until after the IPO, missing potential early gains.

“I wish we had done a round accessible to retail investors prior to Zillow’s IPO,” Spencer later said. 

Now he’s doing just that. Spencer has teamed up with Austin Allison, another Zillow exec, to launch Pacaso. Pacaso’s co-ownership marketplace is disrupting the $1.3T vacation home market. And unlike Zillow, you can invest in Pacaso as a private company.

With $110M+ in gross profits and rapid international expansion, Pacaso is scaling fast. Investors like Softbank, Maveron, and more are already on board. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

But you don’t have to wait. Join them as a Pacaso shareholder for just $2.80/share by 5/29.

➤ Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance requiring property owners to restrict the growth of running bamboo plants—an invasive species in the Commonwealth—so they don’t encroach on neighboring land. (Details)

➤ Fairfax High School Spanish teacher Rodney Lopez won a year’s worth of free coffee after being named Dunkin’s Teacher of the Year. (More)

➤ Dogs can’t fly, but some came close at the Riverrock Ultimate Air Dogs competition this weekend in Richmond. One canine competitor managed to cover 32 feet in a single bound. (Details)

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How are gas prices in your neighborhood?

1. Edging up
2. Edging down
3. Holding steady

Monday’s Results:

Have you visited an Apple store? 

1. Yes, elsewhere: 39%
2. No: 37%
3. Yes, in Tysons: 24%

Where did Cyrus McCormick develop his mechanized reaping machine?

Show me the answer