Quieter Hurricane Season Forecast for Virginia

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week predicted a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season ahead of the June 1 start.

Federal forecasters expect 8 to 14 named storms, 3 to 6 hurricanes, and 1 to 3 major hurricanes, citing developing El Niño conditions that increase vertical wind shear and suppress Atlantic storm development.

Virginia officials are urging residents not to relax. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 caused more than $1.8 billion in damage, the costliest natural disaster in the commonwealth’s history, and Helene’s 2024 path through southwest Virginia damaged the Route 725 bridge in Taylors Valley.

National Weather Service Director Ken Graham urged Virginians not to ease preparations based on the forecast, calling on residents to review their hurricane plans now and noting that past El Niño years still produced major hurricanes.

Lewis Ginter Unveils $31M Expansion

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden opened its $31 million expansion to the public Saturday, nearly doubling the conservatory and adding 7.5 acres of new gardens after a two-year build.

The expanded conservatory in Henrico now features four climate zones—Mediterranean, desert, tropical, and subtropical—along with a year-round butterfly house where hundreds of butterflies fly freely among visitors.

The project also expanded the Kroger Community Kitchen Garden, which produces 3,000 to 6,000 pounds of fresh produce annually, all donated to Feed More.

“Today truly is a day of celebration,” Lewis Ginter President and CEO Brian Trader said of the fully donor-funded project, which finished on time and on budget.

The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with admission ranging from $14 to $24 and free entry for children under 3 and Lewis Ginter members.

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Buffett’s ‘Phone’ Rule Could Make This Company Soar

Warren Buffett famously said that “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.”

But what if your phone could do it for you? 📲

That’s exactly what Mode Mobile has created: technology that turns idle phone time into passive income. With 490 million+ users in their ecosystem and $1 billion+ in earnings and savings, their EarnPhone is being called the Uber of smartphones.

With 32,481% revenue growth, they were named the fastest-growing software company in 2023 by Deloitte, and with 7 billion smartphones worldwide their market could be significantly larger than Uber’s.

They’ve just secured their Nasdaq stock ticker $MODE, and you have until Friday to invest in their pre-IPO offering at $0.50/share.

🚨 Last chance to invest. Price changes on 5/29.

➤ Pittsylvania County: Microporous broke ground Friday on a $1.6 billion battery separator plant at the Berry Hill Megasite, a project expected to create more than 1,800 jobs with average annual wages of about $61,000 by late 2027. (More)

➤ Smith Mountain Lake: Recent rain has helped raise lake levels to roughly four and a half feet below full pond, a slight improvement from the five-foot deficit reported earlier this month, as boaters navigated exposed shoals during the busy Memorial Day weekend. (More)

➤ Norfolk: The Patriotic Festival wrapped its final Norfolk run Sunday at Scope Arena, with organizers announcing Ella Langley, Riley Green, and Bailey Zimmerman as 2027 headliners when the festival returns to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. (More)

➤ Richmond: The Virginia Museum of History and Culture is spotlighting sixth-generation Richmonder Elizabeth Smartt and the Thalhimer family, whose American story dates to 1840, as part of its “We the People” exhibit ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. (More)

➤ Manassas: Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra to inaugurate the company’s new memory chip manufacturing line in Manassas, part of Micron’s broader U.S. semiconductor expansion aimed at boosting domestic chip production and high-tech jobs. (More)

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The next Uber? One Shark Tank Investor thinks so

Imagine turning down Uber at a valuation of $10 million, only to watch it go public at over $80 billion. That’s exactly what happened to Mark Cuban. 

But fellow Shark Tank investor Kevin Harrington may have learned from Cuban’s mistake, investing early in what investors are calling the Uber of Smartphones.

That company is Mode Mobile, and like Uber did with cars, they’re turning smartphones into income-generating assets. They’ve generated $115 million in revenue and helped users earn and save +$1 billion. And investors have one final opportunity to invest in their pre-IPO offering before their share price changes on Friday.

⚠️ Last chance to invest alongside Kevin Harrington at $0.50/share.

With hurricane season starting June 1, do you have a hurricane plan in place?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet, but I should

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever visited Virginia’s military cemeteries or historic battlefields? 

1. Yes: 68%
2. No: 19%
3. It’s on my list: 13%

How many Virginians lost power during Hurricane Isabel in 2003?

Show me the answer