Proposed Rules Detail K-12 Scholarship Options

Proposed federal rules lay out how Virginia could offer K-12 scholarships beginning in 2027, funded by donors who receive up to $1,700 in federal tax credits.

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, channeling donations through state-approved Scholarship Granting Organizations. Families earning up to 300% of their area’s median income would be eligible for awards covering tuition, tutoring, and special-needs services.

Virginia was the first state to opt in, under former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, but must submit its list of qualifying scholarship organizations by Feb. 15 to take part. Supporters, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, say the program widens options for families.

The Virginia Education Association called the program reckless in January and is now urging Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger to keep Virginia out. Spanberger’s office is reviewing the regulations and has not said whether it will submit the list.

Capitals’ Ovechkin to Retire after 2026-27 Season

Alex Ovechkin announced Monday that the 2026-27 season will be his last in the NHL. The Washington Capitals captain made the news public 21 years to the day after his league debut.

The 41-year-old, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 929 goals, said he and his family decided this summer it was the right time. “I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” Ovechkin said.

Ovechkin, who captained the Capitals to the 2018 Stanley Cup, is in his 22nd season with the franchise and ranks as the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C., professional sports history.

Virginia Tech Launches Global Farm-Data Tool

Virginia Tech has launched GAP IQ, a free online platform that pulls together six decades of global farm data to help leaders confront a long slowdown in agricultural productivity.

Built by the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with Google Public Sector and the firm Appnovation, the tool allows users to chart and compare productivity by country and region.

The tool grew out of the university’s annual Global Agricultural Productivity Report, which found output growth slowed to about 0.76% in 2025, roughly a third of the pace needed to meet global food demand by 2050.

Researchers say fragmented, hard-to-use data has long made those trends difficult to analyze. GAP IQ is pitched at policymakers and investors weighing where to put their resources.

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➤ Henrico County: Republican Rep. Rob Wittman faces his toughest reelection fight yet against Democrat Shannon Taylor, Henrico County’s commonwealth’s attorney, in a race the UVA Center for Politics now rates a toss-up. (More)

➤ Manassas Park: The murder trial of Naresh Bhatt opened Monday with jury selection in Prince William County, more than two years after his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, vanished. Prosecutors say he allegedly killed and dismembered her; her body has never been found. (More)

➤ Lynchburg: Police Detective Gabriel Brown was recognized for helping unravel more than 1,500 swatting incidents nationwide between May and August. The case has been turned over to the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue conspiracy and terrorism charges. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads: Steady rain Sunday helped wash away salt left by last week’s nor’easter, which had been fouling equipment and knocking out power. Dominion Energy reported outages dropping across the region as crews restored service. (More)

➤ Newport News: Meanwhile, a shipyard-wide power outage hit Newport News Shipbuilding early Monday. First-shift workers were told not to report, and those who could were allowed to work remotely. (More)

➤ Chesapeake: The North Landing Bridge closed early Monday for mechanical repairs being made by the Army Corps of Engineers. The closure runs through Oct. 26. (More) 

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➤ UVA senior Dylan Dietrich won his first ATP Challenger title Sunday, beating Abdullah Shelbayh 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the ATP 75 Columbus Challenger. Dietrich didn’t drop a set all week and climbed to a career-best No. 263 in the live rankings. (More)

➤ Hampden-Sydney football beat Shenandoah 30-14 in its ODAC opener as senior Terry Hicks rushed for a game-high 227 yards and two touchdowns, powering a 20-point fourth-quarter surge. (More)

➤ James Madison field hockey defeated rival William & Mary 3-2 on the road Sunday as Azul Covarrubias scored twice and Avery Ruckman netted the game-winning goal in the final minute. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | WNBA | NBA | Soccer

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➤ Boston private equity firm Rockpoint paid $108 million for a 1 million-square-foot Chesterfield County warehouse complex built for Philip Morris, the Richmond area’s largest real estate deal this year. (More)

➤ Pure Salmon’s large fish farm in Southwest Virginia is on pause over federal tariffs and fuel costs. The next phase needs 20 miles of pipe with mostly China-made parts that would face steep tariffs. Pure Salmon has spent more than $80 million so far. (More)

➤ Construction on Project Hercules, a $3 billion, 400-acre data center campus in Appomattox County, should begin by year’s end after developers secured permits and a performance agreement. (More)

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➤ Dogs, cats, horses, and even reptiles turned up at Richmond-area churches Sunday for the annual Blessing of the Animals, held on the Feast of St. Francis. (See Photos)

➤ At The Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia, longtime staffer Cameron Smith has added certified water sommelier to his roles. Smith sources mineral waters from around the world and leads Sunday tastings that pair them with food, much like wine. (More)

➤ Research by two William & Mary students links eating more pulses, such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, and dry peas, to lower odds of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, with each additional daily serving tied to 19% lower odds. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Your dog’s sleep twitches aren’t random, and researchers can now decode what’s behind them. (Listen Now)

➤ Amazon is issuing a new wave of refunds worth up to $200 after regulators accused it of deceptively enrolling Prime customers. (Hear Episode)

➤ Gen Z students are fueling a Catholic surge at nearly 60 college campuses, from Texas A&M to Silicon Valley. (Hear Details)

Would you sit down for a sommelier-led water tasting?

1. Absolutely
2. Only if it’s free
3. I’ll stick with tap water

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you have a family member who currently lives or once lived in a nursing home? 

1. Yes: 66%
2. No: 31%
3. Not sure: 3%

What role did the French navy play in ensuring the success of the Yorktown Campaign?

Show me the answer