TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, the Battle of Chantilly erupted in a Fairfax County thunderstorm, killing two Union generals, Philip Kearny and Isaac Stevens, as Confederate Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson tried to cut off John Pope’s retreating army near Ox Hill.

Over a dozen Virginia universities and colleges now offer automatic admission through the Common App. Learn more in Top Stories, then let us know how you feel about it by answering today’s Poll. Did you attend college? Hit reply to let us know where.

Big Announcement: It’s launch day for The Michigan Flyover and The Pennsylvania Flyover! We’re excited to add the Great Lakes State and the Keystone State into our growing family of Flyover editions. Click the link below to sign up and get your first issue tomorrow!
Sign up for MichiganSign up for Pennsylvania

Your morning routine has a bigger impact on your day than most people realize. We looked at 10 common morning habits and ranked them based on research findings. Cold showers and workouts didn’t land where you’d expect, and the habit that took the top spot takes less than five minutes. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down all 10 and reveals which one is worth adding to your morning. Tune in here!

Car insurance is one of those bills that’s easy to keep paying without checking whether you could do better. Later today, our partner Insurify will show you how to compare quotes from 100+ insurers in about two minutes, with users saving up to $1,100 a year when they compare.

When it comes to peptides, there are more options than ever, and figuring out what actually makes sense for you can feel like guesswork. Today’s sponsor, The Pep Report, takes a different approach: start with your DNA and use your genetics to help narrow down the options.

VA Grid Nears Its Defense Limit

Virginia’s power grid can absorb only a 5% to 10% rise in electricity demand at the state’s military sites before it needs major new infrastructure, a new analysis found.

The study, Unleashing Virginia, examined the grid’s “defense load”—the power that runs bases, contractors, and the defense industry. Those sites draw about 3,500 megawatts today, leaving roughly 175 to 350 megawatts of headroom, less than one large data center.

A 20% jump in defense demand would require tens of millions of dollars in upgrades. Doubling it would run into the billions and mean rebuilding high-voltage lines across state lines.

The report points to Naval Station Norfolk, the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, Lynchburg’s BWX Technologies, and a Danville shipbuilding training center, and follows President Trump’s Aug. 26 executive order declaring a national emergency over foreign-made grid equipment tied to defense power.

12+ VA Universities Offer Automatic Admission

More than a dozen Virginia colleges will offer some students admission before they ever fill out an application, through the Common App’s Direct Admissions program.

The program lets participating schools extend preemptive offers to first-generation students and those from low- or middle-income families, identified by ZIP code, GPA, and residency, with an application fee waiver among the qualifiers.

Virginia participants include the following universities: Batten, Christopher Newport, Eastern Mennonite, Emory & Henry, George Mason, Hollins, Mary Baldwin, Marymount, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth, Lynchburg, and Mary Washington. It also includes UVA’s College at Wise and Richard Bland College.

More than a dozen colleges joined this year, part of a national roster that has grown to 234 institutions for 2026-27. Students who receive an offer see admissions information and other resources through the platform.

VA Approves New Mayo River State Park

Virginia has approved a master plan for a new 637-acre Mayo River State Park in Henry County, near the North Carolina line.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation will build the park in phases over 30 years, along the North and South Mayo Rivers next to North Carolina’s own Mayo River State Park.

Plans call for a visitor center, picnic areas, a playground, cabins and tent camping with a bathhouse, and an expanded network of hiking and mountain biking trails that will connect to the North Carolina park.

Later phases add canoe and kayak put-ins, a fishing pier, and a pedestrian bridge. The plan also protects rare ecosystems and historic sites such as Byrd’s Ledge.

Flying together with our sponsor

Before You Spend Money on Peptides, See What Your DNA Says

Peptides have become one of the biggest topics of conversation in anti-aging, longevity, weight loss, recovery, and muscle growth. But here’s the problem: the same peptide may not work the same way for everyone.

The Pep Report analyzes more than 710,000 genetic markers and compares them against published research to help identify which peptides and nutraceuticals your biology may support.

And because your DNA doesn’t change, you only need to test it once. A simple cheek swab gives you genetic information you can reference as you explore different options, rather than spending money blindly and hoping something works.

The Flyover readers automatically get 10% off, no code needed. See which peptides match your DNA.

➤ Richmond: Virginia health officials have recommended $32.8 million in state funding for the city’s water system upgrades, exceeding the $20 million minimum, to help prevent a repeat of last year’s crisis. (More)

➤ Henrico County: Richmond’s Nepali community held a candlelight vigil at Libbie Mill Library for victims of floods and mudslides in Nepal that killed more than 900 people, launching a relief effort that has some members traveling to help with search and rebuilding. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: The county installed four self-service kiosks for car-tax payments at government buildings in Fairfax, Alexandria, Reston, and Annandale. (See Photo)

➤ Shenandoah Valley: Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County were labeled “news deserts” by the Local Journalism Index 2026, a joint project of Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News that measures local reporting coverage. (More)

➤ Halifax County: The sheriff’s office pulled access to its Flock license-plate cameras amid privacy concerns, joining a growing list of Virginia agencies stepping back from the surveillance network. (More)

➤ Portsmouth: A back-to-school event at the Portsmouth jail reunited incarcerated fathers with their children, giving the men a chance to cheer on their kids ahead of the new school year. (More)

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

➤ UVA men’s soccer snapped its early-season losing skid Friday night, securing its first win with a dominant 4-0 victory over American at Klöckner Stadium, with four different Cavaliers scoring. (More)

➤ Kaytron Allen, a Norfolk native and Penn State running back, made the Washington Commanders’ initial 53-man roster after a strong preseason, beating out rookie Robert Henry Jr. for the final back spot behind Rachaad White and Jacory Croskey-Merritt. (More)

➤ Former JMU safety Jacob Thomas, an undrafted free agent and two-time All-Sun Belt selection, earned a spot on the Minnesota Vikings’ 53-man roster after a strong preseason. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: U.S. Open | MLB | Soccer | NCAAWV

This week, The Flyover family of news publications crossed six million total readers. A milestone like this belongs to the people who open our email every morning—that’s you. We keep the spin out and trust you with the facts, and we provide it for free. So on the week when you made us 6 million strong, I’m asking you to help us remain free. Support the news you can trust. Make a generous donation to support The Flyover:

Give $10
Give $25
Give $50
Give $100

➤ The Capital Region Airport Commission will issue a request for qualifications this week for a $253 million project to combine Richmond International Airport’s two TSA screening areas into one 10-lane checkpoint, expandable to 14, with a new grand hall and concessions. (More)

➤ Goodwill will open its first priced-per-pound outlet store in western Henrico County, in a former Big Lots at the Fountain Square shopping center, and plans a new retail store in Chester. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach Oceanfront shop managers say this summer has run slower than recent years, even over major holiday weekends, as businesses brace for the post-Labor Day lull. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Tired of waking up with aching, stiff feet? TheraFoot Pro is designed to deliver soothing, targeted massage to tired feet, helping ease tension and everyday discomfort from the comfort of home. Simply sit back, relax, and give hardworking feet the attention they deserve—without expensive massage appointments.

Flying together with our sponsor

One Test. 710,000+ Genetic Markers.

Instead of relying entirely on trial and error, The Pep Report gives you a more personalized place to start. Your DNA sample is collected with a simple at-home cheek swab, then analyzed to provide insights based on your unique genetics.

If you’re already researching peptides, or simply curious about what your genetics may reveal, this could help you ask better questions before deciding what to try.

The Flyover readers get 10% off automatically. Get your pep report here.

➤ Scaffolding went up over the summer around the neoclassical former Second Baptist Church building at 13 W. Franklin St. in Richmond, which the Jefferson Hotel is rehabbing into a banquet hall. (See Photos)

➤ The 64th East Coast Surfing Championship wrapped up in Virginia Beach Sunday, honoring late local surfing legend Pete Smith alongside surf contests, live music, BMX stunts, and vendors. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech researchers found that black bears rely on both temperature and day length to time hibernation, after analyzing more than 22,000 hours of video of four bears at the university’s Black Bear Research Center. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Real Reason Skin Starts To Thin After 50 (It’s Not What You Think) Remember when bruises faded fast and skin bounced back? New research shows a particular deficiency impacts strength and dark spots too—and you don’t have to accept paper-thin, discolored skin as the “new normal.” Unfortunately, most people don’t know that thinning, aging skin is often caused by this. Learn More

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

➤ How do you start your morning? Research shows how 10 popular habits stack up, and which one is the best. (See Ranking)

➤ Regulators say Amazon secretly inflated ad prices for years, with the added costs quietly reaching everyday shoppers. (Hear Details)

➤ Prediction market Kalshi has permanently banned George Santos after accusing the former congressman of suspicious State of the Union trades. (Listen Now)