Squall Line Cuts Power Across Virginia

A fast-moving squall line knocked out power to nearly 115,000 utility customers across central and western Virginia on Monday afternoon.

The hardest hit ran along the Blue Ridge, from Albemarle County—where more than 16,000 customers lost power—through Lynchburg and into the Roanoke Valley. Roanoke’s airport clocked a 59.8 mph gust.

Appalachian Power reported more than 28,000 customers in the dark Monday evening and said it expected to restore most service by the end of Wednesday, and more than 29,328 Dominion Energy customers were without power in Central Virginia as of Monday evening.

Forecasters warned residents yesterday of another round of potentially severe storms as clusters pushed southeast out of the Ohio Valley.

VHSL Proposes Major Class Realignments

The Virginia High School League has released its proposed athletic realignment for the 2027-28 through 2030-31 cycle, based on grades 9-11 enrollment figures. Several schools face classification shifts, including Patrick Henry of Roanoke moving up from Class 5 to Class 6.

Roanoke City Public Schools has appealed the Patrick Henry move, citing excessive travel times of three to five hours that create hardship for athletes and higher costs. The same proposal was successfully appealed in 2022.

Four Prince William County schools—Battlefield, Unity Reed, Patriot and Hylton—will drop from Class 6 to Class 5 without appealing. Other changes include Amherst County and E.C. Glass falling to Class 3.

Appeals were due Aug. 10, with hearings set for Aug. 25 before final approval. The new alignment takes effect in 2027-28.

Hemp Firms Sue over New THC Cap

Seven Virginia hemp businesses have asked a federal judge to block a new state law limiting total THC in products to 2 mg per package, effective Aug. 15. The change eliminates a prior exception allowing higher THC if CBD levels were at least 25 times greater.

Companies warn the rule will render millions in inventory unsellable, force layoffs, and potentially bankrupt some firms that invested under the old rules. A hearing on their request for a temporary restraining order is set for today in Roanoke.

Officials defend the measure as closing a loophole that allowed intoxicating products with limited oversight, ahead of regulated adult-use cannabis sales in 2027.

Some medical users also fear disruption to treatments.

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➤ Statewide: Virginia Lottery presented Gov. Abigail Spanberger a $914 million check Monday for public education, marking its second-highest profit year and third consecutive year exceeding $900 million from over $6 billion in ticket sales. (More)

➤ Chesterfield County: U.S. Marshals are offering up to $10,000 for information leading to Dennikia Boyce, 37, charged with second-degree murder in the July 24 shooting deaths of two VDOT contractors, Rai’Shon DeLarge, 30, and Philip Wilson, 34. (More)

➤ Norfolk: Old Dominion University was targeted by a “ghost student” financial-aid scam, with a fraudster using a stolen identity to collect about $4,000 in aid before the school caught it. Federal officials issued an alert about the fast-growing scheme in July. (More)

➤ Ettrick: One person was shot and wounded near Virginia State University early Tuesday, at Boisseau Street and Third Avenue around 4:15 a.m. Chesterfield County police found the victim—who is expected to recover—at a nearby business. (More)

➤ Danville: A tuition-free program at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research fast-tracks students in 16 weeks to manufacture submarine parts, supporting a Department of War priority with nearly 1,000 trainees yearly. (More)

➤ Richmond: The new Richmond High School for the Arts opens to students in two weeks, and Richmond Public Schools is eyeing a 1% sales-tax referendum to fund renovations at other aging school buildings. (More)

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➤ Nationals pitching prospect Jarlin Susana is nearing his long-awaited 2026 season debut after recovering from lat surgery last September. The 22-year-old—who was part of the 2022 Juan Soto trade—throws a 100 mph fastball and a wipeout slider. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders signed defensive lineman Byron Cowart after a successful tryout, adding depth at nose tackle. Cowart had 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks with the Chicago Bears in 2024. (More)

➤ Former Liberty basketball standout Taelon Peter signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the San Antonio Spurs after being waived by the Pacers last month. The 2025 second-round pick averaged 4.5 points in 38 games as a rookie. (More)

➤ Three Virginia Cavaliers and two Virginia Tech Hokies made Bruce Feldman’s annual College Football Freaks List. VT’s Kemari Copeland checked in at No. 7 overall after setting a program record with a 510-pound bench press. (See UVA and VT Details)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Manchester machine shop Tektonics Design Group has begun a $1.2 million renovation of its nearly century-old Southside facility, adding a new roof, geothermal system, equipment and expanded showroom for its Fern & Roby audio brand. (More)

➤ Denver-based Tract has filed a formal conditional use permit application for the 870-acre Tuckahoe Tech Park data center campus in Goochland, a 900-megawatt project with about 3 million square feet of buildings. (More)

➤ The Moonlight Market, an evening open-air shopping series, kicks off Aug. 14 at One Loudoun in Ashburn and runs select evenings through Oct. 30. (More)

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Did you know the color of your urine may reveal clues about your blood sugar health that an A1C test might not show? A new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor that could affect how the body manages blood sugar.

Discover what your urine may reveal and learn about a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels.

Check it out here.

➤ Hampton Roads resident Arthur Blanda got a late-night surprise Sunday when his Blink camera and barking dogs alerted him to a black bear wandering through his backyard around 11 p.m. (Watch Video)

➤ Gov. Abigail Spanberger was booed at the Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax, which set off online criticism of Southwest Virginia’s schools. (More)

➤ The Jefferson School in Charlottesville marked 100 years with a reception and legacy run, honoring a building that opened in 1926 as the city’s only black high school and now serves as a community and cultural hub. (More)

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➤ Did you know your urine color may reveal clues about your diabetes risk that even an A1C test could miss? A new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor affecting blood sugar. Learn how to detect this potential issue and discover a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels. See what the research reveals and 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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ New research reveals the dangerous driving mistake 78% of Americans don’t believe they’re making. (Hear Mistake)

➤ Federal rules may soon let parents grow their children’s savings with pretax paycheck dollars, and employers could match. (Hear Details)

➤ After 1,666 days in a Russian prison, a US Marine veteran’s story just took a dramatic turn. (Listen Now)

Has a bear ever wandered into your yard?

1. More than once
2. Just once
3. Not yet

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever watched “The Dukes of Hazzard”? 

1. Never missed it: 40%
2. Once or twice: 33%
3. Never, don’t plan to: 17%
4. Not yet but plan to: 10%

What Art Deco building in Galax opened in 1940 as a 500-seat movie house and now serves as a performing arts venue?

Show me the answer