Virginia Retirement Program Nearly Triples

Virginia’s state-run RetirePath retirement program nearly tripled over the past year, reaching 24,844 accounts holding $27.3 million as of March 31, according to a new report. The jump follows a law that took effect July 1, lowering the threshold for employers required to participate from 25 workers to five.

RetirePath offers automatic-enrollment accounts to private-sector workers whose employers don’t provide a plan, funded through payroll deductions at a default 5% rate. Workers can opt out or adjust contributions at any time.

The commission estimated that the change makes about 357,000 more workers eligible. Commonwealth Savers, which runs the program, is phasing in the newly covered employers through the end of October.

The increase coincides with a new study that ranks Virginia as the fourth-most retirement-friendly state in the U.S., thanks to strong earnings, low crime, and affordability.

Board Rejects Delay to School Standards

The Virginia Board of Education rejected a proposal to delay tougher reading and math benchmarks by two years, voting 7-0-1 to keep raising the bar on schedule.

The state education department said its proposal grew out of legislative mandates, recommendations from the legislature’s watchdog commission, and a statewide listening tour, and would have reached full implementation a year sooner through a single transition.

Under the plan the board kept, the cut scores—passing marks on Standards of Learning tests—rise gradually over four years, starting this fall. The change follows steep pandemic-era declines in grades 3 through 8.

Board member Ida Outlaw McPherson, a Youngkin appointee, pushed to raise expectations now, stating, “We don’t have any more time.” Chief of staff Holly Coy said the rejected phase-in would have eased “confusion” from changing scores in every subject and grade for years.

VT AI Tool Tackles Drought-Water Conflict

As dangerous heat grips Central Virginia with highs nearing 100 degrees this week, Virginia Tech researchers unveiled a new causal AI model to ease the intensifying competition for water between agriculture and semiconductor manufacturing.

The model, detailed in the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, analyzes national data on irrigation, chip plants, and basins to recommend optimized allocations amid deepening droughts.

Lead researcher Feras Batarseh noted surging AI-driven chip demand strains dry-state resources like those in Arizona and Texas, where farms account for most freshwater withdrawals.

With heat indexes pushing into the low 100s and heat advisories likely this week in Virginia amid the state’s current drought conditions, the tool highlights how efficiency gains in irrigation could free water for industry—balancing economic growth and sustainability.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Abigail Spanberger launched a statewide solar savings program aimed at helping residents and businesses lower their electric bills, which the state bills as a first-in-the-nation energy affordability effort. (More)

➤ Northern Virginia: Three former federal workers and one first-time candidate are challenging six-term U.S. Rep. Don Beyer in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District Democratic primary, campaigning on the Trump administration cuts that hit more than 20,000 Virginia federal workers. (More)

➤ Portsmouth: Federal court records show the FBI wiretapped the phone of state Sen. Louise Lucas, a Democrat, for 30 days in March-April 2026 ahead of the May raid on her Portsmouth office and cannabis business as part of an ongoing federal corruption probe. (More)

➤ Pittsylvania County: Rapid growth, including data centers, solar, and battery storage, is pushing the Southside county to overhaul long-range plans it last updated in 2010 and the zoning code in 1991. (More)

➤ Loudoun County: The school board voted Monday to oppose Dominion Energy’s high-voltage transmission line project, requesting state regulators reconsider the line, which would run near schools and through a neighborhood amid data center growth. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: Andi Mattone, a certified child passenger safety technician known as “That Car Seat Mom,” is offering families free in-home help installing car seats, stressing basics like testing the seat at the belt path and replacing seats after a crash. (More)

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➤ Old Dominion football running back Devin Roche headlined ODU’s preseason All-Sun Belt honorees, with Mario Easterly, Chris Forbes, and Zion Frink earning second-team nods. The Monarchs were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt East behind JMU. (More)

➤ UVA women’s basketball coach Aaron Roussell hired LaDerica “LD” Paul as the program’s director of basketball operations. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders are opening their 2026 training camp in Ashburn, with free admission to public practices and family activities for fans. (See Schedule)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA

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➤ Block Inc., the parent company of Cash App, will pay $45 million to settle a multistate investigation that included Virginia, resolving allegations that Block misled consumers about Cash App’s safety and failed to protect users from fraud. (More)

➤ James City County says the Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park owes roughly $22 million in back taxes, a debt the county attributes to a recent dispute rather than years of nonpayment. (More)

➤ The Times Fiber cable plant in Pittsylvania County will begin layoffs in late August and close for good Oct. 31. The reason for the plant’s closure has not been made public. (More)

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➤ Rock legend Alice Cooper will perform at Richmond’s Altria Theater on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m., as part of the fall leg of his theatrical Alice’s Attic headline tour. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. (More)

➤ Tuggle’s Gap Restaurant on Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 165 has reopened under new owners with a new chef, offering breakfast, burgers, and its signature pie. (More)

➤ Massanutten Resort in the Shenandoah Valley opened Mountain Mayhem, which it bills as Virginia’s first alpine coaster. The 3,380-foot ride features 2,156 feet of downhill track, two 360-degree spirals, and speeds up to 25 mph. (More and See Photo)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Hearing specialists say once hearing fades, it’s gone for good, making a few simple habits the only way to protect it. (See Habits)

➤ Newly released records show a former special counsel’s team accessed texts from dozens of lawmakers in both parties, drawing constitutional accusations. (Hear Episode)

➤ A state just cleared the way for seniors in assisted living to raise a glass together, no liquor license required. (Listen Now)

Would you ride Massanutten’s new Mountain Mayhem alpine coaster?

1. Full speed ahead
2. Might consider it
3. I’ll watch from the lodge

Yesterday’s Results:

If you had the cash, would you buy Thomas Jefferson’s $17 million boyhood estate? 

1. I’m happy with my own house: 29%
2. I’d rather just tour it: 27%
3. Absolutely—history for sale: 25%
4. Too much upkeep: 19%

What historic distinction does Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Loch Ness Monster roller coaster hold?

Show me the answer