WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote to fellow Virginian Richard Henry Lee from Philadelphia, shortly after the Declaration of Independence was adopted. He discussed slow American recruitment, British delays, ongoing debates over the Articles of Confederation, his wife Martha’s poor health, and the influence of Dr. Price’s Pamphlet, which supported American colonial independence.

The ACC announced Tuesday that Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands will take over as its new board chair. Learn more in Top Stories.

Do you know which of your daily habits actually controls your dreams? That coworker from years ago who suddenly showed up in your dream last night, or that random worry that turned into a whole storyline while you slept. Well, scientists just finished one of the largest dream studies ever, and it turns out none of that is random. In today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla shares the five things this study uncovered about what your dreams are really made of, including one thing that’s been hiding in people’s dreams for years without them realizing it. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is helping pet owners prepare for unexpected veterinary expenses with affordable coverage options that can provide reimbursement for covered accidents, illnesses, and more.

Virginia May Get Early Primary Spot

The Democratic National Committee’s rules panel has recommended that Virginia hold its 2028 presidential primary on Feb. 29, making it one of the first six states to vote.

The change would place Virginia sixth, behind South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Michigan, and a week before Super Tuesday on March 7, 2028. The full DNC is set to finalize the calendar in August.

It would be the earliest Virginia has ever voted and would allow presidential candidates to build lasting relationships across the Commonwealth. Because both parties would vote the same day, the shift would also move up Virginia’s Republican primary.

The plan isn’t final until after the full DNC votes in August, and Virginia’s legislature would still have to pass a law moving the date.

Aquifers Can’t Quench Data Centers

A long-delayed state study found that Eastern Virginia’s aquifers can’t spare enough groundwater to support even a small data center.

The Department of Environmental Quality report found the Virginia Coastal Plain aquifer system east of I-95 is constrained and likely to decline as demand grows. Groundwater east of Richmond couldn’t sustain a data center the size of those now being built.

Any data center using evaporative cooling likely couldn’t be permitted either.

The study was required by a 2024 law pushed by Republican Sen. Richard Stuart and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The state had declined to release it for more than six months.

The report stopped short of blaming the industry, noting that most existing capacity draws on surface water, and urged lawmakers to allow regulators to reject large withdrawal permits.

VT’s Sands Takes the ACC Gavel

Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands has taken over as chair of the ACC Board of Directors for the 2026-27 academic year.

The board—made up of the presidents and chancellors of the conference’s 18 member schools—sets strategy and governance for the league. Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel will serve as vice-chair.

Sands called it “an honor to serve during such an important time for college athletics.” The sport is in upheaval, from conference realignment to new revenue-sharing with athletes and legal fights that recently tested the ACC itself.

It’s a notable perch for Sands, who announced in April that he will step down as Virginia Tech’s president once the university hires his successor. A national search for the new president is underway.

Flying together with our sponsor

Pet insurance may be more affordable than you expect

Unexpected vet bills can add up fast—but coverage may cost less than you think. With Spot Pet Insurance, plans can start around $9/month for cats and $15/month for dogs, with up to 90% cash back on covered vet bills.

Spot helps cover accidents, illnesses, and more—from diagnostics and surgeries to hereditary conditions—with optional wellness add-ons for routine care like vaccines and dental cleanings. You can visit any licensed vet in the U.S. or Canada, plus get access to a 24/7 pet telehealth helpline for added peace of mind.

Check your price and get covered

➤ Statewide: Virginia joined a Democrat-led multistate lawsuit against FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, challenging grant conditions on elections and immigration that states say unlawfully withhold counterterrorism and disaster-response funding. (More)

➤ Richmond: The city council voted unanimously to put a 1% sales-tax increase on the November ballot, letting voters decide whether to fund renovation and construction of city public schools. (More)

➤ Norfolk: Four separate shootings over one weekend left three people dead and another critically injured. Police Chief Mark Talbot said the cases are not connected. (More)

➤ Catawba: Former youth pastor Jacob Ryan Barnett, 34, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old after grooming the minor on TikTok and sending graphic sexual messages. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads: Hampton City Schools has recorded an 81% jump in military-connected students, a surge officials tie to more service families choosing to settle near Joint Base Langley-Eustis. (More)

➤ Arlington County is weighing nearly doubling the price to charge at its 51 county-owned EV stations, from about 17 cents to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour, citing rising electricity and equipment costs. (More)

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

➤ UVA reached a settlement with former women’s basketball coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton over her April dismissal. She was let go days after leading the Cavaliers to their first Sweet 16 since 2000 amid reports of a toxic culture within the program. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, UVA won over 68% of its athletic contests in the 2025-26 year and captured the Virginia Sports Information Directors All-Sports Survey for the 20th time. The Cavaliers also finished fifth in the national Directors’ Cup standings. (More)

➤ Recently fired Commanders tight end coach Ben Steele had a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit during his June DWI arrest, according to newly released court documents. Steele also refused a breath test and resisted the arresting officer. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Tennis | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Wake up feeling refreshed with the VelaSleep Pillow. Its ergonomic design helps support proper head and neck alignment, reducing pressure while you sleep. Whether you’re a side, back, or stomach sleeper, VelaSleep is designed to deliver cooler, more comfortable, and more restful nights.

➤ Roanoke is moving to tighten rules on the city’s vape and tobacco shops after complaints, including one from a mother who said her 16-year-old son bought vapes twice without being asked for an ID. (More)

➤ Pharmaceutical firm Thermo Fisher collected only partial state incentives for its Richmond-area expansion after hiring about 190 workers—well short of the 500-plus jobs it pledged in 2022. (More)

➤ More than a year after Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s opened in Mount Crawford, the Texas-based travel-center chain is still reshaping the small Rockingham County town and drawing crowds off Interstate 81. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stop struggling to hear your favorite shows. Hear Direct Wireless TV Headsets deliver clear, personalized sound directly to your ears, so you can enjoy every word without turning up the TV volume. Lightweight, comfortable, and easy to use, they’re perfect for quieter, more enjoyable television watching.

Flying together with our sponsor

Unexpected vet bills can be costly, but pet insurance may be more affordable than you think. Spot Pet Insurance offers plans starting around $9/month for cats and $15/month for dogs, with up to 90% cash back on covered vet bills.

Coverage can help with accidents, illnesses, surgeries, and more, plus optional wellness benefits for routine care. You can visit any licensed vet in the U.S. or Canada and access a 24/7 pet telehealth helpline for added peace of mind.

Check your price today.

➤ A new partnership aims to find homes for some of the hardest-to-place children in Virginia’s foster care system, where more than 700 kids are waiting to be adopted. (More)

➤ Virginia’s farmland averages $6,100 an acre—ranking the state 19th nationally and just above the U.S. average of $4,350, according to new USDA-based rankings. Rhode Island tops the list at $22,500 an acre. (See Map)

➤ Virginia Tech’s Enter Sandman entrance at Lane Stadium topped a ranking of the ACC’s five best football traditions, beating out Miami’s smoke entrance and Clemson’s rubbing of Howard’s Rock. (See List)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Most People Blame Aging for Their Aching Joints “It’s just part of getting older.” “My knees aren’t what they used to be.” “I guess I just have to live with it.” If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking one of these every time your joints feel stiff or sore, you’re not alone. Click here to discover the natural protein that declines after 50—and why new research suggests it may help support healthy joints and cartilage as you age. 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:

➤ Your dreams follow hidden rules, and scientists just uncovered what actually controls them every night. (Hear Details)

➤ Air Force One has scrapped its decades-old look for new colors. (Hear Episode)

➤ France has ordered more evacuations as the heat threatens firefighters’ fragile hold on the strong wildfire. (Listen Now)