Minimum Wage Increases

Virginia’s minimum wage will increase to $12.77 per hour on January 1.

The state’s Minimum Wage Act allows the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) to slightly raise or lower the rate in response to economic conditions.

“The new minimum wage will ensure the Commonwealth remains the leading destination for businesses and job seekers alike,” DOLI Commissioner Gary G. Pan said.

The change applies to most jobs, with exceptions for seasonal employees. Tipped employees may be paid less, but their earnings after tips must equal the minimum.

Task Force Members Return

The members of Virginia Task Force 1 returned to the Commonwealth after more than two weeks helping flood victims in Texas. The team includes Fairfax County firefighters and one civilian.

Members of the team said they worked 12-hour days searching through debris and deploying dog teams to sniff out survivors and remains.

“It is very emotional when you’re trying to help people bring their loved ones home,” Canine Specialist Kristi Bartlett said. “This is what we train for every day.”

Bartlett works with Athena, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois who has been on three rescue missions before this one in Texas.

Ponies Swim Today

The 100th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim kicks off today. Rounded up by “saltwater cowboys,” the animals dive into the water to cross from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. On Thursday, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company will auction off some of the ponies to raise money and reduce the size of the herd.

The Coast Guard closed parts of the Assateague Channel and surrounding waterways all week to clear passage for the ponies. The Pony Swim is held on the final Wednesday and Thursday in July each year.

The preliminary festivities included the Pony Beach Walk on Monday, with dozens of the animals parading along the surf.

On Friday, the adult ponies will be returned to the channel to swim back to Assateague Island to live in the wild for another year. The event was featured in Marguerite Henry’s novel Misty of Chincoteague.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: Emergency rooms across the Commonwealth reported treating more than 3,000 cases of heat-related illness between May 1 and July 27, more than usual. High temperatures are forecast again today. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: The Windsor Winds Tide Gates project is nearly complete. “If there’s a big storm on the horizon, it gives us the ability to close the gates, hold that tide back, and prepare the lakes on the other side of the gates by pumping them down,” a city engineer explained. (More)

➤ Washington, D.C.: Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia Beach) introduced legislation to require the federal government to write new rules governing drones that fly beyond the user’s line of sight, expanding on an executive order issued by President Trump. (Details)

➤ Statewide: More than 30,000 users have signed up with the Virginia Veterans Network, a free online tool that helps vets get access to medical care. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: Leaders at the University of Virginia formed a special committee to search for the school’s next leader. Former President Jim Ryan stepped down under pressure last month. (Details)

➤ Loudoun County: Two Fort Lauderdale, Florida, residents were arrested and are expected to be charged with financial crimes, including credit card theft, grand larceny, and identity theft. They are allegedly members of the “Felony Lane Gang.” (More)

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend!

➤ Bruce Rader, a longtime Hampton Roads sportscaster, was named executive director of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. (Details)

➤ The Washington Commanders surprised former wide receiver Santana Moss live on air by telling him he’s being inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium was ranked 21st on a list of the best college football facilities in the nation by USA Today. (Details)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Jumpstart your weight loss with BrightMeds’ semaglutide treatment plans—clinically proven to curb appetite and support lasting results. Get personalized care, compounded semaglutide, and convenient home delivery. Start shedding pounds safely and effectively today. Use code AFFPERSGLP10 for an exclusive discount on your first plan!

➤ Inc.’s list of the best workplaces of 2025 includes 19 businesses based in Virginia, including financial advisers, educational services, and cybersecurity. (See the List)

➤ Gilbane is set to construct 1,000 homes on 55 acres in Norfolk’s St. Paul’s district in a project being overseen by the city, local housing officials, and the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. (More)

➤ Virginia Housing CEO Tammy Neale was tapped as a 2025 Women in Leadership Award honoree by the website Virginia Business. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Erase years from your skin with Glokore 3-in-1 LED Facial Sculptor—the powerful light-based tool designed to smooth wrinkles, fade dark spots, and restore youthful radiance. Fast-working and deeply nourishing, it revitalizes tired, aging skin from within. Reveal a firmer, brighter complexion with every drop. Try Glokore and glow with confidence!

Flying together with our sponsor

Doctors are changing how we treat hearing loss.

A 2021 study revealed that 98% of hearing issues may be linked to a deficiency in one crucial mineral—and it’s changing everything.

Instead of relying solely on hearing aids or medications, doctors are now recommending a natural approach: simply adding this essential mineral to your diet.

This breakthrough discovery is helping people restore their hearing, improve clarity, and regain confidence—without expensive treatments or invasive procedures.

Want to know what this mineral is and how it works?

👉 Click here to discover the full story.

➤ The Library of Virginia unveiled a new exhibit that tells the story of Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood. (Details)

➤ Virginia author Maggie Stiefvater has penned her first adult novel, The Listeners. The book revolves around “a true moment in history that not a lot of Virginians [or West Virginians] know about” at The Avallon Hotel. (More)

➤ Three Virginia women get together every week to transform plastic bags into mats for the homeless. Each mat they make requires more than 700 plastic bags. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Thinning Hair? Your Follicles May Be Suffocating. New research shows that common shampoos may cause waxy buildup that chokes hair follicles, making it impossible for healthy strands to grow. But a simple 15-second scalp method is helping women revive growth—without pills, serums, or expensive salon treatments. (Learn More)

Should Virginia increase the minimum wage?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I don’t care

Tuesday’s Results:

Have you ever been cited by an HOA? 

1. Yes: 35%
2. No: 65%

What Richmond neighborhood was nicknamed “Harlem of the South?”

Show me the answer