VA Woman among MO Plane Crash Victims

A Fredericksburg woman was among the 12 people killed when a skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on Sunday.

Jennifer Sharp, director of technology for the United States Parachute Association in Fredericksburg, died along with the pilot and 10 other skydivers when the Pacific Aerospace 750XL, operated by Skydive Kansas City, plunged into a field and erupted in flames.

The single-engine turboprop made a left turn before the crash around 11:35 a.m., with witnesses describing the plane appearing to lose power. Emergency crews responded quickly, but all aboard perished in the fiery wreckage.

Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are on scene examining the cause. Tributes poured in for Sharp, remembered as a passionate skydiver and dedicated professional.

VT Studies Why Bases Harbor Endangered Species

Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment received a pair of $2 million grants to study why military bases harbor a higher density of threatened and endangered species than national parks and forests.

The researchers are finding that active military bases, with their vast restricted-access acreage, have inadvertently become some of the best wildlife refuges in the country.

The grants, issued by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program in Alexandria, will fund research into managing these ecosystems holistically, rather than crafting separate recovery plans for each species. The goal is to reduce redundancies across stacked recovery plans and create a replicable methodology that could be applied to other ecosystems nationwide.

Results are expected to benefit conservation efforts well beyond military lands.

VMI Releases Mountain Recreation Guidance

Virginia Military Institute cadets have delivered detailed recommendations to boost outdoor recreation and tourism across the Virginia Mountains region.

In a four-week intensive study in partnership with The Advancement Foundation, two teams of cadets researched land- and water-based activities, events, excursions, and retail opportunities. They reviewed strategic plans and conducted site visits to local businesses before presenting their feasibility findings to stakeholders.

The initiative aims to drive economic development through new business opportunities, stronger regional partnerships, and targeted investments in tourism. The Advancement Foundation plans to use the cadets’ insights to prioritize support for outdoor offerings and growth in the area.

In a separate 2024 initiative, VMI engineering cadets developed mobile apps to improve hiking trail accessibility, including real-time mapping, obstacle reporting, and ADA-compliant assessments for users with mobility impairments.

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➤ Potomac River: Search efforts continue in the river near Great Falls after a college-aged swimmer went missing Sunday while attempting to cross from Maryland to the Virginia shore. He is presumed drowned. (More)

➤ Richmond: Road closures are planned on Arthur Ashe Boulevard and Kensington Avenue on Tuesday evening for an IllumiNATION event trial run ahead of the June 25-28 celebrations in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. (More)

➤ Bedford County: Officials want to exit a troubled broadband project with RiverStreet Networks, citing repeated delays and missed deadlines that risk losing federal funding for remaining locations. (More)

➤ Chesterfield: Severe storms sent massive trees crashing through the roofs of two Arch Road homes Sunday, scattering bricks and blocking streets. No injuries were reported. Dominion Energy crews worked to restore power to thousands of affected residents. (Watch Report)

➤ Lynchburg: Former Lynchburg Republican City Committee chairwoman is decrying the nullification of the firehouse primary, saying it disenfranchised voters who must now run as independents for city council. (More)

➤ Portsmouth: A local woman’s free mini food pantry bins, meant to help neighbors, have been stolen three times, forcing her to pause the community aid effort. (More)

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➤ Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr underwent surgery this week to repair a foot fracture he sustained during an offseason workout. The 21-year-old is expected to be healthy for the start of next season. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech football flipped four-star linebacker Amarri Irvin from Notre Dame this week. He becomes the 25th commit in the Hokies’ 2027 class, which has climbed to No. 7 nationally. (More)

➤ The Washington Nationals just moved three games over .500 for the first time since their 2019 World Series championship season, beating the Royals 7-3 this week thanks to a three-run homer from Dylan Crews. (More)

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

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➤ Alexandria’s city council unanimously approved the first phase of a $135 million plan to transform a former Old Town power plant into a 2.5-million-square-foot mixed-use development with housing and parks. (More)

➤ The Ramada Plaza on Virginia Beach’s oceanfront may be redeveloped using a state incentive program similar to the multimillion-dollar package that successfully transformed the Historic Cavalier Hotel complex. (More)

➤ Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy used a tuition assistance program to fund medical school for children of its CEO and CFO, recording the payments as grants rather than loans on tax filings. (More)

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➤ A new study ranks Virginia as the most patriotic state in the nation for 2026, citing its high military presence, large veteran population, and strong civic participation among 13 key indicators of patriotism. (More)

➤ Two baby giraffe calves missing from Natural Bridge Zoo for over a year have been found safe and transferred to a professional giraffe care facility. In 2025, the zoo’s co-owner was ordered to serve a 100-day jail sentence for refusing to say what happened to them or hand them over. (See Photos)

➤ Travel + Leisure published a comprehensive guide to Amtrak’s Northeast Regional rail line route, which connects Boston to Virginia and is considered America’s most popular rail line with over 12 million riders annually. (See Guide)

➤ The Allianz Richmond Marathon sold out for the third consecutive year, this time faster than ever, with 7,200 runners registered for the November race after organizers added 1,000 new spots. (More)

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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:

➤ Days before leaving office, the U.S. intelligence director released evidence of American-funded biolabs in over 30 countries. (Hear Details)

➤ SpaceX has leapfrogged major Wall Street giants to rank among the world’s most valuable companies. (Hear Episode)

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Have you ever run a full marathon?

1. Yes
2. Not yet
3. Not gonna happen

Yesterday’s Results:

How would you describe your relationship with ice cream? 

1. It’s OK: 37%
2. I’m obsessed: 37%
3. Not a fan: 26%

What decorated VMI alumnus won a Nobel Peace Prize?

Show me the answer