VA Beach, NoVa Schools Top New Rankings

Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia elementary and middle schools earned strong marks in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings, which are based largely on state math and reading test results, adjusted for student demographics. 

Old Donation School in Virginia Beach ranked No. 1 statewide among elementary schools, while Haycock Elementary in Fairfax County ranked No. 2 and Virginia L. Murray Elementary in Albemarle County ranked No. 3. Fairfax County’s Sangster Elementary placed fourth and Churchill Road Elementary fifth. 

Old Donation School also took the No. 1 spot for middle schools, while Prince William County’s Mary G. Porter Traditional finished second in Virginia and first in the Washington region, followed by the county’s Pennington Traditional in Manassas at third. St. Paul Elementary in Wise County came in fourth, and Williamsburg Middle in Arlington County took fifth. 

Coalition Forms as Medicaid Rules Tighten

Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin Figueroa on Monday launched the Virginia United Coalition, a partnership of hospitals, clinics, and workforce groups to help residents keep Medicaid coverage as federal rules tighten.

About 300,000 Virginians risk losing Medicaid next year under tighter verification and eligibility rules in H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation law passed last summer. More than 5,000 lawful immigrants lost eligibility this month alone.

The law added work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks that supporters say curb improper enrollment and encourage employment. Coalition members, including UnitedHealthcare, Goodwill, and the state’s free-clinic and hospital associations, will coordinate outreach and enrollment help.

Congress also let enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expire last year, and thousands of Virginians have since dropped coverage. The state is putting $150 million toward new subsidies starting next month.

Regional Jail Warns of Phone Scam

Williamsburg-based Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail officials are warning the public about a phone scam targeting families of inmates, during which scammers pose as jail officers or affiliated agencies and call relatives, soliciting money under false pretenses.

The callers claim they can influence bond decisions, or expedite or arrange participation in programs such as Home Electronic Monitoring and Work Release. 

Superintendent Col. Roy Witham said VPRJ does not, under any circumstances, accept payments over the phone for release options or bond matters. Since April, the jail has referred nine alleged victims to James City County police.

Families are urged not to send money or share personal or financial information. Anyone receiving such a call should document the number and details, then report it to local law enforcement. The warning was issued as an update to an April 17 release informing the public of the same phone scam. 

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Abigail Spanberger asked the State Corporation Commission to reject Dominion Energy and NextEra’s proposed $67 billion merger unless the utilities freeze residential rates for six years and triple customer bill credits. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: Virginia is one of nine battleground states where the nonpartisan coalition Faiths United to Save Democracy will station trained poll chaplains and peacekeepers outside polling places on Nov. 3, aiming to keep voters calm amid concerns about intimidation. (More)

➤ Henrico: Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg rallied with Democratic House candidates Shannon Taylor, Elaine Luria, and Tom Perriello, plus Rep. Jennifer McClellan, at the Henrico Theatre Monday, casting Virginia as key to flipping the U.S. House. (More)

➤ Richmond: Mayor Danny Avula issued guidelines Monday implementing the city’s Trust Policy, which bars city agencies from asking residents about immigration status or assisting federal immigration enforcement with civil matters. The policy requires training for more than 4,000 employees. (More)

➤ Daleville: Business filings tie former real estate agent Patrick Lynch, whose home was searched in a Roanoke County massage parlor investigation, to Jinping Li, the registered agent for two Roanoke-area spas, one of which was raided. Lynch has not been charged. (More)

➤ Arlington County: The county’s on-demand microtransit pilot expanded into South Arlington, adding a zone covering Green Valley, Pentagon City, Crystal City, and Douglas Park. The county also cut standard fares from $4.50 to $3. (More)

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➤ UVA men’s basketball landed at No. 9 in the preseason AP Top 25, its highest preseason billing in years, after second-year coach Ryan Odom’s debut team went 30-6 and finished runner-up in both the ACC regular season and the conference tournament. (More)

➤ UVA football (4-3) hosts Duke on Friday at 7 p.m. at Scott Stadium—a rematch of last year’s ACC Championship Game, which the Blue Devils won in overtime. Virginia comes in off a 23-13 loss at SMU. (More)

➤ The Washington Capitals fell 5-2 to the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday after building an early 2-0 lead, as the hosts were blanked the rest of the way following a late first-period collapse. (See Stats)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NFL | NHL | Soccer

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➤ Stack Infrastructure’s Project Crossroads at Pittsylvania County’s Berry Hill megasite will include 21 AI data center buildings over 15 years, using up to 3,000 megawatts of mostly on-site power and up to 7 million gallons of water a day at peak. (More)

➤ Diversified Energy met with residents last night in Whitewood about a proposed natural gas–fueled industrial energy project at the former Twin Valley High School property in Buchanan County. The project is still in early stages, and what it would power hasn’t been disclosed. (More)

➤ The newly built 310-unit Bainbridge Midlothian apartment complex in Chesterfield County sold for $107.7 million to Buffalo-based Frontier Group of Companies, nearly $350,000 per unit and an apparent Chesterfield County record. (More)

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➤ Four teachers at Chesterfield County’s James River High have logged a combined 126 years at the school, working side by side since the mid-1990s. They credit their friendships and students for keeping them there through decades of change. (See Photo)

➤ Two women have spent nearly a year tracking a black-and-white dog named Bandit across the region, logging 177 sightings in towns from Buchanan to Woodbridge. They’ve built a map and a Facebook group to help catch the elusive stray and find him a home. (See Photos)

➤ Northern Virginia Magazine rounded up 10 of the region’s most elaborately Halloween-decorated homes, from the Curse of the Wendigo in Sterling to Dead End on Dulins Ford Road in Marshall and the Haunting of Yacht Haven in Alexandria. (See Photos)

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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. 

➤ What are Americans’ favorite fast food chains, and which ones land at the bottom? (Hear List)

➤ Ohio’s Democratic candidate for governor is being denounced as a liar by her mother in a new ad. (Hear Story)

➤ Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s granddaughter has died at 42, years after a paralyzing spinal cord injury. (Listen Now)

Have you ever taken in a stray animal?

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Yesterday’s Results:

What would most improve your airport experience? 

1. Shorter security lines: 46%
2. I don’t fly: 19%
3. A comfortable lounge: 16%
4. Better parking: 10%
5. More restaurants: 5%
6. Other: 4%

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