Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1954, Hurricane Hazel crossed into Virginia after making landfall in North Carolina as a category 4 storm. Hazel caused heavy damage on its way north into Canada.

Welcome to The Virginia Flyover, featuring stories from across the Commonwealth. We appreciate today's reader tip from Woody, which led to our story about vintage planes. If you have a story idea, please hit reply and let us know.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Sight Bulb, the new and easy way to keep your home secure.

Mysterious Drones Buzz Bases

According to a report released over the weekend, the Pentagon still does not know where a swarm of drones that zoomed around Langley Air Force Base for several weeks last year came from or where they went.

The unidentified drones also reportedly flew over Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval port.

Military assets are not allowed to engage with such drones, even when the invaders pass through restricted airspace, unless the drones are viewed as an imminent threat, which they were not in this case.

Mysterious drones have also been reported over other sensitive sites, including a nuclear weapons experiment site in Nevada.

Virginia Working To Improve Mental Health

Virginia is spending more than $200 million to fund support teams that can step in to help people having a mental health crisis instead of sending police officers who may not have the training needed to deal with the situation.

The state is also trying to find more effective ways to treat patients with dementia and autism instead of turning to traditional providers such as state hospitals.

Last year, Virginia implemented bipartisan laws that require insurance companies to cover mental health services provided through mobile crisis units. The state is also funding community service boards to help with crisis response.

First responders who try to help those in distress say that the longer people having a mental health crisis have to spend in police custody, the more likely they are to resort to violence. The new policies attempt to prevent such outbursts.

Best Places to Get a Beer

The Commonwealth has hundreds of places to get a craft-made brew. So, no matter what corner of the state you are in, you can quench your thirst in style.

Northern Virginia Magazine recommends several spots, including Brightworks Brewing Co., Commonwealth Brewing Co., Lark Brewing Co., Silver Branch Brewing Co., and Starr Hill Brewpub.

If you have a designated driver available, Dogwood recommends a road trip that covers 12 different breweries around Virginia. Check out its regional list of destinations.

If you want nothing but the best, Stacker is ready with a list of the breweries with the highest-rated beers in Virginia.

If you have a favorite watering hole, whether it is on these lists or not, please hit reply and let us know about it.

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➤ Virginia Beach: A vintage DC-3 transport plane made two flights from the Military Aviation Museum to deliver supplies to hurricane victims in North Carolina and Tennessee. (Details)

➤ Washington County: The post-Helene boil water advisory has been lifted for all areas served by the county's water service authority. (More)

➤ Richmond: A study from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission predicted that a tuition relief program for children of disabled veterans will continue to expand, potentially reducing revenues at state schools. (Details)

➤ Blacksburg: Virginia Cooperative Extension wants people to be on the lookout for the invasive Spotted Lanternfly, in an attempt to slow its spread across the Commonwealth. (See the map)

➤ Portsmouth: The bay scallop is making a comeback in the Chesapeake Bay, where a report says the animal, once feared extinct, is approaching sustainable levels. (More)

➤ Mendota: A rare comet streaked over Southwest Virginia for the first time in 80,000 years. (See it)

➤ Washington Commanders two-time pro bowler Jonathan Allen is likely out for the season with a torn pectoral. (More)

➤ VCU basketball fans got an early look at the men’s and women’s teams during the annual Black & Gold games. (Details)

➤ The Washington Capitals host the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. (Preview)

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

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➤ Amazon.com plans to hire some 7,000 workers across the Commonwealth during the upcoming holiday season. (More)

➤ The Winchester Chamber of Commerce will host a women in business networking event today. (Details)

➤ Bassett Furniture Industries reported a third-quarter operating loss of $6.4 million as revenues declined 13%. (More)

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➤ “A Prescription for Change,” an exhibit exploring contributions by black medical professionals in Virginia throughout history, runs through March at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. (Details)

➤ Virginia is for lovers, but is it an affordable place to get hitched? A study from The Knot shows the average cost of a wedding here is $38,000, slightly above the national average of $35,000. (More)

➤ Timur Mustakimov, a graduate student at Shenandoah University, won this year’s International Johannes Brahms Piano Competition in Austria. (Details)

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