Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1792, the Virginia General Assembly established the town of Centreville, roughly 20 miles west of Washington D.C. Decades later, a writer claimed that its name derived "from its central position, being about equidistant from Leesburg, Middleburg, Warrenton, Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria."

Welcome to The Virginia Flyover, where we try to cover the news from all the communities in our state. Today, we will look at the dry conditions we've seen this fall, introduce you to the "Top Cop," and remind you that November is Adoption Awareness Month. If you enjoy our work, please share it with a friend or two!

Today's sponsor is the Health Back Institute, which provides health advice to help you live pain-free.

Dry Fall Raises Drought Concerns

Dry conditions have prevailed throughout Virginia this Autumn, and the lack of precipitation has made much of the state "abnormally dry."

A brief rainstorm across Central and Northern Virginia on Sunday did not alleviate the shortfall building over the last month because of below-normal precipitation levels over the entire Commonwealth.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a Drought Watch last week for Tidewater counties and most of Northern Virginia. The rest of the state is seeing other symptoms, such as a drop in groundwater levels.

Weather forecasters expect the next few weeks to remain warmer and drier than usual for November, which could tip more areas into drought.

The DEQ encouraged residents to reduce water use if possible, monitor the weather, and stop any leaky pipes that may be wasting water.

The Election's Consequences

As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his cabinet, Virginians who work for (or with) the federal government are considering the potential impact on their jobs.

"As many as 100,000 government positions can be moved out — and I mean immediately out — of Washington to places filled with patriots who love America," Trump announced more than a year ago.

That would cause major changes in Northern Virginia, which relies on federal employees and contractors.

The federal government already spends $1.3 billion each year to relocate some 29,000 employees. Many of those people are in the military.

Meanwhile, members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission met after the election and predicted there could be a shift in how the federal government spends money on transportation.

However, there will still be funding for public transportation since Fairfax County voters overwhelmingly approved a bond referendum that will raise $180 million to help finance Metro-related improvements. Arlington County voters approved a similar measure.

Places to Visit in the Blue Ridge

Virginia offers the best big-city life and delivers plenty of small-town charm as well. If you are looking for the best spots to escape to in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we've got you covered.

Start with artistic Abingdon, the home of the two-week-long Virginia Highlands Festival to celebrate Appalachian crafts. You can also walk, run, or bike the Virginia Creeper Trail, which was reopened after being damaged by Hurricane Helene.

There is also Bedford, which is called the "World's Best Little Town." It is home to Smith Mountain Lake and the National D-Day Memorial and is a great place to visit in the summer months to escape the heat of eastern Virginia.

Finally, make sure to visit Rocky Mount, the mountain biking capital of the eastern U.S. It boasts an indoor arts scene alongside an outdoor exploration scene to keep you entertained night and day.

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Did your mom ever tell you fruit is healthy? Mine too.

But I guarantee if your mother knew the damage a popular fruit does to your body, joints, and heart… she'd tell you NEVER eat this fruit again. You see, even though this fruit is marketed as being "healthy"… It actually contains a toxic nutrient your body sees as an "enemy."

So, every time you bite into this fruit…

Your immune system flags this "invader"… and unleashes its army of toxin killers. And since this nutrient enters your bloodstream once it's digested…

Your immune system starts attacking even HEALTHY tissue and organs… causing burning in your joints, muscles, and even your heart.

And even if you HATE fruit and veggies… I can 99.9% guarantee you've eaten this fruit in the past week — probably without even knowing it.

Luckily, Dr. Brian Paris recorded a video revealing the deadly truth about this fruit (and four other common foods).

➤ Statewide: The Commonwealth was the fourth-most sleep-deprived state as results trickled in on Election Night. A survey showed that the average Virginian went to bed at 2:39 a.m. (More)

➤ Altavista: A Veterans Day event featuring Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears was canceled after a blaze destroyed a barn at the National Center for Healthy Veterans. (Details)

➤ Gloucester County: Investigator Kyrstin Shackelford of the county sheriff's office was selected as the state's "Top Cop" at an annual event in Hampton Roads. (More)

➤ Montpelier Station: Eola Lewis Dance stepped down after just 15 months as President and CEO of James Madison's 2,650-acre estate. Krista Costello will serve as interim CEO. (More)

➤ Danville: Averett University is downsizing in an attempt to reduce spending. The school will drop four undergraduate programs, one graduate program, and its symphonic band. (Details)

➤ Norfolk: A 72-year-old who is currently in prison for a rape he committed in 1994 pled guilty to another rape he committed in 1992. Linwood Scott Jr. was sentenced to 30-year terms for each crime. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders will face off with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football this week with first place in the NFC East on the line. (More)

➤ William & Mary men's basketball hosts undefeated Norfolk State tonight. (Preview)

➤ The Washington Wizards have unveiled their new city edition jerseys for the 2024-2025 NBA season. (See Photo)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

➤ Gas prices are lower across the state than they were last week. GasBuddy's most recent survey of gas stations in Virginia showed an average cost of $2.97 per gallon, down 1.7 cents from a week earlier. (More)

➤ Navy Federal Credit Union, based in Vienna, will pay a $15 million civil penalty to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to settle allegations that it charged customers surprise overdraft fees, even when they had sufficient funds in their accounts. (Details)

➤ The Women EmPower Forum, sponsored by the Loudoun Coalition of Women and Girls, brought scores of entrepreneurs together in Leesburg to network and interact with potential sponsors. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Kailo's Flex™ is an all-natural pain patch, designed to quickly relieve pain anywhere on your body. It is the most flexible, comfortable and affordable Pain Patch device we have ever made! (See it here)

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Hundreds of thousands of Americans are feeling much better after following the advice in this video… which is probably why it's going viral on Facebook.

You can watch it for free for the rest of the day (and be sure to share with any friends or loved ones who might need to see this). Click the link below to start watching now:

⇒ The WORST fruit to eat if your joints hurt (destroys joint tissue) (Plus, 4 more foods you should avoid like the plague)

➤ Petersburg residents can add to their city's tree cover by picking up a free tree at the public library on Thursday. (Details)

➤ November is Adoption Awareness Month, and one charity in Norfolk is shining a spotlight on the 5,000 children who are awaiting adoption in the Commonwealth (More)

➤ The Manassas-based ARTfactory said its amateur theater company "Rooftop Productions" will become a professional company next year. (Details)

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