Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1864, the Union headquarters ship Greyhound exploded on the James River. The Navy suspected that Confederate fighters had smuggled aboard an explosive shaped like a lump of coal to destroy the boiler. Gen. Benjamin Butler and Rear Adm. David Dixon Porter were on the vessel but escaped the blast.

There's a busy holiday weekend of football ahead, but one high school team will not be in action. Find out why in our Top Stories.

Today's sponsor is biOptimizers with their Magnesium Breakthrough supplements to help improve your health.

Hayfield Pulls Out of VHSL Playoffs

Hayfield Secondary School withdrew from the Virginia regional football playoffs ahead of last night's game after revealing new details about the program's recruiting tactics.

The school hired Darryl Overton to coach this year, and he brought in more than 30 new players. At least 14 of those players came from Overton's former school, which is in a different county.

Before he hired Overton, Hayfield Athletic Director Monty Fritts sent text messages indicating he knew the new coach would bring along players with residency concerns but wrote that there would be no problem "if they are homeless." Fritts has resigned.

The Virginia High School League imposed a two-year playoff ban on Hayfield this fall. However, a Fairfax County court issued an injunction that delayed the playoffs in Class 6 Region C and allowed the team to participate.

Hayfield won its opening playoff game 75-7 before withdrawing from the tournament. Fairfax County school board members are calling for an independent investigation.

Richmond Contends in FCS Playoffs

The Richmond Spiders have secured their third consecutive berth in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.

The Spiders won the Coastal Athletic Association this season with an undefeated in-conference record and will join the Patriot League next fall. On Saturday, Richmond will host Patriot League champ Lehigh in an opening-round game.

The Spiders enter the bracket as the No. 9 seed and, if they defeat Lehigh this week, will face Idaho next.

Undefeated Montana State is the top seed in the field. The FCS championship game is scheduled for Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.

Hunting Season Underway Statewide

Deer hunting season is open across the Commonwealth and runs until Jan. 4. Laws and regulations vary by location, so be sure to check local policies. Also, make certain you have a current hunting license.

If you plan to take down more than one deer, "The bag limit for deer shall be two a day, six a license year," the state reminds you. "Of the six-deer limit, no more than three may be antlered deer, and at least three must be antlerless deer."

Virginia is opening some state parks to hunting this season to help control the deer population. You'll need a reservation and must wear bright colors while in the field.

It's always a good idea to take a hunter safety course.

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend!

Flying together with our sponsor

Transform Your Sleep and Health This Black Friday – 25% Off!

Do you want to experience the BEST sleep of your life? This Black Friday, we’ve got an incredible deal just for you!

If stress has been weighing you down or your sleep hasn’t been ideal, you’re not alone. This season can be challenging, but there’s a simple, effective way to support your body and unlock better sleep quality.

Introducing Magnesium Breakthrough—the only magnesium supplement that combines all 7 essential forms in one powerful bottle. This revolutionary formula can:

Help you manage stress more effectively,
Balance hormones,
Elevate your mood, and
Improve your sleep quality like never before.

Each form of magnesium is uniquely designed to target specific functions, and when you get all 7, your body experiences a complete upgrade—from improved relaxation to enhanced overall health.

➤ Newport News: The city's fire chief wants you to enjoy your holiday meal tomorrow and shares some tips for protecting yourself against kitchen fires while preparing it. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he wants the state to require parental permission for anyone under age 18 to use social media platforms. (More)

➤ Southwest Virginia: Residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Helene have until Monday to apply for FEMA aid. More than 10,000 people have registered so far. (Details)

➤ Henrico County: Board of Supervisors Chairman Tyrone Nelson said that a revenue boost from data centers will give the school system “the opportunity to do something major.” (More)

➤ Statewide: The Commonwealth is an affordable place to pick up a used car. A study by AutoTechIQ puts our average cost per vehicle at $27,043, the third-lowest in the nation. (Details)

➤ Statewide: Water regulators are attempting to identify the source of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals," in Virginia's drinking water. High levels of PFAS have been detected in 28 water systems across the state. (Details)

➤ Washington Commanders star running back Austin Ekeler suffered a severe concussion after taking a hit during a kickoff return late in the game against the Cowboys Monday night. (More)

➤ The Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer team is among seven ACC teams in the NCAA Sweet 16. The Cavs host UMass on Saturday. (Details)

➤ The Washington Capitals NHL hockey team visits Tampa Bay tonight after a solid win against the Florida Panthers on Monday. (Preview)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Only Device Stand You’ll Ever Need. GoDonut is a clever and convenient stand for phones, tablets, and e-readers that makes it easy to enjoy your mobile devices anywhere, hands-free. (See It Here)

➤ Dominion Energy has asked state regulators to allow it to charge a typical residential customer $2.89 more every month to help the utility pay for its clean energy projects, including offshore wind and small modular reactors (SMRs). (Details)

➤ Carolina Structural Systems, a North Carolina-based company, announced plans to build a 40,000-square-foot Greensville County facility expected to employ 58 people. (More)

➤ Tuition rates have dropped a bit in Virginia, but they remain higher than in most of the country. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ You Might Feel Relief In Less Than 60 seconds. When you’re feeling pain, just stick Kailo to your body (where it hurts) and within moments, the patented pain patch will start working. Kailo is 100% drug-free, has zero side effects, and can be worn every single day.

Flying together with our sponsor

Better Sleep & Health – 25% Off This Black Friday

Struggling with restless nights or stress? This Black Friday, take control of your health with Magnesium Breakthrough!

This game-changing magnesium supplement features all 7 essential forms in one bottle, helping you:

Manage stress,
Balance hormones,
Elevate your mood, and
Sleep like never before.

🎉 For Black Friday, enjoy up to 25% off Magnesium Breakthrough—their best deal of the year!

Each form of magnesium plays a unique role in your body, and together, they provide a complete health upgrade. Plus, every purchase is risk-free, backed by a 365-day guarantee—if you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund.

Don’t wait—better sleep and health are just a step away!

➤ The wine on your Thanksgiving table may well come from Central Virginia, named “Wine Region of Year” by Wine Enthusiast magazine. However, the state's wine-making industry may be too small to thrive. (Details)

➤ Virginia's State Parks are offering special events to get you outdoors this holiday weekend. (Preview)

➤ Mail service in the Commonwealth is improving but remains poor overall. Virginia ranks among the bottom 10 states for on-time delivery, with only 81% of mail meeting that mark. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Whiten Your Teeth With Science—Not Gimmicks! Laughland is the dentist-formulated, clinically proven whitening kit that’s given 200,000+ people their dream smile—without pain or sensitivity. It’s easy to use, 100% safe, and guaranteed to work! (See It Here)