Monday, November 25, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1949, Richmond's electric streetcars made their final run before being replaced by buses. The city had been using streetcars since 1888. To mark the transition, the decommissioned electric vehicles were doused in gasoline and set ablaze.

Thanksgiving week means the spotlight is on football: professional, college, and high school. Read on to find out which Virginia schools have a postseason future.

Did someone forward this to you? We'll be happy to send The Virginia Flyover to your inbox five days a week. Subscribe today!

We have a new sponsor today: Nuts.com. If you're looking for holiday gifts for those hard-to-shop-for people, check out all they have to offer!

Commanders Dumped by Cowboys

The Washington Commanders dropped their third straight game, losing at home 34-26 to the Dallas Cowboys in a sloppy game.

Special teams doomed the Commanders, who missed an extra point that would have tied the game in the final 30 seconds. The team also allowed the Cowboys to return two kickoffs (one an onside kick) for touchdowns.

Dallas also missed chances to score points, as Pro Bowl Kicker Brandon Aubrey missed two field goals, one of which was blocked.

The Commanders remain in second place in the NFC East with a 7-5 mark, while the Cowboys move to 4-7 ahead of their traditional Thanksgiving afternoon game.

Washington will host Tennessee next week before the team's bye week.

Charting the Future of the Chesapeake

The Chesapeake Bay may join the National Park System as soon as next year after a Senate committee unanimously passed the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act.

The proposed law would not change water or fishing rights. It would, however, sweep together existing parks and protected lands near the bay and put them under the stewardship of the National Park Service.

More than 3,600 species of plants and animals exist in and around the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission recently voted to maintain its 16-year-old ban on winter dredging for blue crabs in the bay.

Meanwhile, 627 volunteers across Virginia are raising oysters and returning them to the bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation expects to place more than 110,000 oysters this year.

Meet the Incoming Mayors

New mayors will take office across the Commonwealth in January.

In Richmond, Dr. Danny Avula cruised to victory, taking a plurality of the votes and winning six of the city's nine districts. He has called housing "the biggest crisis facing our community."

Alexandria will have its first black female mayor after Democrat Alyia Gaskins ran unopposed. She is fairly new to politics, having been elected to City Council in 2021.

Roanoke saw perhaps the closest race in the state, with Democrat Joe Cobb slipping past Republican David Bowers by 59 votes. If he wants to do so, Bowers has until the end of today to request a state-funded recount.

Marion will have a new mayor for the first time in decades. Independent Avery Cornett prevailed in a four-way race to replace David Helms, who died earlier this year.

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend!

Flying together with our sponsor

Unsure what to get your mother-in-law, third cousin, favorite coworker, or anyone else in your life?

Nuts.com has you covered for holiday gifting. From custom trays to curated baskets, Nuts.com makes it easy to send something thoughtful and delicious to your loved ones nationwide. Each handcrafted gift features the freshest ingredients and flavors worldwide, ensuring next-level snacking from the moment it's unwrapped.
Find something special for everyone on your list:

For a holiday classic: Box of Winter Wonderland
For the adventurous eater: The Flavor Adventure Collection
For the girl boss: The Home Office Essentials Box
For the newly-promoted: Cheers to You Gift Box
For the quirky friend: Santa's Pants
For the picky eater: Customize a tray with all their favorites
Not sure what they'll like? Try Gift Drop
Plus, get 20% off your first order AND free shipping when you spend $59 or more. See website for details.

➤ Jarratt: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared an end to the listeria outbreak that began at the now-shuttered Boar's Head facility. The outbreak stretched across 19 states, killing ten people and sickening 61. (More)

➤ Culpeper: The Virginia Board of Dentistry suspended the license of Christina Mills after allegations that she prescribed controlled substances without any dental purpose or treatment records. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Executive Order 43 established a multi-agency state task force to "combat the negative effects of excessive social media use." (Details)

➤ Newport News: A 39-year-old with a long history of criminal activity will now spend a long time behind bars. The aptly named Jermaine Outlaw was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison for various offenses. (More)

➤ Norfolk: At least seven people are in custody after police responded to a barricade situation early Sunday morning. No injuries were reported. (More)

➤ Petersburg: The Live Casino & Hotel Virginia, a project approved by local voters earlier this month, will celebrate by giving away 500 free turkeys today. The birds are available on a first-come-first-served basis starting at noon. (Details)

➤ The Washington Commanders scored a miracle 86-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the team's game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but Washington's kicker Austin Seibert shanked the potential game-tying extra point to lose the game. (More)

➤ Virginia will visit Virginia Tech this weekend with the postseason on the line: the winner of the annual Commonwealth Clash will have six wins and be bowl-eligible, while the loser will finish 5-7. (Details)

➤ The Washington Nationals created some openings in their bullpen by not offering contracts to pitchers Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey. (More)

➤ The University of Richmond will be in the FCS playoffs for the third consecutive year. The Spiders crushed William & Mary 27-0 to win the Coastal Athletic Association championship in their final year in the league. (Details)

Yesterday's Results: NFL | NCAAF |NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA | LPGA | MLS

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Make Your Microwaved Food Taste Better (And So Much More!) Duo Cover is a next-generation microwave food cover that gives you better-tasting leftovers, a splatter-free microwave, and finger protection from hot dishes — all in one convenient plastic-free device.

Turn your leftovers into tasty chef-like dishes with Duo Cover.

➤ Wrap Technologies will open a manufacturing and distribution facility in Norton, creating more than 125 new jobs. (Details)

➤ Breeze Airways will offer more ways to get out of Richmond. The low-cost airline will add round-trip flights to Sarasota-Bradenton on Mondays and Fridays. (More)

➤ The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority is being sued by seven businesses that object to the process the authority used to grant a rare license to grow and dispense medical cannabis in the Shenandoah Valley. (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)

Flying together with our sponsor

Nuts.com makes the perfect gift for sharing bites of joy this holiday season because they deliver gourmet chocolates, hand-panned in New Jersey, and premium nuts sourced directly from growers and roasted in-house, directly to your door.

Family-owned since 1929, it all began 95 years ago with Poppy Sol in Newark's open-air market, where he brought people together through delicious, high-quality food. Today, that sense of community and connection lives on at Nuts.com where they continue to share bites of joy nationwide.

Give the gift of Nuts.com and get 10% off festive favorites for a limited time only.

➤ The Pungo Strawberry Festival may return to Virginia Beach next year after a five-year absence. "The Artery," a newly recognized business district, plans to host the event, but no date has been set. (Details)

➤ The Friends of the James River Park are studying the past and charting the future of Richmond's historic Belle Isle. (More)

➤ The Commonwealth is a great place to teach, according to a survey. WalletHub ranked Virginia as the third-best state for teachers. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Rosetta Stone Cyber Week Sale: $149 for lifetime access to language learning in 25 languages. To make your holiday shopping easier, we're offering Black Friday pricing now! We guarantee you won't find a lower price on our site for the rest of the year, so buy with confidence and complete your holiday shopping today. (See It Here)