Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Good morning. On this day in 2022, University of Virginia football players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D'Sean Perry were killed when a fellow student opened fire on a school-chartered bus that was returning to campus after a field trip. Two other students were wounded. The alleged shooter will go on trial early next year.

Today, we report on an attempt to help veterans, tell you about a family's expensive trip in the HOV lanes, and update the price tag from Hurricane Helene.

If this edition was forwarded to you, just click here to subscribe and join us every day.

Help for Commonwealth Veterans

Virginia has introduced a website to help veterans connect with the services that are available to them.

The Virginia Veterans Network promises to provide "the gold standard of service for veterans and their families." Clients can register either with the VVN or the state's Department of Veteran's Services.

There are nearly 700,000 military veterans in the Commonwealth, including one of every seven residents of Virginia Beach.

"We go to work every day to ensure that Virginia is the best state in America for veterans, military service members, and their families to live, work, and raise a family," Gov. Glen Youngkin said.

The site will be a one-stop location providing access to disability benefits, job opportunities, medical services, legal services, and peer support.

Where the Voters Did Not Vote

Voter turnout in Virginia was lower in 2024 than it was in 2020, and the drop was especially noticeable in areas that tend to vote Democratic.

Vice President Harris ran behind Joe Biden's totals from 2020 everywhere in the state, but she "lost the most votes in large urban counties and cities," according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

That included the city of Richmond, where only 62% of eligible voters turned out, down from 69% four years ago. Some analysts are pointing to a lack of outreach to Hispanic voters and a lack of excitement for Harris in the city.

VCU students seemed disinterested as well, with students telling newsman Don Lemon: "This year is so confusing," and "I don't have time to do every point of research" to make a decision in the presidential race.

Nearby Henrico County saw a 71% turnout, and Hanover County saw 76%. Both of those localities were being watched by federal observers.

Overall, President-elect Donald Trump won more votes in the Commonwealth than he did in 2020 and 2016, taking 46.6% in Virginia this time.

Closed Campgrounds

Many camping areas across Virginia will be closed this fall for renovations, so make sure to call before you try to go camping.

One of the longest closures is at First Landing State Park, where all cabins will be out of service for almost two years, until October of 2026.

Claytor Lake State Park is renovating two of its campgrounds, which will also be closed until 2026.

The Hickory Ridge Campground at Grayson Highlands State Park is also closed. Its campsites, yurts, and bunkhouses are set to reopen in April, 2026, but the Equestrian Campground will remain open next year.

Finally, campgrounds at Bear Creek Lake State Park will be closed until May, 2026.

“These renovations are key to the longevity of our parks,” Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker said. "We look forward to sharing the upgraded cabins and campgrounds when the projects are completed."

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend!

Flying together with our sponsor

Find & Protect ALL Your Memories In ONE Click!

The PhotoStick® OMNI automatically finds, sorts, and saves up to 60,000 photos and videos across all your devices with just ONE click.

Over 1.5 Million People Use ThePhotoStick® OMNI

➤ Charlottesville: The UVA community will step outside at 1:55 p.m. today and observe a moment of silence for three students who were killed two years ago. Later, students plan to hold a candlelight vigil on campus. (Details)

➤ Hampton Roads: Police in Virginia have seized more than 550 pounds of Fentanyl in the last 45 days. The Commonwealth is part of Operation FREE (Fentanyl Awareness, Reduction, Enforcement, and Eradication), a partnership among local, state, and federal authorities in 13 states. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: A vacationing family paid almost $550 in tolls after driving an RV in the express lanes on I-66 last month. The company that manages the lanes said that, for large vehicles, it is allowed to charge five to seven times the amount listed during peak travel times. (Details)

➤ Richmond: The Department of Medical Assistance Services expects to run a $632 million deficit in the Medicaid program over the next two years, according to the annual budget it submitted to lawmakers. (More)

➤ Arlington: An Army National Guard recruiter is going viral, with two million followers on Instagram alone. Sergeant First Class Tyler Butterworth makes funny videos about being a soldier because he wants to humanize the military experience. "We are not robots. We are not just uniforms. We are people first." (Details)

➤ Statewide: Don't start dreaming of a white Christmas. Accuweather predicts Virginia will see less snowfall than usual this winter. (More)

➤ The Commanders have nine players on their injury report heading into Thursday's game at Philadelphia, including recently acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who is not practicing. The Eagles have five names on their report. (Details)

➤ VCU hosts Merrimack, while Richmond visits Charlotte tonight in A-10 men's basketball. (Schedule)

➤ James Madison's football team still has a chance to capture the Sun Belt Conference championship as it heads into its final three games. (Details)

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

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ AquaPure quickly and easily removes dangerous pesticide residues, bacteria, and mold from your fruits and vegetables. You'll be shocked to see just how dirty your fruits & veg actually were… and even more shocked at how much better they taste, all thanks to AquaPure! (See It Here)

➤ Mason-Dixon Brothers LLC plans to build a "luxury primitive resort" on a farm in Tazewell County. The project will be partially funded by a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority. (More)

➤ Virginians are carrying more than $43 billion in student debt, an average of $40,136 each for the state's 1.1 million borrowers. The national average per borrower is about $36,200. (More)

➤ Hurricane Helene caused as much as $630 million in damage to the Commonwealth's agriculture industries, according to the latest estimate from Virginia Tech. (Details)

➤ Right NOW: 15% Off Sale site-wide for Flyover Roast Coffee! We offer two exclusive single-origin coffee roasts: the Afterburner Nicaraguan Dark Roast and the Cruising Altitude Guatemalan Medium Roast, both in whole bean and ground. This coffee is how we stay fueled to bring you the best news every morning at no cost to you!

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Chesapeake Bay Agreement is reducing the amount of nutrient pollution that flows into the bay. That alone won't necessarily mean more fish or shellfish in the waterway. (Details)

➤ "The Dome," a $56 million entertainment venue that's under construction in Virginia Beach, has booked its first concert. Papa Roach & Rise Against will appear on September 17, 2025. (More)

➤ The Tunnel to Towers Foundation will retire the mortgage of a Sterling volunteer firefighter who was killed in a house explosion earlier this year. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Socks That Reduce Foot Pain! My Happy Feet Socks deliver quick relief from all types of foot pain by gradually aligning your toes to minimize the harmful effects of daily foot stress. Do your feet hurt? My Happy Feet Socks can help!