Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1864, General George Stoneman's Federal force of 4,000 troops clashed with Gen. John Breckinridge's 1,000 defenders in the Battle of Marion. The Confederates held their position until they ran low on ammunition. They then retreated, leaving the Union effectively in control of Southwest Virginia.

Today, The Virginia Flyover wants to introduce you to an ancient fish: the gar. Be sure to swim down to our Et Cetera and Trivia sections to find out more.

Today's sponsor is Organixx, offering collagen products to help promote healthy skin and hair.

Virginia May Waive Tax on Tips

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he will propose eliminating the state's income tax on tips.

This is the first of several tax-reduction proposals Youngkin plans to introduce when the state legislature convenes next month. Virginia has a $2 billion budget surplus heading into 2025.

Virginians would be allowed to claim a deduction on their state tax return for any tipped income they earn, allowing them to keep roughly $70 million annually.

"The average server makes $2.13 an hour, bartenders $2.13-$5 an hour," said the general manager of two Virginia Beach restaurants. "The rest of it comes from your tips."

During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump also promised to end federal taxation of tips.

New Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plans

Virginia officials, along with leaders from other states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, said they remain committed to restoring the Bay's health and are setting new cleanup goals to achieve that.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin ordered state officials to "reevaluate Bay funding and support to ensure effective investments, and develop clear guidance that will enable adoption of practices that protect the Bay."

In a new report, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation also recommended that state lawmakers enact clean water laws and take steps to protect and expand existing wetlands.

The Commonwealth is already making strides toward at least one major goal: restoring the Bay's oyster population, which makes for cleaner water downstream.

Virginia's Top Hospitals Ranked

According to Newsweek's survey of the Best-in-State Hospitals for 2025, UVA Health University Medical Center is the leading hospital in the Commonwealth.

Rankings are based on patient and provider surveys, federal statistics, and professional accreditations.

The rest of the top five include VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Inova Loudon Hospital in Leesburg, and Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax.

The survey listed a total of 13 hospitals statewide.

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➤ Norfolk: Sen. Mark Warner said that he and Gov. Glenn Youngkin will receive a classified briefing this week about drone flights reported near military bases. (Details)

➤ Alexandria: A 35-year-old Springfield resident has been convicted in federal court on five charges of funneling support to an Islamic State terrorist group. He will be sentenced in May. (Details)

➤ Danville: Caesars Virginia Casino celebrated its grand opening, boasting nearly 1,500 slot machines, 79 table games, and a sportsbook. The facility is only a few miles from the North Carolina border. (More)

➤ Arlington: The county has raised its price at EV charging stations to 17.46 cents per kilowatt-hour. "We're not trying to make big bucks. We're just trying to meet our costs," county board member Libby Garvey said. (Details)

➤ Loudoun County: The national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced that it will spend $100,000 to support candidates in two special elections to the state legislature next month. Democrats hold a narrow majority in both houses. (More)

➤ Lunenburg County: A hunter died of his injuries several days after he was crushed beneath a bear falling from a tree after a member of his hunting party shot it. (Details)

➤ Washington Commanders rookie sensation Jayden Daniels took some blame after he endured eight sacks in the win at New Orleans. "It is not all on the offensive line. I have to be able to be better back there in the pocket," he said. (More)

➤ The Richmond Spiders men's college basketball team is set to visit William & Mary tonight for their annual rivalry game. (Preview)

➤ The UVA women's basketball program will collect $776,000 for each of the next four years. The gift comes from alum and Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian. (Details)

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

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➤ 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)

➤ The average gas price edged up by half a cent in the Commonwealth last week. A survey of 4,000 filling stations by GasBuddy found that gas averaged $2.88 per gallon. (Details)

➤ Amazon has revived its plan to build a 3.1-million-square-foot fulfillment center in Goochland County, the retailer's seventh facility in Central Virginia. (More)

➤ The Mary Ball Washington Regional Council has awarded more than $600,000 to a pair of projects aimed at creating private-sector jobs in the Fredericksburg area. (Details)

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To your health!

➤ The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources named this "Gar Week" to celebrate an ancient fish found in our fresh waters. The unusual fish has a narrow, beak-like jaw with sharp teeth and can live about 20 years. (Details)

➤ The Bluefield police department has a new ride. The Community Foundation of the Virginias helped pay for a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) that can go where traditional police cars can't. (More)

➤ Chocolate is a beloved holiday treat, but it hasn't always been easy to make. The Virginia Museum of History and Culture is set to host a demonstration on Saturday to show how 18th-century chocolate makers worked. (Details)

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➤ Why Some Women Never Worry About Bladder Control (Their Secret Revealed) What if those embarrassing "just in case" bathroom trips weren't just a normal part of aging? Scientists have discovered something fascinating about the way our bladders function after 50 – and it has nothing to do with what your doctor typically recommends. This unexpected combination of natural compounds is helping women regain the confidence they thought was gone forever. (Learn more)