Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Happy New Year! On this day in 1776, British warships fired on Norfolk, and Redcoats came ashore to burn buildings along the waterfront. Patriots also set fire to buildings because they didn't think they had enough troops to defend the city, which was mostly destroyed.

Happy New Year from The Virginia Flyover! Today's and tomorrow's editions will be abbreviated as we celebrate the end of an exciting 2024. Full editions will return on Friday. Thank you to all of our 65,000 readers!

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The Virginia Flyover's 2024 in Review

Thank you to all of our readers for a great start to this publication in 2024. The Virginia Flyover launched in September to keep you informed about the important stories from across our Commonwealth. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the new year!

One of our most-clicked topics was the high school football playoffs this fall. That included controversy around Hayfield High School, whose team was eventually banned from the postseason after text messages revealed questionable recruiting tactics.

We also kept you up-to-date on election news in the Commonwealth, including legal efforts by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to update voting rolls. The case was ultimately decided in the governor's favor by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Finally, we've enjoyed sharing historical facts about the state, including a series of posts in December about the three-day battle of Fredericksburg.

New Laws Take Effect

A new year means new laws are taking effect. Perhaps the most notable change is a jump in the minimum wage. As of today, it has increased from $12 per hour to $12.41 per hour, with future increases scheduled.

Age-related laws also kick in today. Insurance companies must now cover cancer screenings and follow-up colonoscopies for anyone who is at least 45. Older Virginians may now be tapped for jury duty; the age limit has been increased to include those aged 71-73.

Under a new law, the Department of Transportation must establish and operate a publicly accessible database mapping all utility work it is currently performing in residential neighborhoods.

A full list of new laws is available on the Virginia General Assembly's website.

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➤ Statewide: Parking is free today at all Virginia state parks. (More)

➤ Statewide: Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom will provide kits to help elementary and middle schools teach about farm products produced in the Commonwealth. (Get a Kit)

➤ Statewide: A Virginia State Police recruitment video won accolades. It was named one of the Top 10 recruitment videos of 2024. (Details)

➤ Richmond: The city slashed its poverty rate over the last 10 years. The percentage of people in poverty dropped from 25% of residents in 2014 to 17% in 2024. (Details)

➤ Alexandria: New safety and security measures have been implemented at Alexandria City High School following a series of fights that broke out on Dec. 17. (Details)

➤ Blacksburg: Virginia Tech will play in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Jan. 3. The team is already rebuilding for next year, having added several players through the transfer portal. (Details)

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