Thursday, January 30, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1952, Allied Command Atlantic of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in Norfolk. The command's job was to protect sea lanes between North America and Europe and to support American allies if the Soviets invaded Western Europe.

The Virginia Flyover has reported several times recently about our Commonwealth's airports setting passenger records from Norfolk to Roanoke. In Around Virginia today, check out a new way to clear those busy security checkpoints!

We want to thank all the readers who contributed to our tip jar on Tuesday. It helps The Virginia Flyover keep producing free, unbiased news. If you missed it, there's another opportunity to contribute below. We appreciate it!

Today's sponsor is Weight Loss by Hims. Check out their products below.

Passenger Jet Collides with Helicopter over Potomac

A regional passenger jet carrying about 60 people collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River last night at about 9 p.m.

You can see a video of the collision in the distance from an observation camera here.

American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was on final approach into Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington when the collision occurred. The airport immediately halted all takeoffs and landings.

Multiple agencies launched a massive search effort, seeking to pull any survivors from the water as quickly as possible.

This is a developing story, with more details to come in the Friday edition.

White House: Drones Were Not a Threat

According to a spokesperson for President Donald Trump, drones sighted across the Commonwealth and other eastern states late last year were not a threat.

"After research and study, the drones flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The same would seem to apply to drone flights spotted in Virginia.

The Virginia Fusion Center, a department of the state police department, received more than 150 tips about drone activity in December alone. Of those, 12 were assigned "for further follow-up," a spokesperson said.

Eight Virginia Hospitals Among Nation's Best

Virginia boasts some of the best hospitals in the country, with eight among the top 5% of clinical care facilities, according to a new report.

Healthgrades ranked America's 250 best hospitals based on clinical outcomes across multiple conditions and procedures.

Inova Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg ranked in the Top 50, while Inova Alexandria Hospital, Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center of Mechanicsville, and Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center of Midlothian made the Top 100.

The Commonwealth's facilities on the Healthgrades list also included St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, and Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth.

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➤ Statewide: The Commonwealth added 76,900 jobs last year, according to federal statistics. There are now 4.27 million jobs in the state, along with a reported 295,000 job openings. (Details)

➤ Jarratt: Three officers at Greensville Correctional Center were detained in connection with a pair of incidents last year that injured two inmates. "The VDOC has zero tolerance for abuse or excessive force of any kind," a spokesman said. (More)

➤ Richmond: A Democrat-led Senate subcommittee tabled Gov. Youngkin's proposals to phase out the car tax and the tax on tipped income. (Details)

➤ Bristol: Republican lawmakers from Washington County introduced two bills that would allow the city to more easily seize and sell vacant, blighted, or derelict property, such as Virginia Intermont College, an abandoned facility that was destroyed by fire last year. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: A Minnesota man was arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and production of child sexual abuse material after he traveled to Virginia to allegedly engage in illicit acts with a teenager he met on TikTok. (Details)

➤ Statewide: More than 230 airports will now accept Virginia-issued digital IDs, allowing travelers to clear security using the Virginia Mobile ID app on their smartphones. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders fell short of the Super Bowl, but their successful season has brought credibility to their new name. Lawmakers are taking steps to remove "Washington Redskins" from the Code of Virginia and replace it with "Washington Commanders." (Details)

➤ Virginia Tech hosts Notre Dame in women's basketball tonight, while UVA's women travel to Miami. (Schedule)

➤ The ACC released its 2025 football schedule. Mark your calendars for the Commonwealth Clash on Nov. 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. (Details)

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

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➤ Smithfield Foods Inc. had a disappointing IPO. The company’s shares dropped 3.2% on their first day back on the market, finishing at $19.36, below the initial public offering price of $20 each. (Details)

➤ Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family will pay Virginia up to $107.4 million over the next 15 years as part of a $7.4 billion multi-state settlement involving the company’s role in the opioid epidemic. (More)

➤ Roanoke will host the Mayor’s Business Summit on March 10, with a focus on “Starting and Developing Your Small Business.” (Details)

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➤ State police spotted a baby owl on a Nottoway County roadway and moved it to some nearby woods. (See the Bird)

➤ The Alexandria City Council considered a measure to ban gasoline-powered leaf blowers over concerns about noise and air pollution. (Details)

➤ The Dave Matthews Band will return to Richmond this year after a 30-year absence. They are scheduled to appear at the new Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront on July 15 and 16. (More)

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