Friday, April 4, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1927, the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach celebrated its grand opening. Amenities included private bathrooms and an indoor swimming pool.

Enjoy the spring weather this weekend with outdoor events across the state, from the Bluebell Festival at Shenandoah River State Park to Saturday morning at the Abingdon Farmers Market.

Did you know that the team that makes The Virginia Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

Today's sponsor is HeartSciences, offering an investment opportunity in the future of healthcare.

Legislature Accepts, Rejects Budget Changes

The Virginia House of Delegates approved 41 of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's proposed budget amendments and rejected the remaining 164 without debate.

"We were not going to allow the governor to basically shift money away from the priorities that Democrats had demonstrated when we passed a budget back in February," said state Sen. Mamie Locke (D–Hampton).

Youngkin proposed a $300 million budget cut to address expected shortfalls due to reduced federal funding, which included cuts to funding for additional school support staff.

The House rejected the proposal, ensuring that the plan to lift the spending cap on school support staff—a major legislative goal for Democrats this session—will move forward.

Customers Protest Dominion Rate Increase

Customers are protesting Dominion Energy's proposed rate increases, saying that increasing rates during a time of inflation is an additional financial burden.

"My eggs are five bucks. I'm not going to be able to afford either eggs or my electric bill. Something's got to give," said Varina resident Tammy, who only shared her first name.

The rate increase is the first Dominion Energy has requested for all customers since 1992. If approved, it would take effect July 1, 2025.

"Virginians are using about 5% more power every year, and so we have to make investments in the grid so that we can reliably serve our customers' growing needs," said company spokesperson Aaron Ruby.

This Weekend in Virginia

The Bluebell Festival at Shenandoah River State Park takes place on Saturday, featuring food trucks, live music, craft booths, and more. Visitors can take in the peak bloom of bluebells along the park's riverbank.

For music enthusiasts, Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long at Norfolk's Chrysler Hall is set for Sunday. In Roanoke, Attic Productions will put on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility on Saturday and Sunday.

The Abingdon Farmers Market is open Saturday morning. It offers produce, meats, dairy, and more. Hot food vendors Oma's House and Chili Lime Kitchen will be on hand.

Finally, the Budweiser Clydesdales will be in Richmond on Saturday. The wagon is scheduled to start rolling at the Carytown Shopping Center at 4 p.m.

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Flying together with our sponsor

AI Is Solving A 100+ Year-Old Medical Problem

This is easily one of modern medicine's greatest failures: Heart disease has been the leading cause of death worldwide since 1921. The root of the problem? There is no effective way to detect it in frontline healthcare. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) are in desperate need of an update. They're the main frontline tool used to detect heart disease, yet they won't detect most cases until it's too late.

After 100+ years, one company is finally aiming to solve this with AI.

HeartSciences has a once-in-a-century opportunity to be a leader in AI-enhanced ECGs. Led by executives with strong track records and technology developed with Mount Sinai Hospital and Rutgers Hospital, among others, their goal is to detect more heart conditions—earlier, faster, and more affordably than ever before.

Over 1 billion ECGs are performed every year, creating a $30B+ global market opportunity for HeartSciences. What's more, they're planning to make the most of it with a recurring revenue business model—selling both AI-ECG equipment as well as subscriptions to their cloud software.

And now, investors like you have the chance to invest now at a crucial stage of growth.

While the company is already traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker HSCS, participating in their current round is a chance to get up to two shares by purchasing "units" for more value. Here's what each unit offers:

1 Share of Preferred Stock (convertible to 1 share of common stock)
1 Warrant to purchase an additional share of common stock

That's 2 shares of equity potential—at an extremely momentous time for HeartSciences as they are targeting FDA clearance in 2025.

Invest now in HeartSciences as they approach a major inflection point in their company's growth. Learn more about how you can become a shareholder here.

Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for HeartSciences Regulation A+ offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.heartsciences.com/.

➤ Statewide: The Nansemond Indian Nation is suing Virginia for refusing to pay $1.7 million in Medicaid claims the tribe says are owed to Fishing Point Healthcare. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: Crews have completed the first major flood protection project of a new program by installing the Windsor Woods tide gate, which expands Lake Windsor's capacity to manage stormwater. (More)

➤ Henrico: Nearly 100 Henrico teachers voiced concerns about excessive workloads during a school board forum last week, citing the unpaid hours they spend working beyond their contracts. (More)

➤ Lynchburg: After a water and sewer project shut down a road in the Wiggington area this week, residents are expressing concerns about traffic congestion, especially in light of a newly proposed development. (More)

➤ Fairfax: Census data shows that increases in Fairfax's population are due to international immigration over the past few years. (More)

➤ Southwest Virginia: USDA Wildlife Services is dropping oral rabies vaccine baits from planes this week to help combat rabies in the wild animal population. (More)

➤ The Washington Capitals hockey team hosts the Chicago Blackhawks tonight for the second time this season. The Blackhawks are on a four-game losing streak, though they won their previous match-up against the Caps. (More)

➤ Liberty softball welcomes Conference USA foe Middle Tennessee State today for a series. Liberty is ranked No. 20. (More)

➤ The Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse team visits North Carolina for an ACC match-up on Saturday. The Cavs previously lost 10-12 to Syracuse on March 29. (More)

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➤ Tariffs are driving up costs for bridal gowns because many designers are based overseas. The owner of Virginia's Daughter Bridal Boutique in Suffolk says she has had to increase dress prices by $100 to $200. (More)

➤ The New River Valley Regional Commission is investing $650,000 in federal funding to promote high-tech manufacturing in the New River Valley and Danville, aiming to position the region as a tech hub. (More)

➤ Crutchfield, a stereo and electronics company based in Charlottesville, has been named one of Virginia Business Magazine's best places to work in Virginia for the sixth time. (More)

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Fighting the Leading Cause of Death with AI

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide because it's so hard to detect until it's too late. HeartSciences is working to make early frontline detection easier with AI.

Traditional electrocardiograms (ECGs) are decades-old technology and generally only detect rhythm-related issues, like arrhythmia or AFib. By then, a patient often has late-stage heart disease. With HeartSciences' AI and cloud-based ECG platform, healthcare providers will be able to unlock hidden signs of heart disease earlier.

Not only does this have the potential to save countless lives, but over 100 million ECGs are performed annually in the U.S. alone (~1B worldwide), creating a huge market opportunity for HeartSciences.

Learn how you can participate in a $30B ECG market opportunity and invest in HeartSciences as they drive the future of healthcare.

Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for HeartSciences Regulation A+ offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.heartsciences.com/.

➤ A Virginia lottery winner hid her face with a mask and funny sunglasses while claiming her $1 million prize on Tuesday. (See Photo)

➤ A backhoe crashed into a home in Windsor on Wednesday after the driver suffered a medical emergency. A bystander performed CPR. (See Video)

➤ Richmond businesses celebrated April Fool's Day on Tuesday, announcing bone-topped pizza, BBQ-chunk ice cream sandwiches, and a Hooter's-themed pop-up called "Shooters." (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

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