Monday, May 12, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, 15,000 Union troops under Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock advanced with fixed bayonets at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House, capturing about 3,000 Confederate soldiers as fighting raged throughout the day.

Teenagers love fast food, but one McDonald's in Fairfax County doesn't want their business. The Virginia Flyover explains why in our Top Stories.

If you're already paying for Amazon Prime, be sure to check out these nine perks you need to be using from today's sponsor, Brad's Deals.

Don't feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Port is Ready for the Storm

According to its CEO, the Port of Virginia is better positioned than most other U.S. ports to handle the impacts of ongoing trade policy changes.

In his annual update, Stephen Edwards, CEO of the Port of Virginia, said that uncertainty surrounding President Trump's tariff policies is disrupting the shipping industry.

However, he noted that less than 20% of all loaded imports and exports that go through the Port of Virginia are linked to China and Hong Kong, while more than a quarter are tied to the European Union.

"There will be less cargo arriving at the end of May, but it won't be the steep drop-off that you're seeing on the West Coast," Edwards said. He added that he does not expect layoffs at the port.

A McDonald's Bans Teens

A Fairfax County McDonald's announced it will no longer allow people under age 21 to enter its restaurant. Customers must ring a doorbell, and only adults will be allowed through.

The move comes after high school students repeatedly disrupted diners at the location. Routine behaviors included violent fights and trashing the bathrooms.

"We've enhanced our Franconia Road McDonald's security measures in an effort to promote a safe environment for our customers and staff," the restaurant announced. "This serves as a temporary fix as we work towards a long-term solution for all."

A frequent customer lauded the new policy. "This is probably the first time in five years that I've sat down for 15 minutes in this McDonald's and enjoyed a hamburger," Tim Perkins said.

Top Dog Names

The next time you hear neighbors summoning their dog, listen to see if they're calling for "Bella," "Luna," or "Charlie."

The American Pet Products Association surveyed pet owners and determined the most common dog names in each state. In 2025, those three topped the list in Virginia.

The same three names led the national ranking, except Luna took the top spot, followed by Bella and Charlie.

Luna and Bella are widely believed to be inspired by characters from the Harry Potter series.

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➤ Statewide: Babesiosis, a formerly rare malaria-like disease spread by ticks, is reportedly becoming more prevalent throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Virginia. (Details)

➤ Henrico: The county's new Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir now holds 15 billion gallons of water after filling up for almost a year. It will augment the county water supply and is expected to open as a recreational destination in 2028. (More)

➤ Chester: Three months after a 3-year-old wandered away from Fortress of God Childcare and was rescued in the middle of a busy street, the Department of Social Services revoked a religious exemption that allowed the facility to operate. (Details)

➤ Roanoke: Dr. Matt Neale, a journalism teacher at Hidden Valley High School, was tapped as the 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. He will be the state's nominee for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year. (More)

➤ Statewide: The Virginia Department of Education will provide $600,000 to help 16 school districts purchase better equipment for their career and technical education programs. (Details)

➤ Blacksburg: Metallica made the earth move during a performance at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium. An on-campus seismograph registered vibrations when the crowd started jumping together during "Enter Sandman," the song played when the Hokies football team takes the field. (More)

➤ Gabby Douglas, a Newport News native, was selected to join the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame in its 2025 class. She helped the American gymnastics team win gold medals in 2012 and 2016. (Details)

➤ UVA men's tennis will face No. 2 seed TCU in an NCAA quarterfinal match in Waco on Friday. The Cavs topped Arizona to advance. (Details)

➤ VMI men's and women's teams take part in the Southern Conference outdoor track and field championships today and tomorrow. (Events)

➤ The Washington Capitals visit Raleigh to face the Hurricanes in game 4 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series tonight. Carolina leads the series 2-1. (Details)

➤ Yesterday's results: NASCAR | MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA

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➤ The Made in Virginia Investment Accelerator will provide concierge-style service to companies that commit to spending at least $250 million and creating 500 new jobs in the Commonwealth. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Tourism Corporation launched a Statewide Strategic Tourism Plan aimed at boosting the number of people who visit the Commonwealth over the next three years. (More)

➤ Four coal miners sued Buchanan Minerals LLC in federal court, claiming that the recent firing of 140 employees violated federal law. The filing may become a class action suit. (Details)

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➤ The Virginia Treasury said 25% of state residents have unclaimed property. Officials are encouraging Virginians to call 1-833-302-0704 on Wednesday or Thursday to determine if any unclaimed property is being held in their name. (Details)

➤ The Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia will offer its next New Dad 101 online class on May 17. (Sign Up)

➤ The Great Busk is scheduled for June 6 in Richmond's Arts District. The winner of the live music competition will earn a professional studio recording session. (Details)

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