Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1971, Virginia's revised state constitution went into effect. The document was much shorter than the 1902 state constitution, gave more authority to the General Assembly, and repealed the poll tax.

A new highway attraction bared its teeth for the governor, and there are more locations to come. The Virginia Flyover explains in Top Stories. Then check out Around Virginia for a reminder of why you shouldn't drive into standing water.

We're glad you're clicking on the stories we're sharing. The Virginia Flyover's engagement rate exceeds industry benchmarks, which tells us we're delivering the kinds of stories our readers care about!

Most people don't think twice about cleaning their washing machine, but with today's sponsor, Splash Spotless, you can do it effortlessly.

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.

$6.8M in GO Virginia Grants Awarded

Eight projects across the state will share more than $6.8 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia grants.

Known as GO Virginia grants, the money helps grow industries of the future, including energy, life sciences, information technology, manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture.

Specific projects to be funded include nearly $1 million to expand the GO TEC program to set up new Career Connections Labs in middle schools.

Other grants will support the creation of an innovation district at George Mason University and the launch of a digital fabrication lab in south-central Virginia.

Matchup Set for CD11 Special Election

Democrat James Walkinshaw will face Republican Stewart Whitson in the Sept. 9 special election to fill the 11th Congressional District seat, left vacant when U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax County, died in May.

Walkinshaw is a Fairfax County supervisor and Connolly's former longtime chief of staff. Whitson is a former FBI agent and U.S. Army combat veteran.

Ten Democrats and seven Republicans competed in firehouse primaries over the weekend, with about 38,000 Democrats and 2,600 Republicans casting ballots.

Connolly was serving his ninth House term when he died of esophageal cancer.

Buc-ee's Opening Draws a Crowd

Shoppers turned up before dawn for Monday's grand opening of Virginia's first Buc-ee's store, located off I-81 in Rockingham County.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin visited later in the morning, joining a ribbon-cutting celebration with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and local politicians.

Buc-ee's is a gas station and more, featuring 120 fuel pumps, clean restrooms, gifts, and a range of fast-food options, including barbecue.

The Texas-based chain plans to open two more Virginia stores, with sites selected in New Kent and Stafford.

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➤ Southwest Virginia: Appalachian Power pulled the plug on a plan to build a battery energy storage system projected to supply 2,790 customers during periods of high demand. The company cited storm damage from Hurricane Helene as one of the factors. (Details)

➤ Statewide: Customers at Alcoholic Beverage Control stores will see changes as five state laws take effect today. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Fire crews used rubber rafts to rescue a couple and their two dogs after their truck became stuck under a flooded overpass. All were moved to safety, and other drivers were advised to avoid the area. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: Atlantic Alliance 2025, a major training operation for naval forces from the U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, is underway at Fort Story. The exercise lasts until July 15. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: The Board of Supervisors asked a court to place a $460 million school bond referendum on the November ballot. If voters approve, the money would help fund the school system's capital improvement program. (Details)

➤ Roanoke: Madison Whitbeck of Arlington was crowned Miss Virginia. (Meet Miss Virginia)

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➤ William & Mary basketball player Bella Nascimento, who helped lead the Tribe to its first CAA championship in March, earned a slot on the Brazilian team for the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2025 tournament. (Details)

➤ George Mason University men's basketball coach Tony Skinn was one of two people named Coach of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors. The Patriots won 27 games and went to the NIT this season. (More)

➤ UVA men's basketball will have plenty of fresh faces in 2025 after signing seven transfer students and three freshmen. (Meet the Team)

➤ Yesterday's results: MLB | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ The average gas price in the Commonwealth was $3.13 per gallon on Monday, which was 15 cents higher than a month ago and 20 cents cheaper than a year ago, AAA reported. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Space Flight Academy named Billy Wu-Rorrer its interim executive director. VASFA bills itself as the state's only residential aerospace learning academy. (More)

➤ Google agreed to purchase at least 200 MW of energy from a proposed Commonwealth Fusion Systems fusion-based power plant in Chesterfield County. CFS hopes to bring the plant online in the early 2030s. (Details)

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➤ A rescue dog named Sienna alerted others that a patron attending an adoption event was in the early stages of a seizure. "She reminded us that sometimes the ones we rescue are the ones who end up rescuing," the shelter wrote. (More)

➤ Mount Vernon will host an event on Wednesday to mark George Washington taking command of the Continental Army. (Details)

➤ Vienna will kick off the Independence Day weekend early, with a public fireworks display scheduled for Wednesday night at Yeonas Park. (More)

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➤ Neil Armstrong reported a strange encounter he had in space during a post-mission debrief. NASA did their best to keep it secret. This Apollo recording is only seconds long, but it will chill you to the bone. Of all the moon landing conspiracies, THIS could be the most incredible. Watch Now