Friday, September 11, 2026

9/11 Memorials, Vance Remembers Charlie Kirk, and Statewide Drone Shows

Friday, September 11, 2026

On this day in 2001, 21 Ohioans were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard hijacked Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

🇺🇸 One year after Charlie Kirk’s death, Ohio native Vice President JD Vance remembered his friend as Turning Point USA’s surge in student interest faces campus hostility. Read more in Top Stories.

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Ohio Marks 25 Years Since 9/11

Ohioans will commemorate 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks today as Gov. Mike DeWine orders U.S. and Ohio flags at all public buildings and grounds lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset.

DeWine also asked residents to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., when the first plane struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Cleveland’s 8:30 a.m. ceremony at Public Square will include wreath placements and biographies of northeast Ohio victims, while Progressive Field will host a 2,200-step memorial climb.

On the Ohio Statehouse lawn, 2,977 American flags create outlines of the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and the Flight 93 crash site. The display will remain in place through noon Monday.

Greater Cincinnati observances include a 2,071-step stadium run at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium, while Milford, Blue Ash, and the Cincinnati Fire Museum are among the other locations gathering to honor the victims and first responders.

Vance Remembers Charlie Kirk

Ohio native Vice President JD Vance marked one year since Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting by remembering the friend, political ally, and father whose loss left what he called a “massive hole” in his personal life and the country.

Appearing on The Charlie Kirk Show, Vance said it remained difficult to believe Kirk had been gone a year and recalled moments when he instinctively wanted to call him. Vance, who remains in contact with Kirk’s widow, Erika, and their children, said, “There's no silver lining to Charlie's death.”

Kirk’s death powered a surge in student interest in Turning Point USA last fall, when the organization reported more than 120,000 requests nationwide to start chapters—including at Ohio high schools and colleges.

The organization faces a difficult climate this year, as Ohio members report campus harassment at Otterbein, Kent State, and Ohio University.

Otterbein’s chapter has half as many members as last year, and former vice president Maria Morsch said several interested students feared joining because of possible backlash.

Skyline Chili Names New CEO

Skyline Chili named Carl Stealey its new CEO as the Cincinnati institution builds on a multiyear campaign that has expanded and modernized the 77-year-old chili chain.

Stealey, who brings senior leadership experience from P&G and Honey Baked Ham, succeeds Dick Williams, who has led the company since 2023 and will remain chairman of the board.

During Williams’ tenure, Skyline opened nine restaurants, renovated 24 locations, and introduced a flagship restaurant at Fountain Square.

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➤ Cleveland: City leaders approved a $301 million, eight-story parking garage at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, beginning a broader $1.6 billion overhaul. The 6,000-space garage is scheduled to open in 2029. (More)

➤ Vinton County: A judge found Gary Siders Sr., 73, incompetent to stand trial after authorities discovered 16 of his grandchildren living in squalid conditions at his rural home. (More)

➤ Bexley: Mayor Ben Kessler will resign Sept. 30 after 14 years in office to lead a regional housing commission. City Council will appoint a successor to serve until the next municipal election. (More)

➤ Rocky River: The high school closed Thursday after a mercury vial broke during chemistry class. One student was nearby, and cleanup crews shut down the building’s air system during their response. (See Details)

➤ Cincinnati: A $2 million playground modeled after Italian wall lizards will replace Sawyer Point’s arson-damaged play area. Plans feature a 10-foot lizard structure and a 36-foot ice cream cone slide. (See Renderings)

➤ Pickaway County: A commercial vehicle spilled one to two tons of caustic chemical lime on U.S. 23 on Thursday, closing lanes for hours. (More)

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➤ Elly De La Cruz extended his home run streak to five games Wednesday with a 403-foot drive off Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto—his 26th homer setting a Cincinnati Reds season record for switch-hitters. (Watch Video)

➤ No. 3 Ohio State visits No. 8 Wisconsin tonight for its Big Ten men’s soccer opener. The unbeaten Buckeyes have outscored opponents 18-1. (See Preview)

➤ Cleveland Guardians reliever Andrew Walters underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow, and is expected to face a 10- to 12-month recovery extending into the 2027 season. (More)

➤ Notable Ohio high school football games this week include Archbishop Hoban at St. Edward, Glenville at Bishop Watterson, St. Ignatius at Walsh Jesuit, and Olentangy Liberty at Olentangy Berlin. (See Schedule)

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➤ Crane Data Centers proposed a 300-megawatt facility on 300 wooded acres near Pierce Township’s closed Beckjord plant in Clermont County, despite a local development moratorium. (See Details)

➤ Wawa continued its Ohio expansion Thursday by opening a new store in Miami Township, Montgomery County. The location is offering customers free hot coffee through Sunday. (More)

➤ Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam donated $2.9 million to convert former West Side Market locker room space into an education and event venue. (See Plans)

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➤ Nine Ohio lodges will host synchronized drone shows at 9 p.m. Saturday to honor America’s 250th anniversary and 25 years since 9/11. (See Locations)

➤ Piping plovers recorded their strongest Great Lakes nesting season since gaining endangered species protection. Officials documented 99 breeding pairs and 184 fledged chicks with support from 13 zoos. (See Details)

➤ Lorain County writers in grades 6-12 and adults can enter the Spooky Story Contest through Sept. 21. Winning stories will be read aloud during an Oct. 24 recital. (See Details)

➤ Parma first-grader Amelia Weis won two Super Bowl LXI tickets, airfare, and a hotel stay after completing a heart health challenge that taught CPR and the warning signs of a stroke. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes.

➤ Dolly Parton reportedly saw her death coming, as new details have come out about how she felt in her final days. (Hear Details)

➤ A new four-hour Elon Musk documentary premiered, and Musk is already calling it a hit piece. (Hear Episode)

➤ A venture capitalist predicted a surprise global currency if an apocalypse happened, and it isn't gold or cash. (Listen Now)

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9/11 Commemorations, Farm Conservation Funds, and 296 Backpacks

Friday, September 11, 2026

On this day in 2001, the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 flew into the Pentagon, killing everyone on board and 125 people on the ground. It was one of four flights that al-Qaeda terrorists seized and crashed that day.

As our nation commemorates the 25th anniversary of 9/11 today, The Virginia Flyover family remembers the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the families forever changed. Their courage and sacrifice continue to inspire us.

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Virginia Commemorates 9/11’s 25th Anniversary

Communities across Virginia are marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks today with ceremonies honoring victims, survivors, and first responders.

In Southwest and Central Virginia, Lynchburg is holding multiple observances, including a remembrance ceremony at Monument Terrace, while the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford will host a wreath-laying and moment of silence.

Richmond's commemorative program at City Hall includes a ceremonial stair climb and blood drive, and the Virginia War Memorial is hosting a patriotic concert with a reading of victims’ names.

Northern Virginia observances include Alexandria’s 25th annual remembrance ceremony and an honor walk at Fort Belvoir’s Army museum.

In Hampton Roads, Chesapeake will hold its annual ceremony at the city’s 9/11 memorial, alongside a Norfolk stair climb and a Portsmouth service project.

Farm Conservation Funding Tops $300 Million

Virginia has committed a record $304 million to a program that pays farmers to keep fertilizer, manure, and sediment out of the Chesapeake Bay and local streams.

The Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program, known as VACS, drew nearly 2,600 farmers in fiscal 2026 and paid for roughly 53,000 conservation projects. This year's allocation runs $81 million above last year, marking the fifth straight record.

A new legislative review found the program largely works: 62 of its 64 funded practices are scientifically shown to reduce pollution.

But the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission also flagged money that is appropriated and never spent, uneven verification, and no ranked list of the most cost-effective practices. Farmers can claim up to $300,000 across more than 60 approved practices.

ACC Sets Virginia, VT Basketball Schedules

The ACC released its 2026-27 men’s basketball schedule Wednesday, giving Virginia 18 conference games, nine of them at John Paul Jones Arena.

The Cavaliers get home-and-home series with Duke and Virginia Tech, and open ACC play Dec. 29 at Clemson. They will not face Wake Forest in the regular season.

Virginia Tech opens at home against Louisville on Dec. 30 and, notably, misses Duke for the first time since joining the ACC in 2004.

The two rivals meet twice: Virginia Tech visits Charlottesville on Jan. 30, and Virginia travels to Blacksburg on Feb. 23. Tipoff times and TV assignments come later. The top 15 teams reach the March ACC Tournament in Greensboro.

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➤ Statewide: AARP Virginia canceled its Oct. 7 People's Debate in the U.S. Senate race after Democrat Sen. Mark Warner cited a busy Senate calendar and could not commit. Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa, a retired Army major general, had accepted. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: Sesame is now Virginia’s ninth major food allergen, and as of Thursday, restaurants, food trucks, and other vendors must disclose it on their menus. (More)

➤ Prince William County: Gov. Abigail Spanberger toured an apprenticeship center and Osbourn Park High School on Wednesday but left without answering a reporter’s question about the Sept. 4 killing of a 16-year-old Patriot High School student in Old Town Manassas. (More)

➤ Henrico County: U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Jennifer McClellan, both Democrats, argued at a health care roundtable that voters could push Congress to revisit H.R. 1, citing estimates that 300,000 Virginians could lose Medicaid and 125,000 have already lost SNAP benefits. (More)

➤ Chesapeake Bay: Underwater grasses in the bay rose 7% to 89,385 acres in 2025, the highest level since 2018 and nearing the 90,000-acre interim restoration goal, according to Virginia Institute of Marine Science researchers. (More)

➤ Southwest VA: Virginia Tech will host a Music + Technology Festival Sept. 14-19, showcasing animatronics and AI, while Roanoke College has teamed up with Google to offer free AI training and career certificates. (More)

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➤ The Richmond Spiders (2-0), ranked No. 21 in the FCS coaches poll, visit ACC foe NC State (0-1) tonight in Raleigh, a heavy underdog against a Wolfpack team still stinging from its loss to Virginia. (More and See Poll)

➤ No. 25 Virginia returns from an early off week to host Norfolk State tonight in the programs’ first meeting, two weeks after the Cavaliers opened with a 34-8 rout of NC State. (Preview)

➤ Virginia Tech (1-0) hosts Old Dominion (1-0) on Saturday at noon in Lane Stadium, looking to avenge last year’s 45-26 home loss to the Monarchs that helped trigger a coaching change. (More)

➤ Ferrum College wrapped up the school’s first women’s flag football season, joining a fast-growing college sport, in the program's inaugural run. (More)

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➤ AeroVironment, the Arlington-based defense drone maker, posted record first-quarter revenue of $480.5 million, up 6%, and a record $1.5 billion funded backlog, though it still recorded a $5.1 million net loss for the quarter, which ended Aug. 1. (More)

➤ Publix signed a lease for a 50,000-square-foot store at the Shoppes at Old Hundred near Brandermill in Chesterfield County, with construction expected to start in 2027 and the center completed in 2028. (More)

➤ The owners of Richmond’s minor-league baseball team, the Flying Squirrels, sued the city and its Economic Development Authority over delays to the Diamond District, saying the 64-acre construction site surrounding the ballpark hurts the fan experience. (More)

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➤ Christopher Newport University graduate Alexandrea Procida hand-sewed 296 backpacks, each bearing the name of a mass school shooting victim, and arranged them into an American flag so the victims won’t be forgotten. (See Photo)

➤ The Cold War Museum in Warrenton invites visitors to dig into spy-era artifacts and hidden Cold War history from the decades-long standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. (Watch Report)

➤ The Washington Capitals unveiled a specialty jersey co-designed by U.S. military veterans to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, with signed jerseys and pucks auctioned to benefit Our Military Kids. (More)

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