Thursday, August 28, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, the Second Battle of Manassas began. Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate army prevailed, sending the Federals reeling back toward D.C. and clearing a path for an invasion of Maryland.

Virginians were buzzing when the Commonwealth came in fourth on a list of the most bee-friendly states in the U.S.

If you don't have a bee in your bonnet about that, the Department of Agriculture has a sticky-sweet offer for you—it's giving away a few hundred free beehives. Would you be up for establishing a bee colony in your yard? Hit reply and let us know.

Later this afternoon, keep an eye on your inbox for a special story from our founder. It's about his dad, Grandpa Jim, and the life-changing difference a simple pair of hearing aids made. We can't wait to share this heartfelt message with you.

Learn 11 weird little hacks Costco shoppers should know, courtesy of today's sponsor, FinanceBuzz.

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.

Powell Tapped as Chief Justice

The Justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia voted unanimously to promote their colleague Cleo E. Powell to be the state's next Chief Justice.

Powell graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982. She also completed her undergrad studies at UVA.

Powell will replace Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn, who intends to retire at the end of the year. She will be the first black woman to lead the court.

Powell said of her trailblazer status, "We all can be trailblazers because we all can leave a path for someone else to follow. We can all, through a million little ways, make a path easier, more illuminated, less treacherous for others who will come after."

Garcia Seeks Asylum

The lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia announced he will seek asylum in the United States. Abrego Garcia is being held at the Farmville Detention Center in Prince Edward County.

In a separate action, Abrego Garcia filed notice that he has a credible fear of deportation to Uganda, sustained detention, or unlawful removal back to El Salvador, where he was imprisoned earlier this year before being returned to the U.S.

The federal government said it plans to deport him to Africa as soon as possible, but a federal judge has blocked that for now.

Abrego Garcia has been incarcerated for all but three days since he was detained in Maryland on March 12. The Trump administration called his initial deportation an "administrative error."

Giant Slide Open in Virginia Beach

The country's longest steel slide is thrilling visitors at Owl Creek Landing in Virginia Beach.

The attraction, nicknamed "The Whorl," offers guests a ride down a 117-foot-long tube. The slide is almost completely enclosed, and riders slide along on specially designed mats.

The attraction's Nautilus Lookout Tower also features a nearly half-mile-long treetop walkway and children's treehouses.

Daytime visitors can enjoy 360-degree views overlooking 38 acres of woods. At nightfall, the paths are lit for walkers and will eventually feature seasonal light shows.

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Do you shop at Costco?

Discover insider ways to keep more money in your pocket with these smart tips from today's sponsor, FinanceBuzz.

Stretch your dollar every visit! Look for asterisks on price tags—those deals won't return. Shop Costco.com for online-only savings, and let the Costco Savings Booklet automatically apply discounts at checkout.

Plus, decode price endings: .79, .49, and .89 mean manufacturer savings, while .88 or .00 signal deep markdowns or clearance.

Shop smarter, spend less, and make Costco work harder for your budget.

➤ Statewide: The average cost of in-state tuition and fees at public colleges and universities increased by more than 2% for this academic year. Some schools kept costs the same, while the price to attend Old Dominion and Virginia Tech increased by 3.1% and 2.9%, respectively. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Latorial Faison, a professor and department chair at Virginia State University, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her recently published book, Nursery Rhymes in Black. (More)

➤ Halifax County: The Board of Supervisors voted to hire an emergency interim county administrator and finance director to replace Scott Simpson, who was fired this month. The part-time position will pay $25,000 per month. (Details)

➤ Henrico: County officials will host the final meeting tonight of a series of community forums aimed at planning the future of the Lakeside area. (More)

➤ Statewide: Virginia's gubernatorial candidates both indicated they are not considering redistricting. "I have no plans to redistrict Virginia," Democrat Abigail Spanberger told an interviewer, while Republican Winsome Earle-Sears said, "I don't see the need for it." (Details)

➤ Northern Virginia: Some residents were jostled awake early Wednesday as NORAD conducted live-fly, low-altitude exercises involving F-16s and a Coast Guard helicopter. Officials said the flights were routine training missions. (More)

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➤ High school football ejections for the use of a racial slur rose by 80% last season in Virginia. Total ejections statewide, however, were down 2%. (More)

➤ The Richmond Battery defeated the Seattle Gaels 27-1 to win the national championship in Gaelic hurling—an ancient sport that almost resembles field hockey mixed with lacrosse. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech women's soccer, ranked No. 24, visits Liberty this evening. (Score)

➤ William & Mary women's soccer visits James Madison. (Stats)

Yesterday's Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | U.S. Open

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➤ Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is 60% finished and is scheduled to begin generating electricity next year. The company recently announced that the price tag for the project has increased by at least $500 million because of federal tariff policies. (Details)

➤ Virginia Regional Transit has taken over the operation of CORTRAN, which provides transportation for seniors and the disabled in Roanoke County. Rides will continue to cost $5 each way. (More)

➤ The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced it will spend $6.8 million in federal funding to fund taxiway reconstructions at Dulles International Airport. (Details)

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Love shopping at Costco?

You know the thrill of saving—but you could be keeping even more money in your wallet. From hidden price-tag codes to secret markdowns and online-only deals, these simple hacks show you how to cut costs on every trip—no coupons required.

➤ The Virginia State Police welcomed a specially trained Labrador retriever named Vader for their Critical Incident Stress Management team. The dog was donated by the nonprofit organization Mutts With A Mission. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality opened an investigation into a strong odor near Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach. The sulfurous smell has been likened to rotten eggs and is thought to stem from a natural biological process. (More)

➤ The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services wants to boost the supply of pollinators in Virginia by distributing hundreds of beehives to willing households. Winners must provide their own bees, protective clothing, and honey processing equipment. (Details)

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