Friday, January 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1786, the General Assembly passed the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, drafted by Thomas Jefferson. It disestablished the Church of England and laid out the principles of the separation of church and state, leading to religious freedom for the nation.

Yesterday, we asked whether Commonwealth schools should disclose how they spend athletic funding, and nearly all responses demanded greater openness.

"All Virginia taxpayers should be informed of any money spent on athletes, whatever the money is spent on," a reader wrote. "The NCAA erred grievously in opening the portal; now, the colleges must pay the price for allowing BIG SPORTS to dictate college spending," said another.

Thanks to all who wrote in. Scroll down to today's Top Stories for an example of one school's big-spending decision driven by football.

Today's sponsor is FemiCore, a women's health solution featuring a short, doctor-backed bladder restoration technique that supports bladder control and confidence without traditional exercises.

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State of the Commonwealth

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Virginia is in better shape economically, fiscally, and educationally than it was when he took office four years ago.

Youngkin presented his final State of the Commonwealth address to lawmakers before he is replaced tomorrow by Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.

"Virginia is now a leader in life sciences. A leader in advanced manufacturing. A leader powering some of America's most critical industries and supply chains," Youngkin said.

He warned lawmakers that if they change course by limiting data center growth, rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or changing right-to-work laws, they risk reversing the state's growth. Democrats criticized the speech, which party official Lamont Bagby called a "final attempt to spin a failed record."

Tech Drops JMU Game

Virginia Tech pulled out of a scheduled Sept. 26 football home game against James Madison. The Hokies will pay $800,000 to avoid playing the Dukes this fall.

Tech's athletics department blamed the change on the ACC's expanded slate, which requires teams to play nine conference games instead of eight.

"We appreciate the timely, transparent communication from Whit Babcock and Virginia Tech regarding our game in 2026," JMU Athletics Director Matt Roan said, "and we remain hopeful that we're able to schedule a future game between our two programs."

JMU added a road trip to San Diego State to fill the hole in its schedule. Virginia Tech is rebuilding after hiring James Franklin, while the Dukes are coming off an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Fees Jump for Travelers Without REAL ID

Travelers have until the end of the month to obtain a REAL ID, or else they will have to pay a $45 fee when flying from one of the Commonwealth's airports.

The fee will pay for a new federal system called TSA ConfirmID, which will be good for 10 days from the day of the first flight. Travelers must obtain a ConfirmID before proceeding to security screening.

Virginia driver's licenses can be upgraded to serve as a REAL ID, and a U.S. passport is also acceptable. A handful of other forms of identification can also be used.

The new rule takes effect Feb. 1.

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Millions of women experience bladder leaks, urgency, or discomfort. Recent scientific research is uncovering a new piece of the puzzle: the urinary microbiome.

Recent medical studies have found that the balance of bacteria in the urinary system is closely linked to bladder symptoms and overall comfort. When helpful bacteria are out of balance, it may contribute to irritation, sensitivity, and leaks.

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Watch the free video.

➤ Richmond: The House of Delegates approved four constitutional amendments on its first day in session, including one that would allow Commonwealth Democrats to redraw congressional districts ahead of November's election. The proposals could go before voters during a special election in April. (Details)

➤ Charlottesville: The Virginia Public Access Project, a watchdog group, reported that Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger raised more than $4 million in large donations to pay for tomorrow's inaugural ceremonies. That's a jump from Glenn Youngkin's $3 million in 2021 and Ralph Northam's $1.3 million in 2017. (More)

➤ Statewide: The Commonwealth slid to second, behind California, as the nation's largest net importer of energy in 2024, the most recent year for which statistics are available. (Details)

➤ Roanoke: Circuit Court Judge Leisa Ciaffone ordered the Western Virginia Water Authority to release projections that show how much water a proposed data center campus in Botetourt County would require. (More)

➤ Bristol: The group Beyond Housing released a report saying that the former Virginia Intermont campus is ready for revitalization. "We want development to happen, but we can't allow as a city or as a community, for the owners to continue stalling," Vice Mayor Neal Osborne said. (More)

➤ Washington, D.C.: The Justice Department answered a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia after he demanded to know why Lindsey Halligan identifies herself as a U.S. Attorney. "Ms. Halligan has not 'misrepresented' anything, and the Court is flat wrong to suggest that any change to the Government's signature block is warranted in this or any other case," wrote Halligan, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. (Details)

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➤ The Virginia Tech Invitational track meet gets underway this afternoon. (Results)

➤ Former Virginia wide receiver Herman Moore will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2026. The Cavaliers posted a 22-6 record during his tenure, and he still holds the FBS all-time record for yards per reception at 22. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech men's basketball hosts Notre Dame tomorrow, coming off a heartbreaking loss to SMU when the Mustangs hit a half-court shot to win. (See Highlight)

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➤ ARES Technical Services Corporation, based in McLean, has been contracted to provide launch range operations support at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. (Details)

➤ The city of Roanoke expressed interest in purchasing a dilapidated parking garage near the Amtrak station. A judge recently fined the current owner $1,500 for failing to maintain the facility. (More)

➤ The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning proposal to allow the development of 450 new residential units in the McNair Farms area near Herndon. The project would replace two 25-year-old office buildings on the property. (Details)

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Researchers are discovering that bladder health isn't just about muscles—it's also about bacteria.

Studies show the urinary microbiome plays an important role in comfort and urgency. When that balance is off, leaks and irritation may follow.

FemiCore is designed to support this balance with carefully selected probiotics and botanicals that promote urinary health.

Learn about the science behind it and how women are using it as part of their daily routine.

➤ The Virginia General Assembly unveiled an interactive exhibit, PEOPLE. BUILDING. DEMOCRACY, to teach visitors about the history of the state's Capitol building. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is accepting applications for the 2026 Virginia Wildlife Grant Program. The goal is to support programs that connect people to outdoor recreation and wildlife. (More)

➤ Northern Virginia may soon be slimier. The Sloomoo Institute, which operates slime factories nationwide, filed plans to open a two-story location at Tysons Corner Center. (Details)

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