Saturday, August 15, 2026

A 50-Year Knuckle Experiment, Shoppers Pull Back, and a $10 Million Art Recovery

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Good Morning!

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Today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast with Amy Hess has a few stories you won’t find in today’s emailed edition, only in the podcast episode, because not everything fits in an inbox.

Here's a sneak peek of what we're diving into in today's Podcast Extra section:

➤ One doctor cracked only the knuckles on his left hand for 50 years to settle the infamous medical argument. (Hear More)

➤ American shoppers cut back sharply in July, raising fresh doubts about the strength of the economy. (Listen Now)

➤ Police have recovered more than $10 million in masterworks stripped from an Italian museum in a three-minute heist. (Podcast Available)

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Dog Food Recall, Sedona Black Bears, and Monsoon Photographer

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Good Morning! On this date in 1911, President William Howard Taft vetoed the resolution granting statehood to Arizona, objecting to a provision in the proposed state constitution allowing the recall of judges.

Last weekend we asked you if you’ve ever captured any great wildlife photos. Thank you to all of our readers who submitted their terrific Arizona wildlife photos! We enjoyed seeing them and our team certainly had a difficult time selecting only one favorite. See which two we picked below.

Have you cracked your knuckles today? Most chronic knuckle crackers have been told that the habit would come back to haunt them in the form of arthritis. That old warning has echoed across dinner tables for generations, and it turns out science has been putting it to the test the entire time. One doctor was so determined to settle the argument that he cracked the knuckles on just one hand, every single day, for 50 years, then compared the results. What he found earned him a prize and might change how you feel about that satisfying little pop. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Amy cracks the case on one of America's most nagging health questions. Tune in here!

Today's sponsor is Medical Guardian, helping older adults stay independent while giving their families greater peace of mind. As a Flyover reader, you'll receive a special offer: use promo code FLYOVER to get FREE equipment on all of Medical Guardian's top-selling products. Learn more below.

AG Sues MV Realty over Predatory Scheme

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed suit against MV Realty on Thursday, alleging the firm defrauded roughly 1,500 homeowners through deceptive listing agreements.

The complaint says robocalls and telemarketers promoted a "Homeowner Benefit Program," paying most participants about $1,000 to sign 40-year contracts that placed liens on their properties.

Homeowners who sold through another agent or canceled early owed fees of roughly 3% of company-assessed home values. Complete documents were often withheld until a notary arrived.

Mayes is seeking a permanent injunction, restitution, and civil penalties. MV Realty, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and let its Arizona license lapse this year, did not immediately comment.

ACLU Halts Challenge to Arizona's Border Law

The American Civil Liberties Union and Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project have dropped their lawsuit against Arizona's Proposition 314, saying litigation cannot proceed without an affected defendant.

Section 5 of the 2024 measure makes it a misdemeanor for noncitizens to enter Arizona outside a port of entry, letting judges order deportation instead of prosecution.

U.S. District Judge Mike Liburdi declined last month to block the law, finding the Florence Project lacked standing absent immediate harm.

Attorney John Mitchell said the groups still consider the provision unconstitutional and will monitor enforcement. No arrests have been reported since the law took effect.

Dog Food Recalled in 11 States over Salmonella

Oma's Pride of Avon, Connecticut, is voluntarily recalling 639 bags of frozen raw dog food after salmonella was detected, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The recall covers 6-pound pouches of Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe, item F-WOOFC-6, lot BB012729, manufactured January 27. How contamination occurred remains unclear.

Distribution reached Arizona, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia through retailers, wholesalers and direct online orders.

Owners should stop feeding the product, discard it, sanitize bowls and hands, and contact the company for refunds. Salmonella can sicken pets and the people handling their food.

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➤ Marana: Emergency crews rescued three people Thursday morning after floodwaters trapped them during a monsoon storm, as heavy rain caused dangerous flooding across the area. (See Photos)

➤ Apache Junction: Tucson Sector Border Patrol rescued a teenager who got stranded after an ankle injury left the hiker unable to continue. A helicopter with a hoist was used to reach him and he was safely picked up and brought back to his father. (Watch Report)

➤ Safford: A person who allegedly posed as a probation officer and was later discovered to be concealing a gun was removed from Safford High School campus by law enforcement. The Safford Police Department is now handling the case through legal channels. (More)

➤ Sierra Vista: A Cochise County jury convicted a 79-year-old woman, Eileen Marie Smith, of stealing more than $119,000 from a vulnerable adult's trust fund. (More)

➤ Buckeye: NexMetro Communities will open Avilla Marigold later this month, adding 214 single-level cottage-style rental homes across a 19-acre gated neighborhood. Pre-leasing is underway for one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes. (More)

➤ Sedona: Black bears are appearing more often in Sedona neighborhoods after the Pocket Fire displaced wildlife, prompting Arizona Game and Fish to urge residents to remove attractants. (See Photos)

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➤ The Arizona Rattlers face the Green Bay Blizzard tomorrow in Tucson for the Indoor Football League championship. The game streams free on Yahoo Sports and will also be available on Prime Video. (How to Watch)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals beat the Raiders 27-14 in the preseason for their first unofficial win under coach Mike LaFleur. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed all five of his passes for 44 yards and a touchdown in his lone series under center. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Mercury unveiled a new mural and updated street sign honoring Diana Taurasi ahead of her Ring of Honor induction. Taurasi retired as the WNBA's all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points across 20 seasons. (More)

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➤ National Code Talkers Day honors Native American veterans whose languages helped secure U.S. military communications during World War II, including 101-year-old veteran Thomas H. Begay, one of the last two surviving Code Talkers, who attended this year’s observance in Phoenix on Friday. (More)

➤ An Arizona photographer chases monsoon storms across the state, documenting dramatic skies, lightning, and rainfall. The work captures seasonal weather while showcasing Arizona’s changing landscapes. (Learn More)

➤ A banded rock rattlesnake in southeastern Arizona displays metallic green coloring that closely matches lichen-covered rocks, providing natural camouflage in its mountainous habitat. (See Photo)

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➤ Elevated blood pressure can be influenced by constricted blood vessels and excess fluid in the bloodstream, making the heart work harder. Surprisingly, one common everyday food may contribute to both issues—and it might not be the food you expect. Knowing what to watch for could make a difference.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ One doctor cracked only the knuckles on his left hand for 50 years to settle the infamous medical argument. (Hear More)

➤ American shoppers cut back sharply in July, raising fresh doubts about the strength of the economy. (Listen Now)

➤ Police have recovered more than $10 million in masterworks stripped from an Italian museum in a three-minute heist. (Podcast Available)

This wild burro photo was captured by Arizona Flyover reader Glen T.

This photo was sent to us by Arizona Flyover reader, Philip K. with the caption: “A little unsettling when they stare back at you.”

Have you ever seen a black bear in Arizona?

Yesterday's Results:

How hot is too hot for an outdoor festival?

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Above 100°: 32%
Above 110°: 17%
Never too hot: 10%

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Spanberger's Data Stand, Trucker Privacy Suit, Hemp Ban Arrives

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1903, composer, songwriter, arranger, and saxophonist Joseph C. Garland was born in Norfolk. He was best known for In the Mood and Leap Frog, and performed with Louis Armstrong. He joined The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1941 and died in Teaneck, New Jersey, in 1977.

Speaking of Virginia's tech footprint, Loudoun County has quietly become the data center capital of the world, with some 250 facilities already humming and 100 more on the way. Now some residents want to hit pause, saying the sprawl is swallowing land meant for schools and homes, while Gov. Spanberger says that call belongs to each community, not the state. So we're curious: would you welcome a data center near your neighborhood, or fight to keep it out? Hit reply and let us know.

Have you cracked your knuckles today? Most chronic knuckle crackers have been told that the habit would come back to haunt them in the form of arthritis. That old warning has echoed across dinner tables for generations, and it turns out science has been putting it to the test the entire time. One doctor was so determined to settle the argument that he cracked the knuckles on just one hand, every single day, for fifty years, then compared the results. What he found earned him a prize and might change how you feel about that satisfying little pop. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Amy cracks the case on one of America's most nagging health questions. Tune in here!

Spanberger Opposes Statewide Data Center Ban

Gov. Abigail Spanberger says the decision to pause AI data center development should rest with individual communities, not a statewide moratorium, as Loudoun County weighs a pause of its own.

Loudoun has become the unofficial data center capital of the world, with roughly 250 facilities handling much of the globe's internet traffic and about 100 more in the works. Supervisor Juli Briskman is pushing a moratorium, arguing the sprawl has industrialized the county and crowded out land residents want for schools and homes.

Speaking in Ashburn on Thursday, Spanberger said some localities have chosen to welcome data centers while others have moved to restrict them, and that the state's role is to set the highest possible standards in partnership with the General Assembly.

The county Board of Supervisors says it lacks the legal authority under Virginia law to halt new applications outright, and has asked staff to find a way to pause data center and utility-substation requests while it reworks zoning and its comprehensive plan.

Jones Launches Worker Protection Unit

Attorney General Jay Jones on Friday announced the creation of a new Worker Protection Unit within his Richmond office, focused on enforcing Virginia's labor laws and representing workers in legal disputes.

The unit will investigate potential violations such as wage theft and worker misclassification, and Jones said his office would work with the Department of Labor and Industry to identify cases and hold employers accountable. He said the office could pursue back pay on its own and coordinate with local law enforcement where criminal charges are warranted.

Jones traced the unit to a campaign promise, saying the idea grew out of conversations with labor organizations, and framed misclassification, workers treated as contractors rather than employees owed more pay and benefits, as a recurring problem across the state.

To start, the office plans to hire a unit manager, an assistant attorney general, and an investigator. "We're gonna fight to vindicate their rights, to combat wage theft, worker misclassification, to make sure that workplaces are safe," Jones said.

Virginia Hemp THC Cap Takes Effect

A new Virginia law capping hemp products at two milligrams of THC per package took effect at midnight this morning after a federal judge cleared the way for it.

Written into the state budget, HB 30 eliminates the "25:1 CBD-to-THC ratio" exception, making it illegal to produce or sell higher-THC hemp products in the Commonwealth. Seven Virginia hemp businesses had sued to block it, warning the cap would render many of their products illegal and threaten their livelihoods.

U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou denied their request for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction, allowing the law to take effect as scheduled while the case proceeds.

Attorney General Jay Jones welcomed the ruling, calling the cap "a reasonable, evidence-based public-health measure" that sets clear rules rather than ordering inventory seized, and said the state would keep defending it to protect Virginians, especially children, from unregulated intoxicating cannabis products.

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You Can't Be There Every Minute. Medical Guardian Can.

It's not about expecting the worst. It's about giving yourself the peace of mind to stop checking your phone every hour, knowing they're never truly alone.

Claim your FREE equipment now with promo code FLYOVER. Call 800-994-1752 to take advantage of this offer or click here to learn more.

➤ Statewide: More than 150 Virginia law enforcement agencies now use Flock Safety's automated license plate readers, but the technology is drawing pushback in both rural and urban communities. Two cities have rejected the company's gunshot detectors. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads: Tony Camarillo, a 31-year-old Norfolk musician and creative entrepreneur, was shot and killed Wednesday night on his way to the Naro theater for the premiere of a short film he co-produced for the 48 Hour Film Project. Police are investigating. (More)

➤ Also Hampton Roads: Thousands of Dominion Energy customers across several Newport News neighborhoods lost power yesterday afternoon, with the outage peaking above 13,000 customers around 2 p.m. before easing to about 6,800. The largest share of the impact hit the Kiln Creek area, which Dominion attributed to a circuit failure. (More)

➤ Central Virginia: Appalachian Power wants to build one of the country's first small modular nuclear reactors at a Campbell County substation. Neighbors are raising concerns about property impacts, water use, transmission lines, and a decision-making process they say left out community input. (More)

➤ Richmond: A lab staffing firm at Altria's downtown research building, Eurofins Professional Scientific Services, will lay off 68 employees by Oct. 9 after losing a contract at the site, according to a state filing. The cuts hit about 30 scientists, 25 technicians, and 10 managers at the Altria Center for Research and Technology, which VCU plans to acquire for nearly $230 million to house new dental, public health, and pharmacy programs. (More)

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➤ Richmond Athletics announced its five-member 2026 Hall of Fame class this week, highlighted by All-American linebacker Eric McBride and baseball legend Vito Chiaravalloti. (More)

➤ UVA linebacker Kam Robinson was named to the Butkus Award preseason watch list, given annually to the nation's best linebacker. Robinson is the nation’s only returning semifinalist after a season-ending injury cut short his 2025 campaign. (More)

➤ Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels became the butt of a joke by ticket reseller StubHub, which announced it would stop selling tickets in groups of five “out of respect for Jayden Daniels.” The joke came amid Daniels’ dispute with LSU over the school reissuing his former No. 5 jersey. (More)

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➤ Summer camps run by the Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, and Rappahannock tribes are helping young Native American Virginians connect with their heritage through language, dance, and traditional skills, with organizers stressing the importance of keeping kids involved. (More)

➤ A Henrico teen has launched an app to help residents track water and lead concerns, built in response to the 2025 RVA water crisis that disrupted life across Central Virginia. (More)

➤ The Water Lantern Festival returns to Central Virginia on Aug. 22 at Henrico's Dorey Park, where attendees decorate biodegradable lanterns with messages of hope, then release them onto the water at sunset amid live music and food trucks. (More)

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