Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine was introduced to Congress. Virginian James Monroe, whose presidency delivered the Era of Good Feelings, asserted that the entire Western Hemisphere was within the American sphere of influence.

Virginians haven't always managed to settle our differences peacefully, but a reader responding to our question about place name pronunciations reminded us of a model to follow when we want to do so.

"The name of the town of Disputanta comes from a playful disagreement between William Mahone and his wife, Otelia, while naming railroad stations in the mid-19th century," the reader wrote. "When they were unable to agree on a name, they invented 'Disputanta' to commemorate their dispute."

The reader said all of us can agree that the town's name should be pronounced as "DISS-pyoo-TAN-tuh."

Shopping for your loved ones? Skip the guesswork and use The Flyover Christmas Gift Guide, packed with the year's smartest, most reliable picks.

If you've ever wished your generosity could stretch even further, today's sponsor, Convoy of Hope's Matching Challenge, allows every dollar you give right now to be doubled, helping to feed hungry families and bring hope to those in need around the world.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Cannabis Retail Market Report Due Today

The General Assembly's Joint Commission on the Future of Cannabis Sales will unveil its plan for a regulated adult-use cannabis retail market at a meeting today.

The panel has been meeting for months and attempted to craft "a decentralized market structure, competitive, sustainable, prioritizing independent Virginia-based businesses," according to its chairman, Del. Paul Krizek.

The Commonwealth legalized the use of cannabis in 2021, but did not create a legal way for sellers to provide it. Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed previous attempts to create a marketplace, but Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger has promised to sign a retail bill.

Holiday Weekend Traffic Incidents

The long holiday weekend was marred by several accidents across the Commonwealth. In Accomack County, one person was killed, and five more were injured, in a two-car collision on Route 13 on Friday.

Another person died in a multi-vehicle crash on I-77 in Carroll County on Sunday. Several people suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Lynchburg Police reported a hit-and-run on Friday after a driver struck a pedestrian on a city street. The pedestrian had non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver has not been identified.

Virginia State Police arrested a man who allegedly hit a trooper at a checkpoint on a ramp leading to I-85 in Petersburg on Friday. The driver was operating with expired tags when he struck the officer and fled. The trooper was not injured.

Arson Suspected in Stony Creek

Authorities detained a teenager in connection with three structure fires that took place within seven days of each other in a town of about 175 people in rural Sussex County.

The most recent fire in Stony Creek consumed an empty home and spread to an adjacent empty home next door before it could be contained.

"We hope and pray to God we got him, and the fires have stopped," town council member John Kollmann said after the arrest. An arson investigator from the state police is compiling evidence in the case.

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Double the hope for families in need!

For a limited time, your generosity can go twice as far for families facing hunger and hardship.

Through Convoy of Hope's $1 Million Delivering Hope Matching Challenge, every dollar you give will be doubled — up to $1 million — to strengthen programs that bring lasting change around the world.

Your matched gift:

· Provides daily meals for more than 639,000 children in the U.S. and 39 additional countries, ensuring they can learn, grow, and thrive.

· Equips vulnerable farmers with the tools, seeds, and training needed to provide for their families.

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· Empowers women with business start-up support, breaking cycles of poverty in their communities.

· Fuels efforts across Africa to combat severe food shortages, providing meals for tens of thousands of children and new income opportunities for their mothers.

Here's your opportunity to make an even greater impact when it's needed most. But the deadline to see your gift DOUBLED is Dec. 31, so please don't wait!

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➤ Wise County: The U.S. Marshals Service offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Travis Turner, the missing Union High School football coach who reportedly walked into the woods with a firearm on Nov. 20 and hasn't been seen since. Turner is being sought on child pornography and solicitation charges. (More)

➤ Northern Virginia: Sections of the Commonwealth could see snow and freezing rain today. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory, which is in effect until 1 p.m. in many areas. (Details)

➤ Statewide: Lawmakers in the upcoming session will consider a bill drafted by Del. Michael J. Jones that would ban state and federal law enforcement officers from wearing a "facial covering" while on duty in the Commonwealth. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: Firefighters extinguished a weekend blaze at Checkered Flag BMW after it damaged eight vehicles. The cause is under investigation. (More)

➤ Newport News: Police charged Gary Carlton Moore III with second-degree murder and several weapons charges after a deadly weekend shooting at Patrick Henry Mall. The victim was identified as 26-year-old Diamante Tre'veon Neal. (Details)

➤ Fairfax County officials said they are prepared to implement a 4% tax on prepared meals that will take effect in January. Restaurants will be required to file paperwork and pay monthly. (More)

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➤ Virginia Tech earned an "A" grade from ESPN for hiring James Franklin—the highest grade of any college coaching hire this season. Franklin secured a commitment from offensive tackle Maddox Cochrane of Richmond. (More)

➤ The Washington Capitals begin a California road swing at Los Angeles tonight after four straight wins. (Preview)

➤ Virginia Tech men's basketball visits South Carolina tonight as part of the ACC/SEC Men's Challenge. (Score)

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➤ The price of gas tumbled over the past week in Virginia. The tracking site GasBuddy reported the average was $2.85 per gallon yesterday, down 6.2 cents per gallon for the week, 6 cents from last month, and 7.2 cents from last year. (Details)

➤ Dominion Energy's senior policy director will speak about the future of energy at the Vienna Community Center next month. Tickets are available through the Vienna area branch of the American Association of University Women. (More)

➤ The Advancement Foundation will unveil Phase 2 of the Virginia Innovation Accelerator tomorrow in Buena Vista. The facility is designed to help boost start-ups. (Details)

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Your gift doubled to save lives!

Every dollar you give to Convoy of Hope will be DOUBLED through the $1 Million Delivering Hope Matching Challenge — but only until Dec. 31.

Your donation — matched dollar for dollar up to the challenge total — delivers twice the impact:

Following Hurricane Melissa, Convoy of Hope has provided meals, clean water, and supplies such as generators, tarps, and tents to families recovering from the storm.

But the need is still great.

Please give by Dec. 31 to double your impact in helping disaster survivors. Your gift also provides nutritious meals for children, agricultural training, empowerment for women, and aid for Convoy's response to the African hunger crisis.

Your generosity today means twice the hope, twice the transformation, and twice as many lives changed. Give now for 2x Impact!

➤ Flags across the Commonwealth are at half-staff today to memorialize Jeremy Lewis Hall, the Department of Corrections officer killed in the line of duty last month. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Handbell Consort will perform an Advent program on Saturday to kick off this year's Sine Nomine concert series in Yorktown. (More)

➤ The Central Virginia affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library serves more than 5,000 children by delivering books to them. (Details)

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