Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1801, John Marshall was confirmed as the fourth chief justice of the Supreme Court, just a week after he'd been nominated. The Virginian served until 1835, making him the longest-serving chief justice in Supreme Court history.

Last week, most readers told us they oppose building more casinos in the Commonwealth. One reader, though, wants to be allowed to bet legally in smaller amounts online: "Why can't I bet $20 on the UVA basketball game? Or $10 on the ODU baseball game?"

Another expressed opposition to SB118, which would move in that direction: "With this bill, online gambling will become more accessible and can happen 24/7, which ultimately leads to higher rates of problem gambling and addiction."

What do you think about the idea of online sportsbooks? Hit reply to let us know.

The Flyover family of newsletters passed 4 million total readers on Friday, a new milestone for us. That includes The Virginia Flyover you're reading now, plus editions covering the news in eight other states—and our flagship newsletter, The Flyover, which covers national news. If you have friends or family who want to stay up to date on the news that matters, we encourage you to invite them to join The Flyover family.

The long-awaited great wealth transfer may fall short of expectations, economists say, as baby boomers begin turning 80 this year. The shift is raising questions about why trillions of dollars may never reach heirs. Host Ayla Brown unpacks it all on today's episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here.

Today's sponsor is Xtreme One Entertainment, the team behind XFC, MMA's first publicly traded developmental league. Right now, you can tap into their limited-time offering and even secure up to a 20% bonus stock.

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.

New Legislation Proposed

Lawmakers in the House of Delegates have introduced more than 1,500 bills so far in this session, while legislators in the Senate have introduced more than 800.

House Bill 28 would create a 90-day period ahead of a primary or general election during which the state may not remove people from the voting rolls. This would align with a federal law that mandates the same quiet period.

HB 359 would set the conditions under which public funds could be used for private school tuition. It would require participating students to take Standards of Learning tests, and schools to receive accountability ratings and follow nondiscrimination policies.

Three bills aim to protect the menhaden population in the Chesapeake Bay. One would eliminate industrial-scale fishing in the Bay, while another would set quotas for how much a fishery may harvest.

Storm's Aftermath Lingers

Gov. Abigail Spanberger said the Commonwealth will need time to recover from what she called a catastrophic storm. "There are still some hard days ahead," she warned.

The system produced less snow than had been forecast, but it dropped several inches of sleet and freezing rain, which brought down power lines and tree branches. More than 13,000 customers were still without electricity yesterday afternoon, most in southwestern Virginia.

The ice could remain for some time. An extreme cold warning is in effect until 11 a.m. in Augusta, Rockingham, Nelson, and Albermarle Counties, and near-zero lows are forecast elsewhere across the Commonwealth. The Arctic air is expected to persist for the rest of the week.

Banfield Trial to Resume

Brendan Banfield is expected to take the stand this week in his double murder trial. The courthouse was closed yesterday after the weekend snowstorm.

The former IRS investigator is accused of murdering his wife and another man in his Herndon home. His accomplice, the family's Brazilian au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães, pled guilty to manslaughter and testified against Banfield.

Last week, the defense introduced a digital forensics expert to testify about the late Christine Banfield's use of a phone and a laptop. The judge admonished him for presenting a disorganized case, saying: "We're just spinning our wheels right now."

The same witness will still be on the stand when the trial resumes.

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➤ Statewide: The Attorney General's office is hiring university counsels for the University of Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, and George Mason University. All three schools have faced recent scrutiny from the federal government. (Details)

➤ Botetourt County: A 16-year-old was charged with second-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed his father to death during a domestic dispute. (More)

➤ Charlottesville: More than 200 members of the University of Virginia faculty signed a letter that calls for President Scott Beardsley's appointment to be rescinded. The letter claims that the Board of Visitors moved too quickly to name him and failed to "protect the University from outside interference." (Details)

➤ Richmond: U.S. District Judge John Gibney ruled that Virginia is violating federal law by permanently barring former felons from voting. The judge wrote that the ban violates the 1870 Virginia Readmission Act. (More)

➤ Accomack County: Luke Arnold, a former sheriff's deputy, was fired over accusations that he assaulted a restrained prisoner last year. He is expected to appear in court in March. (Details)

➤ Arlington County: Authorities closed I-395 northbound for about an hour over the weekend after a driver lost control and crashed into a roadside propane tank, which created a leak. (More)

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➤ UVA men's tennis, ranked No. 2, will compete in the ITA Indoor Team National Championship beginning Feb. 13. The Cavaliers are undefeated following a recent victory over Michigan. (Details)

➤ UVA men's basketball visits Notre Dame tonight. The Cavaliers dropped to No. 17 in this week's AP poll. (Top 25)

➤ VCU hosts Richmond tonight in Atlantic-10 men's basketball. (Preview)

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➤ The average price of a gallon of gas jumped 13.2 cents in the last week, according to GasBuddy. The price averaged $2.88 per gallon yesterday, 14 cents more than last month and 21.1 cents less than this time last year. (More)

➤ Leidos, a contractor based in Reston, announced it will lay off 93 people when it closes a facility in Ashburn in March. (Details)

➤ Two Alcoholic Beverage Control stores in Arlington will be shuttered by March, leaving seven active Virginia ABC stores in Arlington County. (More)

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➤ Firefighters in Chesterfield freed a cat that had climbed into the dashboard of a car. A woman who was supposed to drive the animal to a foster home said she'd spent seven hours trying to coax it out before driving to the fire station for help. (Details)

➤ Two teens in Loudoun County took advantage of the weekend snowstorm to earn some cash with their snow shovels. "I'm also looking forward to buying new gear for my band," one said when asked what he'll do with the revenue. (More)

➤ Shannon Crowley, a 25-year-old soprano, qualified to attend the Merola opera training program. The Virginia Beach native credits her success to having attended the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk. (Details)

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