Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall issued the Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison, establishing the principle of judicial review of acts of Congress and the executive branch. The Virginian's action in this case established the Supreme Court as the ultimate arbiter of constitutional questions.

Google is taking steps to build a data center campus in Botetourt County. Over the weekend, the Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance hosted a meeting to help give people a voice in the process. "We have a lot of people who have questions," organizer Misty Dawn Vickers said.

In Richmond, the Senate's version of the state budget would eliminate the sales tax exemption for data centers, which could add more than $1 billion in tax revenue. Learn more about the proposed budgets in our Top Stories below.

Did you know that the team that makes The Virginia Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to sign up and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

If you invested $100 in 1965 in gold, what would it be worth by the end of 2025? What about real estate and stocks? On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown breaks down a new analysis with the answer. Which choice turned pocket change into a small fortune, and which one barely budged? Watch to learn more.

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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.

Democrat Budget Bills Unveiled

The fiscal committees in each house of the Democrat-controlled General Assembly unveiled proposed changes to the two-year budget introduced last year by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Each version would require more state spending to fill gaps created by federal cutbacks, such as by providing $2.4 billion to fully fund Medicaid and CHIP. Both versions avoid tax increases.

The Senate's proposal would spend $74.1 billion over two years, while the House version would cost $71.5 billion.

The next step is for budget conferees from both houses to reconcile the proposals. After that, the budget will go to Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who can use a line-item veto to block individual items.

Rockbridge Meth Bust

Six people were arrested in Rockbridge County in connection with a drug trafficking case last week.

Authorities accused the suspects of having trafficked about 100 pounds of illegal narcotics in the last several months for redistribution in Buena Vista and Rockbridge County.

All involved were charged with either possession of methamphetamines or intent to distribute methamphetamines, as well as fentanyl. The case is being investigated by the James River Regional Drug Task Force in cooperation with regional authorities.

State Seeks Pothole Feedback

Virginia wants to know whether you've had a rough drive recently. The Department of Transportation is asking drivers to report potholes as soon as possible.

"More eyes on the road is going to help us deal with these potholes a lot more efficiently," said Amy Friedenberger, VDOT's manager of external communications.

In Richmond, residents can report damaged pavement at RVA311.com. The city vowed that a "pothole blitz" will take place "within the next two weeks."

Some crews can fix as many as 30 potholes a day, depending on the size and location of the damage.

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Cold Weather Drives Surge in Demand for Winter Must-Haves

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➤ Eastern Shore: Utility crews worked to restore power to thousands of customers in Accomack and Northampton counties after a winter storm pummeled the region with rain, snow, and wind. (Details)

➤ Independence: A magnitude 2.2 earthquake shook the Virginia-North Carolina border region on Sunday. No injuries or damage were reported. (More)

➤ Centreville: Washington Gas workers restored service to dozens of homes in the vicinity of a house that exploded last week. In the aftermath of the blast, crews had shut off natural gas service in the area while they determined that the lines were safe. (Details)

➤ Williamsburg: Gov. Spanberger will be in Colonial Williamsburg tonight to deliver the Democrats' response to the president's State of the Union Address. "I look forward to joining Virginians in this historic place to lay out the next chapter of our story," she said. (More)

➤ King George: State Sen. Richard Stuart called on the Department of Environmental Quality to check the water quality in the Potomac River downstream from a massive sewage spill last month. "This one will trickle down over time, and I'm very worried about the contamination as it goes," he said. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: Plans for a 20,000-seat arena near the Oceanfront were suspended, and organizer Coleman Ferguson promised to refund money to investors while he moves ahead with a plan to build on private instead of city land. (More)

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➤ UVA men's basketball hosts N.C. State tonight after moving up to No. 11 in this week's AP poll. (See Poll)

➤ The Division III Old Dominion Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament begins tonight on the campuses of the top four seeds. Randolph-Macon, ranked No. 2 nationally, is the favorite. (Details)

➤ James Madison baseball, riding a three-game winning streak, hosts 6-1 Virginia Tech this afternoon. (Box Score)

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➤ The average price of gasoline in Virginia was $2.83 per gallon yesterday. That's 2.4 cents less than last month and 14.1 cents less year-over-year. (Details)

➤ Small business owners and farmers asked state lawmakers to delay implementation of a retail marijuana market to give them time to compete with larger, out-of-state interests. (More)

➤ The Yokohama Tire Plant in Salem will permanently close on March 18. The company will pay remaining employees through March 31. (Details)

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Discover the smartest winter gadgets of the season: from heated gloves and car essentials to snow-ready tools that make icy mornings easier. These practical finds are designed to keep you warm, safe, and comfortable all winter long. Upgrade your cold-weather routine before the next freeze hits.

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➤ A Fairfax County high school hosted its first adaptive baseball clinic for athletes with disabilities last weekend. The clinic's coaches included 20 members of the school's varsity baseball team. (Details)

➤ The Eastern Shore of Virginia chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution donated more than $2,500 to preserve a deed book from the early days of Accomack County. (More)

➤ Radford University announced a scholarship program to help provisionally licensed teachers obtain full professional licenses. (Details)

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➤ Do you wake up with yellow gunk in your eyes? (Read This). That may not be "just sleep." Some experts warn it could signal hidden toxins affecting your vision. A simple 12-second technique is now being used to help restore and safeguard vision. Find Out All About It.