Friday, April 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1781, British forces under Major General William Phillips moved up the James River and landed at City Point. They would go on to capture Petersburg the next day after winning the Battle of Blandford.

A Virginia candidate for U.S. Senate is in hot water after he bet on himself—literally. Mark Moran is running as an independent challenger to Sen. Mark Warner. He also used the platform Kalshi to wager $100 on himself, which violates the platform's policies.

Kalshi fined Moran more than $6,000 and banned him for five years. What do you think? Is Moran a market manipulator, or a confident candidate making a smart wager? Hit reply to let us know.

Today's sponsor, Cytonics, is a pioneering biotech company developing a potential first-ever cure for osteoarthritis, offering investors a rare opportunity to get in early ahead of its next phase of clinical trials.

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.

Redistricting Referendum Moves to Courts

A Tazewell County judge blocked the certification of the constitutional referendum that voters passed on Tuesday. Judge Jack Hurley, who had twice tried to prevent the vote, ruled that the process was illegal on multiple counts.

The state Supreme Court is scheduled to consider the issue on Monday, and Attorney General Jay Jones vowed to appeal Hurley's latest decision. "Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People's vote," he said in a statement.

The proposal to change the constitution to allow redistricting this year passed by about 3 percentage points out of nearly 3.1 million ballots cast, according to state data. If the referendum stands, Democrats would have an advantage in 10 of the state's 11 newly drawn districts.

Spanberger Names New VT Board Members

Gov. Abigail Spanberger named four new members to Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors this week.

"I look forward to having these highly qualified leaders included on the search committee as Virginia Tech works to identify a successor to President Sands," Spanberger said. University President Tim Sands said he will retire this year.

The two women and two men are all graduates of the university and live in the Commonwealth. Their terms begin July 1.

Spanberger will be on campus on May 15 to deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2026.

Apple Blossom Festival Blooms

The 99th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival kicks off today in Winchester. The 10-day festival includes more than 50 events this year, with up to 250,000 people expected to attend.

Among the attractions will be a 10K run, a midway, and the coronation of Queen Shenandoah XCIX—21-year-old Annabelle Park, a recent Pace University graduate, who will be crowned by her parents at John Handley High School on May 1.

TV host and former NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer will serve as grand marshal, while Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown returns to the festival for the first time since 1988, when he appeared as a sports guest following his 1987 Heisman Trophy win

New this year is a clear bag policy, developed with local law enforcement, limiting attendees to clear bags no larger than 14 by 9 inches for most events.

Flying together with our sponsor

The Next-Gen Treatment Targeting a $560 Billion Disease

It’s one of the world’s most common diseases, with over $560 billion spent managing its symptoms each year. But soon, its 500+ million patients may finally be able to do more than that.

Because an emerging biotech called Cytonics may have discovered what soon could be osteoarthritis’ first and only cure.

They successfully completed Phase 1 FDA trials on 10,000 patients with zero adverse effects. Now, Cytonics is gearing up for Phase 2 clinical trials on a version designed for global scale.

Potential medical breakthroughs like this are rare. Even rarer? You can invest in Cytonics at the pre-clinical stage. Become a Cytonics shareholder by 4/25 for exclusive early-stage bonus stock guarantees.

➤ Richmond: Lawmakers removed Gov. Abigail Spanberger's changes from some high-profile bills, including one that would create a marijuana marketplace and one that aims to promote the affordability of prescription drugs. The governor has 30 days to either veto the bills or allow them to become law. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: Scores of businesses at the Oceanfront plan to take part in a Take Back Our Beach Day tomorrow, after a temporary curfew that closed the area at 9:30 p.m. ends. (More)

➤ Radford: The city council is set to meet on Tuesday to vote on whether to enact increases in real estate taxes and utility rates. (Details)

➤ Keswick: The late-season overnight freeze this week damaged grape vines across Central Virginia. "Are we going to make as much wine as we normally would in a normal year? Absolutely not. I would say it is pretty significant," one winemaker said. (More)

➤ Blacksburg: A new position at Virginia Tech, the Coordinator to Support Virginia's Large Animal Veterinary Workforce, aims to improve medical care for the Commonwealth's livestock. (Details)

➤ Stafford and Fredericksburg: The Virginia Department of Health warned that two children with measles may have exposed others, including students at Grafton Village Elementary School. (More)

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➤ The Washington Commanders selected Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 pick in the first round of last night’s NFL draft. Rounds two and three continue today. (See Full Draft)

➤ Richmond won its second straight Atlantic 10 women's golf championship by 28 strokes this week, with Maya Beasley earning medalist honors and all five Spiders finishing in the top five individually. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech athletics director Whit Babcock announced he will retire after a 12-year tenure in Blacksburg, but will remain a special advisor to the university president. (More)

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➤ Why doctors are calling Berberine "Nature's Weight Loss Secret." In a 12-week study, participants taking berberine lost 5 pounds and 3.6% body fat. Research shows it reduces appetite, blocks new fat cell formation, and activates a key metabolism-regulating enzyme called AMPK—all without prescriptions or dangerous side effects. Learn More

➤ A new owner will end the production of Stone Brewing in Richmond, 10 years after the city crafted a multimillion-dollar package to lure the brewer. The local taproom will temporarily close and reopen under a new name. (Details)

➤ The Growth and Opportunity for Virginia grants announced recently include the $4.23 million Advanced Manufacturing Initiative in the Roanoke region, which will provide training and small-business support. (More)

➤ The system integration of Virginia Credit Union and Member One Credit Union went live this week and left some customers locked out of their accounts. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Spring is here—time to blast away months of dirt and grime without the hassle. The HydroX5 Pressure Washer delivers powerful, cordless cleaning that’s up to 5× stronger than a standard hose, making it easy to refresh patios, driveways, cars, and outdoor furniture in minutes. Lightweight and portable, it lets you clean anywhere—no cords, no heavy equipment—so you can enjoy a spotless home all season long. LEARN MORE

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They’re Challenging Big Pharma at a $560 Billion Game

Big Pharma companies spent billions trying to cure osteoarthritis. An upstart biotech called Cytonics may have actually done it.

Their first-gen therapy has already been used to treat 10,000+ patients successfully.

Now, after completing Phase 1 FDA trials, Cytonics is gearing up for a Phase 2 clinical trial for “CYT-108”, their next-gen drug candidate that's 200% more potent and built for global scale.

The opportunity? 500m+ people deal with osteoarthritis worldwide, with no treatment that can actually stop it. It’s a $560b market in total. It’s also why Cytonics has raised $25m from over 7,000 investors.

And you can join them ahead of Phase 2 trials. Invest in Cytonics by 4/24 to earn up to 18% bonus stock.

This is a paid advertisement for Cytonics Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://cytonics.com/
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee of performance. Past performance does not predict future results. All investments involve risk, including loss of principal.

➤ The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center released two bobcats into the wild after nursing them back to health for almost a year. (Details)

➤ Nova Adventure Park teamed up with Virginia Beach police to crack down on trespassing. It will also share surveillance camera data with authorities. (More)

➤ The Virginia Breeze bus service launched the Tidewater Current line to serve 10 cities in five counties from Harrisonburg to Virginia Beach. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ After Harvard's latest brain discovery, you no longer have to lose your memory. We are born with "memory protein." After 50, it decreases, leading to mental decline. The solution is a song that reactivates it – boosting memory, eliminating brain fog, and sharpening thinking. 7-minute brain song reactivates your "memory protein"