Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1607, the 104 men and boys from England who had arrived in North America to establish a settlement picked Jamestown as the site of their colony. They named it for King James I, and it was the first permanent English settlement in North America.

Many places in Virginia are named for the English aristocracy. But not every place! We asked readers where their local names came from. "Roanoke was supposedly named for a similar word for local Native American money," one wrote.

"Middleburg got its name because it was midway between Washington, DC, and Winchester," another said. A Northern Virginia reader added, "Reston was a planned community designed by a guy named Robert E. Simon. So our name is RES (his initials)-ton."

Hit reply any time to share fun facts about our Commonwealth.

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our partner, Fisher Investments, with a free guide on seven retirement income strategies for investors with $1 million or more. It’s a simple way to compare your options.

Today’s sponsor, EnergyX, is positioning itself at the center of America’s growing lithium boom with patented extraction technology, major industry backing, and access to millions of tons of untapped lithium reserves across the Americas.

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.

Democrats Appeal to SCOTUS

Virginia Democrats appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to block a decision last week by the state Supreme Court that overturned the results of the April 21 referendum to amend the state constitution. The suit claims the court showed a "grave misunderstanding of federal law" in its decision.

Voters approved the change, which would allow redistricting this year, by a narrow margin. However, the state Supreme Court threw out that vote last week on procedural grounds.

The Virginia General Assembly spent $5 million of taxpayer money to administer the election, while private groups poured in more than $83 million.

Some Democrats have backed a plan that would remove all seven members of the state court so the case could be revived before a new Supreme Court. Gov. Abigail Spanberger made it clear that she opposes that idea.

Family Leave Bill Signed

Virginia became the first state in the South to mandate family and medical leave after Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a pair of bills this week.

Up to 12 weeks of paid leave will be available for new parents, patients recovering from a serious illness, those caring for an ailing family member, wounded military members, and those fleeing domestic violence.

The benefits will become available in December 2028, after paycheck contributions start in April of that year. The Virginia Employment Commission will administer the program.

Passenger Exposed to Hantavirus Under Observation

A Virginia resident will be kept at home and monitored for 42 days after being exposed recently to hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. "That person continues to be healthy," Dr. Brandy Darby of the Virginia Department of Health said.

Hantavirus has a long incubation period, with symptoms appearing from 1 to 8 weeks after infection. So far, only one Virginian is listed among the 18 Americans who may have been exposed during the cruise.

The Virginia resident disembarked the Hondius before the outbreak on the ship was discovered. If infected, this person may have exposed as many as four other Virginians during the return trip.

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Discovered: 328 Years Worth of Lithium

The United States just discovered a massive lithium reserve in the Appalachia region, a 328-year supply based on America’s 2025 import totals.

With Morgan Stanley forecasting an 80,000-ton shortage this year alone, the sooner we can tap into it, the better.

For companies like EnergyX, that spells opportunity. Their patented tech can recover lithium 500X faster than traditional methods. And where those only recover roughly 30% of available lithium, EnergyX recovers over 90%. It’s why industry leaders like General Motors have already invested.

With rights to up to 13M tons of untapped lithium across North and South America, EnergyX is already an emerging lithium power. They even just opened America’s largest lithium production facility in Texas.

All of which puts them on the short list of companies capable of turning massive reserves into fast results. Claim your piece of this lithium boom as an early-stage EnergyX investor while you can.

➤ Blacksburg: Virginia Tech's presidential search committee said it could take six months or more to replace outgoing President Tim Sands. "I think it's about finding the right person," committee member Bridget Ryan Berman said. "It will take as much time as it needs to take." (Details)

➤ Roanoke: The Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition installed six naloxone vending boxes to provide free medication in high-need areas of Roanoke, Martinsville, and Henry County. Naloxone can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads: Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans said she does not support an interviewer who told her that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries "should get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia." Kiggans said, "The radio host should not have used that language and I do not—and did not—condone it." (Details)

➤ Loudoun County: A student at Freedom High School reportedly took photos and video of other students in a school bathroom. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incidents, which may have occurred over the past three years. (More)

➤ Statewide: More than one-fifth of full-time jobs with the Virginia Department of Corrections are open, according to a recent survey. The available positions include corrections officers, nurses, and mental health specialists. (Details)

➤ Grundy: The Appalachian School of Law is considering a merger with the University of Pikeville in Kentucky. Buchanan County has agreed to spend millions of dollars to keep the struggling school afloat. (More)

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➤ A federal judge in Roanoke heard arguments this week about whether a homeschooled ninth grader should be allowed to run track at his local public high school. (More)

➤ Top 50 recruit Darius Bivins—who led Bishop O'Connell High School to a championship game—committed to play college ball at Saint Mary's this week. (Details)

➤ Washington Commanders first-round pick Sonny Styles chose to wear No. 52 as a nod to Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis, two linebackers he idolized growing up. (More)

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➤ Businesses across the Commonwealth said they are struggling because of soaring diesel fuel costs. "There are just some huge cost impacts, huge energy impacts," the vice president of a paving business said. "It's just at this point, it's really not sustainable to continue." (Details)

➤ Lumber Liquidators announced it will close its Sandston distribution center by the end of June and lay off all 65 employees there. (More)

➤ The Historic Cavalier Hotel may be up for sale, as the Virginia Beach Development Authority reconsiders its support for the property. (Details)

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➤ SpaceX is expected to go public in June, but most investors won’t get direct IPO access. That’s why the Trading Tips Research Team created a free report highlighting seven publicly traded space stocks positioned to benefit from a potential $1.5 trillion SpaceX valuation. Discover the companies with real revenue, catalysts, and upside potential before the IPO.

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America's Biggest Lithium Bet Just Went Live

Lithium prices are up 2X+ since last summer, and Morgan Stanley forecasts an 80,000-ton shortage in 2026. In other words, those with a reliable supply are sitting pretty.

So it’s a big deal that EnergyX just commissioned the single biggest lithium production facility of its kind in the United States.

EnergyX’s patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods at 500X the speed of evaporation ponds. With this facility, they’re preparing to produce it at scale.

They’ve got nearly 150,000 acres of lithium-rich land spread across the Americas, including the rights to up to 9.8M tons in Chile alone.

General Motors has already invested. Now, for a limited time, you can join them as an early-stage EnergyX investor.

➤ The Middle Ground Lighthouse, a privately owned residential property in the Chesapeake Bay that is only accessible by boat, is for sale. The facility is also a working lighthouse that flashes every night. (Details)

➤ The Fauquier Education Farm taps an unusual resource to find willing workers: inmates from the county jail. "I've never had any problems," farm director Jim Hankins said. (More)

➤ The Road Shark Campaign, a partnership between Fairfax County and Virginia State Police, generated more than 13,000 citations and warnings for dangerous driving in its first week. The program will return beginning June 8. (Details)

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➤ Your Joints Can Still Rebuild After 50. Most people accept joint pain as normal aging—but research says otherwise. A Tufts study found adults over 49 actually regrew knee cartilage using one natural peptide. By middle age, collagen drops by half. This helps your body rebuild what's lost. Learn More

Would you live in a lighthouse?

Tuesday's Results:

Do you believe UFOs are aliens?

Yes: 44%
No: 56%

What year did the Cavalier Hotel open in Virginia Beach?

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Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (“EnergyX”) has engaged The Flyover to publish this communication in connection with EnergyX’s ongoing Regulation A offering. The Flyover has been paid $7,500 and may receive additional compensation. The Flyover and/or its affiliates do not currently hold securities of EnergyX. This compensation and any current or future ownership interest could create a conflict of interest. Please consider this disclosure alongside EnergyX’s offering materials. EnergyX’s Regulation A offering has been qualified by the SEC. Offers and sales may be made only by means of the qualified offering circular. Before investing, carefully review the offering circular, including the risk factors. The offering circular is available at invest.energyx.com/. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar results. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Market shortfall are forward‑looking estimates and are subject to substantial uncertainty.

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