Monday, August 10, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1949, President Truman signed a law that created the Department of Defense, uniting the military services under a single secretary at the Pentagon in Arlington.

Did you know Virginia returned $159 million in unclaimed property to residents? Learn more in Top Stories, then take our Poll to let us know if you’re one of the recipients.

Today’s sponsor, PuriProduce, offers a simple, chemical-free way to help clean your fruits and vegetables, giving you added peace of mind with every meal.

Virginia Returns Record $159 Million to Residents

Virginia returned a record $159 million in unclaimed property to residents in fiscal year 2026, more than double what it paid out four years earlier.

The Department of Treasury cleared 160,000 claims, up from $59 million in payouts four years ago. Much of the jump comes from VACashNow, which mails checks under $5,000 without requiring anyone to file.

The program followed the Cash Now Act, signed by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin in March 2025, after a WTKR investigation found that the state was holding billions it wasn't returning. Treasury has since added search kiosks in libraries and hired staff to hunt down owners.

Virginia still holds $4.4 billion in unclaimed property and took in a record $391 million this year—more than it returned. A national watchdog says the state should list exact amounts and addresses instead of deciding for people whether a claim is worth chasing.

Voting Rights Amendment Heads to Ballot

Supporters of a constitutional amendment that would automatically restore voting rights to Virginians who complete felony sentences launched their campaign Thursday in Norfolk.

Known as Question Three, it would replace the current rule, under which people with felony convictions can vote only if the governor individually restores their rights, a default that only three states still impose.

Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, who chairs the House Privileges and Elections Committee, urged approval at the kickoff. One formerly incarcerated speaker said relying on a governor is “not restoration, that's permission.” Republicans favor the existing system in which the governor weighs restoration case by case.

A 2026 Christopher Newport University poll found that 64% of Virginia voters support the proposed amendment. Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, has restored more than 60,000 people's rights since January.

Virginia Ranks Last for On-Time Mail

Virginia ranked last among all states for on-time mail delivery in the U.S. Postal Service’s latest quarterly report, at 74.9%.

The USPS inspector general’s figure, covering the second quarter of 2026, trails the national average of 84.1% and the agency's own 87% target. Most of the worst-scoring regions sat on the East Coast.

The ranking follows a recent audit of four Virginia District facilities in Norfolk, Lynchburg, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach that found more than 91,600 pieces of delayed mail, much of it never reported.

Auditors also flagged staffing churn: the district hired more than 2,700 carriers and clerks over the past year but kept only 44%. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Virginia’s congressional delegation may again press postal leaders for answers.

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➤ Statewide: The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources launched the updated Second Breeding Bird Atlas website, adding new content on over 200 species’ distributions, habitats, and conservation insights from extensive citizen-science surveys. (More)

➤ Chesapeake Bay: An interstate fisheries board advanced a plan that could cut Virginia’s menhaden harvest in the bay by 10% to 50%, citing concern for the ospreys and striped bass that feed on the small fish. (More)

➤ Central VA: Appomattox County sheriff’s deputy Burlie W. Duvall III was killed on westbound Route 460 in Campbell County when a tractor-trailer swerved to avoid emergency vehicles at a crash scene. Seven others were hurt in the eight-vehicle pileup. (More)

➤ Norfolk: ICE agents arrested three Honduran nationals in a targeted operation Friday, drawing protests at the city’s federal building. (More)

➤ Roanoke: The Department of Homeland Security confirmed ICE detained restaurant kitchen manager Selvin Alfredo Ramos Perez, a Guatemalan national with prior removals and criminal history, after his public intoxication arrest. He faces removal proceedings. (More)

➤ Richmond Public Schools is closing its teacher shortage through the debt-free Supporting and Empowering Educator Development (SEED) program, which has trained educators since 2023 and supplied a third of new hires, leaving 33 vacancies. (More)

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➤ Washington Commanders star left tackle Laremy Tunsil will miss most of the 2026 season after suffering a torn triceps during a one-on-one rep at practice on Saturday. Tunsil became the highest-paid offensive lineman in league history earlier this offseason. (More)

➤ The Washington Nationals have promoted 2026 first-round pick Chris Hacopian to High-A Wilmington, opting to have him skip a level of the minor leagues and putting him on the fast track to make the big league club. (More)

➤ UVA football has announced it will integrate defenders Jacob Holmes and Cazeem Moore into its preseason activities after both look to receive an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA. (More)

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➤ The Virginia Beach City Council votes Tuesday on selling the 18-hole Virginia Beach National Golf Course to Dragas Companies, which would keep it public, invest $38 million in renovations, and build 659 homes on part of the 350-acre site. Residents and a federal lawsuit oppose the deal. (More)

➤ Local hotelier Sina Hospitality has proposed a $180 million sports complex in Colonial Heights featuring turf fields, hotels, and restaurants on a 38-acre city site near Southpark Mall. (More)

➤ Six Native American tribes are fighting to stop a planned 2,300-home Brookfield Residential development at Henrico’s Tree Hill Farm, regarded as Chief Powhatan’s birthplace and a sacred Indigenous historic site. (More)

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➤ Roanoke radio station 94.9 Star Country’s Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon raised more than $200,000 for pediatric cancer care, the most in the fundraiser’s 20-year run. The money will help more than 40 local families. (See Photos)

➤ VCU Health, funded by the American Heart Association, is studying drones to deliver defibrillators to cardiac emergencies in two to five minutes, potentially halving response times and saving thousands of lives. (More)

➤ Virginia ranks 27th among states for having a baby in a new study, scoring 51.92 overall based on stronger marks in cost and baby-friendliness but weaker in health care access. (See Map)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A boat carrying 14 people capsized off Liberty Island late Saturday night, killing a mother and her 5-month-old daughter. (Hear Story)

➤ Two tiny states out-drink everywhere else in America, and it's not who you'd guess. The real reason has less to do with thirst than with taxes. (Hear Which States)

➤ Couples are ditching the classic first-dance wedding songs for something else. (Hear What)