Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1932, Patsy Cline was born as Virginia Patterson Hensley in Winchester. A pioneering country singer, her hits include Walkin’ After Midnight, I Fall to Pieces, and Crazy. She died in a 1963 plane crash, and later became the first solo woman inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Today’s issue of The Virginia Flyover is a shortened holiday edition to allow The Flyover staff to enjoy the Labor Day holiday with friends and family. Our regular edition will return tomorrow.

For the first time in American history, a major political party is holding a full national convention in a midterm year. Two nights, one Dallas arena, and around 20,000 people expected through the doors, but the biggest surprise isn't who's speaking; it's whether the major TV networks will even show up to cover it. On The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down the 10 things you need to know about this week's unprecedented convention, including a viral website stunt that has both parties talking. Tune in here!

Later today, you’ll get an email from our partner Fisher Investments with its latest outlook on what could keep the bull market running.

When it comes to peptides, there are more options than ever, and figuring out what actually makes sense for you can feel like guesswork. Today’s sponsor, The Pep Report, takes a different approach: start with your DNA and use your genetics to help narrow down the options.

Teen Killed at Manassas First Friday

A 16-year-old girl was shot and killed at the crowded First Friday block party in Old Town Manassas on Friday night.

Police Chief Doug Keen described her as an innocent bystander caught in gunfire between two men. The block party had drawn an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people downtown.

A 21-year-old Prince William County man, Tasheem Rashad Douglas, was also struck by gunfire in the incident. Police say he is one of two people who exchanged gunfire and that he fired the shot that killed the teen.

He was initially treated as a victim before being identified as a suspect and charged with second-degree murder and firearm offenses. He remains hospitalized in Fairfax County. A second suspected shooter has not been arrested.

Saturday night, mourners gathered at the historic train station, leaving flowers, candles, and a balloon for the victim, who was a student at Patriot High School.

UVA: Calcium Channels Fuel Glioblastoma Growth

University of Virginia researchers have identified calcium channels as a promising target against glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest form of brain cancer.

Led by Dr. Roger Abounader of the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, the team found that these channels in tumor cells and surrounding nerve cells drive growth by enabling harmful connections.

In mouse studies, blocking the channels slowed tumor formation, extended survival, and appeared to make cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation and chemotherapy. An existing FDA-approved calcium blocker, mibefradil, showed potential for rapid testing in newly diagnosed patients.

The findings offer hope for a disease that kills more than 13,000 Americans yearly. Clinical trials would first require manufacturing clinical-grade mibefradil, which is no longer produced and would need significant funding.

Dirty Dancing Turns 40 in Virginia

Cameras started rolling on Dirty Dancing 40 years ago this month at Mountain Lake Resort in Giles County.

Most of the film was shot at the isolated resort over six weeks beginning Sept. 5, 1986, standing in for a 1963 Catskills getaway. The movie grossed more than $200 million and made Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey stars.

Swayze mingled with the crew and hotel staff, bought beer for the kitchen, and hitched a ride to Blacksburg on a cook’s motorcycle. “He was a very congenial person. Didn’t put on any airs at all,” Mountain Lake chef Mike Porterfield recalled.

Four decades on, anniversary events and themed dance weekends still draw fans to the resort, where the water level famously rises and falls with the underlying geology.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statins May Be Helping… and Hurting Statins are meant to protect your heart — but they can also block something your body desperately needs. CoQ10 fuels every cell, from your brain to your muscles. As you age, or if you take statins, your CoQ10 levels can plummet up to 40% — leaving you tired, foggy, and drained. Click here to discover the right form of CoQ10 you need to support your today. Learn more

Flying together with our sponsor

Before You Spend Money on Peptides, See What Your DNA Says

Peptides have become one of the biggest topics of conversation in anti-aging, longevity, weight loss, recovery, and muscle growth. But here’s the problem: the same peptide may not work the same way for everyone.

The Pep Report analyzes more than 710,000 genetic markers and compares them against published research to help identify which peptides and nutraceuticals your biology may support.

And because your DNA doesn’t change, you only need to test it once. A simple cheek swab gives you genetic information you can reference as you explore different options, rather than spending money blindly and hoping something works.

The Flyover readers automatically get 10% off, no code needed. See which peptides match your DNA.

➤ Statewide: A George Mason University-led study found Virginia’s Medicaid pays doctors far less than private insurers for the same preventive care. Commercial plans paid 28% more than Medicaid managed care and 35% more than traditional Medicaid. (More)

➤ Arlington: The Pentagon Memorial Fund will break ground Sept. 12 on a Visitor Education Center beside the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, the only one of the three attack sites without one. (More)

➤ Suffolk: An equine rescue took in four horses from a Texas kill pen, including Bourbon and Boots, a former racehorse with arthritis whose owners dumped her when she could no longer race. Two are healing in Suffolk, and two are in North Carolina. (More)

➤ Richmond: The city will hold a free recycling and disposal event for residents Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1710 Robin Hood Road. It will accept paper shredding, electronics (with some fees), and household hazardous waste. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: The inaugural Super Girl Surf Festival at the Oceanfront during Labor Day weekend drew tens of thousands for a free three-day run of women’s surfing, skating, beach sports and 20-plus concerts. (More)

➤ Also Virginia Beach: The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art Boardwalk Art Show returns Oct. 9-11 for its 70th year, again presented by Atlantic Union Bank, running free along the boardwalk from 23rd to 33rd Street. (More)

Like The Virginia Flyover? Share it with a friend! ✈️

Flying together with our sponsor

One Test. 710,000+ Genetic Markers.

Instead of relying entirely on trial and error, The Pep Report gives you a more personalized place to start. Your DNA sample is collected with a simple at-home cheek swab, then analyzed to provide insights based on your unique genetics.

If you’re already researching peptides, or simply curious about what your genetics may reveal, this could help you ask better questions before deciding what to try.

The Flyover readers get 10% off automatically. Get your pep report here.

What’s your favorite Patsy Cline hit?

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you visited Historic Jamestown?

Yes: 82%
No: 10%
Not yet: 8%

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes.

➤ Republicans are holding the first-ever midterm national convention this week, but major networks may skip it. (Listen Now)

➤ OpenAI's own chief scientist is sounding the alarm on advanced AI, warning no one is prepared for what comes next. (Hear Why)

➤ How long do you think the average American takes in the shower, and is it too long? (Hear Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Soft, Absorbent Bath Sheets for a Better Post-Shower RoutineA great shower deserves an equally great towel. Cozy Earth’s plush, oversized bath sheets are made to feel exceptionally soft, absorbent, and spa-worthy, turning an everyday routine into a little more comfort. For Labor Day, The Flyover readers can save 30% with code FLYOVER. Shop Cozy Earth bath sheets here.