Friday, September 25, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1789, Congress agreed on 12 amendments to the new Constitution, which had been introduced by James Madison in the House of Representatives, and sent them to the states for consideration. Articles three through twelve were ratified and became the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791.

Leaf-peepers, start your engines. Fall color is creeping into the northern Shenandoah Valley, and rangers say this week's rain should make the show extra vivid. Find the best seat in the house near Front Royal in Top Stories, then tell us where you go for fall color in today's Poll.

Today’s sponsor is Curated Gift Guides, rounding up 37 of the most useful and ingenious gadgets of 2026 designed to solve everyday problems and make great gifts.

NASA Eyes Wallops Expansion

NASA is considering about 150 acres on the south end of Wallops Island for new launch facilities and supporting infrastructure.

The goal is to add more orbital launches by moving some existing suborbital operations to Launch Area 3, and the land could eventually be leased to commercial or government launch operators. NASA hasn't awarded a construction contract and is instead asking potential developers what they would build, how much land they'd need, and how many launches they could support, with responses due Oct. 30.

The push follows an inspector general audit that found launches jumped 467% at Wallops between 2020 and 2025. NASA officials estimate the facility could hit its current capacity of about 32 launches and 128 launch events a year by 2028 without more room.

For the Eastern Shore, expansion could eventually mean more launches, construction work, and aerospace jobs.

Early Fall Color Reaches Front Royal

Front Royal, the Warren County town at the northern end of Skyline Drive, is seeing early fall color as leaves begin turning across the northern Shenandoah Valley.

At Shenandoah River State Park south of town, most trees are still green, but rangers say splashes of color are showing along the river from Cullers Overlook. The overlook takes in the Massanutten range and the Shenandoah River below.

Recent rain should make this year's colors more vivid, and cooler, wetter weather ahead will speed the change. The park hosts a Harvest Moon Night Hike Saturday from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

State foresters also map a driving tour that follows Browntown Road along the base of Skyline Drive before looping back past the state park, about 75 minutes round trip.

Virginia Tech, Hollins Earn Top College Rankings

Virginia Tech tied for 19th among the nation's top public universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2027 Best Colleges rankings, released Tuesday.

The school moved up two spots on the public list, sharing the position with William & Mary and the University of Georgia. It also tied for 52nd among all national universities, and its undergraduate engineering programs tied for 15th among universities that offer a doctorate.

In Roanoke County, Hollins University placed 13th among regional universities in the South, where it also ranked 10th among private colleges and seventh for best value. President Mary Dana Hinton said, "Across these rankings, several different extraordinary facets of a Hollins experience are highlighted."

The University of Virginia again led the state, ranking fourth among public schools and 26th overall, with a 95% graduation rate that has topped all public universities since 2003.

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The 37 Best Gadgets of 2026 You Won’t Find in Stores

The best gadgets aren’t just cool... they solve real everyday problems. From clutter-busting tools to clever tech upgrades, these picks are making waves for their usefulness and ingenuity. We’ve rounded up the most talked-about items that people can’t stop adding to their carts.

Each one combines practical function with a touch of genius, making them perfect for your home, office, or even as gifts. But be warned... demand is skyrocketing, and these top gadgets are already selling out faster than expected.

Learn More

➤ Weyers Cave: A chemical fire at the DEGESCH America pesticide plant forced a shelter-in-place Tuesday afternoon. Fire officials said the toxic phosphine gas was never released, and one firefighter suffered a minor inhalation injury. Blue Ridge Community College closed early. (See Response)

➤ Fairfax County: Police are planning a 90-day pilot starting in January that uses electronic noise monitors to ticket drivers whose vehicles top 95 decibels. Citations of $100 will follow a 30-day warning period, with equipment in Tysons and Hybla Valley. (See Plan)

➤ Waynesboro: A 9-year-old boy brought a knife with a 3.5-inch blade to Berkeley Glenn Elementary on Wednesday. A classmate alerted staff, who secured the knife, and a threat assessment found students and staff were not in danger. (Read Report)

➤ Bedford: Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix, the first enlisted Army Special Forces soldier to earn the honor, shared his story with more than 100 JROTC and ROTC cadets and a group of Vietnam veterans at the National D-Day Memorial. He received the medal for leading rescue missions during the 1968 Tet Offensive. (See Visit)

➤ Salem: Two Salem Fire-EMS employees are no longer with the department after an off-duty incident on Interstate 81. A driver's dash cam captured a racial slur shouted from their truck, according to WSLS, though city officials have declined to discuss details. (See Details)

➤ Pearisburg: A Giles County woman bought a Big Bank Payday scratch-off at the North Main Street Food Lion because her mother talked her into it, and won $500,000. She plans to buy her mom a new car and take a trip to Dollywood. (See Win)

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➤ Virginia women's basketball hired Damin Altizer as director of player development under first-year coach Aaron Roussell. A former Cavaliers walk-on, Altizer coached the St. Anne's-Belfield boys for seven seasons and has trained pros Ty Jerome, De'Andre Hunter, and Trey Murphy. (Meet Altizer)

➤ Virginia Tech (3-0) opens ACC play at Boston College at noon Saturday, chasing its first 4-0 start since 2017. The same nor'easter that hit the Virginia coast this week could bring rain and 45 mph gusts to Chestnut Hill. (More)

➤ Sen. Tim Kaine voted against advancing the Protect College Sports Act, a bill that would cap what college athletes can earn and limit transfers, saying it isn't ready "until it strikes the right balance" for athletes. The bill cleared another Senate hurdle Thursday and still needs House approval. (More)

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➤ Stop cutting into your steak to guess if it's done. The MEATER Plus tracks internal and ambient temp from your phone, wirelessly, so you can walk away from the grill without walking away from a perfect cook. Find yours at Ace Hardware.

➤ Pittsburgh-based First National Bank, a $51 billion institution, leased ground-floor space at Altitude on Main for a downtown Richmond branch and administrative offices opening in 2027. The bank’s name will be installed atop the 17-story tower, marking its third Richmond-area location. (More)

➤ 169 Virginia wineries and vineyards received temporary waivers letting them source more grapes from vineyards they don't own or lease, after spring frost and freezes caused extensive crop losses. The USDA declared a natural disaster in 104 localities at Gov. Abigail Spanberger's request. (See Waiver)

➤ Sentara Health Plans will raise premiums an average 22.7% next year for Virginians who buy their own insurance, the steepest increase of any carrier. Sentara says it offered the lowest-priced plans in every region this year and expects its individual enrollment to drop by about a third. (See Rates)

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Genius Gadgets: The 37 That Actually Earn Their Keep

Smart shoppers know the secret: the best gadgets earn their keep. These 37 picks prove it. They aren't gimmicks or dust collectors, they're practical innovations that deliver real value every single day.

Whether you're organizing your space, upgrading your routine, or getting a head start on gifts, this list highlights what's genuinely worth buying right now. The catch? These popular items are selling faster than anticipated, so availability won't last.

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➤ The Museum of Culpeper History will unveil a marker at 1 p.m. Saturday honoring the Manahoac nation and its history in Virginia’s Piedmont. The marker will stand at the Rappahannock River Campground near the confluence of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers, where the Manahoac established the town of Hasinninga. (More)

➤ Dirty Dancing: The Musical plays Richmond's Altria Theater through Sunday, with Annalese Starzec as Baby and Blake Zelesnikar as Johnny. The touring production is directed by Lonny Price, who played Neil Kellerman in the 1987 film. (Meet Cast)

➤ Carilion Clinic researchers in Roanoke won a $623,000 federal grant to test whether psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms," can curb cocaine addiction when paired with talk therapy. The award could grow to $3.5 million if the pilot shows results. (See Grant)

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