Friday, October 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1919, Staunton-born President Woodrow Wilson suffered a massive stroke that paralyzed his entire left side. His inner circle secretly concealed the crisis from the public and officials, and for the rest of his term, his wife, Edith, screened his paperwork and decided who reached him.

Virginia has started sealing certain old criminal records. Learn more in Top Stories, then let us know if you agree with what’s happening by answering today’s Poll.

Today’s sponsor is Aerless Vacuum Travel Bags, helping fall travelers pack bulky sweaters, jackets, and layers while saving up to 60% of valuable luggage space.

Virginia Early Voting Outpaces 2022

Virginians have cast nearly 221,000 early ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election, running at roughly double the 2022 pace.

About 220,969 ballots had been returned as of Monday, Sept. 28, and early in-person voting continues through Oct. 31. For the first time, every voting site will offer Sunday hours on Oct. 18 and Oct. 25.

The ballot runs long. Voters pick a U.S. senator and representatives in all 11 congressional districts, and weigh three proposed amendments to the state constitution.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, is seeking a fourth term against Republican Bert Mizusawa, a retired Army major general.

The amendments address abortion, same-sex marriage, and restoring voting rights to people convicted of felonies once they’re released from prison.

Hegseth Cuts Generals/Admirals at Quantico

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a 20% cut to the military’s general and admiral positions in a speech Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

The reduction doubles a 10% cut he ordered in May 2025, applies to roughly 800 general and flag officer positions, and is to be finished by Jan. 1, 2027. That resonates in Virginia, one of the most military- and veteran-heavy states and home to the Pentagon and Naval Station Norfolk.

Hegseth also announced a new command to oversee military drones and robotics and cast the shake-up as cutting bureaucracy. He called the reductions “accountability and long overdue.”

Hegseth has drawn pushback from lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, who warn the cuts could cost experienced leadership.

Virginia Starts Sealing Old Criminal Records

Virginia began automatically sealing certain old criminal convictions on Oct. 1, a shift advocates say could clear the records of roughly 415,000 people.

The Clean Slate Act, passed in 2021, now automatically seals certain misdemeanor convictions—including petit larceny, disorderly conduct, certain trespass offenses, and some marijuana offenses—after seven conviction-free years. Petition-based sealing for other offenses, including some felonies, began July 1.

Sealed records stay open to courts, prosecutors, and police, but drop off most job, housing, and background checks. Studies cited by advocates find wages rise about 23% within a year of sealing.

The state won’t notify people whose records qualify, so advocates urge Virginians to check the Clean Slate Virginia website for themselves.

Flying together with our sponsor

Fall travel means packing bulkier layers, sweaters, and jackets—but Aerless Vacuum Travel Bags can help you make room for it all. Designed to compress 15+ clothing items and save up to 60% of your luggage space, they make it easier to pack more without immediately reaching for a bigger suitcase.

With durable, anti-rip construction and a portable vacuum pump, Aerless lets you compress clothes wherever your fall adventures take you. Pack smarter, stay organized, and leave extra room for everything you bring home.

➤ Statewide: Starting Jan. 1, renters can hang plug-in “balcony solar” panels to shave their power bills under a law Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed this year, which bars landlords with more than four rental units from banning the setups. (More)

➤ VA Universities: Undergraduate enrollment at Virginia’s public colleges and universities is holding steady and edging up from pandemic lows this fall, early estimates show, even as some universities report steep drops in graduate students. (More)

➤ Richmond’s transportation department plans more than 700 safety upgrades at intersections across the city under its Vision Zero initiative, with the first phase starting this fall. (More)

➤ James City County: Former police officer Androu Eskandar, 30, faces five felony and three misdemeanor counts of computer invasion of privacy, plus five misdemeanor counts of misusing the Flock license plate reader system, which he allegedly used to track coworkers. (More)

➤ Leesburg ranked as Virginia’s top small city and No. 13 nationally on a 2026 Best Small Cities list, which scored 1,318 cities on affordability, economy, education, quality of life, and safety. (See Rankings)

➤ Albemarle County: More than 100 Monticello High School students walked out of class Wednesday to support Principal Beth Costa, one of three county principals the school division says will be “out of the building for an extended period of time.” The division has not said why. (More)

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

➤ Undefeated Virginia Tech and Pitt clash tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN in a sold-out Lane Stadium ACC showdown, with the Hokies favored to edge the Panthers 27-23 and claim early conference supremacy. (See Preview)

➤ Meanwhile, UVA (3-1) visits Florida State (2-2) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Tallahassee for an ACC rematch of last year’s double-overtime thriller, with the favored Cavaliers seeking their first true road win. (See Preview)

➤ James Madison hosts Marshall Saturday at 3:45 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg for JMU’s Family Weekend. The game will air live on ESPNU. (See Preview)

➤ Virginia Tech baseball coach John Szefc agreed to a contract extension through 2030, athletic director Brian White announced Wednesday, after Szefc led the program to its second NCAA Regional appearance of his tenure. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Real Reason Skin Starts To Thin After 50 (It’s Not What You Think). Remember when bruises faded fast and skin bounced back? New research shows a particular deficiency impacts strength and dark spots too—and you don’t have to accept paper-thin, discolored skin as the “new normal.” Unfortunately, most people don’t know that thinning, aging skin is often caused by this. Learn More

➤ A Virginia Tech foundation subsidiary finalized its $14 million purchase of the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center, with the full amount going to the city of Roanoke. The commission that oversaw the facility will now begin a roughly yearlong dissolution process. (More)

➤ A mixed-use development called Tanglewood Crossing in southwest Roanoke County announced its first tenants, including Bubbakoo’s Burritos, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Biscuit Belly, and European Wax Center, followed by apartments alongside the shops. The retail center is set to open in March 2027. (More)

➤ Richmond and its Economic Development Authority asked a court to toss a lawsuit from the Flying Squirrels’ owners, Navigators Baseball, over alleged changes and delays to the Diamond District project. The suit also names developer Diamond District Partners and the firm Thalhimer Realty Partners. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stay fresh wherever life takes you with the BumBum Portable Bidet. Compact and travel-friendly, it delivers a gentle water cleanse without relying on rough toilet paper or irritating wipes. Its rechargeable design and simple operation make cleaner bathroom breaks easy at home, work, while traveling, or anywhere you need them. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Pack 3X More in Any Bag. Checked bags cost money and time. Aerless compression bags let you fit 3X more into a single carry-on, with a pocket-sized rechargeable pump that removes excess air in seconds. Over 1 million travelers use it, backed by 50,000+ five-star reviews. (Click here)

➤ NASA and Old Dominion University are teaming up to build a flood-prediction tool for Hampton Roads, a “geo-visualization hub” that uses satellite data and modeling to flag vulnerable areas and target flood defenses. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility was scheduled to support a U.S. Navy sounding rocket launch Thursday as part of a live-fire training exercise, with the liftoff potentially visible from the immediate area. (More)

➤ As Domestic Violence Awareness Month begins, a Richmond survivor is channeling her own experience into a fashion show meant to empower others. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Keep food fresher and cut down on waste with SealPro, the compact cordless vacuum sealer. It seals food in under five seconds, works with reusable bags and containers, and helps food stay fresh up to five times longer. Rechargeable and drawer-friendly, SealPro brings powerful vacuum sealing anywhere.

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

➤ Congress has passed a bill renaming Social Security terms that lawmakers say confuse the millions who retire every year. (Hear Details)

➤ New reporting reveals why body fat is so essential, raising the question of what the right amount is. (Listen Now)

➤ Federal health officials are putting $10 million on the line to revive the Presidential Fitness Test, which researchers say could backfire. (Full Story)