Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1970, Virginia voters overwhelmingly ratified the Commonwealth’s current constitution, replacing the 1902 charter and formally striking its poll tax and other voting barriers, which federal law and the courts had already outlawed.

If you’re heading out to vote in today’s midterms, the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line at 7 p.m. can still vote. See yesterday’s edition for our voting guide, then let us know your voting strategy by taking today’s Poll.

How's your blood pressure? A blood pressure check is so routine that most of us never stop to wonder whether the number is actually right. The squeeze of the cuff, the beep of the machine, and a number in your chart before you’ve rolled your sleeve back down. The American Heart Association says seven everyday mistakes can quietly inflate a reading, and when 30 health care professionals were tested on how to take one properly, only three passed. Ayla counts down the seven mistakes that throw off your blood pressure reading on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Later today, you'll receive a special email from Incogni about how to remove your personal information from hundreds of data broker sites and help protect yourself from scams. Plus, there's an exclusive Black Friday offer to save 58% on annual plans.

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is sharing 18 little-known Costco shopping secrets that could help you uncover hidden deals, maximize your membership, and save more money on your next shopping trip.

A Third of Drivers Ignore I-81 Speed Fines

About a third of drivers ticketed by the new speed cameras in I-81 work zones aren’t paying their $100 fines, and Virginia has no way to collect them.

Since the cameras went live in the Roanoke and Botetourt County work zone, they issued 10,295 tickets through mid-October, and about 65% were paid. Farther north, roughly 71% paid up.

Virginia State Police say the $100 penalty, which doesn’t touch insurance or a driving record, is meant to slow traffic in dangerous work zones, not raise revenue. For now, troopers aren’t sending unpaid tickets to court or to collections.

That changes Jan. 1, when a new law requires a second notice and has courts flag unpaid fines to the Department of Motor Vehicles, blocking registration renewals.

Two Dead Outside Virginia Beach Amazon Facility

Two people were found dead Sunday afternoon after a shooting was reported outside an Amazon facility on Twin Mills Road in Virginia Beach.

Officers were called to the 1800 block of Twin Mills Road, off Dam Neck Road, around 2:30 p.m. Nov. 1 and found a man and a woman dead at the scene. Police say the pair were acquaintances and believe it was a murder-suicide.

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public, but the investigation remains active. They have not released the victims’ identities, what led to the shooting, or whether either person worked at Amazon.

Neutron Rocket Parts Reach Wallops

Rocket Lab has barged the second stage and thrust module of its new Neutron rocket down the Chesapeake Bay from its Maryland factory to Launch Complex 3 on Wallops Island.

The second stage and its thrust module left the company’s factory and traveled by barge to Launch Complex 3 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, a milestone toward the rocket’s first flight.

The thrust module is Neutron’s only physical link to the launch pad, so the hardware will undergo early fluid and interface tests on the mount before the full rocket is assembled.

The shipment follows the earlier arrival of Neutron’s reusable “Hungry Hippo” fairing. Rocket Lab now expects Neutron’s debut launch in 2027, after setbacks pushed it out of 2026.

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18 Costco Shopping Secrets That Could Save You Serious Money

Think you know all the tricks to saving money at Costco? Think again! Even longtime members may be missing out on hidden discounts, special pricing codes, and little-known perks that could make their membership even more valuable.

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➤ Loudoun County: Christian De Jesus Santiago, 30, of Woodbridge, whom deputies had called armed and dangerous after a domestic incident Sunday in Aldie, is now in custody. He faces charges including felony abduction and is being held without bond. (More)

➤ Alexandria: A federal judge on Monday dismissed a criminal complaint against Nikki Floris of Alexandria, a former FBI counterterrorism official accused alongside Bradley Benavides of misleading Congress about Hunter Biden’s laptop. (More)

➤ Martinsville is hunting for a building to house its police department as a state-mandated $46 million courthouse renovation forces nearly every city office to relocate. (More)

➤ Suffolk is drafting zoning rules for where recreational marijuana retail shops, growers, and processors can set up when Virginia’s retail market launches in 2027. State law bars outright bans and sets 1,000-foot buffers from schools, hospitals, and daycares. (More)

➤ Lynchburg: Reported SNAP benefit theft fell from nearly $63,000 in August to under $20,000 in October after the city piloted chip-enabled EBT cards, which Virginia is now adopting statewide. (More)

➤ Weyers Cave: Blue Ridge Community College and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank opened the 20th annual Virginia Hunger Symposium on Monday. Events include a student hunger documentary, a food pantry grand opening, panels, and an Empty Bowl Dinner. (More)

➤ Purcellville: More than 50 residents were evacuated from a USDA-financed housing complex after a stairwell collapsed. U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam is pressing for answers, citing years of reported unsafe conditions. (More)

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➤ The Washington Capitals host the Dallas Stars in a non-conference NHL matchup tonight at 7 p.m., with Dallas entering at 8-5-1 and Washington at 8-5-0. The game marks their first meeting of the season. (See Preview)

➤ Virginia Tech women’s basketball opened their season with a dominant 85-39 victory over North Carolina Central, led by Carleigh Wenzel’s 17 points in the home victory. (See Stats)

➤ Virginia women’s basketball opened their season with a dominant 87-45 win over Maryland Eastern Shore, paced by Kymora Johnson’s 21 points in the Cavaliers’ home victory. (More)

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➤ The 9-Cent Grocery Item Your Cardiologist Never Mentions. A study in the European Heart Journal linked a common grocery-store item to 41% fewer fatal heart events. It costs about nine cents, and most people walk past it every week. So why hasn't your doctor brought it up? It isn't a drug, so no drug rep ever puts it on their desk. And the few people who do find it often take far too little. See what it is (and how much to take)

➤ Colorado-based Vantage Data Centers paid about $9.4 million for a 180-acre site on the Powhatan-Chesterfield line, where it plans the Powhatan Technology Park, a data center campus that could eventually include up to four buildings totaling more than 2 million square feet. (More)

➤ Courthouse Creek Cider in Goochland County has closed after a decade as founders Liza Fierro-Cioffi and Eric Cioffi prepare to sell the business and 10-acre property while relocating to California’s Central Coast for retirement. (More)

➤ Aerospace defense firm Auria is establishing its East Coast headquarters in Fairfax County’s Reston area early next year, investing $1.8 million and creating at least 78 high-tech jobs to expand operations near D.C. (More)

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➤ Looking for your next favorite gadget? Explore this roundup of gadgets sold on Amazon and find inspiration for your shopping list. Whether you’re browsing for yourself or hunting for a gift, take a look through the featured picks. Your next discovery could be a click away.

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Costco Shoppers: Don't Miss These 18 Money-Saving Secrets!

You might love shopping at Costco, but are you getting the most out of your membership? From hidden clearance deals to secret price tag codes, there are clever ways to save that even longtime shoppers overlook.

FinanceBuzz reveals 18 Costco shopping hacks that could help you keep more money in your pocket.

See All 18 Costco Money-Saving Secrets Here >>

➤ Virginia Delegate Tom Garrett of Buckingham is demanding an audit after Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s office issued a voting-rights restoration certificate to Biscuit, a Goochland County dog who has been dead for five years, with the confused owner confirming the letter. (See Photos)

➤ Virginia is the 26th-highest among U.S. states for average annual drinking water costs, with households paying $463.33 in 2025, below the national average of $531. (See Rankings)

➤ Virginia Beach is No. 6, Chesapeake is No. 19, and Norfolk is No. 63 overall among the best U.S. cities for veterans in a newly released study. (See Rankings)

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