Friday, October 2, 2026

Early Ballots, Criminal Records Sealed, and ACC Matchups

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.

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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.

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➤ 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)

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➤ 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)

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➤ 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)

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➤ 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)

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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.

➤ 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)

Should certain old criminal records be sealed in Virginia?

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your take on flu shots?

Get one every year: 56%
Skip the shot: 37%
Get one every few years: 5%
Other: 2%

Why did the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics choose Wallops Island for its rocket test range?

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Bring on the Dodgers, 140 New Jobs, and Fall Colors Update

Friday, October 2, 2026

On this day in 1898, a hurricane with winds of 135 mph came ashore south of Brunswick, resulting in at least 179 deaths and widespread flooding and damage.

From the deadly 1898 hurricane to its role today as a major port and gateway to the Golden Isles, Brunswick has a rich history. In Et Cetera and Trivia, we dish on its signature food: Brunswick stew.

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.

Braves Blast into NLDS

The Atlanta Braves beat Philadelphia 6-2 in Thursday's winner-take-all Game 3 at Truist Park, advancing to the National League Division Series and a showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Stockbridge High School product Michael Harris II set the tone early for the Braves, launching a three-run homer in the first inning. Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson added home runs before a sold-out crowd.

Braves pitcher Ray Kerr made his first career postseason start and threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Ace starting pitcher Chris Sale recorded the final four outs in a surprise relief appearance.

Atlanta, the NL East champion under first-year manager Walt Weiss, opens the best-of-five NLDS against the Dodgers on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Plant To Bring 140 Jobs

Mayville Engineering Company will open a metal fabrication plant in Thomson, bringing about 140 jobs and a $26 million investment to McDuffie County.

MEC, founded in 1945, will refurbish an existing building on Superior Way and phase in equipment over several years. The company serves customers in commercial vehicles, data centers, construction, and agriculture.

Hiring is expected to begin later this year for operations, skilled trades, and management roles.

Local leaders called the project proof of the county's strengths in workforce and infrastructure.

Landmarks Gain Historic Status

Four Georgia properties have been added to the National Register of Historic Places, bringing the state to 2,205 listings, the Department of Community Affairs announced.

The F.W. Woolworth store in Savannah, where sit-ins helped make the city the first in Georgia to desegregate all public and private facilities, was listed July 17.

New Ford Baptist Church and Cemetery in Wilkes County and R.M. Moore Elementary School in Waleska were also added.

South-View Cemetery in Atlanta also joined the list. Chartered in 1886 and with about 80,000 graves, the cemetery was Georgia's first privately owned black cemetery corporation after the Civil War.

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➤ Athens: Regents officially named former Southern Company CEO Thomas A. Fanning the University System of Georgia's 15th chancellor, succeeding the retiring Sonny Perdue. (More)

➤ Jesup: City commissioners voted 4-2 to advance data center regulations rather than order a moratorium, following hours of public debate inside a packed recreation center. (More)

➤ Fort Stewart: Soldiers will soon move into renovated barracks designed around increased privacy, part of a major housing upgrade at the Army post. (More)

➤ Atlanta: The Beltline secured the final land rights needed to build its entire 22-mile trail loop, a milestone for the long-running project. (More)

➤ Statewide: A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit seeking Georgia's unredacted voter rolls, ruling the state may withhold voters' full birth dates, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. The Justice Department is considering an appeal. (More)

➤ Skidaway Island: Church volunteers will team with a nonprofit this weekend to build 50 beds for Savannah-area children who lack their own. (More)

➤ Dunwoody: The municipal court will offer ticket amnesty in October and November, waiving contempt fees on past-due citations paid in full and clearing failure-to-appear warrants. (More)

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➤ The Nashville Predators will air mostly on FOX 5's over-the-air subchannel, BUZZR (5.3), this season, bringing free NHL broadcasts to Atlanta area viewers. (More)

➤ No. 2 Georgia football hosts Vanderbilt at 12:45 p.m. Saturday at Sanford Stadium as the Bulldogs look to stay unbeaten ahead of a home date with Auburn later this month. (More)

➤ Valdosta State football, ranked No. 16 in Division II in the D2Football.com poll, returns from its bye week to host Erskine on Saturday. (More)

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➤ Business, farm, and forestry groups launched the Georgia Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition to boost domestic biofuel production and attract more facilities to the state. (More)

➤ Seventeen people in south Georgia pleaded guilty to claiming businesses they didn't own and forging tax forms to obtain nearly $500,000 in Paycheck Protection Program loans. (More)

➤ The Children's Museum in Pooler generates $8.7 million in annual regional economic impact, including drawing families to surrounding businesses, a Georgia Southern study found. (More)

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➤ The state's trees are taking their time changing colors, with some yellows and browns emerging in the mountains. (More)

➤ A 70-year-old Augusta triathlete took on the Ironman 70.3 Augusta 18 months after having three organs removed. Cramps forced him out during the bike segment. He vows to try again. (More)

➤ Eight barbecue restaurants, from Jackson to Macon to near Savannah, drew recognition for their takes on Brunswick stew. (More)

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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.

➤ 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)