Jumat, 16 Oktober 2026

90 Speed Limiting Devices, a Flying Taxi, and Halloween ZooBoo

Friday, October 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1957, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Virginia for the 350th anniversary of Jamestown’s founding. Their whirlwind tour included Jamestown Island, the new Jamestown Festival Park, the College of William and Mary, a reception at Colonial Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace, and dinner at the Williamsburg Inn.

Virginia is reining in reckless drivers using speed-limiting devices. Learn more in Top Stories.

Peptides are getting a lot of attention these days, but knowing where to start isn't always easy. A few of us here at The Flyover recently tried today's sponsor, The Pep Report, and were impressed by how simple the process was and how interesting it is to learn more about your own genetics.

Virginia Caps Reckless Drivers’ Speed

Ninety reckless drivers now have speed-limiting devices in their vehicles, three months into a new state program.

The Intelligent Speed Assistance Program, launched this summer, requires certain reckless drivers to fit a device that physically prevents their vehicle from topping the posted limit. The Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program says 145 drivers have been referred so far.

Unlike earlier alert systems that beep or buzz, the device simply won’t let the car exceed the limit. “The technology itself is actually really non-intrusive,” said Michael Travars, president of device-maker LifeSafer.

Travars said the benefit reaches beyond the drivers themselves, keeping people in crosswalks and 25-mph zones safer. Virginia is the first state to put the approach on the road.

Virginia Tech Leads Flying Taxi Effort

NASA has committed nearly $6 million to a Virginia Tech-led team trying to write the rules that would let electric flying taxis win certification to fly.

The three-year project aims to build certification requirements into aircraft designs from the outset, shortening development and sparing manufacturers costly late changes. Lead researcher Darshan Sarojini said none of the companies now building the electric aircraft have been certified yet.

One goal is reaching travelers who live far from major airports. From Blacksburg, Sarojini noted, Roanoke’s airport is about an hour away, and Charlotte or Washington airports are three to four hours away.

The team pairs Virginia Tech’s aerospace engineers with Boeing, Chesapeake-based Tidal Flight, and several universities, plus an FAA-designated flight-test site at the university’s Kentland Farm. It also aims to train the next workforce, from K-12 students to Ph.D. candidates.

FBI Director Patel Visits Liberty University

FBI Director Kash Patel visited Liberty University in Lynchburg on Wednesday to boost 5th District Congressman John McGuire ahead of Election Day.

Patel joined McGuire, a Republican, for a roundtable with law students and local law enforcement, including sheriffs and commonwealth’s attorneys from Bedford, Appomattox, and Amherst counties. They urged students toward careers in public safety.

With artificial intelligence increasingly turning up in crime and cybersecurity, Patel told students their generation’s fluency is needed. “You grew up in it ... so we need your input on that,” he said.

McGuire faces Democrat Tom Perriello in November in one of Virginia’s most-watched House races. A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll put McGuire ahead 51% to 45%.

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➤ Southwest Virginia: Sixteen contractors at the Smurfit Westrock paper mill in Covington were treated at LewisGale Hospital Alleghany and released after reporting nausea and mild symptoms around 5 p.m. Wednesday. The company said the cause is under investigation. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads: A new Christopher Newport University poll in the 2nd Congressional District shows Democrat Elaine Luria leading Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans 46% to 43% among likely voters, within the margin of error. (More)

➤ Chesterfield County: A driver crashed into Bella Italia restaurant on Iron Bridge Place Wednesday evening and had to be freed by firefighters. Fire officials said no one was hurt. (See Photos)

➤ Richmond is giving public-utility customers less time to pay: monthly bills will be due 25 days after the service date instead of 30. The window shrinks to 27 days for November due dates and 25 days starting with December due dates. (More)

➤ Martinsville is defying trends by reversing five decades of population decline with 2.8% growth since 2020. The city is also growing younger due to in-migration, with its median age now 36.1 versus Virginia’s 39.2. (More)

➤ Christiansburg: Police Chief David C. Ramsey will retire Dec. 31 after 26 years with the town and 31 total years in law enforcement, the town announced Thursday. (More)

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➤ Old Dominion jumped ahead early but fell 23-15 at home to Georgia Southern, as the Monarchs managed only a late fourth-quarter touchdown after trailing most of the night in Sun Belt play. (See Stats)

➤ UVA volleyball defeated Virginia Tech 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23) on Wednesday night at Memorial Gymnasium in Charlottesville. Lauryn Bowie’s 10th kill sealed the fourth set. (See Stats)

➤ UVA football (4-2) visits 24th-ranked SMU (4-1) on Saturday at noon, with the Cavaliers’ defense bracing for Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings, who threw for 3,641 yards last season. Virginia has managed just 13 sacks in six games. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NFL | NCAAF | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ Radford University and the Virginia Credit Union opened a Financial Success Center at the university’s Davis College of Business and Economics, backed by a $2.5 million commitment. It offers one-on-one coaching and workshops on budgeting, credit, and student loans. (More)

➤ A developer let a $750 million investment agreement for 475 acres at the New River Valley Commerce Park in Pulaski County expire on Oct. 5, shelving plans that could have included a data center. No end user had been identified. (More)

➤ Pinnacle Living plans to raze the Virginia Crossings Hotel beside The Crossings Golf Club in Henrico for a $150 million senior community with 350 independent-living, assisted-living, and memory-care apartments. The project still needs county approval. (More)

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➤ Franklin County matriarch Mabel Pullen turned 110 on Sept. 15, and Rocky Mount declared Oct. 14 “Mabel Pullen Day” in her honor. Pullen heads a six-generation family and is known for her cooking and generosity. (See Video)

➤ A national analysis of 45 large U.S. urban areas ranked Richmond 11th for growth, up 2.35% from 2022 to 2024, while the Virginia Beach area slipped about 0.1%. Miami led at 5.1%. (See Map)

➤ The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk hosts its Halloween ZooBoo on Oct. 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with trick-or-treat stations, costume contests, and animal enrichment. (See Details)

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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.

➤ France has begun deploying military assets to protect Saudi oil facilities as Houthi attacks escalate around a vital Red Sea export route. (Full Story)

➤ Amazon has launched two always-listening AI devices that turn conversations into to-dos, reviving privacy questions around the tech giant. (See Product)

➤ One common instinct makes stubborn knots in necklaces, cords, and holiday lights even worse. (Hear Story)