Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1781, Lord Cornwallis arrived at Petersburg, hoping to launch a summer campaign. Conflicting orders from New York eventually led him to occupy Yorktown, where British forces surrendered that October.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Amy Hess shared why researchers say two to three cups of coffee a day may quietly support one of the body’s hardest-working organs. Dietitians say growing evidence suggests coffee could help reduce inflammation and protect this vital organ from long-term damage. Listen here!

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our partner, Fisher Investments, with a free guide on seven retirement income strategies for investors with $1 million or more. It’s a simple way to compare your options.

If you’re trying to be more thoughtful about the media you consume, social media probably isn’t the best place to get your news. Most platforms are designed to provoke reactions, not encourage perspective. That’s why some of us read The Pour Over. It delivers the news in a balanced, easy-to-read format while incorporating a Christian perspective that many readers appreciate.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Newport News Shooting Trial Begins

Jury selection began Monday in the criminal trial of a former Newport News assistant principal accused of ignoring warnings that a 6-year-old student brought a loaded gun to class and shot his first-grade teacher in January 2023.

Ebony Parker faces eight counts of felony child neglect at Richneck Elementary School, one for each bullet in the gun. Teacher Abby Zwerner spent nearly two weeks in the hospital after a bullet narrowly missed her heart and remains lodged in her chest.

Zwerner underwent six surgeries and lost full use of her left hand. A civil jury awarded her $10 million last fall after finding Parker ignored repeated warnings about the gun. Parker's attorneys have argued the shooting was unforeseeable.

Criminal charges against school officials after a school shooting are rare. The student's mother was sentenced in 2023 to nearly four years in prison on felony child neglect and federal weapons charges.

Haymarket Gun Trafficker Pleads Guilty

Jorge Steve Zepeda Irias, who managed a Haymarket chicken farm and Salvadoran restaurant raided by the FBI in January, pleaded guilty to four firearms and drug trafficking felonies.

Zepeda operated the 38-acre Rancho Los Cerritos along U.S. 15 in Prince William County. An undercover investigation conducted between July 2024 and January 2026 found he conspired to sell 47 firearms to a confidential source, including AR-15s, AK-47s, and so-called “ghost guns.”

Zepeda told an informant he previously sold roughly five firearms a week to a transnational gang. Court records show he often brought his wife or daughter to transactions to avoid attracting law enforcement attention.

His wife, Jenifer Icela Romero Fabian, was arrested at Dulles International Airport after prosecutors said she purchased a ticket to El Salvador and awaits trial. Three other defendants have also pleaded guilty. Zepeda is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 8 on charges that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Berry Hill $100B Data Center Approved

Officials in Southside unanimously approved a performance agreement Monday, clearing the way for a hyperscale artificial intelligence (AI) data center campus at the Berry Hill megasite, with projected investment of up to $100 billion over three decades.

Denver-based Stack Infrastructure is buying about 2,990 acres for $737.8 million, with proceeds split evenly between Danville and Pittsylvania County. The developer commits to at least $73.5 billion in capital investment over 30 years, with long-term projections reaching up to $100 billion, and at least 2,500 permanent jobs over 20 years, with annual compensation starting near $80,500.

The campus will need roughly 299 megawatts of power by the end of 2028, with Stack funding Appalachian Power upgrades. Closed-loop cooling tied to regional infrastructure connected to the Dan River will limit groundwater use.

Local officials called the deal a turning point for a region hit hard by the decline of textile and tobacco manufacturing. Public investment in preparing the site has topped $217 million since 2008.

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➤ Statewide: Persistent drought conditions are raising wildfire concerns heading into summer, after more than 530 fires statewide this spring. Residents are urged to use caution with fireworks, campfires, and debris burning. (More)

➤ Richmond: Dominion and NextEra Energy propose a merger creating the world’s largest regulated electric utility by market capitalization. Virginia customers would receive most of a $2.25 billion bill credit package if regulators and shareholders approve the deal. (Details)

➤ Fredericksburg: Police are searching for a person in a pink animal costume accused of following children near Lafayette Boulevard last week. Officers have increased patrols and are asking residents to report suspicious activity. (More)

➤ Statewide: Virginia ranked 10th nationally in reading recovery from pandemic-era learning loss, with Charlottesville, Richmond City, and several other districts leading gains. Chronic school absenteeism has also fallen closer to pre-pandemic levels. (More)

➤ Boyce: Two expensive bottles of wine, one worth $24,000 and the other $7,000, were returned to L’Auberge Provençale months after they were stolen from the restaurant’s wine cellar. One suspect is facing criminal charges in the theft. (Details)

➤ Norfolk: Video from a chaotic “street takeover” showed one person pouring gasoline while another appeared to use a flamethrower as cars did donuts and fireworks exploded nearby. (Watch)

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➤ UVA and Virginia Tech open play at the ACC baseball tournament today. (Bracket)

➤ UVA announced that two-time national champion men’s lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany will not return after 10 seasons. Tiffany went 108-51 and led the Cavaliers to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2019 and 2021 after the 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. (More)

➤ Former Virginia Union football player William Davis died this week at 22. He earned All-CIAA honors with the Panthers before transferring to West Virginia and later Sam Houston State, where he was preparing for the fall season. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | MLB | NCAAB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Two Manassas entrepreneurs grew a pointe shoe business from a storage unit to a 50,000-pair warehouse while navigating tariffs, sanctions, and ballet’s rigid culture. (More)

➤ James Madison University’s recreation center was named a 2026 Virginia Top Employer for Interns for the third straight year, recognizing its hands-on student internship and mentorship efforts. (Details)

➤ Innovative Refrigeration Systems is expanding its Lyndhurst campus with a $19 million investment, adding 430,000 square feet and creating over 200 skilled jobs to meet growing demand for natural refrigerant cooling. (More)

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➤ Noah and Emma topped 2025 baby name charts in Washington D.C., while Liam led boys in Maryland and Virginia. Regional favorites included Charlotte, Sophia, Theodore, and local picks like Ailany and Lucy. (Details)

➤ Virginia National Guard's newest recruits were honored at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. Recruits from multiple branches received certificates and took the oath of enlistment, with remarks on service, leadership, and the upcoming 250th anniversary of American Independence. (Details)

➤ Lynchburg will host United Way of Central Virginia’s 33rd annual Day of Caring today with 550 volunteers tackling about 65 projects for local nonprofits. Activities include landscaping, painting, and cleaning to support organizations with limited staff and resources. (Details)

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