AGP Executive Report

Virginia Arts & Events: Jackalope Festival returns to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend, with organizers expecting nearly 60,000 attendees and a packed lineup of action sports plus Olympic-level competitors. Music Spotlight: Lamb of God wrapped up its “Into Oblivion Tour” with a Richmond stop, delivering a groove-heavy set backed by Sanguisugabogg, Fit For An Autopsy, and Kublai Khan TX. Tennis Legacy: Larry W. King, Billie Jean King’s former husband and a key force behind the WTA Tour and World TeamTennis, has died at 81. Books & Community: “Vt. Book Nook” spotlights editor/writer Bronwyn Fryer’s lifelong love of reading, while local Pride film screenings and community event calendars keep rolling. Public Safety (Health/Youth): A viral TikTok Benadryl challenge is sending teens to hospitals, with doctors warning hallucination doses can also cause cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Virginia Arts & Culture: Albert Wisner Library debuts “Pencil Drawings,” a new still-life show by Freya Carlbom that nods to American Folk Art and Pop Art. Music & Live Events: Hollywood Undead and In This Moment are co-headlining the revived Taste of Chaos tour, with a stop at Virginia Beach’s The Dome on Sept. 25. Sports (Local Schools): Marion’s Caden Burchett and Brady White win the VHSL Region 1D/2D boys doubles title and advance to the Class 2 state tournament at Liberty University. Public Health & Community: Southern Virginia University launches a CREST program letting students earn college credit for recognized service, including religious and military experience, starting 2026-27. Virginia News You Can Use: VDOT plans Route 7 bridge-deck work over I-81 near exit 315, bringing major June weekend traffic delays. Tragedy on I-95: A bus crash in Stafford County kills five and injures 34; the NTSB is sending a team.

School Health Prep: Rockbridge Area Health Center is teaming up with local schools for on-site sports physicals, kindergarten physicals, and catch-up immunizations—aimed at easing the late-summer appointment crunch. Reality TV Buzz: Peacock’s Love Island USA Season 8 cast is officially set, with 12 islanders heading to Fiji and episodes dropping daily starting June 2. Museum Nights: Richmond’s Virginia Museum of History & Culture launches IllumiNATION, a free four-night, block-party-style projection event for America’s 250th, with live music and a nightly 9 p.m. show. Outdoor Action in VA Beach: The Jackalope Action Sports Festival returns to the Oceanfront May 29–31 with skating, BMX, Moto X, and more. UVA Sports: UVA baseball opens the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional Friday vs. Jacksonville State, while UVA track and rowing continue NCAA action this weekend.

Virginia Arts & Education: Henrico art teacher Raelyn Mason and Highland Springs tech teacher Robert Thompson, III are spotlighted for classroom impact, while Warren County’s mounted archery scene finds a home with Erin Erickson Vanderwende. Student Life & Culture: Skyline student Reagan Tweedie spends her senior year in Italy on an exchange, and Glen Lea’s art room story highlights how creativity becomes community. Sports (Virginia ties): Clemson’s ACC hoops slate for 2026-27 is set, and Virginia’s NCAA men’s golf and women’s softball tournament coverage ramps up with TV/ticket details. Community Events: Palmetto Moon’s Columbus Park Crossing grand opening is June 6, and Virginia’s May 28 community calendar points to what to do next. Public Health: A beverage recall linked to salmonella expands to 25 states, including Virginia. Entertainment & Media: A new horror trailer spotlights Maika Monroe in “Victorian Psycho,” and opera fans get a season-closer with Mozart’s “Idomeneo.”

Sports Betting Policy: A bipartisan group of 41 state attorneys general, led by Ohio AG Dave Yost, is urging the CFTC to keep sports-related prediction markets under state control, arguing platforms like Polymarket/Kalshi function like unregulated sportsbooks. Virginia Sports & Campus: Virginia Tech’s James Franklin era kicks off with a prime-time Sept. 5 opener vs. VMI, plus kickoff times for the first three weeks; meanwhile, UVa track and field saw multiple NCAA East First Round qualifiers, and Virginia’s kicking duo Will Bettridge and Daniel Sparks returns for a fifth straight season. Pro Wrestling: AEW Dynamite from Richmond spotlights MJF’s World title defense against Rush, with Owen Hart Foundation tournament matches also set. Local Arts & Entertainment: Big Lick Comic Con brings panels, cosplay and family programming to Manassas Mall this weekend, and Caesars Virginia launches its Millionaires’ Row promotion starting June 1 in Danville. Community & Faith: Metro DC and Virginia faith leaders gathered at St. Bernadette Church for a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service. Business/Tech: Micron’s stock surge follows its $1 trillion market-cap milestone tied to AI memory demand.

Summer Reading Kickoff: Shenandoah County libraries launch “Unearth a Story” with a Monday June 1 kickoff in Edinburg, promising dinosaurs, music, bubbles, and community fun. Music & Community: EastCoast Entertainment’s 50th anniversary is powering a new ECE Foundation to expand youth music education in cities including Charlottesville and Washington, D.C. Local Arts Calendar: Roanoke’s Sidewalk Art Show returns this weekend, plus rockabilly at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and a VA 250 one-act play at Attic Productions. Norfolk Airport Retail Upgrade: Avolta lands a 12-year deal for nine new retail and food-and-beverage spots at Norfolk International, including hybrid concepts. Tech, Politics & Backlash: Data center growth is meeting bipartisan pushback, with voters worried about costs and local control. Virginia Sports Spotlight: Rowan softball’s Emily McCutcheon is headed to the Division III postseason after standout regional and super regional performances. Tattoo Trend: Kateryna Volkova is spotlighted for microrealism’s rise in the American tattoo market. Gun Law Resistance: Virginia prosecutors say they won’t enforce parts of the new semi-automatic weapons restrictions as lawsuits mount.

Independent Artist Spotlight: Clarissa is going viral for the real-life grind behind building an independent music career—touring while homeschooling, juggling wellness and motherhood, and turning entrepreneurship into a survival skill. Viral Politics, Animal Obsession: RFK Jr. is back in the spotlight after a resurfaced clip of him barehanding snakes on Dr. Mehmet Oz’s patio, with childhood photos now being shared as context for his lifelong animal fixation. Local Culture & Faith: Dorset’s St Wite’s Festival is set for May 30-31, blending pilgrimage, healing, and live music ahead of Dorset Day. Virginia Sports Moves: UVA promoted Kevin Cassese to head coach of the men’s lacrosse program, while Menlo Park police credited a GPS tracking device for an arrest after a stolen-car pursuit. Community & Service: Trine University says its VITA program filed 122 returns for low-income residents, up 58% from last year.

Music Town Spotlight: Lafayette, Louisiana is getting national shine as one of the South’s “best music towns,” with local venues and Grammy-linked performers highlighted in Garden & Gun’s June/July 2026 feature. Armed Robbery Update (Bristol): Bristol police arrested two people after a May 5 robbery involving a firearm; investigators say they found firearms, ammunition, suspected narcotics and related property during search warrants. Service & Legacy: The community is mourning June Forte, 81, whose career spanned the U.S. Army and Air Force, plus public service and teaching. Politics & Voting (SC): Early in-person voting kicked off in South Carolina as senators weigh whether to scrap congressional primaries tied to revised districts. Virginia Campaign Shakeup: Bree Fram ended her congressional run after Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved redistricting plan that reshaped her path. Health & Culture: Pope Leo XIV’s first AI encyclical is being welcomed by U.S. Catholic bishops as guidance for protecting human dignity in the tech era. Local Commuter Disruption: A downed tree near Arlington Cemetery Metro station caused rush-hour delays, with service later resuming.

Behavioral Health Shake-Up: Behavioral Health Services of Virginia says it’s entering a new chapter after 15 years, promising stronger leadership, tighter clinical oversight, and a more consistent client experience. AI and Public Safety: A new report warns how AI can trigger false arrests and wrongful convictions when people treat probabilistic guesses like certainty. Defense Deal Pressure: Australia’s former top diplomat Joe Hockey is urging a “full press” to protect the submarine timeline under AUKUS—no “plan B.” Law and Remedies: The American Law Institute approved the Restatement of the Law Third, Torts: Remedies, aiming to modernize how courts handle damages and relief. Politics on the Move: GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen is in the final pre-primary sprint, pitching experience and warning Democrats can’t be complacently beaten. Sports Spotlight: Rafael Jodar’s French Open debut is turning heads, while Virginia Tech baseball earned an NCAA at-large bid. Tech Oversight: Prediction markets face fresh calls for tighter rules as officials debate conflicts when insiders bet on outcomes.

AI Data Center Backlash: A new wave of opposition is hitting the nation’s capital as lawmakers debate what to do about data centers’ electricity hunger—while polls show most Americans don’t want them nearby and communities keep organizing. Utility Power Crunch: In Virginia and beyond, the pressure is only growing as NextEra and Dominion move toward a mega-merger, betting on decades of rising demand. Local Business Spotlight: Cavalier Moving expanded dedicated service across 14 Chesterfield-area communities, aiming for faster local response. Memorial Day & Community: Virginia towns are lining up ceremonies for Monday, from the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford to events in Roanoke and Dublin. Sports Buzz: Notre Dame and Princeton are set for the NCAA men’s lacrosse title game, with live updates driving the day’s attention. Culture Calendar: The VHSL Film Festival lands June 6 in Charlottesville, and Chester’s Taste of India celebrates its 25th anniversary on June 6.

VA250 Kickoff in Page County: Page County launched its VA250 celebration with a marker dedication at the Shenandoah Museum and Welcome Center, spotlighting religious freedom and the “courage, sacrifice” behind the Revolution. Community Building in Charlottesville: Cville Tulips is pairing Afghan and Syrian refugee parents with free, culturally responsive English, health, and arts lessons at Peabody School—helping families settle in through weekly classes and summer programming. NCAA Lacrosse at Scott Stadium: Championship Weekend for the 2026 Men’s Lacrosse Championships is headed to Charlottesville’s Scott Stadium, with organizers framing it as a rare return to a college campus setting. Memorial Day Culture Watch: Norfolk’s Patriotic Festival wrapped its final year at Scope Arena before shifting back to the Oceanfront, while protests flared in Washington against Trump’s proposed Triumphal Arch near the National Mall. Entertainment & Sports: Weird Al Yankovic is set for Chartway Arena June 7, and NASCAR fans continue to mourn Kyle Busch after his sudden death.

French Open Preview: With two-time champ Carlos Alcaraz out, Jannik Sinner is the clay favorite after a record-breaking run—experts say the gap between him and the rest is huge. Virginia Outdoors: If you want a standout hike, Savage Neck Dunes Trail in Northampton County delivers dramatic Chesapeake Bay sand dunes up to 50 feet. Celebrity Glow-Up: “Charlie’s Angels” star Jaclyn Smith, 80, credits “clean living” and being “loved,” not makeup. Tech & Privacy: A new map shows nearly 97,000 U.S. license-plate reader cameras, raising fresh debate over surveillance vs. safety. Local Gas Watch: GasBuddy reports show bargain pockets across Virginia—like Alleghany County midgrade at $4.54 and Franklin County E85 at $3.64 for the week ending May 16. Sports Spotlight: UNC and Georgia Tech set up the ACC Tournament title game after both punched their tickets with big wins.

White House Shooting Scare: A gunman opened fire near a Secret Service checkpoint outside the White House and was killed in the exchange; a civilian was also hit, and identities/conditions weren’t fully released. NCAA Baseball Buzz: The 2026 NCAA baseball selection show is set for Monday, May 25 at noon ET on ESPN2, with UCLA, Georgia Tech and UNC among the top storylines heading into the bracket reveal. ACC Championship Night: North Carolina crushed Pitt 13-5 to reach the ACC title game, where it’ll face Georgia Tech Sunday at 12 p.m. Summer Style Watch: Denim is getting a spotlight—low-rise jeans paired with boho blouses are leading the “easy but elevated” summer combo trend. Local Community Events: Newport News wrapped up “Noodle: The Thinkers Convention,” while Glen Allen’s Indian and Sri Lankan Food Festival drew families for food, music, and unity. Virginia Gas Check: GasBuddy reports show premium deals as low as $4.59 in Loudoun County for the week ending May 16.

Cannes Buzz: Maika Monroe is the standout in Zachary Wigon’s gothic comedy-horror Victorian Psycho, a wicked mashup of Victorian manners and murder-mystery mayhem. Virginia Sports Spotlight: The NCAA men’s lacrosse championship is set for Charlottesville’s Scott Stadium, with Duke, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Princeton battling for the title. Recruiting Roundup: Kentucky landed Charlotte DL Griff Galloway, while Penn State secured Lawrenceville TE Sean Currie after a tight end-focused pitch. Local Life & Safety: Virginia health officials are urging water-safety basics as swimming season kicks off, warning drownings can be silent and fast. Gas Watch: GasBuddy reports show midgrade and diesel deals vary sharply across Virginia counties this week ending May 16, with a few single-station “cheapest” hits standing out.

Virginia Politics: The Virginia Supreme Court’s May 8 shutdown of a voter-approved redistricting plan—because lawmakers approved the amendment too late—has now been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, leaving Democrats scrambling after a narrow April 21 win. Student Voices: University students who backed the April vote say they’ll still show up in November, even if they think the process matters more than the outcome. Local Governance: A new push is moving through Virginia to require diaper-changing stations in public bathrooms in new buildings, with lawmakers pointing to real-life gaps for parents and accessibility needs. Sports & Entertainment: UNC baseball avoided an early scare to beat Virginia Tech 10-4 and advance in the ACC Tournament, while Cannes newcomer Evie Templeton turned heads in “Victorian Psycho” coverage. Tech & TV: Viewers reported DVR cutoffs for the “Late Show” finale—timing data, not their devices, was blamed.

In-Flight Chaos: A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound for Guatemala City was forced to land at Dulles after a passenger tried to open a cabin door at cruising altitude and assaulted another traveler; no injuries were reported and the flight was canceled with overnight help for passengers. Royal Investigation: In the UK, police renewed calls for witnesses in the renewed Prince Andrew probe tied to Jeffrey Epstein allegations, including claims of a Windsor 2010 sexual incident—while the U.S. still refuses to hand over unredacted Epstein files. Virginia Politics: Gov. Abigail Spanberger is urging Democrats to move on from Virginia’s unconstitutional gerrymander after the state Supreme Court struck it down and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene. Sports Spotlight: Tennessee softball is one win from the Women’s College World Series after beating Georgia 3-1 in Game 1 of the NCAA super regional, with Game 2 Friday on ESPN2. Local Culture: The Hispanic Society Museum & Library launched a new Hispanic Society Poetry Center, set to house the archive of Chilean poet David Rosenmann Taub.