Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Admittedly, the only sports I faithfully watch are my kid’s baseball games and jiu jitsu practices. That is, all except for one Sunday per year. When it’s time for the super bowl, you’d think I was the biggest football fan in the history of the world. I’ve got my Sunday Funday football shirt ready to wear, plan to place our traditional pizza and wings order hours in advance, and will be yelling at the TV like I have an idea which direction the ball should be going (plot twist: I don’t). 

For a couple of hours, we’ll all come together and cheer on one of two teams, complete with players who’ve worked so hard to make it to this moment. On the Kansas City Chiefs, we’re keeping our eyes on Derrick Nnadi, a defensive lineman from Virginia Beach, Cole Christiansen, a linebacker from Suffolk, Chamarri Conner, a cornerback who played at Virginia Tech, and Nazeeh Johnson, who grew up in Winchester. We’ll also be looking for these players on the Philadelphia Eagles: Rick Lovato, a long snapper who attended Old Dominion, Josh Sweat, a defense player from Chesapeake, Oren Burks, a defense player from Fairfax Station, E.J. Jenkins, a tight end from Fredericksburg, and Mekhi Becton, a guard from Highland Springs. 

No matter which team you’re pulling for (as long as it’s Taylor Swift’s boyfriend’s team), I’m so glad you’re here.

Here’s what you need to know: Coming back for its 11th year, the Puppy Bowl is a staple for many sports fans and not-so-sports fans alike.

Fun furry facts: 

• Hosted by Discovery+, the Puppy Bowl takes puppies who are up for adoption, and gives them the ultimate platform in hopes of finding their forever homes.

• The game works much like football (with an adorable twist of course), where pups drag toys to one end of the field in hopes to score points. Of course, the puppies aren’t aware of the rules and just think it’s play time, which makes each year as unique and fun as the next.

• Virginia is heavily represented this year, as 14 pups from Alexandria, Chesapeake, Meherrin, and Troy fight for glory.

Want to see how we ranked these adorable fluff balls? It was difficult, but we did it at the link below!

Question of the Week: I feel like you’ve seen this coming from a football field away. Are you rooting for the Chiefs or Eagles this weekend, and what do you predict the final score will be? Feel free to share with me at amie@couriernewsroom.com.

February is Black History Month, a time to reflect on the significant contributions of Black Americans throughout history. In Virginia, this month offers an incredible opportunity to explore the state’s rich African American heritage. 

From the birthplace of Booker T. Washington to the legacies of educators, activists, and artists, Virginia boasts a multitude of important sites and stories that highlight the resilience, strength, and impact of Black communities. Whether you’re visiting a museum, historical marker, or hidden gem, this is the perfect time to connect with the state’s diverse cultural history. 

Join us at the link below as we take you on a daily journey across Virginia to explore some of the most meaningful ways that Black history shaped the commonwealth.

• University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University medical facilities have stopped offering gender-affirming care to minors under the age of 19 in response to a recent Trump Administration executive order and direction from the office of Virginia’s Attorney General Jason Miyares. While conservatives demonize this kind of health care as a form of child abuse, gender-affirming care consists of a range of things that includes counseling and medications (READ MORE HERE).

• Need some good news? That’s what our Wholesome News Hour is all about! This week, we’re highlighting six Virginia teachers recognized for their work, Metro Richmond Zoo’s recent announcement of the Poppy Pygmy Hippo Experience, and the emergence of Water Recovery Week in Richmond. If you’re looking for some pep in your step and something to celebrate, we’ve curated these stories especially for you (READ MORE HERE).

• A bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers will look into the impacts of the Trump Administration’s drastic and legally questionable shrinking of federal services and its workforce. Virginia House Speaker Don Scott recently announced the formation of an Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions. The committee is tasked with assessing the economic impacts of federal funding and workforce cuts (READ MORE HERE). 

This week, we’re featuring a wrestling highlight! If you’d like to see your team’s accomplishments broadcast on Dogwood’s platforms, send a note and photo to amie@couriernewsroom.com or reply to this message. Just be sure you have permission to share from all of the proper sources—players/guardians, photographers, and coaches/schools, to name a few.

Lyntha Scott Eiler, photographer/Blue Ridge Parkway Folklife Project, American Folklife Center/Library of Congress

Think pro wrestling only happened in big arenas? Think again! In 1978, Carroll County locals packed the Laurel Rescue Squad building to cheer on stars like Steve Savage and Lumberjack in a Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling match. Dive into this slice of Virginia sports history, captured in the Blue Ridge Parkway Folklife Project archives.

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