https://archive.ph/CKdNy

JAMES CITY — The giant heads of presidents that once served as a tourist attraction may finally be getting repurposed.

The James City County Planning Commission heard from applicants Wednesday who hope to transform a Croaker property containing 42 concrete heads into a large-scale housing development that would include a retirement community, sports facilities and more.

Landowners Howard Hankins, Hankins Land Trust No. 1 and the Historic Virginia Land Conservancy are seeking to rezone more than 276 acres for a development of more than 700 residential units, 46,500 square feet of commercial and office buildings along with preserved and open space. Also included in the proposal is an open-air museum and visitor center that would feature the presidents’ heads.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project off the coast of Virginia Beach delivered its first power to the grid Monday, a Dominion Energy spokesperson said.

“This marks another major milestone for the project, adding much-needed electricity to help serve the fastest-growing power demand in the country,” said Dominion Energy spokesperson Jeremy Slayton.

https://ghostarchive.org/archive/9ADWR

Archer said the patrol vehicle will help enhance the city’s beautification efforts while being fair and respectful in its code enforcement.

“This is about helping our residents,” Archer said in the statement. “We are combining innovation with accountability to make neighborhood stronger.”

Newport News City Council has implemented several codes changes to address blight since the community survey. The first authorized the city to repair private properties in August. Other new policies allow the city to demolish or acquire long-vacant buildings, add abandoned clutter to its nuisance rules, and establish a new rental inspection zone to ensure housing quality for renters.

Those changes have allowed Roach and his team to take swifter action on blighted properties. According to Roach, his department can now demolish derelict buildings before they become imminent hazards, require owners to develop plans to address problems with buildings rather than issuing court summons for people often out of state, and allow the city to acquire or improve buildings on its own.

The vehicle is meant to be an enhancement of those other tools, not a surveillance tool or something to fine residents for small violations like high grass or license plates, Roach said. It’s also not meant to replace the city’s 14 inspectors.

Especially around northern Newport News, but anywhere on the peninsula.

Not talking from a restaurant, those are not proper tamales.

I'm seeking the kind little old ladies make and sell by the dozen, often out of their house or car on a regular or semi-regular basis.

(Delta tamales would be extra amazing, but I doubt anyone around here makes them, but "tamales by the dozen" will give me what I want)

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — High school students in Norfolk participated in walkouts Wednesday morning to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a statement, Norfolk Public Schools shared the walkouts occurred between 10:25 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Students from Granby, Lake Taylor, Maury, Norview and Booker T. Washington were involved. NPS added some students from Norview Middle School also partook in a walkout. No staff took part.

HAMPTON, Va. — A new study led by Virginia Tech researchers confirmed Hampton Roads is sinking bit by bit. Specifically, this region is sinking by 2.3 millimeters each year, which is the relative thickness of two pennies stacked against each other.

While it is a very small amount, the effect is cumulative and stacks up year after year.

"If you have lived in your home for a long time and you've thought, 'hey, the high tide looks higher,' that's probably not in your head," said Whitney Katchmark with Hampton Roads Planning Commission.

The data was recently published in Nature Scientific Review and found that the entire Chesapeake Bay region has varying degrees of "subsidence," or the gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land.

Researchers found there are two main factors behind this: the shifting of tectonic plates, which is unavoidable, and localized groundwater withdrawal.

While it's unclear how much each factor can contribute to subsidence, researchers like D. Sarah Stamps said the impacts are undeniable.

https://archive.ph/KvPrN

Support Newport News Public Schools Bus Drivers, Teachers, and Families

Newport News Public Schools faces a shortage of bus drivers going into the 2025-2026 school year due to unsafe working conditions and poor wages being unaddressed by the School Board despite years of protest. This shortage of drivers has resulted in a last minute schedule change to bussing despite the afterschool program for the semester being set by Newport News Parks and Recreation. Parents are now scrambling to find childcare for students while bus drivers continue to suffer intolerable conditions. We urge the Newport News Public Schools Board to fully commit to raising wages and improving working conditions for all Newport News Public Schools staff, prioritizing the bus drivers. We also demand an immediate solution to the scheduling issue to mitigate the impact on students and their families.

Sign the petition:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-newport-news-public-schools-bus-drivers-teachers-and-families/

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Newport News has reported a 13% reduction in overall crime over the past year, with officials attributing the improvement to various community safety programs.

Resident Yugonda Sample Jones, a 20-year Newport News veteran, expressed her pride in the community.

“I live in downtown Newport News... I feel safe in my home. I love my neighbors, and it’s a community feel,” she said, acknowledging the city's sometimes negative reputation.

MANTEO, N.C. — Just outside the Dare County Justice Center in Manteo is where Nicole Hassell, the mother of 19-year-old Zane Hughes, who was shot and killed at Avalon Pier two weeks ago, continued to express her frustration on Friday.

Hassell is frustrated by current and past investigative processes and still stands by her feelings that the incident should never have happened.

"I have the facts, and the biggest one is that my son Zane Hughes' murder could have been prevented," said Hassell.

Hassell's son, Zane Hughes, was killed at Avalon Pier on July 31

NORFOLK, Va. — A runway with a history dating back more than 80 years was closed Friday to make room for major developments at Norfolk International Airport.

According to the airport's Vice President of Capital Projects, Jeff Bass, the U.S. government built Runway 14/32 in 1943 in support of World War II.

But in recent years, he says it's seen little use — carrying only one percent of the airport's air traffic.

Clearing the runway, which crosses ORF's main 9,000-foot runway, is expected to make room for several projects.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A piece of city-owned property located at the intersection of Arctic Avenue and Laskin Road is up for sale. Now, we're learning a potential buyer could develop the Oceanfront site in a way that may impact several small businesses in the area.

Wayne Jones, who owns the flower shop on the small strip, has been providing flowers to the community for over 50 years.

He acknowledged that his family’s floral shop has survived hurricanes and the pandemic, but expressed concern that redevelopment could pose a challenge.

"You never know what the day is going to bring; it’s always fun to lift somebody’s spirits with flowers," Jones said. "I don’t think moving five refrigerators into a location that doesn’t exist yet would be feasible at this point. However, whatever happens, happens, but I’m not ready to quit yet."

The city is looking to sell the property at 333 Laskin Road, where the current Papa John’s operates. The restaurant is expected to continue its lease elsewhere.

NORFOLK, Va. — A 47-year-old man has been charged after authorities say he assaulted passengers and crew members on a Breeze Airways flight from Norfolk to Los Angeles Wednesday, forcing it to divert to Grand Junction, Colo.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced Friday that David Leroy Carver Jr., of Los Angeles, is charged by criminal complaint with interfering with flight crew members and attendants during the Aug. 13 flight.

According to the criminal complaint, Carver made inappropriate sexual comments and racial slurs toward a flight attendant. When a passenger told him to stop, Carver allegedly threatened to hit the passenger and spat chewing tobacco from his mouth into the passenger’s face.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/22029541

HAMPTON, Va. — On April 17, Mary the Tunnel Boring Machine emerged through the headwall at the Hampton end of the HRBT.

Exactly six months later, she's starting her next journey: creating the twin eastbound tunnel, headed toward Norfolk.

Crews are still working on installing fire suppression systems, jet ventilation and the roadway in the first tube.

SUFFOLK, Va. — On Oct. 18 at around 6:30 p.m., Suffolk police were called to the 100 block of Wellons Street after there had been reports of gunshots. After checking the area, police could not find a victim.

About 25 minutes later, a victim with a gunshot wound was reported at a local hospital, though the injury was reportedly non-life-threatening.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — We continue to Verify claims made in local campaign advertisements. The first campaign ad in the Portsmouth mayoral race has aired where the vice mayor, Lisa Lucas-Burke, attacks the current mayor, Shannon Glover.

Are the claims in it true?

Let's Verify.

The ad, paid for and approved by Lisa Lucas-Burke, references a lawsuit filed by former city assessor, Patrick Dorris. The suit claims he was fired last year because "he refused to commit unlawful directives from [Mayor] Glover and [Councilman Bill] Moody to not tax the Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club.”

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Virginia State Police (VSP) have arrested 19-year-old Jordan Kendrell Copeland in last week's shooting that stemmed from a road rage incident.

According to VSP, the shooting was the result of a road rage incident involving two vehicles traveling northbound on I-664 at the Pughsville Road off-ramp, around 5:19 p.m on Oct. 12. The victim of the shooting was a woman, VSP said, and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A local youth baseball team honored one of its player’s fathers at a tournament Saturday.

Virginia Beach firefighter Matthew Gallina’s son plays for the Tidewater Drillers U13 team. Gallina died in August from esophageal cancer, caused by occupational carcinogens.

The team wore matching fire department-inspired uniforms as part of the 'Field of Screams' tournament. Each team was able to choose a costume to wear on the field. Parents told 13News Now Saturday, they’re proud their sons chose to support the Gallina family.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — City council members in Chesapeake have been given the green light to construct what would be the tallest tower in Virginia. It is part of what will soon be a submarine cable manufacturing facility.

South Korean based LS Greenlink searched all across North America for the perfect site. They chose the area near Paradise Creek because of how close it is to deep water and adequate infrastructure.

At the Tuesday council meeting, company representatives and local leaders boasted the roughly $681 million investment for potentially bringing about 330 “high paying” jobs to the city.