The Virginia Marine Resources Commission this week voted down the petition filed in December by environmental and recreational fishing groups.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Oysterwoman Mary Hill is trying to keep the village of Hobson alive. This story is part of an NPR project documenting historical markers throughout the U.S.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

With 12 rooms, the Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach puts only a small dent in the number of hospice beds needed in the region.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The Friends of the Great Dismal Swamp recently got a half-million dollar grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to implement planned improvements at the wildlife refuge.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Community members took part in a French-inspired “Climate Fresk” to learn about the science behind global climate change.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

After a 5-month U-turn, the monster drill will bore a second tunnel back to Norfolk.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Residents had been pushing the city for nearly a year to preserve the 15 acres it owns as a park. And some questions remain.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Norfolk's mayor announcement was big on ambition and light on details, but included plans for a new 400-room hotel alongside high-rise apartments and condos.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Lawyers for former Newport News teacher Abby Zwerner say new information from a grand jury report indicting a former school administrator may give grounds for state and federal agencies to investigate Newport News schools.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The grand jury report released this week suggests additional investigation into school district officials. Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn says his office will follow the facts where they lead.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The grand jury report released this week suggests additional investigation into school district officials. Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn says his office will follow the facts where they lead.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

A union representing city fire and EMS staff has requested the ability to collectively bargain a contract with the city, the first such request in Virginia Beach since public-sector bargaining was allowed by the state in 2021. The city must accept or reject the request by the end of May.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Virginia Beach is facing a request from the International Association of Fire Fighters to let fire and EMS staff jointly negotiate a contract with the city. The council is holding a special meeting to get resident input.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

When Williamsburg officials introduced the idea of splitting the Williamsburg-James City County Public School System last year, they cited feedback from a resident survey as one of the main reasons to consider ending the nearly 70-year partnership.But the survey, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, doesn't ask residents if they w…

Bloom Market is both a boutique and an economic development experiment. Small-scale local artisans will have a place to get some brick-and-mortar retail experience in the hope that they grow into their own locations.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Last year, the Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg Habitat chapter got a record 280 new homebuyer applications. Now, it's suspending the program until it can find more land to build on.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Suffolk’s tax rate isn't changing from $1.09 per $100 of assessed value — but new assessed property values went up by 5.4%.Residents’ real estate tax bills will go up because of the new assessment increase.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The whale, first spotted in 1989, suffered catastrophic damage to her spine, NOAA says. This kind of blunt force trauma is most consistent with a vessel strike. Vessel strikes are one of the leading causes of death for right whales.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The dead whale was found floating around 50 miles off the coast of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. She was identified as Female #1950, first seen in 1989. She birthed a calf this past winter, which crews haven’t spotted yet.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The Coastal Virginia Conservancy recently finished the first phase of the cleanup project, which included replacing the polluted sediment with clean sand.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The study out of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science focuses on deeper waters, where the impacts of heat waves are lesser known.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The population of Downtown Norfolk has tripled since the last time the Downtown Norfolk Council wrote up a strategic plan nine years ago.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

This month in Hampton Roads and Virginia health news.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The Peninsula cities will join 23 others in Bloomberg Philanthropies' Sustainable Cities Program.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Norfolk's city manager wants to spend a combined $150 million to fully renovate the facilities, which were built in the early '70s.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Cities all over the U.S. have used city-funded trusts to invest in and incentivize the development of affordable housing.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The new tunnels were supposed to be available by the end of 2025. Now, the project is expected to take until mid-2027.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Carnival announced late Tuesday it would move its operations from Baltimore to Norfolk as crews continue cleanup efforts of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The Hampton Roads Alliance is pushing local leaders to address the issue by considering more energy infrastructure.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The Elizabeth River Project wants people to report river otter sightings to collect data on their comeback.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

For the second time since the project broke ground in 2019, contractors have told VDOT that unexpected field conditions mean it'll take longer to get done - until at least sometime in 2025.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

For half a century, residents of Lambert’s Point and Southeast Newport News have complained about coal dust from nearby terminals. They say they can't keep waiting for officials to collect more data to show there's a problem.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The Williamsburg-James City County school board approved a $199 million budget increasing staff salaries by an average of 4.5%.Superintendent Olwen Herron proposed a 3% salary increase for all employees, but some board members and district staff said it didn’t go far enough.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

A federal judge ordered Sentara executives to answer more questions about an ongoing case in which the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether Sentara Health Plans — formerly Optima Health — unfairly increased premiums and pocketed an extra $665 million in 2018 and 2019.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The raises follow several years of tuition freezes at public colleges supported by state funding.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The suit, filed by a coalition of conservative groups, argues that the offshore wind industry threatens endangered whales. Scientists say there's no evidence of that.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

City Council will decide this week if an Oceanfront business can convert it's second story into hostel-like accommodations for international workers.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Part of Suffolk’s improvement plan for the congested Godwin Boulevard route includes redesigning where the four-lane road crosses the Suffolk Bypass just south of Sentara Obici Hospital. But just what is a diverging diamond interchange?WHRO asked Old Dominion engineering professor Mecit Cetin how they work.…

Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Hampton will expand to 24-hour, 7-days-a-week operation after a unanimous vote Wednesday night by Hampton City Council.Colonial Downs Group, the company that operates Rosie’s, applied to extend the gambling parlor’s hours after Rivers Casino in Portsmouth opened last year. That casino already runs 24/7.…

Three years after Virginia lawmakers voted to adopt the standards, the state is rolling them out. Here's what that does -- and doesn't -- mean.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

A new housing study highlights the need for affordable housing for lower incomes and the disappearance of the city's middle-income residents.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

If Williamsburg and James City County decide to split their school district, Williamsburg test scores may drop. James City County students outperformed Williamsburg students in math, science and reading SOL tests according to the city's feasibility report, released this week.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The City of Williamsburg says a plan to split its school division from James City County wouldn’t happen until August 2028 at the earliest and cost $18.9 million in the first year. The report, released Monday, said accounting for staffing costs, utilities, materials and other services, there would still be a $2.4 million operating deficit during ye…

With Portsmouth's waste-to-energy plant closing soon, a lot more trash is headed to the Regional Landfill in Suffolk. Long-term, that could change too.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

The $40 million in state funding originally passed by the House of Delegates has become a loan to the city of Newport News in the latest budget compromise.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Many smaller farms in places like Chesapeake are being absorbed into larger farming operations or bought up for development.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Lawmakers say the new legislation will simplify the process for officials to get abandoned and derelict vessels out of the water.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

Suffolk’s Assistant Fire Chief David Harrell said the city responds to any locality that requests mutual aid where no formal agreement exists. In 2023 alone, the department sent or received mutual aid 462 times. The city formalized that process with other Hampton Roads by approving an ordinance this week at City Council that adds the last few local…

It's the third dead whale found in the region in as many days.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA

WHRO recently joined one of the Virginia Aquarium's annual whale tours to learn more about the creatures' passage through the area.Bởi 89.5 WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA