Virginia

Bill would help create Virginia coastal policy amid rising sea level

Published

1 week ago

February 18, 2026

Bill would help create Virginia coastal policy amid rising sea level

RICHMOND, Va. — There could soon be statewide guidance on how to tackle issues that shape marine policy and advise on habitat, wetlands and coastal resilience policies.

Del. Alex Askew, D-Norfolk, introduced House Bill 390 to form a committee of 10 science, environmental, industry and government experts who review existing habitat policies and recommend improvements. The bill unanimously passed the House of Delegates and would establish a Habitat Policy Oversight Committee within the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, if approved by the Senate.

Virginia’s sea levels are rising more rapidly than the global rate, in part due to melting glaciers and sinking land, according to the state’s first ever comprehensive climate report released last November by George Mason University. The combination accelerates regional flooding, which threatens infrastructure, ecosystems and coastal communities.

Initially members of the new committee would serve two and four year terms that are staggered, before the permanent appointment term of four years. Members will not receive compensation for their services, only reimbursement for committee expenses.

The bill absorbed a previous bill by Del. Rob Bloxom, R-Accomack, who said the Virginia Marine Resources Commission would have a panel of advisers to help inform their votes.

The way the current system operates, the representatives responsible for establishing procedures may lack awareness of the issues shaping marine policy, Bloxom said. With a board of advisers from across the industry, the VMRC could better use Virginia’s resources “to try to make these programs actually function.”

Kelly Hengler, a citizen who opposed the bill during an Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources committee meeting on Feb. 2, said historically, the VMRC has a specific focus on fishery management. Hengler also argued that the term habitat as stated in the bill is not defined in Virginia law.

Bloxom disagreed. The VMRC controls any ocean ground that is not owned by the “upland owner,” or owner of land that is adjacent to submerged land, he said.

The VMRC manages fishing regulations, oyster farming, surveying marshes and overall habitat management, among other things, Bloxom said.

Numerous marine conservation organizations attended the meeting in support of the bill including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, American Rivers, the Virginia Conservation Network, Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Defense Fund and Wetlands Watch.

Jay Ford, Virginia policy manager at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, expressed urgency for the bill’s implementation.

“The state is facing tremendous flooding and sea level rise issues,” Ford testified. “The habitat committee could play a vital role in helping the commission work through some of the novel technologies for mitigating flood risks that are coming up as well [as] balancing natural resource considerations and mitigation when we’re putting these novel practices on the ground.”

The rates of sea level rising in the lower Chesapeake Bay and Tidewater region of Virginia are among the highest on the Atlantic Coast, according to the GMU 2025 climate report.

Brent McKenzie, director of legislative affairs for Virginia Beach, said the city is a perfect example of how the committee would be beneficial, particularly regarding the challenges and issues they have faced getting permits for flooding projects.

Sea level rise will accelerate across Virginia coasts, and impact ecosystems, shorelines, habitat conversion, groundwater salinization and erosion, according to future projections by GMU.

The bill will use an existing committee in a formal way to tackle “changing environmental conditions with new and innovative solutions,” testified Emily Steinholzer, a representative of the Environmental Defense Fund.

Some of these innovative solutions have already been adopted in other states, according to Steinholzer. The Habitat Policy Oversight Committee will keep Virginia ahead of the game “as we adapt to climate change.”

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network is an organization that works to counter impacts of global warming in Maryland, Virginia and Washington. It previously said in a 2020 article that, “there has never been uniform, statewide guidance for how to respond to sea level rise.”

The VRMC would retain ultimate regulatory authority, but give due weight to the committee’s recommendations in decision making processes. The bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee, which meets on Tuesdays.

By Paige Frey/Capital News Service

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.

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Virginia

Patchwork 250: Share your community’s unique history for Virginia’s 250th anniversary

Published

7 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Patchwork 250: Share your community’s unique history for Virginia’s 250th anniversary

We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special

Virginia is filled with so much history just waiting to be explored. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re celebrating this milestone with a new series: Patchwork 250.

The series will highlight the many threads that make Virginia so special and celebrate every patch (whether that’s a remarkable person, an unforgettable location or a memorable event).

As this new initiative gets underway, we’d love to hear from you. Share your favorite pieces of history and be a part of Virginia’s ongoing story.

Using Pin It or the form below, let us know: what’s a unique piece of history from your community that you think more people should know about?

Click here for more details.

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Virginia

Fatal motorcycle-pickup collision shuts northbound S. Virginia Street Thursday evening

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Fatal motorcycle-pickup collision shuts northbound S. Virginia Street Thursday evening

A fatal collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck on Thursday evening has claimed a life and prompted a significant road closure in South Reno.

The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) responded to reports of the crash at approximately 5:29 p.m. on February 26. The incident occurred on northbound South Virginia Street, just north of Damonte Ranch Parkway.

According to the Nevada State Police, the rider of the motorcycle, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The driver of the pickup truck remained on-site, though no further details regarding other injuries or the cause of the crash have been released. Northbound South Virginia Street: Completely shut down from Damonte Ranch Parkway to Bishop Manogue Drive.

Southbound South Virginia Street: Open, but expect “rubbernecking” delays as drivers pass the emergency vehicles. Officials expect the northbound lanes to remain closed until at least 11:30 p.m. as the NHP Highway Patrol Division completes their investigation.

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York County’s Commonwealth Attorney, United Way of the Virginia Peninsula Partner to Establish The Guardian Network | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

York County’s Commonwealth Attorney, United Way of the Virginia Peninsula Partner to Establish The Guardian Network | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

A new effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs to help missing persons. (Ron Lach/Pexels.com)

HAMPTON ROADS— A proposed initiative known as The Guardian Network seeks to strengthen coordination and public access to verified information when children, seniors, and vulnerable adults go missing in Virginia.

The effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs through a budget amendment to SB30. If the amendment passes, development would move forward through the Virginia State Police.

Reid said the idea grew from her years of public service.

“The difference between politics and public service is simple,” Reid said. “One is what you say. The other is what you do.”

Reid began her career representing domestic violence survivors and said she witnessed firsthand how quickly families can be thrown into crisis.

“When someone does not make it home, that is a family’s worst moment,” Reid said. “The Guardian Network comes from a belief that we can strengthen coordination in those first critical hours and better protect vulnerable communities.”

The network is designed to complement existing alert systems such as AMBER, Silver, Ashanti and CODI alerts. Participation would be voluntary for both families and the public.

“It does not replace them. It reinforces them,” Reid said. “What we lack is one centralized, accessible place to see verified information. This is about coordination and clarity.”

Currently, information can be fragmented, she said, making it harder for families and communities to respond effectively.

“Families in crisis should not have to search multiple platforms,” Reid said. “Public safety requires structure. Our response should be organized and accessible.”

The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has expressed support for the initiative, citing its alignment with the organization’s mission to improve lives by advancing education, financial stability and health.

“Children are the highest age demographic experiencing eviction and homelessness, which creates unique vulnerabilities including separation, exploitation and trafficking,” said Charvalla West of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. “Seniors face increasing isolation, housing instability and caregiver strain in what many describe as the ‘Silver Tsunami’ of a rapidly aging population.”

She said the organization supports The Guardian Network because it strengthens coordination during the most critical moments when vulnerable individuals go missing.

“The Guardian Network aligns directly with our work to stabilize families and protect vulnerable communities,” West said. “When vulnerabilities are reduced, safety increases.”

United Way collaborates with certified partner agencies across the Virginia Peninsula that focus on homelessness prevention, youth development, domestic violence response, aging services and housing repair. Those organizations would continue serving in their core roles, providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, mentorship, caregiver support and case management, while the network enhances coordination and awareness.

“The Guardian Network enhances coordination and awareness, while nonprofits provide the direct relational support that protects individuals before, during and after crisis events,” West said.

The concept also includes a second phase of development that would establish a standing advisory committee composed of survivors, impacted family members, nonprofit leaders, victim advocates and public safety professionals. A third phase would focus on identifying and allocating resources to support coordinated response efforts in collaboration with law enforcement, including ensuring necessary logistical supplies are available during active situations.

The immediate focus is Virginia. If successful, supporters say the model could be scalable to other states seeking to strengthen coordination in missing-person cases.

Reid said the goal is clear.

“A stronger safety net. Better coordination. And helping bring loved ones home,” she said. “Everyone deserves to come home.”

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