One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealth’s leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in practice take the opposite stance, acting as if records are by default private and the public must prove they should be handled otherwise.
In this feature, we aim to highlight the frequency with which officials around Virginia are resisting public access to records on issues large and small — and note instances when the release of information under FOIA gave the public insight into how government bodies are operating.
Heightened concerns over drone activity
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A Chinese national was sentenced to six months in prison in September after pleading guilty to illegally flying a drone over ship repair yards in Newport News, court records obtained by the Virginian-Pilot reveal.
The incident raised national security concerns due to the proximity of the yards — used by BAE Systems and NASSCO — to the Naval Station Newport, the world’s largest naval base, located along the York River.
According to the records, Fengyun Shi, a graduate student from China studying agricultural engineering at the University of Minnesota, purchased the drone on Jan. 3, 2024, The Pilot reported Thursday. Two days later, he traveled from San Francisco to Newport News, where he took photos of the repair yards and Newport News Shipbuilding.
His surveillance came to an abrupt halt when light rain forced his drone into a tree near 65th Street and Huntington Avenue on Jan. 6, attracting the attention of local residents and law enforcement as Shi attempted to retrieve it.
Shi left for California before wind gusts dislodged the drone. Law enforcement later recovered the device, prompting an investigation by Newport News Police and the FBI. Shi was arrested in San Francisco on Jan. 19 while attempting to board a one-way flight to China.
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The case underscores growing statewide concerns about unauthorized drone activity near sensitive areas. Reports of mystery sightings in the western and southern Virginia, including Danville, Fincastle, Floyd, Pulaski, Radford, Roanoke, Salem, and Vinton, have prompted state officials to ramp up surveillance.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Dec. 14 that the Virginia State Police Homeland Security Division and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management are monitoring the issue through the state’s Fusion Center, which coordinates intelligence among law enforcement agencies.
In a statement, Youngkin said he is “concerned” about a lack of sufficient information shared by federal partners regarding drone incidents. “Virginia has consistently sought information from federal partners, and to date, the information shared with the commonwealth has been insufficient,” Youngkin said.
Va. Beach city council to weigh future of Pharrell’s Something in the Water festival
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The Virginia Beach City Council will decide whether organizers of the popular Something in the Water musical festival, founded by hometown star Pharrell Williams, can move forward this April after organizers missed a Dec. 31 deadline to announce their lineup and begin ticket sales, the Virginian-Pilot reports.
The multi-day festival, launched in 2019, has drawn high-profile performers, including Virginia natives Missy Elliott, Chris Brown, Clipse and Trey Songz, and other popular artists, such as Usher. Organizers had agreed to receive up to $500,000 in city funding, contingent upon meeting specific goals and ensuring transparency in the planning.
Last year, organizers faced delays, postponing the festival from October to April and missing a deadline to sign a sponsorship contract that would grant the city greater oversight of planning and coordination. While the contract was eventually signed, the city council is set to revisit the issue on Tuesday.
Manassas Park seeks charter change amid timing concerns
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Manassas Park officials are pushing for changes to the city’s charter, including updates to candidate requirements for city council and rules for the city manager’s residency. However, InsideNOVA reports that the General Assembly may not act on the proposal this year.
City Attorney Dean Crowhurst told the outlet that the council’s Dec. 10 decision to approve the changes came too late for legislation to be filed before the upcoming session.
If adopted, the changes would allow, city council candidates to qualify for office without party nominations or petition signatures from registered voters.
The proposed updates would also ease residency requirements for the city manager, allowing them to live within 30 miles of the city rather than inside city limits.
Have you experienced local or state officials denying or delaying your FOIA request? Tell us about it: [email protected]
As Republicans praise President Donald Trump for taking military action against Iran, Democrats are demanding Congress provide authorization for the attack and a more detailed explanation of its ultimate goals.
WTOP’s Mitchell Miller joined anchor Del Walters earlier to talk about the political reaction to the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran.
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As Republicans praise President Donald Trump for taking decisive military action against Iran, Democrats are demanding Congress provide authorization for the attack and a more detailed explanation of its ultimate goals.
Virginia U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, who serves as the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Iran has a long history of terrorism in the Middle East, but that “does not relieve any president of the responsibility to act within the law, with a clear strategy and with Congress.”
Like many other Democratic lawmakers, Warner said Congress can’t be sidelined.
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“The Constitution is clear: the decision to take this nation to war rests with Congress and launching large-scale military operations — particularly in the absence of an imminent threat to the United States — raises serious legal and constitutional concerns,” Warner said in a statement on Saturday.
Warner and other Democrats called for the administration to fully brief lawmakers and explain the specific aims of the U.S.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine has a war powers resolution that was prepared before the attack took place, and there’s a push to quickly bring it to the Senate floor for a vote.
In a statement released Saturday, Kaine noted that for months he has “raised hell about the fact that the American people want lower prices, not more war.”
“These strikes are a colossal mistake, and I pray that they do not cost our sons and daughters in uniform and at embassies throughout the region their lives,” he said.
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Kaine said the Senate should immediately return to session to vote on his war powers resolution. He said all senators need to go on the record on what he referred to as, “this dangerous, unnecessary, and idiotic action.”
Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican, has a war powers resolution pending in the House. He called for Congress to convene Monday to consider it.
The Norfolk-based aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is in the region to support the military action against Iran. The carrier and its sailors have already been at sea for more than eight months.
Kaine said it could end up being the longest deployment for a U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. The carrier previously supported U.S. military operations off the Venezuelan coast.
House speaker says lawmakers were briefed
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Saturday that Iran is “facing the severe consequences of its evil actions,” noting that the president and the administration had made extensive efforts to pursue a diplomatic solution to “the Iranian regime’s sustained nuclear ambitions.”
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“The Gang of 8 was briefed in detail earlier this week that military action may become necessary to protect American troops and American citizens in Iran,” Johnson said.
The briefing of the top congressional leaders, which included Warner, took place before the president’s State of the Union address earlier this week.
Johnson said he also received updates from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) praised Rubio for providing updates on the situation, and said he looks forward to administration officials briefing all senators about the military operations.
“I commend President Donald Trump for taking action to thwart these threats,” he said.
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One of the first officials to publicly praise the president for attacking Iran was U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Republican ally of Trump.
“As I watch and monitor this historic operation, I’m in awe of President Donald Trump’s determination to be a man of peace but at the end of the day, evil’s worst nightmare,” he said in an X post. “Well done, Mr. President.”
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This weekend’s college basketball slate kicks off with a blockbuster showdown between the No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers and the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils. They’ll be playing in Durham, where Duke has been undefeated for over a year. Virginia (25-3), however, has been on point all season and stands a chance at snapping the Blue Devils’ home court winning streak.
At a Glance: How to Watch Virginia vs. Duke Basketball Game
Stream: Sling
TV channel: ESPN
Date, time: Saturday, Feb. 28 at noon ET
The Cavaliers are coming off a big 90-61 win over NC State, and are looking to extend a nine-game winning streak. The Blue Devils are hot off a massive 100-56 victory against Notre Dame. Duke is seeking another shot at the title this year after falling to No. 1 Houston in last year’s Final Four.
If you don’t have a way to watch Saturday’s Virginia vs. Duke game, read on. Ahead is a quick guide on how to livestream Virginia vs. Duke with Sling, plus key details about the matchup.
How to Watch Virginia vs. Duke Basketball Game Online
Saturday’s Virginia vs. Duke matchup will air on ESPN. If you don’t have cable, you can watch the game online using any live TV streaming service that carries the channel. One of our favorites is Sling, which offers flexible packages and a great channel lineup.
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ESPN is included in Sling’s Orange and Orange + Blue packages. The Orange plan carries 30+ channels, including CNN, TNT, HGTV, and ID, as well as ESPN. This plan is available as a monthly subscription, starting at $45.99 a month, but Sling also offers short-term passes that are ideal for catching individual games or tournaments. A one-day pass costs $4.99, a three-day pass costs $9.99, and a seven-day pass costs $14.99.
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If you want more channels, upgrade to the Orange + Blue package. This plan starts at $60.99 a month and carries 50+ channels, including local networks (in select markets), Fox News, NFL Network, and everything in the Orange package.
Virginia vs. Duke Game Date, Start Time
The next Virginia vs. Duke basketball game takes place on Saturday, Feb. 28. Tip-off is at noon ET.
We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re embarking on a journey to celebrate the rich history of the place we call home. (WSLS 10)
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.
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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.
Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
About the Author
Jazmine Otey headshot
Jazmine Otey
Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.
