Connect with us

Virginia

Mayor highlights Virginia Beach Trail, economic development at State of City address

Published

on

Mayor highlights Virginia Beach Trail, economic development at State of City address


VIRGINIA BEACH — At the start of the State of the City Wednesday, attendees were invited to envision a future walking trail with Salem High School student Melaina Robertson. Through a video display on two screens, Robertson meandered along the Virginia Beach Trail, a 12-mile paved path stretching from Newtown Road to the Oceanfront.

The City Council recently appropriated almost $3 million for the first 3.2-mile long stretch of the trail, which will connect the city’s western border with Norfolk at Newtown Road to Constitution Drive in Town Center.

“This approval unlocked $15 million from the federal government to make safety improvements along the Virginia Beach Trail — the largest such award in the commonwealth of Virginia,” said Mayor Bobby Dyer at the event held at the convention center.

The annual address, produced by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, touched on myriad city accomplishments over the last year, including the recent funding for the trail, storm water resiliency projects and economic development successes. Among them, securing a new Amazon robotic fulfillment center and delivery station, which will be operational for this year’s holiday season, Dyer said.

Advertisement

Before the speeches got underway in the convention center, the Grammy-winning musical group Blackstreet, featuring hit music producer Teddy Riley, Chauncey Black and Dave Hollister, performed the national anthem.

Dyer and City Manager Patrick Duhaney led the program, sharing the stage and taking turns praising city departments, schools, tourism and new businesses as well as providing updates on ongoing city projects.

First they recognized the city’s emergency management and public safety teams who responded quickly when an EF-3 tornado touched down in the Great Neck area last April. Duhaney also pointed out a new fire station opened in the Burton Station neighborhood last year.

The city manager mentioned how the plans for the 5/31 Memorial, a $5.8 million park honoring the victims and first responders of mass shooting in 2019 at the municipal center are moving ahead.

“When completed, this memorial will be a thoughtful and lovely place on our municipal campus where everyone can reflect and remember,” Duhaney said.

Advertisement

The memorial is scheduled to be completed by May 2025.

City Manager of Virginia Beach, Patrick Duhaney, shares the city’s positive economic growth with hundreds of attendees to the Virginia Beach State of the City address at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Thursday, March 13, 2024. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)

Duhaney also mentioned recent storm water projects, including drainage improvements and a tide gate, while recognizing that the price tag for future work has increased beyond what was originally budgeted.

“We are not hiding from the fact that these important projects are now coming in at more than double the estimated cost due to inflation and cost of construction materials,” he said. “This will play a significant role in future budget decisions, but we remain committed to this major resiliency effort.”

Dyer acknowledged last year’s loss of former Virginia Beach mayor and state senator Clancy Holland and the Rev. Pat Robertson, who established Regent University.

“Both of these men were true leaders and integral parts of our past and our future,” said the mayor. “They left an indelible mark on our city and we will miss them.”

Advertisement

The mayor recognized Green Run High School football coach Cadillac Harris as the city’s first “Champion of Hope,” a new award for those committed to making Virginia Beach a better place.

Among the new workforce and business highlights, Duhaney and Dyer pumped up Old Dominion University’s new Institute of Data Science and the Coastal Virginia Center for Cyber Innovation in Town Center, the digital transatlantic undersea cables, Dominion Energy’s offshore wind turbine project and ZIM American Integrated Shipping Services’ of Israel relocating its corporate headquarters to Town Center.

Even the Lego store landed in the spotlight. One of only three in Virginia, it opened last November, also in Town Center. And Atlantic Park, which broke ground last year and will include a surf park and entertainment venue, was mentioned. Dyer said he and Councilwoman Barbara Henley plan to take surf lessons there.

In another light moment, the mayor was featured in a video touting the launch of Drone Up’s new drone delivery service from some area Walmart stores. In the video, Dyer runs out of coffee, places an order on his phone, and the box of the brew is lowered from a drone into his backyard.

Dyer credited his wife, Trish, who was in the audience, for coming up with the video idea.

Advertisement

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com



Source link

Virginia

Snow expected tonight across DC, Maryland, Virginia: Forecast, totals, winter weather alerts

Published

on

Snow expected tonight across DC, Maryland, Virginia: Forecast, totals, winter weather alerts


A quick-moving winter storm will likely bring the first meaningful snowfall of the season to the D.C. region tonight, with slippery travel expected overnight into early Sunday as temperatures stay cold enough for snow to stick.

What we know:

Advertisement

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Washington, D.C., central and northern Maryland and northern Virginia from 8 p.m. tonight through 7 a.m. Sunday.

Forecasts call for:

  • 1 to 3 inches of snow for much of the Washington–Baltimore region
  • 4 to 5 inches possible in parts of Baltimore County and northeastern Maryland
  • A brief period of rain at the start in some spots before quickly changing to snow

Meteorologists say a narrow band of heavier snow could set up late tonight, briefly dropping visibility to less than half a mile and allowing snow to pile up faster.

Advertisement

Snow totals and impacts

Once the precipitation turns fully to snow, travel may become slippery across the region.

Expected snowfall amounts:

  • D.C. metro: 1–3 inches
  • Montgomery and Prince George’s counties: 1–3 inches
  • Howard and Anne Arundel counties: 1–3 inches
  • Baltimore region: 2–4 inches, with isolated 5-inch totals
  • Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria): 1–3 inches

Temperatures fall into the upper 20s and low 30s, helping the snow accumulate on untreated roads, sidewalks and bridges.

Advertisement

Why this storm matters

This system marks the first snow of the season that will actually stick for the D.C. area. The storm arrives as yet another blast of Arctic air drops into the Mid-Atlantic.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the weakening of the polar vortex is allowing cold air to spill south, setting the stage for any moisture tonight to fall as snow.

Advertisement

What’s next

Snow is expected to taper off by mid to late Sunday morning. A Gale Warning is also in effect for the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac starting Sunday morning, and wind chills near 0°F are possible late Sunday night into Monday.

Residents should monitor local forecasts and plan for slower travel overnight and early Sunday.

Advertisement

The Source: This story is based on forecasts and advisories from the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington and the FOX Forecast Center.

WeatherTop StoriesWashington, D.C.VirginiaMaryland



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Virginia

Virginia mosque attacked, Muslim advocates call for hate crime charges

Published

on

Virginia mosque attacked, Muslim advocates call for hate crime charges


Community members are calling for the man accused of attacking a Muslim community center in Virginia to be charged with hate crimes after he was recently arrested. The mosque says the man has attacked its members multiple times.

Virginia mosque attack

Advertisement

What we know:

The latest attack happened on Nov. 28, at the Dar Al Nur Community Center in Fairfax County. In security footage shared by the mosque, a man can be seen berating a group of women leaving prayer. When they see the man, they run back through the door and threaten to call the police.

The man is then seen swatting at the camera, while shouting, “F—ing Muslims! Get the f— out of here!”

Advertisement

Police arrested Dr. Tony Hsiao shortly after the incident, charging him with assault, trespassing and destruction of property. Hsiao was arrested last year on similar charges. 

What they’re saying:

Advertisement

Hsiao has not been charged with a hate crime, and advocates say that’s unacceptable.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called pubically Friday for state and federal officials to charge Hsiao with a hate crime.

“[F]ederal authorities must hold him fully accountable by filing hate crime charges,” CAIR attorney Ahmad Kaki said in a statement. “no one should be able to get away with repeatedly attacking the same house of worship. We must send a message that all faiths are welcome and safe in Fairfax County and throughout our nation.”

Advertisement

The Source: Information in this story is from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Fairfax County Police Department.

Crime and Public SafetyReligionFairfax



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Virginia

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

Published

on

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026


HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) – The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday.

This year’s group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors whose influence spans generations, levels of competitions across the state. This includes one man from Richmond, who has also been named the 2026 Distinguished Virginian.

The Class of 2026 inductees are as follows:

  • Bobby Ukrop (Richmond): Robert S. “Bobby” Ukrop has been named the “2026 Distinguished Virginian” presented to an individual with a sports background who is a distinguished citizen of the Commonwealth based on outstanding life accomplishment”. A former basketball player at the University of Richmond, Ukrop has been a transformative community leader, leading initiatives throughout Central Virginia including the founding of Richmond Sports Backers, construction of the Diamond baseball stadium, efforts to “Drown-proof Virginia” learn to swim initiative.
  • Grant Hill (Reston): ACC Player of the Year; two-time consensus All American; two-time NCAA Champion; one of the ACC’s 50 Greatest Players; 19-year NBA career – 17,137 points -7-time NBA All-Star- 3-time NBA Sportsmanship Award; Olympic Gold Medalist; member of the College and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame. National broadcaster for both NCAA and NBA games. Co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Orlando City SC (MLS), Orlando Pride (NWSL) and the Baltimore Orioles (MLB).
  • Marcellus “Boo” Williams (Hampton): Widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential youth basketball coaches in the nation, Williams has helped shape the careers of countless young men’s and women’s players. Walt Disney Wide World of Sports named Williams its 2001 Volunteer of the Year; The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented him with its 2013 Human Spirit Award. Williams currently operates his youth basketball programs from the 135,000 sq. ft. Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.
  • Michael Vick (Newport News): The former Virginia Tech standout and NFL quarterback, Vick became one of the most dynamic players of his generation. At Virginia Tech, Vick led the Hokies to the 1999 National Championship game and was a 1st team All-American and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The #1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, Vick played in the NFL for 13 seasons, earning 4 Pro Bowl selections and the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After his retirement, Vick was a commentator for Fox NFL Sunday. He is currently the head coach of the Norfolk State University Spartans.
  • Wally Walker (Charlottesville): Often credited with starting the prominence of UVA basketball, Walker led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA tournament berth in 1976 when he was the MVP of the ACC Tournament. Walker was the #5 overall pick of the 1976 NBA draft and played for 8 NBA seasons winning two NBA Championships. Following his playing career, Walker moved to the front office, to become the President of Seattle SuperSonics.
  • Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg): One of the most accomplished basketball players in Virginia history. Toliver was the 2009 ACC Player of the Year, a 2-time All-American, NCAA National Champion, 1st round WNBA selection, 2-time WNBA Champion and a 3-time WNBA AllStar. Toliver is currently the associate head coach of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
  • Terry Driscoll (Williamsburg): A visionary leader in collegiate athletics, Driscoll served with distinction as the Director of Athletics at William & Mary for 22 years, during which the Tribe won 114 Conference Championships, had 118 teams with 100% graduation rates and oversaw a dramatic increase in funding for new facilities and the College’s endowment. A true “Scholar-Athlete” himself, Driscoll was an Athletic and Academic All-American, the #4 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and a championship professional coach in Europe.
  • Roland Lazenby (Wytheville): A former reporter with the Roanoke Times, Lazenby is best known for his award-winning author of over 60 sports books that has vaulted him to the top of his profession. Widely regarded as an “expert or authority” on NBA basketball, several of his most prominent books are “go to” references on Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
  • Tony Bennett: Former University of Virginia basketball coach, two-time Naismith Coach of the Year, and national championship coach as long stood among college basketball’s most respected leaders. Over an 18-season head coaching career, including stops at Washington State and the University of Virginia, he compiled a remarkable 433-and-169 overall record. He took over Virginia in 2009 and transformed the Cavaliers into a powerhouse, amassing a 364- 136 record while becoming the programs all-time wins leader. His crowning achievement came in 2019, when his team captured the NCAA national championship- a milestone that delivered Virginia its first ever national title in men’s basketball. Under Bennett’s stewardship, Virginia won six regular season conference titles, two conference championships, and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

The 53rd induction events are set for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa/Short Pump.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending