Connect with us

Virginia

Rep. Kiggans, Virginia Beach leaders want Navy to send F-35's to NAS Oceana

Published

on

Rep. Kiggans, Virginia Beach leaders want Navy to send F-35's to NAS Oceana


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach City Council could soon back a push to bring new jets to Naval Air Station Oceana.

Mayor Bobby Dyer and Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson are putting forward a resolution that will formalize the city’s support and openness for having the U.S. Navy locate new F-35C Lightning II joint strike-fighter aircraft to the East Coast Master Jet Base.

Currently, the jets, described as “the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world,” are all headed mostly to the West Coast

Rep. Jen Kiggans, (R-Virginia Beach), herself a former Naval aviator, said it’s time to start taking a look at East Coast locations as well.

Advertisement

The thought is, if Navy leadership sees the city support, they may not only consider basing the F-35’s here, but they will likely also spend the money to make improvements the base desperately needs.

“I believe that it is time to look to the future of NAS Oceana’s strategic mission and start the conversation about bringing the military’s newest aircraft to Hampton Roads,” Kiggans said in a statement. “Starting the process early allows for the numerous studies and regulatory tasks to be completed by the time additional F-35 are assigned to a home base.”

NAS Oceana, which spans more than 5,000 acres in the heart of Virginia’s largest city, is home to 330 aircraft, including the F/A-18F Super Hornet, and provides an estimated $1.5 billion in economic impact annually, per the Navy.

First opened in 1943, prior commanding officers have said the funding from the federal government isn’t nearly enough to keep up with the base’s aging infrastructure. As of 2021, roughly 60% of the base’s barracks were uninhabitable because of a variety of problems, including mold.

The Navy struck a deal with Virginia Beach that same year to try and come up with solutions to reduce the base’s overall cost. Those potential solutions included possible partnerships with private operators to take over management and upkeep of some of the facilities, as well as land leases.

Advertisement

However, so far, Wilson said that has proven to be more difficult than initially expected.

It’s one of the reasons Kiggans is now pursuing this path.

“We all know that with new platforms and technology comes a new mission and additional resources to support that mission,” Kiggans said. “This is a critical part of my advocacy, as I would like to see NAS Oceana receive long overdue funding support to upgrade and revitalize the base.’

Wilson represents District 5 on Virginia Beach City Council, which includes the entirety of Oceana. She remembers well when the base’s future was up in the air back in 2005.

At that time, the base realignment and closure commission was concerned enough to nearly close Oceana due to encroachment of development and the complaints from community members about jet noise.

Advertisement

She wants to prevent that from ever happening again.

“I talked to our congresswoman about it, and she thought it would be very helpful to her job in Washington,” Wilson said regarding the resolution. “We want to make sure that they know that they’re welcome and we have a large military community. … We want to make sure that everyone in Washington, the decision makers, know that we love our jets and our Navy and whatever they have coming forward, we would love to have them right here.”

The vote on the resolution is tentatively scheduled for July 2.



Source link

Advertisement

Virginia

Virginia Tech vs. Miami sportsbook promos: $5K-plus available in bonus bets

Published

on

Virginia Tech vs. Miami sportsbook promos: K-plus available in bonus bets


$200 BONUS BETS

DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK

$1,000 FIRST BET RESET (MUST USE CODE NEWSWEEK)

ESPN BET

UP TO $1,000 BONUS BETS

FANATICS SPORTSBOOK

Advertisement

$1,500 FIRST-BET OFFER

BETMGM

$200 BONUS OR $1,000 FIRST-BET SAFETY NET

BET365

$1,000 FIRST BET

CAESARS SPORTSBOOK

$200 BONUS BETS

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK

Newsweek’s links above set you up with tempting offers from DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook, BetMGM, bet365, Caesars and FanDuel.

Advertisement

Read on to learn how these deals work, then apply as much as $5,900 in sign-up bonuses as you get your bets in for Ward’s first taste of ACC action.

Read more of Newsweek’s NCAAF Week 5 betting preview

Virginia Tech-Miami Sportsbook Promos: Take Home $5,900 in Bonus Bets

There are a range of markets available for the Hokies’ trip to South Florida, including the spread, total and various player props, like over-under yardage totals for Miami RB Damien Martinez and VT RB Bhayshul Tuten.

In addition, there are a number of Virginia Tech vs. Miami sportsbook promos to pick from.

DraftKings Promo Code: Get $200 Bonus After Betting $5

Get started at DK now and enjoy $200 in bonus bets after placing a first wager of $5. The $200 reward you’ll receive will convey as eight (8) bonus bets worth $25 apiece. Put these to use on any pregame or live bet you like in tonight’s VT-UM contest.

Advertisement

ESPN BET Promo Code NEWSWEEK: $1,000 Reset Bonus

Start an ESPN BET account with the promo code NEWSWEEK and bet up to $1,000 on Virginia Tech vs. Miami with the knowledge that a loss will be refunded. In the event of a loss, ESPN BET will cover you with five bonus bets for future opportunities to get in the win column.

Fanatics Sportsbook Promo: 10 Days of $100 Bonus Matches

Fanatics Sportsbook currently offers 10 days of matching bonus bets (up to $100), so get started by betting on Virginia Tech vs. Miami tonight. You can put down $100 every day over the next 10 days and get a daily matching bonus bet to use on any of the can’t-miss college football, NFL and MLB games on tap.

In total, you can collect up to $1,000 in bonus bets over 10 days via this deal.

BetMGM Bonus Code NEWSWEEK1500 Backs Up $1.5K Bet

BetMGM will give you some peace of mind on your first bet, up to $1,500. Just register with the sportsbook and place a first wager for a max of $1,500 knowing that if you lose your bet, BetMGM will refund you with bonus bets. The refund you receive will be issued over five equal installments, and you’ll have seven days to use them before they expire.

Bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365: Pick Between $200 Bonus and $1,000 Bet Protection

Advertisement

There are a couple ways for new bet365 customers to cash in as they tackle Hokies vs. Canes. Thanks to the Newsweek promo code WEEK365, you can either bet $5 and receive $200 in bonus bets or protect your first bet if it loses via bet365’s $1K First Bet Safety Net.

Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code NEWSWK1000: Refund of $1K for First Bet

Take a shot on a first bet of a maximum $1,000 at Caesars and snag a bonus bet refund if your bet doesn’t hit. This stress-free wager could go toward the Canes to cover as 17.5-point favorites in Friday night’s rivalry clash. If that’s what you go with and Miami fails to cover, no worries — Caesars will issue you bonus bets to refund that loss. You’ll then have a period of two weeks (14 days) before this bonus bet expires.

FanDuel Promo Code: New Users Can Access $200 Bonus

FanDuel’s offer is one of the simplest — and best — of them all. Just sign up now and make a $5 bet on the Virginia Tech vs. Miami market of your choice, and get ready to receive $200 in bonus bets, win or lose.

21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.

Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator’s terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Virginia

State Fair of Virginia boss confident the event is safe for all: ‘We're secured’

Published

on

State Fair of Virginia boss confident the event is safe for all: ‘We're secured’


CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. — The State Fair of Virginia returns for 10 days at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell.

The fair opens Friday at 10 a.m.

Fair executive director Marlene Jolliffe told CBS 6 this is her 35th career state fair.

“We have a legacy. We have generational fairgoers who this is a tradition, and they keep coming,” Jolliffe recalled. “My grandchildren and my children have grown up in the fair industry because of me.”

Advertisement

The State Fair of Virginia has been in operation since 1854 and Jolliffe said they’ve learned a lot since it moved to The Meadow Event Park in 2009.

Last year, she invited contractors to visit the fairgrounds to study their procedures finding virtually no issues, but showed areas for improvement.

Crews installed metal detectors and upgraded cameras.

A security team holds meetings year-round before the fair and safety briefings every morning the fair is in operation.

The fair partners with the Virginia State Police for security. VSP declined an interview about this topic.

Advertisement

Jolliffe said attendees can expect to see troopers across the park in addition to RMC Events employees in yellow shirts.

Those safety plans come on the heels of 300 people who were banned from nearby King’s Dominion due to fighting. Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Chesterfield County’s fair also saw groups fighting over the summer.

Community shares voices after large altercations mar community events, gatherings

Advertisement

“Certainly I follow that and pay attention to it, but we don’t start changing what has worked so well for us just because an incident happens at another location,” Jolliffe explained.

The fair has not changed any policies since then and there is no chaperone policy, either.

Jolliffe described the 10 fun days as family-friendly, with dozens of school groups visiting during the day.

“We’re secured and partner with Virginia State Police. They are one of our most critical partners, and they’re here. They’re in the operation. They’re all over the grounds. They park, they get people off of the roadway from a parking standpoint, but they’re all over the main footprint of the property, securing,” Jolliffe said.

WTVR

Advertisement
State Fair of Virginia executive director Marlene Jolliffe

Among the highlights this year include new bathrooms built near the entrance.

After two years of dealing with soaking tropical storms, crews have installed a 17,000-square-foot tent with seating over their main stage.

New foods include the “Big Fatty” cinnamon roll rolled in bacon and “Hurricane Fries” topped with mac and cheese, fried chicken, and Yum Yum sauce.

The fair offers a new “Fast Lane” wristband to skip the lines at the rides, farm animal showcases for adults and youth, baking competitions, musical acts, a roving piano, a magician, and more.

“The beauty of what we do with the fair is we’re not all about entertainment. We’re also about the agriculture of things, the garden, the competitions, and having that nice mix of things makes it a little easier to be able to figure out how you program it,” Jolliffe said.

Advertisement

The event has an overall regional economic impact of $41.5 million with 200,000 attendees over 10 days.

Do you know about a good news story happening in your community? Click here to email WTVR.com and the CBS 6 News team.

EAT IT, VIRGINIA restaurant news and interviews





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Virginia

Chesterfield first responders deployed to southwest Virginia

Published

on

Chesterfield first responders deployed to southwest Virginia


CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) -Chesterfield first responders made their way to southwest Virginia Thursday to help areas forecasted to be the most affected by Hurricane Helene.

19 firefighters and EMS workers left Fire Station 17 in the morning to Wythe County.

The county expects several inches of rain, gusty winds and potentially downed trees and power lines.

The Chesterfield crews will be on standby to perform water rescues.

Advertisement

They are also ready to deploy to neighboring states if necessary.

Another group of Chesterfield firefighters flew out to the Roanoke area earlier Thursday afternoon.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending