Virginia
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.
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.
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.
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.
4 things to know about the weather:
- A much more comfortable day is ahead with highs only in the lower to middle 80s across the DMV.
- Most of the day will be dry, but a few spotty showers or thunderstorms could pop up during the afternoon.
- Humidity will be a tad lower than recent days thanks to an easterly breeze and slightly drier air moving into the region.
- Monday looks even better with comfortable temperatures, lower humidity before hotter weather returns later in the week.
A welcome change is finally settling into the DMV. Sunday won’t be perfect with some clouds around and the chance for some showers, but most areas should stay dry. Cooler temps than we’ve been used to lately, with afternoon highs staying in the 80s.
Great days to start the week as Monday and Tuesday are shaping up to be comfortably warm with noticeably lower humidity (thank goodness) bonus days for summer. Enjoy it while it lasts because heat and humidity arrive by Wednesday with temperatures climbing back into the 90s and continuing to build late in the week.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
QuickCast
SUNDAY
Mostly cloudy with a few showers and thunderstorms
Brief downpours remain possible, especially during the afternoon
Humid, but noticeably cooler
Wind: East to northeast 5–10 mph
Chance of rain: 20-30%
Highs: 84°–89°
SUNDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy with a few lingering showers
Mild and muggy
Light winds
Lows: 71°–74°
MONDAY
Humidity levels lower than the past several days
Cooler than average for mid-July
Sun & Clouds; looks dry
Highs: 82°–86°
TUESDAY
Sun and clouds and the humidity stays in check
Close to normal temps
Highs in the upper 80s to around 90°
WEDNESDAY
Mostly Sunny & HOT!
More humid with Heat Index 100+
Highs in the upper 90s
THURSDAY
Staying HOT!
Humidity sticks around and the Heat Index stays above 100
Isolated afternoon thunderstorms possible might cool it off a bit late day
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
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MIDDLEBURG, Va. – Vice President J.D. Vance is eyeing a multimillion-dollar estate in Middleburg, Virginia, to serve as a part-time home for his family, according to a report from the Washington Business Journal.
The second family is leasing two of the four properties at Wolver Hill Farm, a sprawling, nearly 500-acre estate situated about 45 minutes to an hour outside of Washington, D.C.
What we know:
The historic property was acquired five years ago for nearly $9 million by Chuck Kuhn, the owner of J.K. Moving.
According to Michael Neibauer with the Washington Business Journal, there are four homes on the 500-acre property which backs up to the Salamander Middleburg Resort and Spa.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if the Vance family maybe takes advantage of some of those spa facilities that are celebrated out there,” Neibauer added.
Requests for comment regarding the lease agreements were sent to Kuhn’s company, which has not yet responded.
The potential move comes at a busy time for the Vances, as Second Lady Usha Vance is currently expecting the couple’s fourth child.
The news has quickly traveled through the heart of Middleburg, a historic town known for its vibrant strip of mom-and-pop shops and popular resorts along East Washington Street.
What they’re saying:
Business owners along the main thoroughfare were universally aware of their potential new neighbor, though several declined to talk on camera.
The reaction to the Vice President’s potential arrival has been mixed.
“Well, I figure J.D. is going to—the vice president, excuse me— is going to want to play some golf, and I’m a member of Creighton Farms. So, Mr. Vice President, if you’re watching, you’re always welcome on my tee time,” Upperville resident Luke Mahoney said.
When asked if he has concerns about having a potential Secret Service presence in the community, Mahoney said, “No, it can’t be worse than the people that drive 35 miles an hour on Route 50 during commute times. I think they’re very professional; they do a great job. I’m not really that worried about it.”
The Source: This information is from the Washington Business Journal and FOX5 DC reporting.
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