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Waterlogged in Southeastern Virginia

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Waterlogged in Southeastern Virginia


For the nearly two million people in Norfolk, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and the surrounding communities that make up the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia, the Atlantic Ocean is not only the cultural lifeblood of the area, it is an economic driver. Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval facility, hosts more than 330,000 active-duty personnel, military retirees, families, civilian employees, and others and spends billions in the state.

Yet for an area inextricably linked to water, the water is now a serious problem. Climate change is bearing down on Hampton Roads. The bowl-like shape of the Chesapeake Bay, and the way the James and Elizabeth Rivers flow into that depression, means that the region has the dubious distinction of dealing with both rising seas and sinking land. Norfolk has the highest rate of sea level rise on the East Coast, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts the sea level will rise between one and three feet in the region by 2050. According to a new Virginia Tech Earth Observation and Innovation Lab study, sections of land along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline are sinking at rates of nearly a quarter of an inch a year. Hampton Roads is sinking at a relatively high rate, with the Navy’s assets in some of the most at-risk places.

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This rate of sea level rise is faster than local planners had previously anticipated. Local maps are now seriously out of date, especially when it comes to charting and preparing local communities for rising waters. The region’s municipal officials have been well aware of this problem and have gone to great lengths to come up with fortification strategies, building seawalls, retrofitting old buildings with climate-resistant infrastructure, and elevating roads. Sometimes, however, mitigation is not enough, and communities must consider how to accurately communicate to residents that certain areas are just plain risky areas to live and that they’ll have to plan for the previously unthinkable: moving out of harm’s way.

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Managed retreat is the purposeful movement of people and infrastructure away from risky areas prone to repeating natural disasters. The most common type of managed retreat is a buyout program funded by either the local, state, or federal government. Virginia state officials have indicated that relocating people away from those areas is one option in the state’s 2021 Coastal Resilience Master Plan. The state intends to work with communities to “plan, implement, and support successful and lasting adaptation and protection strategies,” while also instituting buyout programs for the most flood-prone areas. Auctioning off of carbon credits created through Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative was intended to provide partial funding for these efforts. However, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced plans to withdraw from the cap-and-trade agreement. (The state has until the end of 2023 to formally leave the pact.)

Newport News, Virginia, which sits on the James River north of Naval Station Norfolk, leads the state with the highest number of buyouts at 80. The city’s annual budget allocates about $200,000 to buy out properties that repeatedly flood. The city uses FEMA maps to determine the riskiest areas and then offers to buy out the riskiest properties. If the owners accept the buyout, the city then does its own mitigation projects like turning the vacant lots into parks that can better soak up floodwaters.

Funding climate change mitigation projects is costly no matter how a community does it.

While Newport News officials have had some success in persuading people to accept buyouts, nearby municipalities like Norfolk and Virginia Beach have been slower to adopt managed-retreat strategies. They’ve opted instead to fund resilience measures like elevating homes and roads. In 2021, the residents of Virginia Beach voted to approve a $585 million bond, one of the largest in the country, to finance infrastructure projects that will help fortify the area against sea level rise.

Funding climate change mitigation projects is costly no matter how a community does it. But managed retreat, unlike funding seawalls and elevating roads, is likely cheaper in the long run since seawalls and roads are constantly getting damaged by rising seas. Buying a property and removing costly infrastructure is a large up-front cost but means future fixes to that infrastructure are no longer needed. Relocating people away from risky properties should therefore be considered in a town’s climate strategy.

Communicating to residents what managed retreat is and the options it can provide for the region’s residents can go a long way in helping residents address the negative climate impacts the region faces. Americans have relocated away from risky areas for at least a century. In 1881, the town of Niobrara, Nebraska, was flooded under roughly six feet of water. After the waters receded, town residents decided to relocate a mile and a half away to higher ground.

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Moving is a decision that is usually left up to residents. “Sometimes people hear managed retreat and they think, ‘I’m going to be forced out of my home,’ which is not the way that 99.99 percent of the programs work,” says A.R. Siders of the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center.

Almost every managed-retreat program in the United States is voluntary, with the exception of Harris County in Texas (which instituted mandatory buyouts in seven Houston neighborhoods after Hurricane Harvey decimated the region in 2017). In 2020, Harris County mandated buyouts after receiving Housing and Urban Development relief funding. County officials noted that the area of Allen Field in Houston had flooded 12 times in the past four decades and felt that there were no infrastructure projects that would keep the area safe from future flooding.

In almost all these cases, the state or town will offer to buy a home and the owner has the option at every stage of the process to decline offers. In fact, in most areas where managed-retreat programs are in effect, there is not enough funding available to reimburse all the residents who want buyouts.

Local officials should also let people know that managed retreat is not a decision that happens in isolation. “We tend to think about [managed retreat] as a one-time process. But with managed retreat it very rarely is,” says Siders, one of the country’s leading experts on managed retreat. “Don’t think about it as you’re going to take the buyout or you’re not and then that’s it.” Siders believes that it’s better to think about the move as a “change of footprint.”

“We know that the boundaries of towns shift over time,” she says. Framing these moves as a shift in where people live rather than an erasure of a community is much more palatable, and better reflects what it means for residents to relocate to safer places.

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Every type of climate mitigation, of course, has trade-offs. Communities lose property tax revenue from homes in a floodplain, and buyout program trade-offs certainly require robust evaluation and debate. Relocating to higher ground challenges residents to form new and lasting communities. But in an area like Hampton Roads, these conversations need to be happening. The 2021 Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan estimates that in the next six decades, the number of residential, public, and commercial buildings exposed to extreme coastal flooding risk will rise 150 percent to roughly 340,000 structures. The projected cost of annual flood damage is $5.1 billion.

For a crisis as multifaceted and complex as climate change is, our public policies need to be creative and diverse. Managed retreat may not be the best option for every resident living on a flood-prone lot in Newport News, or Norfolk, or Virginia Beach. Some people may continue to prefer fortification strategies. But at the very least, managed retreat should be an option for some severe repetitive-loss properties. The number of properties a state or local buyout program can buy in a given year is mostly dictated by the available funding, but even buying out a few properties every year “opens up a lot more space to be creative,” Siders says.



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Virginia Tech Basketball: Connor Serven is entering the transfer portal

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Virginia Tech Basketball: Connor Serven is entering the transfer portal


With one year of eligibility left, Connor Serven enters the transfer portal in search of a new home. The 6-8, 225-pound forward appeared in 16 games for the Hokies this season. In his 41 minutes played, Serven averaged 0.3 points and 0.6 rebounds.

Serven began his college ball career at Illinois as a walk-on. At Illinois, the Prairie City native averaged 14 minutes of play. In search of more playing time, Serven entered the transfer portal for the first time, and found a home at Eastern Michigan.

As an Eastern Michigan Eagle, Serven’s playing time jumped significantly from 19 minutes in his junior year at Illinois, to 555 minutes. Serven flourished in his new role, averaging 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. As an Eagle, Serven shot 43 percent from the field, sank 25 percent of his three’s, and made 48.3 percent of his free throws. While Serven had found a lot of success at Eastern Michigan, he was still hopeful for the opportunity to play at a high-major program. This desire landed him in the transfer portal once again where he found a home as Hokie.

For his final year of college ball, Serven will enter the transfer portal once again to find a new home and make the most of his last season.

Virginia Tech has seen five other players enter the transfer portal this month. Guards Brandon Rechsteiner, Jaydon Young, Rodney Brown Jr, center Ryan Jones, and center Patrick Wessler all announced that they would be moving on from the program.

Rechsteiner played at Virginia Tech for two seasons, including 32 games this year which included 15 starts. He averaged 7.0 PPG on 37% shooting from the field and 30% from three. He led the Hokies in assists this season with 2.8 and is a former four-star recruit who chose the Hokies over LSU, Xavier, and Tennessee.

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Jaydon Young had some big moments this season, scoring 26 points in a win over Syracuse and 27 points in a win over Miami. They were the only games in which he scored more than 14 points. He has announced he will transfer to High Point.

Rodney Brown Jr decided to enter the portal after spending one year with the program after transferring in from Cal. Brown played in 18 games this season, averaging 15.2 minutes per game and 4.1 PPG. During his lone season with the Golden Bears in 2023-2024, Brown played in 32 games, averaging 3.5 PPG in 14 minutes per game.

This is going to be a big offseason for head coach Mike Young and his program. After the ACC Tournament loss to Cal, Young talked about how the big thing that was missing from this year’s team was talent and how it had to get fixed quickly:

“A lot was missing. A lot was missing, just call it what it is. They are great kids and a pleasure to work with. We have to get more talented and we are going to quick, all right?”

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Revealed: Why Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre was charged by cops – just days before claiming she was on her ‘deathbed’ after bus crash

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Revealed: Why Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre was charged by cops – just days before claiming she was on her ‘deathbed’ after bus crash


Sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre was charged with breaching a family violence restraining order just days before the bus crash which she initially claimed had fatally injured her.

Giuffre, née Roberts, 41, posted a photograph on Instagram on Sunday night, allegedly from her hospital bed, claiming she had just four days left to live.

She said her car had been hit by a school bus travelling at 110km/h which had left her with kidney failure, and doctors had told her she would be dead within days.

A spokesman for Giuffre admitted on Wednesday that she had ‘made a mistake’ and was not dying, and had not intended to publish the post publicly.

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Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal Giuffre was listed at a Perth Magistrates Court ten days before the crash over the alleged breach of the family violence restraining order.

Her estranged husband Robert Giuffre was also listed at the same court the month before for allegedly ‘providing inadequate storage facility for firearms’.

It is understood the couple recently separated after 22 years of marriage, and no longer live together at their lavish $1.9million mansion in Perth’s beachside suburb of Ocean Reef.

They bought the six-bedroom home five years ago, putting down a deposit on it six months before Ms Giuffre launched her lawsuit against the prince for allegedly sexually abusing her when she was a teenager.

The purchase was finalised before the matter was settled out of court with a reported $20million payout from Prince Andrew.

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Virginia Giuffre was charged with breaching a family violence restraining order days before the bus crash which she initially claimed had fatally injured her

Giuffre, 41, posted on Instagram about the crash on March 24, which occurred ten days after she was listed at the court near her $2m family home

Giuffre, 41, posted on Instagram about the crash on March 24, which occurred ten days after she was listed at the court near her $2m family home 

Virgina Giuffre is reportedly estranged from husband of 22 years Robert (above the couple in 2019) and in March she was charged with alleged breaching a Family Violence Restraining Order

Virgina Giuffre is reportedly estranged from husband of 22 years Robert (above the couple in 2019) and in March she was charged with alleged breaching a Family Violence Restraining Order 

They now appear to be locked in a messy tug of love over their teenage son and daughter. 

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Two days before the car crash, Giuffre posted a sun-dappled picture of her children on a beach on March 22, accompanied by an apparent desperate plea to see them.

‘My beautiful babies have no clue how much I love them and they’re being poisoned with lies,’ she posted. 

‘I miss them so very much. I have been through hell and back in my 41 years but this is incredibly hurting me worse than anything else. 

‘Hurt me, abuse me but don’t take my babies. My heart is shattered and every day that passes my sadness only deepens.’

In the post from hospital a week later, she added: ‘I’ve gone into kidney renal failure, they’ve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology. 

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‘I’m ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time. My heart is shattered and every day that passes my sadness only deepens.’

Giuffre met her future husband when she was just 19 while training as a masseuse in Thailand.

Virginia Giuffre (above in Cairns six years ago) and her estranged husband Robert moved to their beachside mansion in Perth after her reported $20million payout from Prince Andrew

Virginia Giuffre (above in Cairns six years ago) and her estranged husband Robert moved to their beachside mansion in Perth after her reported $20million payout from Prince Andrew

The famous photograph of the-then Virginia Roberts and Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell that led to the royal's downfall and the reported $20million payout

The famous photograph of the-then Virginia Roberts and Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell that led to the royal’s downfall and the reported $20million payout

The course had been paid for by the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who had sex trafficked Giuffre with his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

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On Tuesday, Western Australia Police revealed Giuffre was a passenger in a car involved in a ‘minor collision’ with a bus in Neergabby, 80km north of Perth, on March 24, and no-one had been injured.

According to 9News Perth, Giuffre’s 71-year-old ‘carer’ was driving the car at the time.

Police said the collision was ‘reported by the bus driver the following day. The car sustained approximately $2000 worth of damage’. 

‘We have no report of any serious injuries,’ Acting Western Australian Police Commissioner Kylie Whiteley said.

Giuffre is understood to have been treated at a local health centre afterwards for a pre-existing condition and released. 

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She later checked into another hospital in the early hours of Tuesday, after the disturbing Instagram post – which appeared to show her badly bruised – went public.

She rescinded the ‘deathbed’ farewell claims via a spokesperson on Wednesday  and said she mistakenly posted them to her public Instagram page.

Virginia Giuffre with a photo of her younger self when she was sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein
The late Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell, decades before they would each be jailed in the US on sex trafficking charges

Virginia Giuffre with a photo of her younger self (left) and the late Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell, decades before they would each be jailed in the US on sex trafficking charges

Her father Sky Roberts told DailyMail.com that he is ‘sick to my stomach’ and would do anything to be able to fly from his home in Florida to be by his daughter’s hospital bedside in Australia.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Ms Giuffre made the incident up or exaggerated it.

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How to Watch & Listen to West Virginia at Ohio State

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How to Watch & Listen to West Virginia at Ohio State


The West Virginia Mountaineers (20-4) remain on the road and will meet the Ohio State Buckeyes (8-16) for the 22nd meeting between the two programs.

West Virginia vs. Ohio State Series History

Ohio State lead 19-12

Last Meeting: Ohio State 26, WVU 11 (Mar. 17, 2024, in Morgantown)

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Location: Bill Davis Stadium

When: Tuesday, March 1

First Pitch: 6:00 p.m. EST

Stream: ESPN+

Radio: Andrew Caridi (PBP), Jake Weghorst (analyst) Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College (Radio affiliates)

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WVU Game Notes

– The Mountaineers are 22-4 this season after taking two of three at BYU over the weekend, falling on Thursday before winning on Friday and Saturday.

– West Virginia scored 20 runs in Friday’s victory before coming back and scoring 19 runs on a season-high 20 hits, Saturday.

– The Mountaineers won their first 13 games of the season, the fourth-best start in program history.

– Steve Sabins is in his first season at the helm in Morgantown. He has spent the previous nine seasons on staff with the Mountaineers, including the past three as Associate Head Coach.

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– In the Big 12 Preseason Poll, the Mountaineers were picked fourth, the highest predicted finish since joining the league.

– West Virginia has finished with a .500-or-better record in 11 of 12 seasons in the Big 12.

– The Mountaineers’ 56-game schedule features 14 meetings with teams that reached the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

– 2025 will be the 11th season the Mountaineers play at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark. The field was named after Rick and Jay Wagener on Aug. 30, 2021, following a major gift donation to the program. Rick Wagener was a standout pitcher at WVU from 1968-71. The ballpark was renamed after alum and principal owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ken Kendrick and his family, in 2024.

– WVU is set to play 25 home games this spring. The squad has had a winning record at the facility for eight straight years and is coming off a season in which it went 17-6 in games played in Morgantown.

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– The Mountaineers are coming off a historic season in 2024, advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history. WVU swept through the Tucson regional as the three seed before falling in two one-run games at North Carolina.

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