16+ hour, 38+ min ago (713+ words) In 1920, prohibition was enacted. The 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote, was ratified. The country was still on the gold standard. And the First World War had ended just two years earlier. Sliced bread wasn't commercially sold until 1928. On Dec. 1 of 1920 " a month after Warren G. Harding was elected president of the United States " Elizabeth Barrett was born. "How old are you turning?" one of her eight children playfully asked recently. "Oh, I don't know," Barrett, who to close friends and family goes by "Betty," said with a chuckle. Barrett served as a flight instructor in World War II. She and her late husband, also a veteran of that war as well as Korea and was in the reserves in Vietnam, built a number of homes and later managed a racquetball club in Virginia Beach. Much later in life, she…...

2+ day, 3+ hour ago (264+ words) Holiday travel could bring a rise in contagious illnesses such as the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, according to Virginia health specialists. As of Nov. 22, the most recent data available, the Virginia Department of Health reports that overall respiratory illness activity in Virginia is "low and stable." "We're starting to see indicators that things are most likely going to take off really quickly here in the next few weeks with respiratory illness trends," Diskin said. "We're keeping a close eye on that." Older adults, younger children and those with underlying conditions are the most at-risk, she said. Public health officials encourage the public to be proactive to prevent the spread of illness, and Diskin said that incorporating small habits can make a big difference in spreading illness. "Because we're seeing the flu season starting a little bit late this year,…...

2+ day, 4+ hour ago (149+ words) CHESAPEAKE " Three people were rescued after their boat overturned early Friday morning. Just before 6:30 a.m., dispatchers received a distress call reporting a boat had overturned on Lake Drummond, ... CHESAPEAKE " Three people were rescued after their boat overturned early Friday morning. Just before 6:30 a.m., dispatchers received a distress call reporting a boat had overturned on Lake Drummond, and its occupants were in the water, according to a release. The Chesapeake fire and police departments were dispatched and upon arrival, they found three people in the water, the release stated. Just after 7:30 a.m., one of the boats rescued two people. A couple minutes later, another boat rescued the third, according to the fire department. All three people were taken to shore, where medics were standing by. They were taken to local hospitals for further evaluation and treatment. No other information was released....

3+ day, 2+ hour ago (481+ words) After the largest food drive of the year, Virginia food banks are still struggling to ensure Virginians in need are fed as the holiday season approaches. The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore and the Food Bank of Albemarle, North Carolina, held their annual food drive over the weekend when people could drop off donations. According to Peninsula Foodbank CEO Bob Latvis, the event garnered more than 1 million meals across all three locations, more than 250,000 of which were donated to the Peninsula. Latvis said the drive was a much-needed boost for a community that has seen a spike in food insecurity this year. "We see a greater need at the holiday period and then going into winter," Latvis said. "The need goes up as the weather gets cooler." Food bank staff are still finalizing data,…...

3+ day, 11+ hour ago (125+ words) The Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation announces the return of the Virginia Beach Holiday Boat Parade of Lights next Saturday. The Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation announces the return of the Virginia Beach Holiday Boat Parade of Lights next Saturday. The event features illuminated vessels cruising from Broad Bay to the Lynnhaven inlet with proceeds supporting the city's volunteer Emergency Medical Services system. Boats will begin to move along the parade route at approximately 5:40 p.m. Spectators can watch along the route and the walkway on Lesner Bridge, along with prime viewing spots including Chick's Oyster Bar, 2143 Vista Circle. For the parade route, visit vbboatparade.com/parade-route. For more information on registration, sponsorship, and viewing locations, visit vbboatparade.com....

3+ day, 12+ hour ago (617+ words) The first of two new bridges across the Dismal Swamp Canal is slated to open in late January. After 18 months of construction, the Deep Creek Bridge replacement project in Chesapeake is just less than half-completed. New dual spans over the canal will replace the two-lane, 20-foot-wide bridge that was built in 1934. Officials have deemed the old bridge functionally obsolete. That means it's safe but inadequate for current demands. About 30,000 vehicles per day cross the bridge, which carries U.S. 17 Business south toward Elizabeth City. Moses Grandy Trail connects to the east side of the bridge, which continues as Cedar Road toward the Great Bridge area. The Deep Creek neighborhood's growth has brought more traffic, pushing the capacity of the crossing beyond its intended capacity, Phillip Abbott, resident engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, said during a recent site visit....

3+ day, 22+ hour ago (122+ words) VIRGINIA BEACH " Police charged three men with solicitation of prostitution in connection with a human trafficking investigation. While three men were charged criminally, others were connected with support services. Virginia Beach residents Alex Gonzalez-Cinto, 28, and Timothy Jameson, 25, along with Norfolk resident Patrick Brigman, 39, were charged. The Special Investigations Bureau is a part of the Hampton Roads Human Trafficking Task Force and regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Hampton Roads task force provides services to human trafficking victims, investigates and prosecutes crimes related to sex and labor trafficking and conducts public outreach activities to bring awareness to human trafficking. Anyone can confidentially report human trafficking crimes to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888....

4+ day, 7+ hour ago (123+ words) CHESAPEAKE " A man was shot to death inside a Western Branch hotel room Tuesday night. Officers responded at about 11 p.m. to a shooting reported inside a hotel near where Western Branch Boulevard meets Churchland Boulevard. The officers learned upon arrival that the shooting had occurred hours earlier. Bystanders brought the man who was shot to a hospital in Portsmouth where he later died from his injuries, according to a Chesapeake Police Department spokesperson. The man's identity has not been released. The spokesperson said an investigation was underway by the Chesapeake Police Department and Portsmouth Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or submit a tip online at P3tips.com....

5+ day, 1+ hour ago (308+ words) New moms in Chesapeake can now receive important postpartum care without leaving home, thanks to the Mom Mobile. Last week, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare launched the Mom Mobile, a vehicle equipped to provide a variety of services to patients in the first few weeks after they give birth. Those include personalized follow-up care appointments from clinicians and nurses and essential items such as diapers and formula for those in need. According to the March of Dimes, adequate parental leave and mental health screenings for postpartum depression would be beneficial in Virginia. In addition to March of Dimes" state report card, cities received grades, as well. Chesapeake"s grade slightly improved, from failing to D-minus, with a preterm birth rate of 11.3%. Virginia Beach and Norfolk received failing grades, with preterm rates of 11.6% and 12.5%, respectively. State lawmakers have made improving maternal and infant…...

5+ day, 17+ hour ago (564+ words) Since 2010, data centers in Virginia have not had to pay the state's sales and use tax. At a rate of 4.3%, that foregone revenue adds up: Over the past decade, data centers have been exempt from paying $2.7 billion. The state lost out on $1 billion through the data center exemption in fiscal 2024, up from $685 million in fiscal 2023. That's according to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which compiles an annual report on state spending for economic incentive programs. Those economic incentives are designed to encourage businesses to locate or expand operations in Virginia and include measures such as grants, tax credits and exemptions, business loans and gap financing. "So the tax revenue impact has been really increasing rapidly as well in Virginia." Virginia isn't the fastest-growing market for data centers any longer, Rephann said, as data center growth expands to other…...