Sept. 3, 2026

news@whro.org | 757-889-9312

Cars travel over the Great Bridge Bridge in Chesapeake on Sept. 1, 2026. (Photo by Katherine Hafner)

Katherine Hafner

Climate and Environment Reporter

Climate experts warn that changing weather patterns and rising temperatures are increasingly threatening regional infrastructure.

Last year, extreme summer heat forced Chesapeake to temporarily close the Great Bridge Bridge after thermal expansion caused the two sides of the moveable span to push into each other. 

The incident prompted public works officials to adopt proactive measures, such as monitoring vulnerable bridges and spraying them with water when temperatures hit 90 degrees.

Officials say varying materials in these structures often expand at different rates as they are exposed to heat.

Read More

Resurrection Lutheran Church on J. Clyde Morris Boulevard in Newport News held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new child development center on Aug. 28, 2026. (Photo by Toby Cox)

Resurrection Lutheran Church recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new $7-million child development center, which will double its capacity to 250 infants and toddlers to help address the region's severe childcare shortage. 

Local advocacy organizations say that Hampton Roads faces a deficit of nearly 33,000 childcare slots for children under 6, a gap driven by facility limitations and staffing shortages. 

This widespread lack of affordable and accessible care forces many parents to reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely, creating significant financial strain for families.

Read More

This could be the new high school attendance zone map if the WJCC School Board approves redistricting. (Image via WJCC Schools)

The Williamsburg-James City County school redistricting committee declined to recommend any changes to the August attendance maps, moving the proposed boundary lines one step closer to final adoption across its 16 campuses. 

Division leaders initiated the redistricting process in 2024 to accommodate two new preschool centers and ease overcrowding. However, community advocacy groups raised concerns about increasing student demographic disparities at select schools. 

Officials say that further adjustments could not address equity concerns without compromising other core issues, such as streamlining bus routes and keeping student cohorts together as they advance grades.

Read More

Federal judge blocks new Virginia limits on existing local ICE agreements Read More

Amazon Air’s drone delivery is coming to Virginia Read More

AUDIO: Virginia Beach mayor will seek GOP nomination for Virginia Senate seat in 2027 Listen here

Food insecurity is on the rise in North Carolina Read More

Local journalism is made
possible only because of
generous WHRO donors

(Image by WHRO Public Media)

For more than 100 years, The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has followed its mission to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information to the global community about Black life, history and culture. The 111th ASALH Conference is coming to Norfolk in September.

Virginia's own Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the organization in 1915. On the next Another View, we'll discuss the role of ASALH in keeping African American history and culture alive despite efforts to erase the contributions of Black people in the social, political and economic structures in America and beyond.

Join us for the next Another View, today at noon on 89.5 WHRV-FM.

Stream the latest episode HERE, subscribe through Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Join WHRO’s Chuck Doud and local podcast host Kayda Plus as they share a list of curiously curated and intriguing events happening each weekend in Hampton Roads.

17th, 24th and 31st Street parks at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Four days of free concerts across three beachfront stages featuring Greensky Bluegrass, Bela Dona, The Aquabats, Emily Ann Roberts, Deep Blue Something and more. Free and open to the public.

Virginia Beach Oceanfront

A celebration of women in action sports and music featuring professional surfing, competitions, and more than 20 free concerts and performances from Switchfoot, CeeLo Green, Lupe Fiasco and Gym Class Heroes.

Norfolk Scope Grounds, 201 E. Brambleton Ave.

The 757's homegrown hip hop and R&B festival returns for its third year with T.I., Keyshia Cole, The-Dream, Plies, DJ Envy and more.

Stream the latest episode HERE, subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Julius Ayo

Digital Producer

Thank you for being a part of the WHRO journalism community! If you benefited from this email, forward it to a friend. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to be one of the first people get the most important local news every weekday.