Sept. 29, 2026

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Grant funding from the state will support maritime workers upskill and move into higher wage roles. (Photo via the U.S. Navy)

Toby Cox

Business and Growth Reporter

While Hampton Roads has successfully recruited entry-level talent for its shipyards and ports, the region is now struggling to fill advanced positions as experienced workers retire. 

To help address this "missing middle" in the maritime workforce, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council is launching the Advancing Maritime Career Pathways Project.

The initiative will support 170 workers over the next two years. Participants across shipbuilding, repair, logistics and port operations will receive specialized coaching and skill-building opportunities to help them transition into higher-paying roles.

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Officers with the Virginia Beach Police Department give out free helmets after an e-bike safety talk with families and youth at W.T. Cooke Elementary School on Sept. 26, 2026. (Photo by Ashley White)

As e-bike popularity grows among children and teens, the Virginia Beach Police Department recently hosted a safety session to educate families on state rules and proper operation. 

Presenters also reminded families about local restrictions and urged riders to always wear helmets and monitor their lithium-ion batteries.

The outreach comes as hospital data shows a sharp rise in youth e-bike injuries, while national surveys indicate many parents remain unfamiliar with how the technology is regulated. 

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Frank T. Williams Farm is a 4,000-acre property in Chesapeake also known as the Coastal Virginia Commerce Park. Praetorian Fund, an investor and developer, purchased the property. (Photo courtesy of Michael Hoffman)

When a developer bought the Frank Williams Farm in Chesapeake, it triggered community concerns about potential data center construction while highlighting broader pressures facing local agricultural lands. 

Farmers across Hampton Roads and the nation face increasing economic strains, including rising costs, tariffs and cuts to federal farm programs, which often leave selling land as their primary option. 

While data center expansion has intensified this pressure, localities such as Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Suffolk have responded by adopting temporary moratoriums and stricter public input requirements.

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Luria and Kiggans rematch in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District among most watched races in nation Read More

VA Queer Film Festival returns to Norfolk with podcasts, docs, laughs and more Read More

Military data centers are sparking opposition, but local leaders may be powerless to stop them Read More

Dominion/NextEra merger will rise or fall on specific Virginia merger law Read More

The USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Naval Station Norfolk in May following a historic 11-month deployment as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. The carrier was part of Operation Epic Fury after the U.S. attacked Iran. (Photo via the Department of Defense)

Kunle Falayi

Data Reporter

The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026. The war has now passed the seven-month mark, with cycles of negotiations, blockades and bombing campaigns.

The war has cost the lives of at least 19 U.S. service members, while estimates of Iranian casualties are imprecise. It has extended U.S. military deployments and cost taxpayers billions.

The Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO examines the data from America’s latest war in the Middle East.

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Julius Ayo

Digital Producer

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