Alumni, staff and community members tour the new John F. Kennedy Middle School in Suffolk on July 31, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Suffolk Public Schools)
As Suffolk’s population grows, so does its need for larger schools
Ashley White
Education Reporter
John F. Kennedy Middle School students and staff opened the school year in a new $74.6 million facility built to accommodate 800 students.
The expansive new middle school reflects a broader push by Suffolk Public Schools to replace aging infrastructure and handle rising enrollment driven by rapid residential development across the city.
Unlike many national school districts facing enrollment declines, Suffolk has gained nearly 600 students over the past three years as the city's overall population continues to grow.
ODU honors Lt. Col. Brandon Shah with wing dedication, memorial
Old Dominion University officially renamed the Army ROTC Annex at Rollins Hall as the Lieutenant Colonel Brandon A. Shah Wing on Sept. 4, 2026. (Photo by Brian Saunders)
The Old Dominion University community gathered outside Rollins Hall on Friday to honor Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah, who was killed six months ago shielding his students during a shooting at Constant Hall.
The ceremony formally renamed the Army ROTC Annex as the Lieutenant Colonel Brandon A. Shah Wing and unveiled a seven-foot granite memorial statue marking his life and service.
Military leaders remembered Shah as a decorated combat pilot and dedicated alumnus who expanded ODU's Monarch Battalion enrollment.
Virginia’s clerks of court are elected to be record keepers, among hundreds of other jobs
Norfolk's courthouse. Clerks of Court oversee court documents and filings, along with other legal processes, such as marriages and divorces. (Photo by Katherine Hafner)
Virginia Clerks of Courts serve as constitutional officers managing an extensive array of administrative duties. Gloucester County will elect a new one this November.
As keepers of official records, clerks oversee civil and criminal court filings, probate processes, real estate deeds, marriage licenses and jury logistics.
The position demands meticulous attention to detail, as small clerical errors regarding dates or legal documents can directly impact judicial outcomes and incarceration terms.
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