The Norfolk Health Department estimates about 18,000 residents will be affected by the Medicaid changes. (Photo via Canva)
Medicaid cuts could leave thousands uninsured. Norfolk is preparing a response.
Yiqing Wang
Health Reporter
As impending federal Medicaid cuts and stricter eligibility requirements threaten health coverage for thousands of Hampton Roads residents, the Norfolk Health Department is launching two new initiatives to help people maintain care.
The city is creating "Medicaid READI" stations staffed by volunteers to assist residents with renewing or reapplying for coverage.
For those who ultimately lose their insurance, Norfolk is introducing "Front Door," a local online platform that connects uninsured adults with nearby free or low-cost services.
Visitors look at a timeline of the Great Dismal Swamp's history at the newly opened Historical Village. (Photo by Natalia Nelson)
Historical Village opens to public at Chesapeake’s Great Dismal Swamp
Natalia Nelson
Freelance Reporter
Chesapeake city leaders recently cut the ribbon to open the Historical Village at the Dismal Swamp, offering a free venue dedicated to the area's role in Virginia history.
Funded through state and federal grants, the project began with the renovation of the Cornland School, a historic schoolhouse for Black students that reopened as a museum in 2024.
The village features a visitor center detailing local history from pre-colonization to the Underground Railroad, complete with canal vessel models and artifacts from the nearby Superintendent’s House.
Join our Another View broadcasts as we take a journey through history and look toward the future. Be sure to register and reserve your spot for these important discussions as Another View takes a deep dive into important pieces of American history.
See for yourself how this community restored the 96-year-old Cape Charles Rosenwald School.
This historic building opened its doors in 1929 in the midst of segregation. And like more than 5,000 schools across 15 states, it sprung from a partnership between educator Booker T. Washington and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald. About one-third of America's Black children were educated in Rosenwald Schools.
Over the years, many of the schools were torn down, but some communities such as Cape Charles chose to save their school and transform it into a place that the community can be proud to use.
We travel to Fort Monroe to talk about a one-of-a-kind statue at the former base.
The statue will sit in the center of the African Landing Memorial, which opened earlier this year. It speaks to 1619 when the first enslaved Africans reached the shores of America at Hampton’s Old Point Comfort, also known as Fort Monroe.
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.
Copyright 2026 WHRO Public Media | 5200 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk VA 23508 | 757.889.9312 | news@whro.org | Who funds us?
You received this email because you signed up for the WHRO News newsletter from WHRO Public Media. | WHRO Public Media
