This week you may want to be more careful about where you park your car in Norfolk. The city is debating an increase to towing fees. President Biden visited Angola last week and with him was a Hampton Roads resident who traces their lineage to the first African people trafficked to North America in 1619. WHRO spoke with them about the trip. Finally, Virginia Beach EMS doesn't currently charge patients for ambulance trips, but that's all about to change in 2025. We'll tell you why.

This week a former Navy chief has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a 850-thousand dollars worth of Navy supplies in Yorktown. Flood insurance is facing challenges to cover costs at a time when climate change expands flood risks. But one Norfolk nonprofit is countering this by dishing out funds to four startups working on flood insurance solutions. Finally, an underground fire burned over 100 hours in James City County in late November. WHRO spoke with the fire chief to learn more about the fire's cause.

This week a Department of Defense program that trains veterans to teach is being nixed. Advocates for the program are fiercely fighting to keep it. WHRV Folk Music Director Barry Graham chats with musician Ricky Skaggs about his wide-spanning career ahead of his concert in Newport News. Finally, a Navy sailor at Naval Station Yorktown was arrested in connection with the death of another sailor.

This week, a new state program plans to bring change across the Commonwealth. Virginians should expect to see a boom in housing and business development in the coming years. Suffolk just elected its first Black woman to their city council. WHRO’s Nick McNamara sat down with Ebony Wright to discuss her plans for office. Finally, rising water levels are a bogeyman for coastal cities. So what exactly will happen around the country? It depends on where you look.

This week, the tourism industry in Virginia Beach is alive and well. It raked in 3.8 billion dollars last year. We'll break down what those numbers mean. A former Norfolk delegate is putting his foot in the race for the Democratic nomination in the Virginia Attorney General contest. Finally, a Suffolk nonprofit is attempting to stem pollution in the Nansemond River -- and they need your help to do it.

This week a whole slew of elections took place. We'll have you covered on a few of the important state and local races that highlighted the region. It's Fight Night Friday in Hampton Roads. We catch up with Norfolk lightweight fighter Keyshawn Davis before this historic moment. Finally, data centers are booming in Virginia. But what does that mean for energy and sustainability concerns? We dig into the details.

This week, there will be lots of veterans working the polls this year and that's not a coincidence. Our Democracy at Work series continues with a look at the Vet the Vote Campaign. Service members try to navigate a complicated health care dilemma in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision. Finally, it's the 50th anniversary of the high-flying Old Dominion men's basketball championship. We take you back to that magical run.

This week, army watercraft is not all it's cracked up to be. In fact, a new report says the equipment is falling into disrepair. The next installment of our Democracy at Work series brings us to Richlands, Virginia, where a woman filed a FOIA request to bring 911 service to the small community. Finally, early voting started last week in North Carolina. People are turning out in droves.

This week, another chapter in the Williamsburg and James City County school district saga. Williamsburg now says it wants to stay. Ever wonder how voting rights advocates do their work? WHRO's Cianna Morales went to Richmond to speak with a man who is spreading the word. Finally, the Navy doesn't have enough people or parts to keep its ships afloat. We find out what that means for operations moving forward.

This week, Virginia Beach City Council approved funding for medical screenings that will help firefighters catch cancer and other illnesses. Our Democracy in Action series continues with a look at how the Hampton City Clerk organizes meetings and counts votes. Finally, Hampton Roads hospitals are monitoring their IV fluid supplies after a plant was damaged by Hurricane Helene.