This week the centuries-old mystery of Roanoke Island might soon be solved. Recent discoveries on Hatteras shed light on just what happened to the English colonists who disappeared. In Richmond, the Virginia House of Delegates began the process for constitutional amendments this week including the right to access all forms of birth control. Finally, there's some not so good news in Hampton Roads -- residents reported the lowest quality of life in over a decade according to an Old Dominion study. We'll learn why that's the case.

This week the Something in the Water saga hits another detour as Virginia Beach City Council decides not to hold the festival in breach of contract. But there's still a lot of obstacles to overcome. Carol Pretlow, a long time professor at Norfolk State, passed away in December. WHRV's Another View paid tribute to her and reflected on her contributions to the show. Finally, the Navy launched an investigation into a ship that mistakenly targeted a friendly aircraft. The first-in-a-few decades incident follows an already controversial and costly rebuilding effort for the ship.

This week we hear how age demographics are shifting in Hampton Roads and why that's not a good thing for area colleges and universities. Old Dominion and Virginia Commonwealth universities will use a $9 million grant to study cancer prevention in neighborhoods with low income housing. Finally, the world's first nuclear fusion power plant is being built next door in Richmond. We'll learn what that will entail.

This week it's the end of the year so we're taking a look back at the WHRO stories we felt were the most engaging and impactful in 2024. We revisit a few stories from our Democracy at Work series that demonstrated the oft ignored and unheralded civic duties. What's the latest update on the Norfolk families who say their kids received targeted harassment because they're Latino? We'll have the latest. Finally, remember the Norfolk and Newport News communities that battled coal dust pollution? We'll hear how their fight has played out.

This week a Hampton Roads man is using classic Christmas music to honor his late mother by raising funds for cancer screenings in Norfolk and Richmond. The 757 is welcoming back one of its legendary sports figures. Michael Vick is taking the reins as the new head coach of Norfolk State football. Finally, the Virginia School of Medicine has been studying consciousness for several decades. WHRO took a trip to the school to learn what they've uncovered.

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.