Wednesday, July 1WATCHFUL EYE

Tag: Hampton Roads

1st offshore wind cable facility in U.S. coming to Chesapeake, offering 330 jobs
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1st offshore wind cable facility in U.S. coming to Chesapeake, offering 330 jobs

Virginia, and more specifically Chesapeake, is set to become the home of the first offshore wind cable manufacturer in the United States, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott announced yesterday. LS GreenLink USA is investing $681 million to build a facility to produce high-voltage subsea cables used for offshore wind farms. Those cables are designed to optimize bulk clean power transmission, the company said. A February 20 letter signed by nine members of congress calling on the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide financial support for the project noted that work is underway on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project – a 2.6 gigawatt commercial offshore wind farm that is expected to power over 650,000 homes in the Commonwealth. Mean...
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VDOT backtracks on decision to cut Jamestown-Scotland ferry service
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VDOT backtracks on decision to cut Jamestown-Scotland ferry service

VDOT backtracked on its plan to cut service for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry starting July 8. As previously reported, VDOT planned to reduce service for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, which runs 24/7 every day of the year, citing staffing problems. Today, VDOT said the reduced schedule would no longer be implemented. “As staffing and vessel resources allow, the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will remain operating under the summer schedule that went into effect May 27 to accommodate the increase in ferry passengers during the summer travel season,” the department stated. With the summer schedule, a boat crosses the James River about every 20 – 30 minutes, depending on the time of day. Meanwhile, VDOT said it’s actively recruiting to fill vacancies on the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry tea...
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In July, Jamestown-Scotland Ferry reducing service
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In July, Jamestown-Scotland Ferry reducing service

Staffing problems are about to lead to service cuts for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, and VDOT is advising people to expect potential delays. The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry carries vehicles, including tractor-trailers, across the James River between James City and Surry counties. The trip across the river takes about 20 minutes. There are four boats in the ferry fleet. Two can carry 70 cars and two boats can carry 50 cars. Typically, the ferry operates 24/7 all 365 days of the year. VDOT announced service reductions are coming. The department said its aiming to maintain 24-hour service “for as long as possible.” But VDOT appears unable to commit to running as many boats. Starting Monday, July 8, VDOT said at least one ferry will keep running 24/7. Then, a second boat will be ...
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Former Chesapeake & Spotsylvania teacher facing charges for child sex crimes
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Former Chesapeake & Spotsylvania teacher facing charges for child sex crimes

A 31-year-old man who taught in Chesapeake and Spotsylvania is now in jail facing charges in both jurisdictions for child sex offenses. The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office announced it recently filed a charge against Daniel Brian Fleming for taking indecent liberties with a child. That charge stemmed from allegations of inappropriate contact with a juvenile in 2019. According to Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office, detectives from the Child Victim Unit opened a criminal case after receiving information from Chesapeake, which already had its investigation of Fleming underway. Chesapeake Police Department stated it received information in January accusing Fleming of being involved with criminal activity involving children, prompting its investigation. From its findings, CPD charged Flemi...
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Teen killed, another injured at Mount Trashmore Carnival in Virginia Beach
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Teen killed, another injured at Mount Trashmore Carnival in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach Police Department is urging the public to help “secure justice” after a 15-year-old girl was killed and an 18-year-old male was shot in the 300 block of Edwin Drive Saturday night. According to VBPD, it was just after 8:30 p.m. when the first 911 call related to this incident came in. Officers arrived on scene and found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were taken to the hospital. The 15-year-old girl later died from her injuries and the 18-year-old was in critical condition, VBPD stated. Police say based on the information they currently have, it appears a fight broke inside the Mount Trashmore Summer Carnival. But the altercation was quickly broken up by off-duty police officers who were working security at the event. Then, at some point later, it...
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16-year-old charged with murder in Virginia Beach shooting
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16-year-old charged with murder in Virginia Beach shooting

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged for the murder of another 16-year-old. According to Virginia Beach Police Department, the incident occurred in the afternoon on Tuesday. Officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of Bryce Ln., a residential area lined with townhomes. Street view of 1000 block of Bryce Lane (Photo: Google Earth) Upon arrival, officers found a teenage boy who had been shot and was already dead, VBPD reported. The following morning, May 8, VBPD said they located the suspect, who is also from Virginia Beach. He has been charged with 1st degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Because they’re minors, police are not releasing the name of the suspect or the victim. However, 3 WTKR reported that the suspect was...
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2 Charged with Murder in Norfolk After ‘Homicide’ Ruling for Infant Death
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2 Charged with Murder in Norfolk After ‘Homicide’ Ruling for Infant Death

A pair in Norfolk are facing murder charges after the death of a 9-day-old baby, Norfolk Police announced. On Saturday, around 1:15 p.m., NPD was called to the Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters for a child protection call. When officers arrived, the baby was already unresponsive and later the infant was pronounced dead, the department stated. Hilary D. Johnson, 23, and Zibreyea S. Parker, 21, were taken into custody and initially charged with child abuse. Then, on May 6, the medical examiner ruled the baby’s death was a homicide. NPD said the charges were upgraded to 2nd degree murder. Both are being held in Norfolk City Jail without bond. Johnson’s grandfather put the young parents out after Parker had the baby, and they started living in a tent, The Virg...
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I-64 East on-ramp at Tidewater Dr. in Norfolk to close
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I-64 East on-ramp at Tidewater Dr. in Norfolk to close

Drivers in Norfolk, be advised, the I-64 East on-ramp from Tidewater Drive south is set to shut down as soon as tomorrow, May 2. There will be a long-term detour VDOT announced drivers could see crews start moving in around 8 p.m. The closure is needed to facilitate essential roadway and bridge widening work for the first phase of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes (HREL) Norfolk project. While the on-ramp is closed, a new left turn will be in place at Thole Street to access I-64 east. Signed detour routes will be in place to direct motorists.  Once the on-ramp is closed, VDOT said it isn’t expected to reopen until early 2026. HREL-Norfolk is a project that will ultimately become a part of an overall continuous 45-mile high-occupancy toll Express Lanes network on I-64, from wes...
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Hampton Roads Regional Jail closes down
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Hampton Roads Regional Jail closes down

Virginia has one less jail. As of yesterday, Hampton Roads Regional Jail is officially closed. The facility at 2690 Elmhurst Lane in Portsmouth opened in 1998, and before closing, it was used to house inmates from Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. HHRJ's cells have been empty since March 20. Inmates were moved to their home jurisdictions. The HHRJ Board voted to pay off a $14 million bond, and the April 1 closure, which was announced in November, marked the final day for the jail, Kelly Curry, executive assistant at HHRJ told Wavy 10 Norfolk. HHRJ had its share of news coverage “for all the wrong reasons,” reminded Fox News 43’s Katie Collett. That included legal issues, like a 2-year investigation by the DOJ in 2018, which found that jail violate...
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Newport News woman has fatal crash at scene of another crash
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Newport News woman has fatal crash at scene of another crash

A 25-year-old Newport News woman died after crashing at the scene of a crash on I-64 in James City County. Shortly before 3 a.m. on Sunday, Virginia State Police said called started coming in reporting an older model Toyota was driving the wrong way in the I-64 eastbound lanes and was near the 227 mile marker. By the time troopers located the Toyota, it had run off the road and hit a guardrail. VSP reported that the unnamed driver was intoxicated. Fire and rescue crews and a VDOT Safety Service Patroller blocked the right travel lane near the scene. VSP stated that there were cones set up and the VDOT vehicle had the arrow board illuminated pointing traffic to the left. Scene of fatal crash in James City County (Photo: Virginia State Police) Yet, a 2017 Toyota Corolla crashe...
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