The owner of Paradise Ocean Club, Baxter Simmons, is accusing the National Park Service of discriminatory conduct in the stalled negotiations for a new lease to reopen the club at Fort Monroe National Monument. The club, popular with the local African American community, has been closed due to alleged disrepair and a shooting incident. Despite being awarded the right to negotiate a new lease, Simmons claims the NPS has not negotiated in good faith, ignoring proposals and associating past nuisance behavior with a specific race. The NPS has not commented on the specifics but remains committed to welcoming all communities.

Paradise Ocean Club is set to return to Fort Monroe in summer 2024 with a new lease signed by owner Baxter Simmons. The beachfront bar and restaurant, operating from May to Labor Day for a decade until 2022, faced a lease termination after a non-fatal shooting and concerns from residents. The reopening will see a 1,000-person capacity limit, no boat access, and admission requirements on weekends. The club, known for being the only beach in Hampton Roads where alcohol is legal, aims for a family-friendly environment. The annual lease is $210,000 until January 2034, with rent credits for repairs from the National Park Service.

The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach is considering different ownership options due to the need for costly facility improvements. The city, which owns the buildings and employs the staff, did not fund the initial renovation phases in the current budget. The Aquarium's foundation, a non-profit, owns the exhibits and animals. With an estimated $200 to $300 million needed over ten years, the city faces budget constraints from other projects like flood prevention. The aquarium, opened in 1986, is a significant tourist attraction and economic contributor, with plans to expand its main building and add new exhibits. The city is exploring alternative ownership models, including private ownership, and has received responses to a request for information. The foundation is also considering a scaled-back renovation plan. The city conducted a survey where a majority supported city investment in the aquarium, but were less supportive of a sale. The relationship between the city and the foundation remains strong, with a new renovation scope to be submitted to the City Council soon.

The Something in the Water festival, founded by Pharrell Williams, will return to Virginia Beach in 2024 but not on the traditional last weekend of April due to past weather issues. A new date is to be announced by the organizers. The City of Virginia Beach is considering sponsoring an Audacy Virginia festival for the April slot and another event for June 2024. The city prioritizes entertainment for the last week of April, historically significant for the community, and is looking to introduce more programming for visitors, especially young adults.

The Virginia Beach City Auditor's Office revealed that the 2023 festivals, including Something in the Water, had a positive economic impact but did not generate enough revenue to receive the full $2 million sponsorship set aside by the city council. The festival, brought back by Pharrell Williams and partnered with Live Nation, collected about $970,000 in taxes, less than half of the anticipated amount, due to weather-shortened operations. The city provided in-kind services valued at approximately $809,000. Despite increased costs, the festival had a $26 million economic impact and prompted over 12,600 hotel stays. The city's investment saw a return of $1.04 to $1.18 for every dollar spent. The city auditor recommended that unearned funds be returned to the Tourism Investment Fund and called for detailed guidelines for large event costs.

Environmental and public health organizations, led by the Sierra Club, have petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate coal pollution from open-top railcars. The petition argues that coal dust from these trains, which pass through populated areas, pollutes communities and water with heavy metals and toxic chemicals. The coal industry has seen a decline, but the petition cites evidence of ongoing environmental damage. Residents near coal terminals report coal dust and health issues, while the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is conducting an air monitoring project. Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation have not directly addressed the petition, and the Association of American Railroads did not respond to a request for comment.

Virginia is set to have a sales tax holiday on October 21 and 22, as confirmed by Del. Barry Knight, chair of the House Appropriations Committee. The tax-free shopping event, usually held in August, allows for the purchase of school supplies, clothing, shoes, hurricane supplies, and Energy Star/WaterSense products without sales tax. The holiday is contingent on the bipartisan budget agreement passing the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate and being signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

The Norfolk Economic Development Authority has approved an agreement for the potential sale of a 24-acre site at the former Military Circle Mall for a new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient health clinic. The clinic would be the second largest in the Hampton VA Healthcare System and is estimated to cost $62 million. The site meets all federal requirements, including elevation above the floodplain and proximity to amenities. The future of three redevelopment proposals for the site, including one favored by a team involving Pharrell Williams, remains uncertain as negotiations have stalled. Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander believes the VA's potential acquisition will not significantly impact the overall vision for the site.

WAVY-TV's Navy Ship Salute profiles different ships at Naval Station Norfolk, with this feature focusing on the USS Truxtun, an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer commissioned in 2009. Named after American Naval hero Capt. Thomas Truxtun, the ship is 510 feet long, can carry 380 sailors, and is equipped with various weapons and two helicopters. The USS Truxtun recently returned from a deployment in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Arabian, and Red seas, and was featured in the 2013 film Captain Phillips.

The City of Norfolk is in negotiations to purchase the Dillard’s building at MacArthur Center, with the Norfolk Economic Development Authority setting aside up to $4 million for the acquisition. This follows the city's recent $18 million purchase of the mall interior. The Dillard’s store, which opened in 1999, is transitioning to a clearance center model, closing off the second and third floors. The city's Director of Economic Development, Sean Washington, is leading the negotiations, and the city plans to transfer the building to the city after demolition of Military Circle Mall. There are no solid plans for redevelopment, but the city anticipates an additional $9.9 million in revenue from the purchase.

Norfolk City Manager Larry 'Chip' Filer may be leaving his position as the city's chief executive, with the City Council unanimously approving a severance package for June 2023 that includes a year's salary and health insurance. The severance language in the FY 2024 Compensation Plan has changed from 'if terminated' to 'shall receive,' indicating a planned departure. Filer has not been terminated or resigned but did not comment on future plans. The severance package is at least $281,000. Filer, who was appointed in August 2019, has faced criticism for his management, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and in overseeing public safety. Council members expressed surprise at the severance language, with some unaware of the change. Mayor Kenny Alexander and Councilman John 'JP' Paige have not provided details on Filer's status, while Councilman Tommy Smigiel criticized the lack of communication regarding the severance inclusion.

Commonwealth Catholic Charities has proposed to use the former Seton Youth Shelters on St. Nicholas Catholic Church's campus in Kings Grant, Virginia Beach, as a temporary home for unaccompanied migrant children aged 5 to 17. The plan aims to reunite the children with family in the U.S. and requires Virginia Beach City Council to modify a conditional use permit. An informational meeting is scheduled for June 15, following concerns from the community and a deferral request by Councilman Chris Taylor. The home will provide on-site services and operate with a staff member present at all times. The Virginia Beach Planning Commission recommends a three-month maximum stay and a limit of 10 children at a time. Financial aid will be provided through the Virginia Department of Social Services, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the care of unaccompanied children at the border.

The Norfolk City Council has voted 7-1 to allocate up to $18 million to purchase the MacArthur Center, a shopping mall in downtown Norfolk. The city plans to operate the mall in the short term and has hired GEI Advisors LLC for management. The purchase price is $11.1 million, significantly lower than the mall's recent city assessment. The future of the mall has been uncertain since anchor tenant Nordstrom closed in 2019 and other retailers left. Mayor Kenny Alexander supports the purchase, seeing it as strategic for downtown development. Councilman Tommy Smigiel voted against the purchase, citing concerns over downtown spending versus other city areas.