Virginia travel, real estate & services

2+ hour, 21+ min ago (715+ words) December 5, 2025, 6:05 PM George Mason University officials said Thursday that no settlement agreement has been proposed with the federal government as it navigates four civil rights investigations, which began in July and are another issue that have shaped Virginia's tumultuous higher education landscape this year. Scrutiny of the institution and whether it would settle intensified after the University of Virginia signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to suspend multiple civil rights investigations. The George Mason investigations focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the school, its employment practices and treatment of students, as well as a separate probe into alleged antisemitism on campus. GMU President Gregory Washington said at Thursday's Board of Visitors executive committee meeting that negotiations are still underway, but did not provide any timeline for a resolution. He also reiterated the institution's plan to address…...

3+ hour, 27+ min ago (114+ words) ST. CROIX COUNTY (WQOW) - A New Richmond man has been sentenced for killing his wife earlier this year." Gordon Laakso, 71, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, strangulation and suffocation, and hiding a corpse in March 2024." As 18 News reported, officers found his wife dead in a rural area of Polk County after a call for a welfare check." Laakso pleaded guilty to an amended county of first-degree reckless homicide in September as part of a plea deal." Friday in court, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by six years of extended supervision. He was credited for the 278 days already spent in jail....

3+ hour, 40+ min ago (807+ words) December 5, 2025, 4:47 PM New research from the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin shows the region's water supply could fail to meet the area's needs by 2030, in the event of an extreme drought. Changing weather patterns and increased water would strain the Potomac River, which serves as the primary " and, in some cases, sole " water supply for water companies in D.C., Virginia and Maryland. The report by ICPRB shows the region will have enough water in most years, but there is an increasing chance " up to about 1% in 2030 and up to about 5% in 2050 " that there will be water shortages. Shortages could "range from water use restrictions, to possibly water not coming out of people's taps," said Cherie Schultz, director of ICPRB's Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac. ICPRB was commissioned by Congress in 1940 to protect and enhance the waters and…...

3+ hour, 58+ min ago (124+ words) Livestream brought to you by: RICHMOND COUNTY, N.C " Richmond County Commissioners voted to replace the board's current chair and vice chair during their regular scheduled meeting, Tuesday. Commissioner Jeff Smart is the new chair of the board, and commissioner Jason Gainey is the new vice chair. Smart replaces former chair Rick Watkins, and Gainey replaces former vice chair Andy Grooms. Commissioner Jamie Gathings said he had some concerns with decisions Watkins made without the board's approval. He said that is one reason he decided to nominate Smart for the position. Smart had previously been chair of the board. Commissioner Justin Dawkins said he also voted for Smart and Gainey because he wanted new leadership. Dawkins said their new roles started immediately....

5+ hour, 4+ min ago (439+ words) WINCHESTER Cathedral Christmas Market has welcomed more than 30 new traders this year. It opened last week on Friday November 21, marking the 19th'year the seasonal event has taken place.' Located on the historic grounds of Winchester Cathedral, the award-winning market is considered one of the most loved in Europe, and one of the best in the UK.' With more than a hundred stalls to be visited, there are 34 new traders at the market this year, including food and drink sellers, sustainable produce traders and local craftspeople and artists.' Frazer Hendy, co-founder of Crumb Coat Bakery (Image: Rowan Fear) Crumb Coat Bakery, a Devon-based baked goods business, is present at the Winchester Christmas Market for the first time this year.' Frazer Hendy, who co-founded Crumb Coat Bakery with his wife Libby, said: "It's great, it's nice to be somewhere new and different....

7+ hour, 15+ min ago (39+ words) Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry took the stage at Wednesday's New York Times DealBook summit, where she shocked the crowd by blasting California Governor Gavin Newsom. Snow Day! Richmond news and weather update for Friday, Dec. 5, 2025...

9+ hour, 23+ min ago (438+ words) RICHMOND, Va. " Families across Richmond made the most of the first snow day of the season Friday, flocking to Forest Hill Park for sledding and snow play while authorities urged caution on area roadways. The 2 to 3 inches of snow that blanketed the park and much of Virginia resulted from an arctic cold front that moved through the commonwealth over the past 48 hours, creating the first snow event of the holiday season. Dozens of parents and children took advantage of the unexpected day off, with many families walking to Forest Hill Park to avoid potentially hazardous driving conditions. "It's just a good opportunity with all of these people and it's the first snow of the year so we were really excited to get out and play," said Dustin Delong, who spent the snow day with his daughter Austin. Six-year-old Austin had…...

9+ hour, 44+ min ago (660+ words) (TNND) " Waymo self-driving cars are being investigated for driving around stopped school buses that had red lights flashing and stop arms deployed. Officials with the Austin Independent School District in Texas said they've been in communication with the company and have documented 20 incidents since the beginning of the school year. The school district said the latest incident occurred after Waymo said it had deployed a software fix on Nov. 17. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into the incidents of the autonomous vehicles proceeding around stopped school buses. A NHTSA official said they won't comment on an open investigation. A Waymo spokesperson said safety is the company's top priority, and no one has been injured as a result of the incidents involving school buses. Waymo autonomous vehicles roam the streets in a handful of American cities....

13+ hour, 34+ min ago (341+ words) A councillor says Telford & Wrekin Council has "stepped up to the plate" to help solve a flooding problem near Newport. The flooding in back gardens at Mulberry Close, in Church Aston, has been an issue rumbling on for 12 months and involved water from an overflowing mere lapping onto residential back gardens. Severn Trent Water had been out on Wednesday (December 3) to carry out works but concluded that it is not responsible. But a Severn Trent spokesperson added: "Our teams have been out with the council today and we"re currently looking at ways we can help and work together to resolve this issue quickly." Councillor Andrew Eade (Conservative, Church Aston and Lilleshall) had said the flooding had been caused by a "brick and tree stumps" blocking a pipe at Millwood Mere. Now the councillor, who leads the minority Conservative group…...

13+ hour, 45+ min ago (100+ words) The U.S. Coast Guard has returned a rescue helicopter to Newport and promised to keep it there, Sen. Ron Wyden announced Thursday. Sen. Wyden: Coast Guard rescue helicopter returns to Newport after lawsuit Teen accused in Kelso mall shooting plot will be able to use polygraph results at trial Rain doesn't deter shoppers at Portland Night Market holiday weekend "We just want to live': People rush to pack campsite at former SE Portland brewery ahead of sweep Hemp flower pre-rolls recalled in Oregon over heightened THC levels Afghan nonprofit says Portland community uncertain after Trump policy changes...