Virginia travel, real estate & services

23+ min ago (326+ words) OMAHA, Neb. " The proposed $85 billion merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads has lost the support of two of their biggest unions that represent more than half the workers because they are worried the deal would increase safety risks, lead to higher shipping rates and consumer prices and cause significant disruptions. The unions say they are worried that safety could deteriorate after a merger because Norfolk Southern has made some strides over the past two and a half years since the disastrous East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. Vena and Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George have said they are optimistic the merger will get approved because they believe it will be good for the country, their customers and rail workers. Shareholders of both railroads overwhelmingly support it. Transportation expert and DePaul University Professor Joe Schwieterman said many people have been raising…...

3+ hour, 29+ min ago (483+ words) Norfolk Metals has laid the groundwork for a busy new year drilling blitz at its Carmen copper project in Chile, with environmental permitting and early development studies now advancing steadily. The company has wrapped up comprehensive baseline surveys covering its flora, fauna, palaeontology and archaeology as part of its environmental impact declaration application, known as a DIA. With no major hurdles identified, Norfolk says it remains on track to lodge the DIA with the Chilean regulator by early next year. Once approved, the company says the five-year permit will clear the path for a broader drilling assault across its 46.6 square kilometre concession package, including follow-up work from a high-impact diamond drilling program currently underway. In parallel, Norfolk says it has commissioned Chilean water specialists to evaluate its future supply options for a potential heap leach processing scenario at Carmen. The…...

3+ hour, 32+ min ago (534+ words) A teenager died of cocaine use five months after he started taking the drug following the breakdown of a relationship. Connor Norman, 18, was found unconscious on the bathroom floor at a friend's house. His stepfather attempted to revive him using CPR and paramedics took him to the Norfolk and Norwich. However, doctors discovered he had suffered an irreversible brain injury and he died two days later. An inquest into his death, held at Norfolk Coroner's Court this month, was told he had started taking cocaine in June 2024, after a relationship ended. Two months later, Connor, from Aylsham, was taken to hospital after suffering a cocaine overdose, but he recovered. Connor was taken by ambulance to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (Image: BRITTANY WOODMAN) He was referred to the Matthew Project, which supports those struggling with drug and alcohol use. Following…...

5+ hour, 7+ min ago (338+ words) 10 News has the latest local breaking news and headlines from Roanoke, Virginia. Get Roanoke, Va., local TV news, Lynchburg, Va., headlines, national news, videos and more from NBC's local affiliate in Roanoke, Va. WSLS 10 WATCH: Lynchburg City Schools celebrate 160 years LYNCHBURG, Va. " Lynchburg City Schools celebrated 160 years of public education Tuesday with a plaque-revealing ceremony. The plaque, presented alongside the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, commemorates the school district's founding in 1865 and the beginning of the city's public education system. Lynchburg City Schools Superintendent Kristy Somerville-Midgette said the plaque honors the district's history and helps instill a sense of pride in students. "That helps you to drive where you are going," Somerville-Midgette said. "That rich history and that tradition that is here " we want to make sure that we always have that connection with us. That helps…...

10+ hour, 8+ min ago (619+ words) December 16, 2025, 11:23 PM Former Fairfax County School Board member Rachna Sizemore Heizer was sworn in as a county supervisor during a ceremony Tuesday night, vowing to address concerns about affordability and hoping to restore the public's trust in local government. Speaking to a crowded room, with her former school board colleagues and predecessors on the local governing body present, Sizemore Heizer said her family watched from as far as Hawaii and India. She's said she's the first Asian American to be elected to the Board of Supervisors. "Representation matters not as a symbol, but because it tells every child and every family that they belong here, that they are valued, that they bring something to us to make us better, and that their voices deserve to be heard," Sizemore Heizer told the crowd. Sizemore Heizer won the Democratic primary and defeated…...

11+ hour, 14+ min ago (521+ words) CHESAPEAKE, Va. " A memorial with balloons, flowers, and stuffed animals now marks the spot where a 9-year-old boy died after being hit by a car Friday while trying to cross the road at the intersection of South Military Highway and Baugher Avenue in Chesapeake. Workers at a nearby tire shop say they knew the child and are calling for immediate safety improvements to prevent future tragedies. Angelo Camacho, owner of Angelo's Tires and Auto Repair, said he and his employees are devastated by the boy's death. The tire shop sits across the street from where the accident occurred. "It tore us all up. Every one of us, it tore up. I've got kids, you know, and my kids play over here," Camacho said. Camacho said the boy and his family stayed at a motel next to the tire shop, and…...

11+ hour, 37+ min ago (154+ words) CHESAPEAKE, Va. " Chesapeake Police are asking for the public's help in locating a man wanted in connection with a deadly shooting. Police say 38-year-old Donelle D. Felder is wanted in connection to a shooting on the 1100 block of South Military Highway on Monday. He is charged with murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the killing of 40-year-old Kelvin Earl Smith. Police say Felder is 6'1, 245 pounds and was last seen on the 1100 block of South Military Highway. Around 6:55 p.m. on Monday police responded to the 1100 block of South Military Highway for a report of a homicide. When officers arrived they found Smith shot and killed. Police are urging anyone with information on Felder's whereabouts to call Chesapeake Police or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP....

11+ hour, 46+ min ago (164+ words) RICHMOND, Va. " Richmond Mayor Danny Avula says City Hall is taking steps to increase transparency " but not everyone sees it that way. On Monday, the City Council voted to create a Freedom of Information Act library. It will essentially be a webpage where the city publishes public records to give residents greater insight into its operations, policies, and decision-making practices. But there's certain criteria that must be met, along with exemptions, that will determine which documents the city posts. That includes if at least two people request the records, if the records expose wrongdoing, or if the records are of public interest. But Councilmember Kenya Gibson initially proposed the library to include basically all requested documents with no restrictions. In a statement, she says in part: "We can't take credit for being transparent when we pick and choose what we…...

12+ hour, 2+ min ago (147+ words) 10 News has the latest local breaking news and headlines from Roanoke, Virginia. Get Roanoke, Va., local TV news, Lynchburg, Va., headlines, national news, videos and more from NBC's local affiliate in Roanoke, Va. WSLS 10 BLACKSBURG, Va. " The YMCA at Virginia Tech brought holiday cheer Dec. 6, transforming into a cozy wonderland with festive decorations for families to celebrate. Kids up to 12 years old became honorary elves for the day, exploring tables filled with treasures to find the perfect gifts for their families. The YMCA made the experience accessible to families who need it most. Once the gifts were chosen, kids could go to the eco-friendly gift wrapping station to prepare their gifts for their loved ones. The YMCA said the event was not just about presents, but community, connection, and creating joyful moments that remind everyone what the holiday season is…...

13+ hour, 7+ min ago (228+ words) Virginia's new school accountability framework was put in place for the 2024-2025 school year and the first results were published just this month. Analysts with the non-partisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, or JLARC, studied the new system and presented their findings to legislators Tuesday. "We found the new accountability is more effective and useful than the state's prior system," project Leader Joe McMahon told them. But McMahon also identified some weak spots: Labels like distinguished or off-track don't communicate performance or relate to one another. Scoring thresholds don't account for how different school levels are measured, which gives high schools an easier pass. And the framework gives more weight to proficiency rather than growth. Analysts say that last point an important factor for schools with higher numbers of economically disadvantaged students because schools can't control those outside factors. Schools…...