Virginia travel, real estate & services

5+ min ago (450+ words) ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Lynchburg City Council will soon decide whether to move forward with a zoning proposal that would limit where abortion clinics could operate in the city. The issue heads to a public hearing and final vote in January, and has been drawing in strong reactions. A proposed zoning change in Lynchburg could determine exactly where an abortion clinic would be allowed to open, if one ever tried. And for families who live near schools, churches, and neighborhoods, city leaders say the impact could land right at their doorstep. Councilman Martin Misjuns wants to restrict any clinic from operating within 1,000 feet of those places. He calls it the first step in defining abortion clinics in city code. Right now, a clinic could legally open near schools like E.C. Glass and Heritage High Schools, something Misjuns says his proposal is meant…...

3+ hour, 35+ min ago (273+ words) The policy change has sparked debate among parents and community members in Chesapeake since the school board first discussed it last month. The agenda item was originally on the consent agenda, but school board member Malia Huddle urged that the item be moved to the action agenda. Jeremy Rodden, a parent of three children and former substitute teacher for Chesapeake Public Schools, opposes the proposed change. "I know of teachers in the Chesapeake Public Schools system who may be non-binary, who might be transgender and to try to take away their ability to self identify to their colleagues and to their students, is ultimately a violation of their rights," Rodden said. One of Rodden's children is transgender and previously attended school in the district. "By not allowing a teacher to use a non-binary salutation, you are essentially saying that they…...

5+ hour, 7+ min ago (243+ words) WILLIAMSBURG " A 10-foot menorah will be lit Sunday in Merchants Square as "a symbol of liberty for all" in advance of America's 250th anniversary. Sponsored by Chabad Williamsburg, a Jewish education, outreach and social service organization, the 2 p.m. program is free and open to the public. The menorah lighting will be followed by a celebration that includes music, activities, hot drinks and Hanukkah treats. Hanukkah, also known as the eight-day Festival of Lights, begins at sunset Sunday and continues through the evening of Dec. 22. The period carries a message of the victory of light over darkness and freedom over oppression, said Rabbi Mendy Hebert, director of Chabad Williamsburg. "This year, we are celebrating Hanukkah with even more joy," Hebert said in a news release. "As Colonial Williamsburg marks 250 years of American history, we are reminded how deeply the message of Hanukkah echoes…...

5+ hour, 46+ min ago (202+ words) LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - A Lynchburg man was arrested in connection to an assault and arson in Lynchburg, according to the Lynchburg Police Department. LPD officers arrested 59-year-old Andre Anthony Andrews of Lynchburg. He was charged with: The evening of Thursday, December 11, 2025, officers were dispatched to a report of an assault and house fire in the 1700 block of Texas Ave. Officers arrived to a fire in the front of a home, with two nearby vehicles "engulfed in flames" and a man still inside, according to LPD. Officers then went into the home and saved the man, according to officers. The rescued man was transported to a hospital and is expected to be okay, authorities say. The Lynchburg Fire Department along with the Fire Marshal's office responded to put out the fire. They then proceeded to open an investigation. Andrews is in…...

6+ hour, 37+ min ago (129+ words) VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. " A new dealership center for the Porsche luxury car brand has been opened in Virginia Beach by local group Checkered Flag. Dubbed the Destination Porsche Center, the new location boasts an expansive nine-car showroom, 15 service bays, a certified pre-owned showroom, and two private "Owner's Collection" delivery rooms. The center aims to redefine car dealerships as a destination for brand enthusiasts. "Porsche Virginia Beach is more than a new building"it's a statement of our dedication to the Porsche brand and our customers," said Steve Snyder, president of Checkered Flag Auto Group. "Every detail was designed to deliver a world-class experience worthy of Porsche." The 35,000 facility, located at 2865 Virginia Beach Blvd., held a grand opening event on Dec. 4....

6+ hour, 47+ min ago (139+ words) VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. " Porsche Virginia Beach has opened a new 35,000-square-foot dealership on Dec. 4, replacing its previous dual-brand location with a dedicated Porsche center. The facility includes a nine-car showroom, 15 service bays, a certified pre-owned showroom, and private delivery rooms for customers." Steve Snyder, president of Checkered Flag Auto Group, which owns the dealership, said the center was designed to improve service and customer experience. "Porsche Virginia Beach is more than a new building; it's a statement of our dedication to the Porsche brand and our customers," Snyder said. "Every detail was designed to deliver a world-class experience worthy of Porsche." The new facility is located at 2865 Virginia Beach Blvd." Checkered Flag operates multiple automotive brands across Hampton Roads, including Porsche, BMW, Audi, and Land Rover....

7+ hour, 20+ min ago (240+ words) A suspect is in custody in Lynchburg after allegedly assaulting a man and setting a home and two vehicles on fire. Andre Anthony Andrews, 59, of Lynchburg, has been charged with arson, malicious wounding and possession of a controlled substance, according to police. The incident occurred on Thursday night just before 11 p.m. in the 1700 block of Texas Avenue. Police responded to a call reporting an active house fire. When they arrived, they found two vehicles fully engulfed in flames and found the adult male victim still inside the burning home. Officers entered the residence, located the victim and assisted him to safety. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment with non-life-threatening injuries. The Lynchburg Fire Department and Fire Marshal's Office responded to the scene, extinguished the fire and initiated an investigation into its cause. The joint investigation is ongoing. The…...

8+ hour, 44+ min ago (624+ words) WEATHER ALERT: Snow could make an appearance in DC area this weekend December 12, 2025, 11:45 AM Finding the perfect early screening test for cancer remains a persistent challenge for the health industry. But new findings suggest that blood tests still being assessed are showing promising results when it comes to detecting cancers at earlier stages. Multi-cancer early detection tests are blood tests that look for DNA fragments that cancers can release into the bloodstream. The tests are abbreviated as MCED. "These blood tests are looking for multiple different types of cancer in the blood at the same time," said Dr. Rebecca Kaltman, medical director of the Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, Virginia. Only five tests designed to detect early stage cancer have been approved by the U.S. Preventative Task Force: mammograms for breast…...

8+ hour, 50+ min ago (651+ words) HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) - The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday. This year's group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors whose influence spans ... HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) - The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday. This year's group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors whose influence spans generations, levels of competitions across the state. This includes one man from Richmond, who has also been named the 2026 Distinguished Virginian. The Class of 2026 inductees are as follows: - Bobby Ukrop (Richmond): Robert S. "Bobby" Ukrop has been named the "2026 Distinguished Virginian" presented to an individual with a sports background who is a distinguished citizen of the Commonwealth based on outstanding life accomplishment". A former basketball player at the University of Richmond, Ukrop has been a transformative community leader, leading initiatives throughout Central Virginia including the founding of…...

9+ hour, 27+ min ago (763+ words) MADISON " A Norfolk man who assaulted a woman three days in a row earlier this year could be sentenced to prison after being convicted of felony domestic violence on Thursday in Madison County District Court. Eric Kluthe, 42, pleaded guilty to second-offense third-degree domestic assault. He faces up to three years in prison at sentencing, which is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12. The Madison County Attorney's Office, as part of a plea agreement with Kluthe, dismissed a criminal mischief charge and agreed to not oppose a probation sentence if that is the recommendation made by the probation office in the pre-sentence investigation report. The prosecution also agreed to dismiss a charge of violating a protection order against Kluthe in a separate case. Shortly after 11 p.m. on Sept. 1, a Norfolk police officer was dispatched to the front lobby of the police station regarding a…...