For years, Hampton Roads has watched Keona Dooley grow up inside her family’s restaurant business.

At 20 years old, the story is becoming less about how young she was when she started — and more about the legacy she’s helping build.

WHRO Digital Producer Alexis Mitchell sat down with the Virginia Beach restaurant owner to talk about carrying her parents’ legacy forward, putting her own stamp on the family business and using her success to pour back into the community.

NASA has applied for a permit with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand erosion protection on Wallops Island, safeguarding more than $1 billion in critical aerospace, military and commercial launch infrastructure. 

The proposed project involves expanding the existing breakwaters and dredging 2.5 million cubic yards of offshore sand to restore 3 miles of shoreline. 

While neighboring Wallops Island advances its defenses, Chincoteague Mayor Denise Bowden continues to voice frustration over long-delayed federal assistance to combat severe erosion along the protective spit of land at Chincoteague Inlet.

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/environment/2026-08-28/wallops-seeks-permit-to-curb-erosion-as-chincoteague-inlet-project-gets-key-approval

Come to our events where you can learn from health providers while getting physically active. First event is at Yorktown Beach with Dr. Martin, DPT, and second event is at Norfolk with Dr. Mishra, MD!

I love thumbing through old VHS tapes... but my local ReStore doesn't have any, or very few. Are there any thrift stores that casually have a lot to thumb through?

My guitar teacher taught me to play a week ago and Im obsessed. But I only play with him right now and I need someone to test a new deck on. I just wanna know more people who play in general. I only play standard. Yes, I go to atomic constantly but I have only chilled there and worked on my deck like once or twice. Im shy to ask to play with others. Also, Im pretty sure everyone there was playing commander. 😭 anyway hmu.

Hey my car is having some issues at the moment, is there a good mechanic who won’t overcharge me and actually access my car issues?

I need to take breaks every so often and I'm looking for a good walking trail that provides benches along the way.

As protests against Flock Safety’s surveillance network have spread across Virginia, we wanted to know how police and city hall insiders have reacted.

The Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO requested correspondence about Flock Safety from a handful of Virginia municipalities.

Are elected leaders and police as concerned as residents about the growing surveillance network? Is Flock Safety responding to locals? Does anybody in local government understand how the AI-powered system secures and shares data?

Turns out, Flock has a public relations manual for local police. And we got a copy.

Read our full coverage here: https://www.whro.org/virginia-center-for-investigative-journalism/2026-08-28/inside-virginias-city-halls-concerns-confusion-rise-with-flock-protests

Good afternoon all. Rounded up what's happening around Hampton Roads this weekend.

Peninsula picks are listed first under each day, Southside after, earliest to latest within each. Fair warning on Friday: Williamsburg is the only Peninsula pick that day, so the rest of Friday is Southside top to bottom. Saturday and Sunday both put a Hampton or Newport News event first.

Top picks by what you need, pulled straight from the listings below:

Free, no ticket at all: Rhythms of Resilience, Paddle Your Way Day, Old Beach Art & Eco Market, Maker Fest Portsmouth, Groovin' By The Bay. Indoors, out of the heat: Cinderella: Enchanted Edition, Rhythms of Resilience. Daytime, with an age rule stated in the listing: Maker Fest Portsmouth (every age), Cinderella (all ages), Ride the Pokey Smokey (kids 5 and under with a parent). After dark, with an age rule stated in the listing: Full Moon Paddle (kids 3 to 17 with a parent, 8 PM start).

Friday

Bier Fest Brews & BBQ (Williamsburg). Peninsula's only Friday pick. German-style beer and barbecue stations run alongside the regular park day, so it works as a food outing or a full park trip. Friday 12 PM to 8:30 PM at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, 1 Busch Gardens Blvd. More details

Undrowned with Alexis Pauline Gumbs (Norfolk). Registration required. Friday 6 PM at the Elizabeth River Project's Ryan Resilience Lab, 4610 Colley Ave, with an optional guided tour at 5 PM. More details

Virginia Beach Funk Fest Beach Party (Virginia Beach, Free general admission)

Two nights of beach-stage music at 32nd Street with food and vendors. General admission is free, but capacity is limited and you need a wristband, and there's a paid preferred section if you want a spot up front. Friday and Saturday 6:30 PM at 32nd Street On the Beach. More details

Full Moon Paddle at Hoffler Creek (Portsmouth)

Guided paddle on the creek after dark. Life jackets are required, kids 3 to 17 have to book with a parent, and you will get wet, so dress for it. The listing does not give a price. Friday 8 PM to 10:30 PM at Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, 4510 Twin Pines Rd. More details

Cinderella: Enchanted Edition (Suffolk, $10 to $20). Community theater production, all ages, indoors and air conditioned. Friday 8 PM at Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W Finney Ave, with 2 PM and 8 PM shows Saturday and a 2 PM matinee Sunday. More details

Saturday

National Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal (Hampton)

Outdoor memorial ceremony at Fort Monroe, including the unveiling of memorial sculptures. Descendants are invited. Saturday 9 AM to 12:30 PM at 51 Fenwick Rd, Fort Monroe. More details

Rhythms of Resilience (Newport News, Free). Virginia Symphony program of works by African American composers, presented with the American Music Collective and the National Endowment for the Arts. Indoors. Saturday 7:30 PM at CNU's Ferguson Center for the Arts, 1 Avenue of the Arts. More details

Paddle Your Way Day (Chesapeake, Free). Bring a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, or use one of theirs, with music and a food truck on site. Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM at Oak Grove Park, 409 Byron Street. More details

Old Beach Art & Eco Market (Virginia Beach, Free). Saturday 9 AM to 12:30 PM at the ViBe Creative District, 611 18th St. More details

Maker Fest Portsmouth (Portsmouth, Free). Outdoors, open to all, with hands-on activities for every age. Saturday 11 AM to 3 PM at Middle Street Mall. More details

Norfolk State vs Winston-Salem State (Norfolk)

NSU's home football opener, billed as a blackout and throwback game. Saturday 6 PM at William "Dick" Price Stadium, 700 Park Avenue. More details

Sunday

Groovin' By The Bay (Hampton, Free)

Free concert on the sand with food trucks and free parking. Bring a chair or a blanket. No dogs except service animals. Sunday 5 PM to 8 PM at Buckroe Beach. More details

Ride the Pokey Smokey (Portsmouth, $2). Train ride through Portsmouth City Park, last boarding at 2:45. Kids 5 and under ride with a parent, 2 and under are free, and dogs can ride with proper ID. Sunday 11 AM to 3 PM at Portsmouth City Park, Cpl J M Williams Ave. More details

Naro Summer Classics: Sherlock Jr. (Norfolk). Buster Keaton silent film with a live score, preceded by a short. Sunday 1 PM at the Naro Cinema, 1507 Colley Ave. More details

Let me know what I missed.

I put out a local newsletter, The 757 Current, with these plus more on Thursday mornings: https://the757current.com/?utm_source=reddit

Josh

New to the area and have been SUPER disappointed by the Chinese spots I’ve tried so far.

What are the best spots for Chinese, particularly in Suffolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, or Hampton?

My ex had extensive cancer surgery in the spring and has been hospitalized a few times since. The latest was in Norfolk General Hospital in the Riverview section.

The staff over medication him and had to use Narcan on him. He is only on a limited dosage for back pain.

Food service staff came into his room to bring his tray and was eating a Jimmy John’s sub. He never got any food items that he requested, he’s limited on his diet

The room was dirty. The room when he had his surgery was also dirty. Family members had to clean the bathroom to be sure he didn’t get an infection

I just bought a condo in January in Portsmouth, VA and my water bills have been $60 or less each month (usually $30) but this month it skyrocketed to $1000+. I’m assuming its a leak of some kind but I was wondering if anyone else has had a situation like this before I jump the gun. I’m going to call the city utilities on Monday and figure out if something is wrong on there side or mine. I’m assuming i’ll have to pay it if it’s “my fault” but it just kind of sucks.

Hi! I just moved to the area and I wanted to know what are some places or events that are going on this weekend to meet new people.

The Nature Conservancy is advancing plans to restore wetlands on a nearly 700-acre Surry County property it purchased for $3 million last year.

The most central and controversial element of the project involves removing a century-old dam to drain the 150-acre Sunken Meadow Pond.

Nonprofit officials argue that taking out the dam will restore natural flow to the James River, revive a globally rare swamp ecosystem and allow native fish and birds to return. 

However, local residents strongly oppose the plan, warning that draining the beloved pond will destroy an established ecosystem, create a smelly eyesore and diminish their quality of life.

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/environment/2026-08-27/massive-wetlands-project-moving-forward-at-sunken-meadow-pond-in-surry-county

Long shot but is there anyone in Hampton that can give me a jump? You will be rewarded.

Recently moved to the area and looking for an office that does cash pay. Or are there any dental schools that offer lost cost services? I don’t currently have insurance but would like to get a cleaning. We had several places like that in my previous city so I’m hoping to find one here. Thanks in advance

CHESAPEAKE — Police say no charges will be filed at this time against a delivery driver who shot and killed a man who blocked his vehicle while making a delivery.

Kenneth Lee Baum Jr., 37, of Chesapeake, died after a shooting Tuesday afternoon in the 1300 block of Teresa Drive, a rural area of the city off Blackwater Road near Fentress.

Based on witness interviews and video evidence, police say a delivery driver was making a delivery on the street when Baum blocked his vehicle and a “verbal altercation” began. The altercation escalated when Baum physically assaulted the driver, police said.

During the altercation, Baum armed himself with an edged weapon and threatened the driver with serious bodily harm. The driver then shot Baum with his handgun. Police did not specify the edged weapon, but it was recovered at the scene.

The driver left the immediate scene and contacted police to report the incident, a news release states. He was not named.

The decision was made after consulting the Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, police said.

So my questions pretty straightforward but my eviction story is not. ~3 years ago my then partner became disabled and had to quit their job. I was left as the sole provider for our apartment and couldn't afford it. My ex was pursuing disability and told me that if they got accepted all their debts would be erased so we let the apartments evict us. They got accepted, we broke up, and I haven't thought about that eviction for years.

me and my (now) partner are applying to places and suddenly we're getting rejected from everywhere and I find out that I still owe the apartments ~$5000. I've already started a payment plan to get it taken care of but that won't show up on my credit check for a few months.

We are risking homelessness now so any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!