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1+ hour, 9+ min ago (349+ words) VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. " Candles flickered against the December sky Thursday night at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront as members of the Jewish community gathered to celebrate Hanukkah and deliver what they described as a message of unity and resilience. The celebration came just days after a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Australia, where gunmen killed 15 people. Against that backdrop, organizers in Virginia Beach said canceling the event was never an option. Instead, they said, the local Jewish community showed up in greater numbers, determined to "bring light into a time of darkness." "We are standing stronger than ever, together against hate, hate of any kind, and bringing light by coming together with kindness and love toward one another," said Rabbi Meir Lessoff. Lessoff said the message of strength and solidarity was accompanied by heightened security…...

1+ hour, 40+ min ago (520+ words) The Virginia Tech Hokies will have a new quarterback in 2026. In fact, Virginia Tech's entire quarterback room could look different once the transfer portal opens in January. While the portal can't open until January, players can reveal their intent to enter the portal. On Wednesday, Virginia Tech quarterback Garret Rangel became the first Hokie since new coach James Franklin arrived to reveal his intention to enter the transfer portal. Rangel transferred to Virginia Tech ahead of last season from Oklahoma State, but did not play a snap. He has one year of eligibility remaining. It's no secret that the Hokies must upgrade the most important position. Tech added a commitment from Troy Huhn in the 2026 recruiting class. Kyron Drones played his last snap for the Hokies in the loss at Virginia. That makes most Virginia Tech fans happy. Drones' play…...

11+ hour, 54+ min ago (292+ words) RICHMOND, Va. " Five Powerball tickets purchased in Virginia, including one bought in Glen Allen, won $50,000 in Wednesday night's billion-dollar Powerball drawing. Those tickets were bought in the following locations: Wednesday night's winning numbers were 25, 33, 53, 62, 66, and red powerball 17, with a Power Play multiplier of 4. The Powerball jackpot rose to an estimated $1.5 billion after nobody held the grand prize ticket in Wednesday's drawing. Two lucky winners each won $2 million, according to the Powerball website. Those winning tickets were sold in Arizona and Massachusetts. Six lucky winners also each won $1 million, the website said. Three of those tickets were sold in New York, and one each in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. WATCH: Virginia grandmother won huge Powerball prize. Why she's giving it all away The jackpot is the second largest of the year and the sixth highest in the lottery game's history, according…...

13+ hour, 10+ min ago (657+ words) COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. " One year after more than a dozen staff members of a Central Virginia nursing home were arrested in connection with an elder abuse investigation, only one person has ultimately been convicted as prosecutors say the legal process remains ongoing. It was an unprecedented scene on December 18, 2024, when police officers swarmed Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center to arrest 18 employees. Prosecutors would later reveal in court that the case involved a former resident who they alleged received inadequate care at the facility. They claimed the alleged victim was left in her bed for days, lying in her own feces and urine, and developed a wound. A judge described the alleged details as "gut-wrenching" and "horrendous." Criminal charges ranged from misdemeanor falsifying patient records to felony abuse and neglect, and the suspects ranged from nursing employees to the administrator…...

14+ hour, 14+ min ago (192+ words) Santa may not have to worry about traffic as he makes his deliveries each Christmas, but us mortals do. To make dashing to and fro easier, the Virginia Department of Transportation is suspending many highway work zones and lifting lane closures on major thoroughfares for Christmas and New Year's Eve. The traffic pattern changes will take effect at noon on Dec. 24 and remain in place through noon on Dec. 26, and be reinstated from noon on Dec. 31 through noon on Jan. 2, 2026. For any holiday travels that involve crossing between the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads, VDOT advises that motorists avoid taking the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel to avoid potential delays due to ongoing construction. Instead, VDOT is encouraging taking the Interstate 664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, the James River Bridge, the free Jamestown-Scotland Ferry or I-95. The Route 17 George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge is still experiencing…...

14+ hour, 39+ min ago (288+ words) The NCAA transfer portal doesn't open until the new year " January 2 to be exact. But that doesn't mean players can't reveal their intentions to enter the portal. The first name for the Virginia Tech ... The NCAA transfer portal doesn't open until the new year " January 2 to be exact. But that doesn't mean players can't reveal their intentions to enter the portal. The first name for the Virginia Tech Hokies in the James Franklin era has been revealed: quarterback Garret Rangel. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Rangel spent one season in Blacksburg, transferring to the Hokies earlier this year after spending three seasons at Oklahoma State. Rangel did not play one snap for Tech last season. Rangel, a 3-star prospect out of high school, is from Frisco, Texas, where he played at Lone Star High School. He passed for over 9,000 yards and 101 touchdowns…...

16+ hour, 13+ min ago (288+ words) A new Virginia Beach art studio in Great Neck wants you to explore your inner artist. The Art Nest, which opened in November next to Harris Teeter in Great Neck Square, offers a cozy and creative hub for the community to explore a wide range of art media. Owner Dacia Layton said the studio reflects the intersection of education, creativity and community. "It's a space where people can land, create, connect and grow through art," she said. "Through teaching this course and exploring the many ways art can be used therapeutically in occupational therapy, I personally experienced the healing benefits of art," Layton said. "This journey led me to further explore the field of art therapy." Layton recently started pursuing a degree in art therapy and counseling. The goal of The Art Nest is not mastery, but a place for…...

1+ day, 1+ hour ago (27+ words) A former patient recounts how decades of trust in a Virginia OB-GYN unraveled after federal investigators exposed a fraud scheme that left hundreds of women harmed....

1+ day, 2+ hour ago (244+ words) Someone intent on causing havoc across the Commonwealth sent an online threat en masse to multiple school divisions, including Albemarle County. The county acknowledged the "unsettling" threat in a message to parents Thursday morning saying law enforcement has determined it is a hoax. Out of care for the community, police have increased patrols and will monitor schools throughout the day. Thursday is the final day of school before winter break. According to the message from ACPS Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas, the threat was sent to school divisions, colleges and universities across Virginia. "While law enforcement does not believe this message presents a credible threat, we take all reports seriously and will continue to work closely with our safety partners. If anything concerning or out of place is observed, staff are prepared to respond and to contact emergency services as needed,…...

1+ day, 3+ hour ago (692+ words) Top Virginia Senator Files Bill To Provide Sentencing Relief For People With Marijuana Convictions GOP Senator Wants Feds To Study Hospital Costs Caused By Marijuana Use White House Confirms Trump Will "Address Marijuana Rescheduling" Thursday, But Reported Details On Final Decision Are "Speculation" Most Americans Back Legalizing Marijuana, But Trump Voters Not On Board, Conservative Group"s Poll Shows Amid Rescheduling Rumors CBD Provides Pain Relief, Improves Sleep And Aids Relaxation, Study Involving Olympic Athletes Shows Legal Marijuana Access Reduces Suicide Rates For Older Adults, New Study Suggests Marijuana Breeders Can Use AI To Design New Strains, Study Demonstrates Patients In New York"s Medical Marijuana Program Saw "Significantly Reduced" Opioid Prescriptions, Federally Funded Study Shows As More Americans Choose Marijuana Over Alcohol, Mainstream Media Notices The "Cousin Walk" Thanksgiving Tradition Joe Rogan Slams "Really Bad" Federal Hemp Ban Trump…...