In June, the City Council approved a plan to divide the city into 51 zones and allow only 1% of homes in each zone to operate as short-term rentals. The plan also required that rentals be 500 feet apart unless they are side-by-side. However, many residents felt the proposal was too restrictive.

To address some of the concerns, City Council wanted to consider creating a new use called a “homestay rental” that only applies to residents who remain in their homes while renting a single room. Earlier this month, the Planning Commission recommended moving forward with creating that use.

Zoning Administrator Allison Jackura explained that under the proposal, homestay rentals are a separate category from short-term rentals and would not be subject to the density and buffer requirements of a short-term rental, where residents make their entire homes available for rent.

She said homestays apply for guests living in a home for 30 days or less. They would be allowed in single-family dwellings.

The proposed rules outline that a homestay rental operator must live in the home as their primary residence and reside there during all guests’ stays. The operator also has to maintain and provide proof of residency within one day of the zoning administrator requesting it.

No events, such as weddings, reunions or birthday parties, would be allowed with homestay rentals.  Furthermore, the operator — designated as a “responsible local person” would be required to provide contact information for the city website in case of any issues, respond within one hour after being called by the city for any nuisance complaint and be on-site at all times between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. when overnight lodgers are present.

“We think that somebody living there has a vested interest in kind of making sure that there aren’t any nuisances,” Jackura said. “And we tend to see those in those overnight hours — that 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. — so we think having that person be there, staying there, would help to reduce that.”

Under the proposal, homestay rentals would require a Zoning Administrator Permit.

Jackura said the city does not have an exact number of homestay rentals currently operating. She said around 94 rentals currently advertise less than a whole home for rent, though that doesn’t indicate the owner is occupying the property.

The commission largely supported the proposal, but chair Michael Harris voted against an ordinance outlining the “standards of uses” for homestay rentals. He said in an interview that his objection was over requiring the homeowner to remain on the property between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., as he felt the rule was too restrictive.

The commission is also recommending the City Council reduce the required buffer between short-term rentals from 500 feet to 300 feet. Commission member Tracy Brooks was the only one to vote against the matter during the July 18 meeting. She could not be reached for comment Monday to clarify her vote.

At the meeting, a few Hampton residents voiced concerns about the rules the City Council adopted last month limiting the density of short-term rentals. One woman said many Hampton residents will no longer be able to rely on the retirement income they were planning to earn through short-term rentals.

Hampton City Council is expected to vote on the changes during its Aug. 14 meeting. If approved, these changes will go into effect on Sept. 1.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

City Manager Mary Bunting and Col. Sonny Avichal, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, signed the agreement which outlines the cost-sharing structure of the 3-year Peninsula Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study. The Army Corps of Engineers received $3 million in federal appropriations to fund the study, according to a city news release.

“Currently, we have no financial obligation because we got 100% funding — if the scope or needs expand, we would have to pay 50/50 for our part,” Bunting wrote in an email.

In the release, Bunting described the signing of the agreement as “historic” and said it set a precedent for future joint endeavors.

“Water does not respect municipal boundaries, and this study will provide a holistic look at flood risks for the Peninsula,” she said.

Hampton announced the planned collaboration in January. The city said the study will involve a comprehensive investigation of coastal storm risks and risk management solutions for the Peninsula, potentially including Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg, as well James City and York counties.

In the event the scope of the project expands, Bunting said other localities would be expected to pay a 50% share for work in their communities.

Norfolk worked with the Army Corps of Engineers on a similar Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study several years ago. That work preceded Norfolk’s approval of a $2.6 billion flood mitigation plan that includes construction of a floodwall downtown.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

Officers responded shortly before noon to an armed robbery at Navy Federal Credit Union in the 12000 block of Jefferson Avenue. An employee said a man entered the bank, displayed a firearm and demanded money. Police said the man fled in a vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money.

Officers found the vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop, asking those inside the vehicle to exit.

Police say a man and a woman — the driver and the front seat passenger — exited and were detained. But a third occupant — a man in the back seat — got out and pointed a firearm at officers. Officers then fired, hitting the suspect.

The man was taken to a local hospital but died just after 1 p.m., according to police. He been identified as Stephan Allan Williams.

Police say the officers involved are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

This is the third killing by Newport News police this year.  In January, an officer shot and killed a man who police say pointed a gun at them while they attempted to perform a welfare check.  In June, an armed woman died after being shot during a standoff with police.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com

Mayor Donnie Tuck spoke of the impending camera fees during his final town hall meeting Thursday at the American Theatre.

The red-light cameras are meant to deter drivers from clogging city streets when traffic from the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Interstate 64 backs up. Tuck said these will become active in early August, potentially as soon as Thursday. The first red-light cameras expected to go live include two on Mallory Street — one near Segar Street and one on the other side of the bridge — and one at the intersection of Settlers Landing Road and William R. Harvey Way.

The cameras will monitor drivers running a red light and turning right on red when prohibited. Public Works Director Jason Mitchell previously laid out a plan to direct traffic along Settlers Landing Road, which connects downtown to I-64, into three lanes.

In the left lane, traffic would travel toward Phoebus and I-64 West. In the right lane, traffic would turn right onto the Hampton University campus or Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

During most hours of the day, the middle lane would allow traffic onto the I-64 East ramp; however, during the most busy traffic hours of 3-6 p.m., the light would remain red as a deterrent for drivers looking to hop on and off the interstate to skirt traffic.

Tuck said there will be a 30-day warning period once the cameras go live. Afterward, drivers found guilty of crossing a red light based on video evidence would receive a $50 fine. However, a conviction will not result in any points being added to the person’s driving record.

There also soon will be consequences for those caught speeding through school zones, designated with a posted speed limit of 25 mph with flashing warning signs to indicate that children and pedestrians are actively crossing roadways. Those who go 10 mph or more over the speed limit will face an up to $100 fine.

The city is establishing a year-long pilot program that will install speed cameras at 12 locations before the beginning of the school year, which starts Aug. 26.

According to Mitchell, the 12 locations are Big Bethel High School, Hampton High School, Hunter B. Andrews Pre-K, Jones Magnet Middle School, Kecoughtan High School, Lindsay Middle School, Machen Elementary School, Mary W. Jackson Elementary School, Thomas Eaton Middle School, Aberdeen Elementary School, Barron Elementary School and William Mason Cooper Elementary School.

The city also has three alternate locations — Alfred S. Forrest Elementary School, Samuel P. Langley Elementary School, and Mary T Christian Elementary School — that may be used if it runs into any significant issues during the deployment process.

A law enforcement officer will review and affirm all speeding violations issued through technology, and a citation will be processed and mailed to the vehicle owner.

While the pilot program is slated to last a year, the city has budgeted enough money — $3.4 million — to possibly expand the speed cameras to all 34 school zones. Because revenue from violations are expected to offset the cost of the cameras, the program is expected to pay for itself.

Mitchell said there will be a 30-day warning period from when the first school cameras go live before the city enforces fines. Mitchell said the goal is to have as many of the initial 12 cameras ready by the opening of the school year, although he said it’s likely that only seven may be.

During the town hall, many residents raised concerns about speeding in other parts of the city — including several residential neighborhoods — and asked if the city could implement speed cameras beyond school zones.

City Manager Mary Bunting said the city only has the authority to put speed cameras in school and work zones, as the state legislature allows. However, she said when the city prepares its legislative priorities to send to the General Assembly, it could consider requesting to expand the use of speed cameras. Bunting said speed cameras would help deter drivers from going far over the speed limit, and would allow police officers to focus on more violent crime.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

The Sheriff’s Office launched a new initiative to help incarcerated individuals leaving jail reintegrate into the community. It’s called the Sheriff’s Transition and Reentry Center — the STAR Center — and will connect people with services offered by government organizations and community partners.

The center at 1320 La Salle Ave. will be a one-stop shop where people recently released from jail or prison can get help with employment, housing, education and obtaining identification. The center serves Hampton residents released from the Hampton Community Corrections Center (within 24 hours of release), local area jails and state prisons (within 30 days of release).

Lt. Bionca Moore said the transition from jail to community “can be a challenging one.”

“Many of our returning citizens either don’t know what resources are available to them, where they can get them, or have the means to travel around to get to all these multiple locations,” Moore said. “Without these crucial resources, many of our offenders have a greater chance of relapsing back into criminal behavior.”

A U.S. Department of Justice overview of recidivism rates in 24 states revealed that 82% of individuals released from state prisons were arrested at least once during the 10 years following release.

Virginia’s recidivism rate three years after release is 20.6%, as reported by the Department of Corrections. Citing analysis from author Mirlinda Ndrecka, Moore said studies show reentry programs reduce that, on average, by 6% — though the reduction can be greater when programs assist people during and after incarceration.

Bowden, a longtime proponent of programming that reduces recidivism, said the STAR Center evaluates participants during incarceration or upon release to determine their immediate needs and what services are available to address those needs.

The center also includes classrooms where former inmates receive training in areas such as job or life skills or parenting classes.

While the center will hire two full-time staff members, it will also utilize the help of numerous local organizations and agencies:

• Community-based organizations will help provide participants clothing, food, education and connect them with work readiness and family reunification programs.
• The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board will coordinate mental health, developmental, or substance abuse services for participants.
• The Department of Motor Vehicles will help participants apply for identification cards and renew or replace driver’s licenses.
• Hampton Roads Community Action Program will provide one-on-one job coaching and help connect participants with local employers. 
• The Virginia Community Action Re-Entry System provides career counseling, family counseling, financial referrals, educational workshops and job readiness workshops.

Bowden said recidivism is a drain on law enforcement resources, overwhelms the court system and correctional systems and drains taxpayers’ dollars —  money she said would be better utilized on rehabilitation and prevention programs.

Moore also cited a 2020 study showing offenders who remained engaged for at least 90 days in post-release services in the community were almost 50% less likely to be arrested within 2 years of their release compared with offenders who only received pre-release services.

Hampton councilman Steve Brown asked people at the opening ceremony to imagine being incarcerated for several years and coming back into the community with no support, friends, family, job or opportunities to thrive. He noted that many long-term inmates, upon release, might not be accustomed to the technological advances in the years since they have been behind bars. He said the reentry program “enables people to gain hope.”

Bowden said the center’s opening fulfills a longtime dream of hers to address gaps in service and help former inmates return to a life of stability. While the program initially will only help Hampton inmates, she hopes to eventually expand services beyond the city.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

Police Chief Steve Drew reported during a Wednesday news conference there have been nine homicides through July 21, down from 20 last year in the same time frame. Drew also reported an almost 31% decrease in nonfatal shootings. In 2023, there were 52 shootings by July 21, while there have been 36 so far this year.

He said a majority of the city’s violent crime involves either people who know each other, or when the perpetrators have a specific target.

“We are not seeing that individuals are just picking up a firearm and walking out in our community and pulling the trigger,” he said. “It is particular groups or neighborhoods or gangs that play back and forth.”

Drew also touted the city’s rates for “clearing” homicide cases through charges or arrests. While the national clearance rate, as established by the FBI, is 52.3% for homicides, Drew said the police department has cleared 88.9% of the cases this year. Drew said these arrests “provide some closure and some accountability.”

He clarified the homicide figures do not include killings in self-defense or officer-involved shootings. There were two police-involved shootings this year, and police spokesperson Matt Michalec said another killing in April was ruled self-defense.

Police reported a total of 46 homicides in 2023, which was up from 31 in 2022 and a higher total than in any year in at least five decades.

While acknowledging the positive turnaround so far this year, Drew said the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

“As we talk about numbers and statistics, please remember that everyone of those numbers and statistics represent an individual,” Drew said. “They represent a family and community in our city, and they matter. They’re important.”

Drew said interrupting cycles of violence takes the entire community, not just the police. He noted the department is making efforts to connect with the various communities so they feel comfortable sharing information with officers.

He also credited the city’s partnerships with nonprofits, violence interruption groups, faith-based organizations, the NAACP and other agencies.

Mayor Phillip Jones announced in March a goal to reduce homicides in the city by 15% over 18 months. Jones said on Wednesday he was encouraged by the results to date this year. As part of a larger gun violence prevention effort, Jones said the city has been investing in programs that address food insecurity, vocational training, education, mental health and conflict resolution, as well as youth programs.

The city will soon establish the Newport News Office of Community Safety to focus on reducing gun violence. Jones said a search and selection process is underway to hire a violence prevention manager.

“The key responsibilities of this position include developing initiatives that prevent youth and young adult violence and promoting the resiliency of our community,” Jones said. “This person will be a community champion and build the necessary team of city staff, volunteers and advocates to advise the city manager and City Council on best practices to continue to reduce gun violence.”

Jones said the city is also exploring the creation of a hospital-based violence interruption program. This program would meet the immediate medical needs of the community and connect citizens to an array of resources and case management services.

Jones said he’s bullish on the city’s future due to its “amazing community partners” and police officers and that the city will utilize evidence-based solutions to reduce gun violence.

“My ask of our community, the call of action, is for all of you to continue to build forward with me by strengthening our community partnerships, uplifting our youth and young adults together, and supporting the important work of our dedicated officers,” Jones said.

Staff writer Pete Dujardin contributed.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner met with local elected officials, first responders and activists at a community center Friday to discuss solutions to the deadly problem, which he called “a cancer.” He noted 76 homicides in the region so far in 2024. The region reported 205 killings last year — 189 of them by gun.

Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell said a few years ago, the city’s crime rate was “pretty high” and that the city developed a strategic plan to reduce gun violence by addressing root causes.

“We first discovered that the crime that was taking place, for the most part, were committed by a limited number of actors,” Bell said. “And the crime took place in pockets within our city. And as a result of that, we addressed the root issues that created criminality, such as poverty, such as things that go on in the home, the type of issues that are not spoken of.”

He said if these root causes are “not addressed in the home,” violence will erupt “in the streets.”

Bell said Hampton has seen a 71% decrease in homicides over the past year and that shootings have gone down 56% over the last five years.

Latiesha Handie, the executive director for Hampton’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities, shared the success of the city’s Hopeful Hampton initiative — which aims to reduce gun violence among teens and young adults by pairing them with mentors. She spoke of one young man, a former gang member who managed to turn his life around after he received help in unaddressed trauma, conflict resolution and mental health support.

Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said the city has invested about $5 million in 36 violence-interrupting organizations over the past three years. Jones said his goal is to reduce gun violence by 15% annually. To accomplish that, the city will continue to invest in programs and individuals “doing the work” to prevent gun violence and soon launch a new office whose main purpose is to prevent gun violence.

Various speakers highlighted the need for sustained financial commitment toward gun violence prevention groups and nonprofits, stricter gun control laws, mental health resources, and investments in youth and local nonprofits.

Warner used the roundtable as an opportunity to highlight his Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence, which would enact several of Virginia’s gun safety laws at the federal level. He also condemned political violence following last week’s assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

“This is the worst failure from Secret Service, probably since the attempted assassination of President Reagan,” Warner said after the roundtable.

Warner said the situation “may again be a case of someone having access to a weapon of war that had mental health issues.”

Warner, who has supported the banning of assault weapons, also said that if the shooter “had a knife instead of an AR-15,” the near-assassination “wouldn’t have happened.”

“How much more of this kind of violence do we have to see before we say ‘This doesn’t happen in other nations, and it shouldn’t in America,’” Warner said.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

The Peninsula Airport Commission’s recently approved 2025 fiscal year budget had expenses exceeding projected revenue by about $3 million. Commission Chair Lindsey Carney Smith said last month the airport’s unrestricted reserves are about $2.9 million, which would help it sustain operations. But she suggested the airport likely would need financial support from local governments.

During a Thursday meeting, members revealed the airport commission has been spending less money than initially budgeted. Carney Smith noted “it’s going to be close” whether the airport ends up at a deficit this fiscal year.

“We continue to be very conscientious about our monthly cost to the extent that we can cut costs,” she told the Daily Press. “Staff is doing a really diligent job of cutting those costs.”

One of those savings is the airport doing its marketing “in house,” according to Carney Smith. The airport budgeted $338,199 for marketing and advertising but ultimately spent $54,064 over the past fiscal year. During that time, which ended June 30, the airport had a financial shortfall of about $1.5 million — which was less than the $2.1 million expected. Budget documents indicate the airport passed a $8.2 million plan for fiscal year 2025.

Treasurer Jay Joseph said the airport “should have sufficient cash to make it through the next fiscal year. Again, it could be tight. I wouldn’t bank on it necessarily.”

The airport has faced numerous setbacks in recent years, losing traffic to Norfolk or Richmond airports, which are larger and offer more consumer choices. Newport News has seen a sharp decline in passengers — from more than one million travelers in 2012 to about 150,000 in fiscal year 2023. And last year, Avelo Airlines discontinued service from the regional hub, citing “market factors” that exceed the control of the airport or the Peninsula Airport Commission, leaving American Airlines as the only commercial carrier.

The airport’s commission fired Executive Director Mike Giardino last year, hoping different leadership would bring more commercial air service. The Airport Commission is accepting applications through Aug. 11 for executive director.

Thursday marked the first commission meeting after the public release of a consultants’ study suggesting the airport should move away from commercial air service and focus on other operations to remain viable. 

The report acknowledged the airport’s financial struggles, reporting that it operated at a loss for 16 of 17 months in a period ending in November 2023, with the total reaching $4.2 million.

During Thursday’s meeting, Peninsula Airport Commission Vice Chair Tommy Garner raised questions about the validity of the study, alleging the results could have been skewed.

Garner claims that Norfolk Airport Authority President and CEO Mark Perryman told him one of the consultants, Swelbar-Zhong Consultancy, had Perryman’s staff crunch Newport News airport’s numbers for the study.

“Perryman said his accounting department did all the work to prepare the financials for Swelbar,” Garner told the Daily Press last month. “Direct statement to me. And that’s when I said, ‘Well, I think that’s unethical. Why would he ask you to be involved if he is the consultant?'”

Garner said if Perryman were involved in preparing the financials, it would be a conflict of interest as the Norfolk airport is a competitor with Newport News.

“The regional study was supposed to benefit the region, with the intent of trying to look at all the air traffic, military bases, all the different airports, but it’s kind of focusing on Newport News shutting down commercial service,” Garner said. “Well, if Norfolk put together the financials that say, ‘Oh, based on your financial status, you should shut down.’ Well, definitely, because then where would the closest airport be? Norfolk, Richmond.”

Norfolk Airport Authority spokesperson Chris Jones provided a written statement from Perryman refuting the claim.

“The Norfolk Airport Authority did not produce nor provide financial information related to the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport to the authors of the recently released Hampton Roads Air Study,” Jones wrote. “Any such assertion is wholly inaccurate.”

According to Jones, Perryman was contacted by William Swelbar — one of the study’s authors — who had questions on certain assumptions the latter made when drafting the document. He said Swelbar wanted to know whether some of his assumptions correctly aligned with standard aviation industry accounting practices. As a member of the study’s steering committee, Perryman directed Swelbar to run his questions past the Norfolk Airport Authority’s CFO. But Jones said that inquiry was general in nature and not specific to any airport.

“The report itself includes citations of where its figures were obtained, and that alone should address any questions as to their sourcing,” Jones wrote. “I’ll also note Mr. Perryman first saw the draft’s preliminary calculations at the same time they were presented to the other steering committee members, including Mr. Garner.”

Swelbar denied that Perryman’s accounting department prepared the financials. He said he merely asked Perryman’s chief financial officer some questions pertaining to airport finance and he stands by the report.

“Newport News has been struggling for 15 years,” Swelbar said of the airport. “None of this should be a surprise to anybody. And they won’t be the last.”

Carney Smith backed accounts from Swelbar and Perryman, saying Swelbar independently prepared his report.

The Daily Press on Thursday asked Garner to reiterate whether he was “sure” the study was skewed or if he merely felt there was enough reasonable doubt considering the potential conflict of interest.

“If it stinks, it stinks,” he replied.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

Hampton Roads residents can hear several great stories from professional storytellers as part of  “Everybody’s Got a Story: Hampton Storytelling Festival,” a free festival in Hampton taking place Thursday through Sunday.

Johnson and professional storyteller Sheila Arnold first organized Hampton’s Storytelling Festival last year. Johnson said she wanted to do something that “would help people talk to each other” and that she could think of no better vehicle for that than storytelling.

Johnson, 85, said she likes to mostly tell personal narratives — stories about her family and friends or key events from her generation. While she tells different stories depending on the audience, she said this year she will likely tell a story about Bay Shore Beach — a beach that was once a popular destination for Black swimmers and sunbathers and was adjacent to Buckroe Beach, which was whites-only when segregation was in effect.

“Bay Shore was the queen of beaches,” Johnson recalled. “It had everything — bumper cars and Ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds, a picnic area, a dance hall. It had some of everything. I would walk from my house to Bay Shore Beach at least twice a week.”

Johnson hopes the events encourage people to be more comfortable telling stories about their families, why they came to Hampton, or stories that connect them with others.

“In today’s world, too many people are talking at each other and not to each other,” Johnson said. “So [this event] is not just a nice thing to do, it actually has purpose.”

The weekend of events will feature seven nationally recognized professional storytelling artists telling various stories — from fables and fairy tales to personal stories to historical accounts. Some stories are serious, while others are designed to make people laugh.

“There are all kinds of stories to be told, and so we think it’s pretty fascinating,” Johnson said. “We’re not reading — we are not telling stories from our notes. We are telling stories from our heads and our hearts.”

Storytellers include combat-decorated retired Army paratrooper Ray Christian, actor and playwright Valerie Davis, motivational speaker and workshop facilitator Via Goode, actress and writer Sarah Brady, humorist Andy Offutt Irwin. It will also feature Dylan Pritchett, a Williamsburg native and full-time storyteller who was president of The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc.

Johnson wants to “get closer to the people” by holding storytelling events in numerous locations throughout the city.  This year’s storytelling venues include the Woman’s Club of Hampton, various churches and the Hampton History Museum.

“Hampton has a very rich history as a city, and I think that Hampton has such a diverse population that if people started to tell their own stories, it would really build the richness of the culture,” Johnson said. “So we would really hope that storytelling will become a part of Hampton’s culture by our efforts.”

According to Johnson, last year’s inaugural storytelling event drew a crowd of roughly 300 people, and she hopes for a significantly larger turnout this year.

The storytelling festival kicks off with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Woman’s Club of Hampton and continues with themed performances throughout the weekend. From 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, attendees can try their hand and storytelling and receive feedback in a story swap at the Hampton Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

For a full listing of the weekend’s events, visit www.hamptonstorytelling.art.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) wrote in LinkedIn post that the funding is for the planning, design, and construction of a carrier refueling overhaul workcenter for sailors’ and shipbuilders’ use while assigned to ships in refueling and complex overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding.

“The building will provide approximately 80,000 square feet of dedicated space near the ship that will include office spaces for sailors and shipbuilders, as well as a fitness center, counseling offices, and other areas sailors can utilize while executing RCOH,” the post read.

Plans are for construction to be complete by June 2026. NAVSEA said it is “committed to quality-of-service improvements for our sailors and shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding.”

HII spokesperson Todd Corillo said the building will be located mid-yard, between the dry dock and the outfitting pier that support refueling and complex overhaul work. He said the process for selecting a contractor is underway.

Naval Sea Systems Command did not provide any comments by press time.

The work center is one of many recent announcements the Navy has made regarding improving the quality of life for shipyard workers and sailors assigned to ships in maintenance periods. Many of these efforts were made in response to a wave of suicides among Hampton Roads-based sailors.

Last year, the Navy announced a series of upgrades, including off-ship housing, free Wi-Fi and more access to food for USS John C. Stennis sailors while the aircraft carrier undergoes a multiyear refueling and complex overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding.

Additional plans are also in the works. A vice admiral announced this month that the Navy is looking at creating 8,000 new beds for sailors in Hampton Roads and that 1,000-1,500 beds would likely be in Newport News.

Last month, the Navy and Newport News Shipbuilding announced the construction of a new parking garage that will bring 2,000 new parking spaces to downtown Newport News for use by shipbuilders and sailors assigned to the shipyard.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com