Tidewater Talk

This week on Tidewater Talk, we covered a mix of local news, odd stories, and summer happenings around Coastal Virginia. We talked through several new Virginia laws taking effect July 1, including job salary transparency requirements, changes that allow certain criminal records to be sealed from public view, and a new rule requiring speed limiter devices for drivers convicted of going 100 mph or more. We also touched on the ongoing conversation around Virginia’s new restrictions on certain semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity magazines. On the lighter side, we shared the wild story of a Virginia Beach fishing charter spotting a roughly 15-foot great white shark offshore near the wind project, and we dug into the surprising fact that Virginia Beach now has its very first official city song, "Driving East."We also looked ahead at the week’s weather, with storms giving way to sunshine and rising temperatures, and swapped a few Tidewater tips for upcoming events and experiences. Highlights included Hampton’s "Invisible to Others" exhibit exploring blindness and perception, Virginia’s "VA250" passport program for visiting historic sites across the Commonwealth, beachside movie night featuring "Lilo & Stitch," the Independence Day 5K Totten Trot, La Fiesta at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, a junk journal craft night in Norfolk, and the long-running Hampton Jazz & Music Festival. We also asked listeners to share what song makes them think of Hampton Roads, continuing the conversation about what gives this region its sense of home.

In this solo episode of Tidewater Talk, I share a heartfelt neighborhood moment and a slice of Tidewater history. I start with a big shoutout to a local caregiver who went above and beyond for our son, a reminder of the kindness that makes Coastal Virginia feel like home. Then we journey to the edge of Virginia Beach for this week’s Strange and Odd: the haunting story of Wash Woods, a long-vanished community in False Cape State Park built from shipwrecked lumber, weathered by hurricanes, and slowly reclaimed by dunes and time. We wrap with a quick weather outlook. I also spotlight a weekend pick: Victory Fair in Norfolk. Thanks for spending part of your day with me, neighbors, stay safe, stay curious, and stay Tidewater.

In this solo episode of Tidewater Talk, I slow the pace and lean into a favorite segment: Strange and Odd of Tidewater. After a quick community moment about a Great Pyrenees rescue in New Kent County using an infrared drone, we take a long look at the ghost fleet of the James River—the haunting line of World War-era concrete ships you can spot near Kiptopeke. I share how a shoreline double-take turned into a kayak trip among these surreal hulks, now reclaimed by birds, fish, and even trees, and why their quiet presence feels so distinctly Tidewater. We also check the wintery forecast for Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore and celebrate our one-year anniversary, plus a local Galentine’s/Valentine’s mini Highland cow photoshoot at Hunt Club Farm. Send your sightings and stories—what’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on or near the water around here?—to tips@tidewatertalk.com. Stay strange, neighbors.Weather: 39° in Virginia Beach; 34° near Kiptopeke. Rain shifting to a wintry mix and likely snow overnight tomorrow; highs in the 30s through Thursday, clearing into Friday.

In this week’s Tidewater Talk, we open with a brisk winter check-in and a spirited debate over corn nuts and okra before diving into what’s happening around Coastal Virginia. We cover a major local story: the owner of Ace Auto Sales LLC in Chesapeake was sentenced to six years in federal prison for a multi-year, $2 million auto-loan fraud scheme that affected roughly two dozen financial institutions. We also chat about a York High School classroom trailer fire and reminisce about the woes of learning in “portables.”Our Strange & Odd of Tidewater segment spotlights the Great Dismal Swamp, once a brutal yet vital refuge where Indigenous peoples and later freedom-seeking enslaved people built hidden communities and lived free despite extreme conditions. We pair that with a local history moment on General Ambrose Burnside’s 1863 “Mud March,” a reminder that weather can decide outcomes, timely, given this weekend’s forecast calling for significant winter weather and the potential for heavy snow and some ice impacts around the region. We share current temps and a heads-up on accumulation probabilities, encourage neighbors to prepare, and invite listener feedback: What’s a local place you refuse to go to—and why? We also highlight Yelp’s top eateries in the 757 and point you to Virginia Beach Restaurant Week with a full participant list in the show notes. Send your tips, odd sightings, and answers to tips@TidewaterTalk.com, and we’ll see you next Tuesday, neighbors.

In this week’s Tidewater Talk, Brodie and Co swap cozy winter updates before diving into local headlines: Newport News and Norfolk both reported dramatic drops in homicides, marking multi‑year lows across the region. We also spotlight a major healthcare investment for veterans, a new VA outpatient clinic planned for the former Lake Wright Golf Course area near the Premium Outlets in Virginia Beach, with an anticipated opening as early as 2028. Our Strange and Odd of Tidewater segment heads to the historic Cavalier Hotel, where the legend of the “golden ghost of the 6th floor” lingers, phone calls from empty rooms, chilly drafts, and a long‑retired bellman who still warns guests at night. We wrap with warming temps in the weekly forecast, local events and openings (hello, free Potbelly for a year), plus a listener prompt: What’s your favorite local mystery? Events and tips include an East Coast Hikers outing at Marshview Park, a “Charlie Brown” jazz program from Symphonicity at the Sandler Center, and family fun like Gabby’s Dollhouse Live later this month. Send us your local stories, odd sightings, and community tips at tips@TidewaterTalk.com, and consider giving back with time, talent, or treasure at tidewatertalk.com.