Teen Takeover Chaos Hits Newport News

Hundreds of teenagers converged on Newport News City Center Saturday night in an unannounced “teen takeover.” Officers worked to restore order, but have not confirmed the number of arrests made at this time.

A Newport News mother went public Monday about the takeover, urging parents to check in with their children.

The incident is part of a growing national pattern of summer flash gatherings that have strained law enforcement and alarmed parents across the country. Organizers typically host them in public spaces like malls, beaches, and parks, after promoting them on social media and in group chats.

Recent takeovers prompted U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro to call for prosecuting teens’ parents, stating, “If you drop your kid off and you fail to supervise them or you let them skip school to join the chaos, you are going to face fines, court-ordered classes, and possible jail time.”

Hokies Land Three 4-Stars in One Day

Virginia Tech football landed three four-star commitments in a single day Sunday, vaulting the Hokies into the top 10 nationally in the 2027 recruiting class rankings.

Two of the three commits are Virginia-grown players, a strong signal that head coach James Franklin is locking down the Commonwealth early in his tenure and creating optimism for Hokies fans.

In-state offensive tackle Junior Saunders from Woodberry Forest in Madison County chose the Hokies over Power Four offers; wide receiver Cam Wade from Loudoun Sports Academy in Leesburg, Virginia, also committed; and cornerback Bryce Woods of Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia, rounded out the haul for Franklin.

After Saunders’ commitment, Tech moved up to the No. 6 spot nationally in 247Sports 2027 team recruiting rankings.

Navy Investigates Sailor’s Death

The U.S. Navy is investigating the death of a sailor involving a firearm aboard the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) aircraft carrier on Saturday.

A sailor has been placed in pretrial confinement in connection with the death. “Charges have not yet been filed as the investigation remains active and ongoing,” the Naval Criminal Investigative Service stated.

The incident occurred while the Ford-class carrier was at Newport News Shipbuilding, undergoing final pre-commissioning work.

Further information will be released as the investigation proceeds. No additional details about the sailor have been disclosed.

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➤ Ashburn: An Ashburn resident is rallying his neighborhood to sell collectively to data center developers for as much as $500 million, as expansion pressure from “Data Center Alley” pushes into residential streets. (More)

➤ Richmond: House Appropriations Chairman Del. Luke Torian of Prince William County held his line on fiscal balance as Virginia budget negotiations stalled again over data center tax incentives, with the July 1 deadline looming. (More)

➤ Prince William County: The county’s school system is introducing “minus” letter grades for the first time, adjusting the grading scale to give teachers and students more precise feedback. (More)

➤ Fairfax: Three Fairfax County Public Schools employees were charged in separate criminal cases this week, including an employee accused of embezzlement and computer fraud. (More)

➤ Fredericksburg: Fredericksburg Police issued a public warning Monday after three separate assaults on women on local walking paths since last fall, urging residents to use trails in groups. (More)

➤ South Anna River: Biologists and volunteers have reintroduced over 750 alewife floater mussels to the river, two years after Ashland Mill Dam removal restored fish passage for their larval hosts. (More)

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➤ Two Virginia residents, one of whom is a Vietnam veteran, filed a lawsuit seeking to stop UFC Freedom 250, the June 14 fight card planned for the White House South Lawn and the Lincoln Memorial. (More)

➤ Matoaca pitcher Kaylee Hodges was named Gatorade Virginia Softball Player of the Year for the second straight season after going 15-1, posting a 0.00 ERA, and pitching four perfect games. (More)

➤ Nationals top prospect Eli Willits—the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB draft—was promoted from Single-A to High-A Wilmington on Sunday after hitting .300 with 29 stolen bases in 47 games. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | NCAAB | Golf | Tennis | NASCAR | F1

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➤ HCA and VCU Health filed motions to dismiss Bon Secours’ legal challenges in Chesterfield Circuit Court against state approvals for new hospitals near Moseley and Chester, arguing that the commissioner properly applied Certificate of Public Need standards. (More)

➤ Chester-based Emerson Cos. has begun historic rehabilitation of the 1920s-era State Planters Bank Building in downtown Hopewell, with the city leasing nearly 11,000 square feet for multiple offices under a 15-year agreement. (More)

➤ More than 30,000 customers in a dozen Southside and Central Virginia localities remain without promised broadband as RiverStreet Networks struggles with financing delays, missing federal deadlines, and corrective action plans from the state. (More)

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➤ Richmond U.S. Postal Service mail carriers reported 10 dog attacks in 2025—the highest in Virginia—prompting USPS and Animal Care officials to urge pet owners to secure dogs and prevent bites during deliveries. (More)

➤ Smith Mountain Lake Pirate Days will be held at a new venue to handle growing crowds this year, with the Pirates Ball at Mango’s Bar & Grill on July 17 and Pancakes & Pirates Breakfast at Cancun Restaurant on July 18, plus additional events at Wind Vineyards on July 18. (More)

➤ Virginia sailor Kevin Sherwood and his Bay Retriever boat are competing against 19 other boats in the historic Annapolis to Bermuda Oceans Race—known as A2B—which began in 1979 with just seven yachts. The biennial 753-mile challenge started Friday. (See Photos and Race Details)

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What kind of grading system did your high school have?

1. Letter grades with pluses or minuses
2. Just letter grades, no pluses or minuses
3. Can’t remember

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Have you played pickleball? 

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2. Yes: 25%
3. Not yet: 19%

What did Smithsonian Institute archeologists discover prior to the construction of Smith Mountain Lake Dam?

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