News Flash

Mayor, city officials tout innovation at State of the City

Dec. 8, 2023 — Mayor Donnie Tuck and other city officials cast a spotlight on the spirit of innovation in Hampton at the annual State of the City event, held Friday at the Hampton Roads Convention Center.

 The event, presented by the Vir...

Here's how to get around downtown during Holly Days events

Dec. 7, 2023 - Friday and Saturday Holly Days celebrations will close some streets during those events. Here's a list of what's closed and when, as well as help getting around those closures to downtown destinations.

The 2023 Hampton Holl...

Take these steps to prepare for possible winter storms

The Hampton Office of Emergency Management reminds residents that it is time to prepare for winter weather. Winter storms can bring freezing rain, ice, snow, high winds, or a combination of all these conditions. Winter weather can knock out heat,...

Sunset Boat Ramp is reopened with newly repaved surface

Dec. 1, 2023 - Boaters can expect smooth sailing -- or at least a smooth launch -- now that the city's Sunset Creek Boat Ramp is repaved. The weather is predicted to turn warmer this weekend, but rain is also in the forecast.

Holly Days includes parades on land and on water

Nov. 28, 2023 — Spectacular parades on the land and on the water will highlight this year’s Hampton Holly Days celebration in the downtown district.

 The event will include the return of the popular Holly Days Parade, being hel...

Thanksgiving holiday affects city services, offices

Here’s a look at how these city offices, departments, or services will be affected by the Thanksgiving holiday.

City Offices                      &a...

Mayor Tuck to represent Hampton at UN Global Climate Change summit

Nov. 20, 2023 - Mayor Donnie Tuck will showcase Hampton's approach to resiliency and learn from other leaders at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates.  All costs are covered by the hosts. Called COP28, the...

City helps developer break ground on commerce center

Nov. 9, 2023 — Mayor Donnie Tuck and other city officials helped NorthPoint Developers break ground this morning on the site of the Phenix Commerce Center, which will create 250 jobs and also offer a workforce training center. 

The commerce center...

Hampton on Top 10 list nationally for technology and engagement

Nov. 9, 2023 - Hampton was once again named a Top 10 Digital City. This is the 21st time the city has been recognized for its innovative use of technology and citizen engagement. Hampton has been recognized more times than any other city of its size or la...

UPDATE: Mugler Bridge to Fort Monroe has reopened

Nov. 21, 2023 - The Mugler Bridge between Phoebus and Fort Monroe has reopened after a closure for repairs and maintenance.

The bridge on Mellen Street that connects Phoebus to Fort Monroe was closed to cars and pedestrians for about three weeks for emerge...

City offices will close in honor of Veterans Day

Here’s a look at how these city offices, departments, or services will be affected by the Veterans Day holiday. Veterans Day falls on Saturday this year, but the city will recognize it on Friday, Nov. 10.

City Offices  &nbs...

Historical marker is first in statewide Green Book program

Oct. 12, 2023 —  Gov. Glenn Youngkin helped to unveil a historical marker at Buckroe Beach in Hampton on Thursday that is the first in a statewide program to commemorate the sites of businesses that were listed in the Green Book for black travele...

'Don't blow it': Bag your leaves, but don't blow them into the street

Oct. 10, 2023 — The Hampton Public Works Division is reminding residents this fall to bag their leaves and grass clippings rather than blowing them into the street.

"Don't blow it."

When yard waste is blown or raked onto the street or sidewalk, it...

Riverside's mental health ER in Hampton is first in Virginia

Oct. 5, 2023 - Riverside Health System today cut the ribbon on a psychiatric emergency room in Hampton — the first such facility in the state. It is designed to provide immediate care to people in a mental health or addiction crisis.

"This i...

Road closures, traffic restrictions for Crawlin' Crab 5K, half-marathon

The Crawlin’ Crab Weekend is Oct. 7-8, with a 5K run and a kids’ kilometer on Saturday, and a half-marathon on Sunday in the Coliseum Central district and other neighborhoods. Here is a look at how the races will affect traffic and par...

Hampton Fire and Rescue accepts $327,700 grant from Sentara

Oct. 2, 2023 — The Hampton Fire Division accepted a grant this morning worth more than $300,000 from Sentara Health, which will be used to fund vehicles, equipment and other resources.

The $327,700 grant from the Sentara CARES program will suppor...

City Council meeting will feature look at Youth and Young Adult programs

Sept. 25, 2023 - City Council will meet Wednesday to talk about programs and activities designed to offer alternatives to violence, drugs, and gang involvement; address trauma; and support to people leaving incarceration. 

The afternoon work sessi...

Ophelia flooding not as bad as predicted; more wind, rain today

Sept. 23 - Tropical Storm Ophelia caused flooding in Hampton's low-lying areas overnight, but the city did not see major damage. 

The forecast for today is continued rain -- about an inch -- tapering off after 2 p.m. Winds will ramp up again from ...

Hampton Roads leads nation in percentage of veteran-owned businesses

Sept. 18, 2023 - Hampton Roads has the largest concentration of veteran-owned businesses among large metro areas in the nation, according to a data analysis by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

It's not entirely a surprise. Among metro areas ...

Tropical Storm Ophelia to bring flooding, winds; city will open shelter

Sept. 22, 2023 - Ophelia has formed into a tropical storm, and Hampton is expected to experience heavy winds, heavy rainfall, high tides, and storm surge, starting Friday afternoon and going through Saturday. 

Winds are predicted to hit 30 mph at ...

Weekend storm to bring flooding, high winds, rain, storm surge

Sept. 21, 2023 - The storm aiming for Hampton Roads doesn’t have a name, but that doesn’t mean you should underestimate its impacts. The National Weather Service predicts Hampton will get heavy winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge, starting Friday after...

Settlers Landing Road on-ramps to I-64 scheduled for overnight closures

Sept. 6, 2023 - The Settlers Landing Road/Woodland Road entrance ramps to Interstate 64 face nighttime closures next week. The work is part of the widening of Interstate 64, which will require similar work at additional ramps in the coming weeks.

The on-ra...

Wednesday afternoon Council work session packed with project updates

Sept. 12, 2023 - City Council will hear updates about some of the city's capital projects, a new small-business assistance program, and developments at Fort Monroe in its afternoon meeting at 1 p.m. Sept. 13. You can view it live here.

The schedul...

Mallory Street Bridge work will cause some nighttime delays on I-64

Sept. 11, 2023 - Installation of new bridge girders for the Mallory Street Bridge will cause some nighttime delays on Interstate 64, both eastbound and westbound under the bridge, as well as on the bridge itself.

Bridge improvements are part of the work to...

Construction begins on new modern Wythe Fire Station

Sept. 8, 2023 - A ceremonial groundbreaking today kicked off construction on a new fire station for the Wythe area. The existing 80-year-old station doesn't accommodate modern fire equipment, which is larger and heavier than it was then.

"It&...

Rip Rap Road exit will close for 2 nights for I-64 widening project

Sept. 6, 2023 - The Rip Rap Road exit on I-64 East will be closed for two nights,  tentatively scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. The work is part of the widening of Interstate 64, which will require similar work at additional r...

Hampton gets $13 million toward Armistead Ave. flood reduction

Aug. 31, 2023 - Hampton will receive more than $13 million toward the project to rebuild a portion of Armistead Avenue that frequently floods. It was by far the largest of the 17 hazard mitigation grants announced this week. 

The grant funding is ...

Expect more days of high tides and flooding this year, says NOAA

Aug. 25, 2023 - A new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects that the Hampton Roads region will see more high tide flood days than any other spot on the East Coast this year.

NOAA’s annual high tide flooding outl...

Hampton called “a national leader” at groundbreaking for Lake Hampton resiliency project

Aug 18, 2023 – Hampton broke ground Friday morning on the first of three innovative resiliency projects designed primarily to reduce the impact of flooding on the area around Newmarket Creek. 

“These projects aim for innovative...

Air Power Park to close for a month to complete improvements

Aug. 16, 2023 - The revitalization of Air Power Park is nearly complete, but the park needs to close for the final phase of construction. The closure will begin Friday, Aug. 18, and last about a month. 

The Air Power Park entrance to the WaterWalk...

Hampton Fire retains top rating by agency tied to insurance industry

Aug. 4, 2023 - The Hampton Fire and Rescue division has retained its top rating after an external re-evaluation by the Insurance Services Office. Hampton first received its Class 1 rating in 2015. 

The Insurance Services Office evaluates fire prot...

Hampton City Council wants more study on short-term rentals

August 10, 2023 - Mayor Donnie Tuck announced Wednesday that Council would hit the pause button on short-term rental use permits until they can hear more legal and policy advice and further study questions of density and impact to residential neighborhood...

Nonprofit helps residents learn about, install solar panels

Aug. 1, 2023 - The city of Hampton is partnering again with Charlottesville nonprofit Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) to make adding solar panels more affordable for residents. 

LEAP's Solarize Virginia project began in 2014 and has ...

Hampton native Wideman sworn in as chief of police

 July 28, 2023 — Hampton native Jimmie Wideman was sworn in on Friday afternoon as the chief of police in his hometown.

 Wideman follows former chief Mark Talbot, who was hired in 2021 after a search process in which Wideman was...

All-America City fun planned: Speedway, fireworks, parade theme

July 18, 2023 - Hampton was named one of 10 All-America Cities this year because of our extensive community engagement and input, especially with young people. Because this is a community award, not just a government award, the community is invited to joi...

UPDATE: Outlook Beach at Fort Monroe cleared by Health Department

EARLIER June 21, 2023– The Health Department has issued a swimming advisory for the beach at Fort Monroe due to bacteria levels that exceed the state water quality standards for swimming. Water samples from Hampton's other beaches meet ...

Retiring Superintendent Dr. Jeffery Smith named as head of Air & Space center

June 22, 2023 - A nationally recognized educator has been selected as the next executive director of the Virginia Air & Space Science Center, announced Board President L’Allegro Smith. Dr. Jeffery Smith, retiring superintendent of Hampton City Schools...

'Strategic visionary' Jimmie Wideman named Hampton police chief

June 28, 2023 - Jimmie Wideman, a lifetime Hampton resident and experienced leader in law enforcement, has been named Hampton’s new police chief. Two years ago, Wideman was the second-ranked candidate for the chief job and was very highly regard...

Dr. Jeffery Smith receives Distinguished Citizen Medal for school transformation

June 14, 2023 – City Council has awarded retiring Superintendent Dr. Jeffery Smith the Distinguished Citizen Medal - the city's highest honor. Under Smith’s leadership, the city school system has been recognized as a national ...

Hampton gets national honor for youth engagement

June 12, 2023 — Hampton was named an All-America City by the National Civic League, one of the top 10 in the country. The designation was conferred on Sunday evening at an awards ceremony in Denver.

The award highlights communities that involve and engage ...

Hampton gets $4.6 million for violence prevention, neighborhood safety

April 10, 2023 -  Hampton will receive a $4.6 million federal Byrne Discretionary Grant to be used in the city’s violence-prevention efforts. U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, who secured the funds, presented Mayor Donnie Tuck and the city with a ...

Hampton Public Library drops overdue fines, adds text communication

April 6, 2023 — Hampton’s libraries will no longer charge late fees for overdue books. They are also adding the ability to communicate with customers by text and email.

 “This will eliminate a big barrier for families...

Events for all ages will showcase Youth Violence Prevention Week

April 3, 2023 - Hampton will come together to mark Youth Violence Prevention Week with events that educate, remember victims, share resources, offer recreation, and, ultimately pull the community together in expressions of unity and hope.

Hopeful Hampton’s...

Hampton named a finalist for All-America City Award

March 28, 2023 - Hampton has been named as a finalist for the All-America City competition. The All-America City Award, presented by the National Civic League, recognizes communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusion and innovation ...

Mosaic festival celebrates cultures, history, and the Earth on April 22

March 23, 2023 - The Hampton Mosaic Festival combines elements from the International Children's Festival, Heritage Day, Earth Day celebrations, and adds more art and interactivity. The new, combined festival will be held April 22 from 10 p.m. to...

Dates set for input on future of Hampton's carousel

March 15, 2023 — Community discussions about the future of the historic carousel will be held March 23 and 28. The Downtown Hampton Development Partnership has asked the City Council to move it to make room for a larger waterfront park.

Tom Tingle, archite...

Polling on the city's upcoming budget available through March 20

March 15, 2023 - Work to develop next year's budget is under way, and residents can offer their views in an online informal survey. City Manager Mary Bunting seeks input before her recommended budget is developed to ensure it includes residents&a...

Violent crimes were down in 2022, but 2023 starts with a spike

Feb. 8, 2023 – Police Chief Mark Talbot gave an update to City Council about crime in 2022 that started with some good news.

Statistics show that murders were down 25% over 2021. Robberies decreased by 12%. Property crimes were up at total of 16%...

City's home values increased again in 2022; tax rate decrease will be recommended

Feb. 8, 2023 – The value of homes in Hampton increased again during 2022, according to a report by Assessor Libby Griebel. The median sale price rose to $253,000.

In fact, 96.6% of residential properties saw increases, with the mean or average va...

Council approves $100 million development for former Lincoln Park site

Feb. 9, 2023 — The City Council has approved a $100 million proposal by developer Axis Global Enterprises to redevelop the former site of the Lincoln Park housing development on LaSalle Avenue. The new development, called Olde Hampton Village, w...

City creates escalating penalty for violations of trash regulations

Jan. 13, 2023 - In an effort to control increasing costs of trash collection, Hampton will begin issuing violations and fines for customers who fail to follow the regulations.

These measures will go into effect July 1 to give residents time to get better a...

New rules allow Airbnbs, VRBOs easier path to be licensed to operate in Hampton

Dec. 16, 2022 - City Council created a pathway for people who own houses that they rent through such sites as Airbnb or VRBO to operate legally. Previously, short-term rentals were only allowed as an “accessory use” to a home that is a...

Hampton named Top 10 Digital City for 20th time

Nov. 10, 2022 - Hampton was once again named a Top 10 Digital City. This is the 20th time the city has been recognized for its innovative use of technology and citizen engagement. 

The rankings are done by the Center for Digital Government, a nati...

Sewer replacement work will create detours on Old Buckroe Road

Oct. 17, 2022 - HRSD crews will be installing sanitary sewer pipelines on Old Buckroe Road, forcing a road closure for through traffic that is expected to last for a year. Work is expected to begin this week near Colonial Acres Drive.

During this work, mot...

Free grand opening events for Aquaplex swim center on Oct. 29

Oct. 12, 2022 — The city's new two-pool swimming center will hold a free celebration Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with demonstrations, refreshments, games, and entertainment. 

The program will feature Olympic gold ...

Poll workers needed to staff precincts on Election Day

Aug. 31, 2022 - The Hampton Voter Registrar’s Office is looking for dedicated people to serve the democratic process by serving as election officials on Election Day.  

The polls open on Election Day at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.; however, electio...

UPDATE: Swimming advisory lifted for Buckroe Beach

Aug. 24, 2022 – The Health Department has issued a swimming advisory for the central part of beach due to levels of bacteria levels that exceed the state water quality standards for swimming.

Buckroe is segmented, so bacteria levels could affect the entire...

REPAIRED: Gas leak closes Hardy Cash-Executive intersection

Aug. 23 - UPDATE: Repairs have been made. The intersection of Hardy Cash and Executive drives is now open after a gas line was repaired.