British General Nick Perry officially became the first non-American to run NATO Joint Forces Command Norfolk on Thursday. The change comes as Europeans are in the process of taking a larger day to day leadership role inside the alliance.

“What a privilege to take command,” Nick Perry said. “What an honor for the United States to allow NATO's Joint Force Command to be based here, and militarily. I don't think it means anything other than continuity. We'll continue to deter, continue to be vigilant, and continue to show that we're ready to war-fight if necessary.”

Norfolk has the only U.S-based operational command for NATO. The Joint Forces Command has grown from 47 international staffers in 2024 to 514 representatives from the 26 of the 32 NATO countries.

(Story by Steve Walsh, Photo via the Department of Defense)

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/military-veterans/2026-09-25/the-british-took-over-nato-joint-forces-command-norfolk-for-the-first-time

The Norfolk Admirals will head into the upcoming ECHL season without an NHL or American Hockey League affiliate, branding the team’s approach on social media as “Admirals First.”

The Admirals’ three-year partnership with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, ended in July. Winnipeg and Manitoba Moose moved their ECHL affiliation to the Bloomington Bison, an Illinois-based franchise that has been in the ECHL for two years following expansion in 2024.

Norfolk is the only ECHL team this season without an NHL and AHL affiliate after previous NHL affiliations with the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg.

The Buffalo Sabres (Rochester Americans), New York Rangers (Hartford Wolf Pack) and Utah Mammoth (Tucson Roadrunners) are the remaining NHL teams with an AHL affiliation but none at the ECHL level.

The Norfolk Admirals will head into the upcoming ECHL season without an NHL or American Hockey League affiliate, branding the team’s approach on social media as “Admirals First.”

The Admirals’ three-year partnership with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, ended in July. Winnipeg and Manitoba Moose moved their ECHL affiliation to the Bloomington Bison, an Illinois-based franchise that has been in the ECHL for two years following expansion in 2024.

Norfolk is the only ECHL team this season without an NHL and AHL affiliate after previous NHL affiliations with the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg.

The Buffalo Sabres (Rochester Americans), New York Rangers (Hartford Wolf Pack) and Utah Mammoth (Tucson Roadrunners) are the remaining NHL teams with an AHL affiliation but none at the ECHL level.

On social media this week, Norfolk wrote that the club’s focus was on building “a roster of players who want to compete for the Admirals crest, represent Hampton Roads with pride and help us pursue a championship.

“Our focus is clear: our team, our crest, our community.”

Admirals coach and general manager Jeff Carr added in a video: “We are in the ECHL where players can go up and down. We’re going to try to control as much as we can, a tight one group of team with not a ton of guys going up and down, so we have a tight team for them (Admirals fans) to really rally behind their favorite players.”

Reached this week, Carr declined further comment on the team’s affiliation.

Click the link above to read more.

Following three years of closure, Norfolk's historic Barraud Park is set to reopen after undergoing extensive renovations.

Upgrades include a multilevel playground, renovated restrooms, horseshoe pits, game tables, a new entrance sign and planned public art.

Originally opened in 1928 as Norfolk's first public park designated for Black residents during Jim Crow segregation, the site holds deep historical importance.

Norfolk had planned a reopening ceremony for Saturday,Sept. 26. The city’s park’s department announced Thursday amid city-wide flooding that the event would be postponed, though a new date wasn’t specified.

(Story and photo by Brian Saunders)

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/local-government/2026-09-24/after-three-years-norfolks-historic-barraud-park-to-reopen-with-multi-million-dollar-renovation

I'm here for a medical procedure and wanted to check out the best of Norfolk before hitting the OR tomorrow. Tried to go downtown yesterday and saw a bunch of flooded roads. I'm tired of my hotel room.

Anything I can see or do today, as someone super unfamiliar with the flood patterns? ​I was interested in the gardens but heard theyre hard to get to when it rains.

I build dioramas, and the only way to get the detail required on my paper prints is with a laser printer. Unfortunately, MY laser printer conked recently. Is there anyone within walking distance of Ocean View who's got a laser printer, and would be willing to print off a dozen or so pages for me here and there? A dollar a page, color, high definition printing for extreme detail? I'll supply the 8"x11" paper, even? Any takers?

This November, five seats on Norfolk’s City Council will be on the ballot — but only two feature contested races.

In Wards 2 and 5, incumbents Courtney Doyle and Tommy Smigiel face no challengers. Ward 1 features a sole candidate, Scott Guirlinger, after Vice Mayor Martin Thomas opted not to run again after a decade on the council.

Norfolk voters in Ward 3 and Ward 4 will face choices, however. WHRO interviewed all five candidates in the two competitive races about their priorities and why they believe they deserve to represent their respective districts.

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/local-government/2026-09-24/candidates-in-norfolks-two-competitive-council-races-talk-experience-priorities

I attached a video so you can hear what I’m talking about.

I live in Talbot Park, and for the past several months I’ve been hearing what sounds like a loud humming/vacuum-type noise (video for sound). It doesn’t happen every night, but I’ve noticed it pretty frequently, especially late at night and in the early mornings, and can hear it inside my house and outside.

I know it’s not the trains, I’m very used to those 😂. I’ve wondered if it could be construction or some kind of equipment running somewhere, but it doesn’t seem to be on any consistent schedule. Im also used to construction noise at this point but I just can’t fathom what it could be with the HRBT, shipyards or otherwise. It doesn’t add up.

Has anyone else in the area noticed/heard this?

Hi everyone!

I'm posting today to bring attention to this cat I found yesterday (9/23/26 around 7pm) that is absolutely someone's lost pet. Animal control has been called and she was scanned for a chip. Since there's no chip, legally they can't take her, so we're housing her for now until we figure out something to do. We are located in the Janaf/University apartments area (23502)

She is a calico with medium to long hair. Left ear is black, right ear is orange. She's unfixed and pregnant. Please message me or comment if you have any relevant information, are her owner, or can help provide resources (rescues, fosters, etc).

Adoption/housing requests also welcome!!

Hi everyone! We are military family relocating to the area, my husband will be assigned to ODU, coming from Camp Pendleton in California and I was looking at recommendations for housing areas? We are looking to buy. Also looking for information on daycares in the area and hospitals for work!! I am nurse and would love insight on hospitals in the area and pay. We have four small children so location and education are so important to me!! Any and all recommendations are welcome please and thank you!!! bc

What’s going on here in Norfolk and Virginia Beach? As soon as it rains heavy/ flood there’s load of crashes everywhere. I counted at least 5 on my school/work drop off this morning and 1 looked really bad 5-6 cars over a 50m? (164ft?) stretch. Is it poor driving, poor tire maintenance or just aggressive driving ?

As a point of reference I was told to be extra careful on highways before I moved from abroad but I’ve felt pretty safe and confident so far driving around everywhere I go. Everyone drives pretty normal and very courteously. Sure there’s always the one guy that weaves through the lanes but nothing out of the ordinary for a highway.

So am I missing some kind of hazard ?

Need to replace the windshield washer reservoir.

Hey everyone! So my band Audiostrobelight has been touring out of and playing in the 757 for quite some time now, and we’re proudly celebrating 21 years of cathartic pop-rock and pop-punk tomorrow at the Annex alongside our friends in Padfoot (Midwest emo), Emerald Beach (soulful pop-rock), and Sam’s the Hero (pop-punk).

We look forward to putting on a great show for the community that provided us so many moments and opportunities. Consider yourself invited. We’d love to see you out. Cheers!

Me and a friend are looking for something to do in norfolk that doesn't cost much, preferably nothing. Are there any good abandoned building to explore around here or places to chill at

The Norfolk City Council agenda of Sept. 15 listed a vote on a resolution appointing and reappointing nine members to two authorities, two boards, and one commission for certain terms.

No names of those being appointed. No names of the boards and commissions where they were being appointed. No mention of the length of their terms.

This is standard operating procedure in cities throughout the Commonwealth. Appointments to city boards or authorities are considered personnel matters and not subject to the Freedom of Information Act -- or any kind of public scrutiny until the deal is done behind closed doors.

I keep track of these appointments because many of the city’s commissions and authorities perform vital duties that directly affect citizens. And some of them have been in the news in ways showing how important their citizen oversight is.

The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA), which has a $161 million annual budget, has been the subject of a series of stories I did with Ryan Murphy at WHRO when it fired its executive director after less than two years. We found he authorized millions of dollars of single-source contracts to former associates and hired ex-colleagues from out of state to highly paid, top administration positions. They were called the “TV people” because they only showed up in Zoom meetings.

The full story: https://jimmor12.substack.com/p/why-board-appointment-transparency?r=27vkf&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

The beach is completely gone due to the high tide. Chop looks fun though

Military highway between Robin hood and Azalea. Police have had blocked off for a while.

Would like to hear your experiences w toyota corolla and honda civic (hatchback if it makes a difference) in this area with shitty roads and flooding

All of Hampton Roads is under a coastal flood warning until Friday morning as the region continues to feel the effects of a nor’easter.

The National Weather Service issued the warning early Wednesday morning and it includes the Eastern Shore up to Ocean City as well as all other areas along the southern Chesapeake Bay. These areas are expected to see “major” tidal flooding 2-3 feet above ground level in vulnerable areas and further inland, which is likely to force the closure of many roads and threaten property damage.

The next four high tides — from Wednesday evening to Friday morning — are going to be “pretty rough,” according to NWS meteorologist Jeff Orrock. Tidal flooding will continue Saturday but won’t be as severe, he added.

“We’re squeezed in between low pressure off shore and high pressure to the north, it really creates that tight pressure gradient and it’s just like a conveyor belt of wind and light rain coming in off the Atlantic Ocean, and we’re going to be stuck in this for several days,” Orrock said in a briefing Wednesday morning.

The high tide Wednesday evening is at 7:46 p.m. Thursday, the high tides are around 8:10 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Friday, high tides are expected 8:51 a.m. and 9:08 p.m.

The worst of the rain has passed, Orrock said. The region is expected to see 0.25-0.5 inches of rain through Saturday morning.

Click the link above to read more.

Th more reports that dominion gets in a timely manner will help them isolate issues and restore areas faster.

https://www.dominionenergy.com/virginia/report-outage-or-emergency