Cianna Rothwell Morales

2 weeks ago | whro.org | Cianna Rothwell Morales

A House budget bill with sweeping Medicaid cuts passed Thursday, and Rep. Jen Kiggans’ vote bolstered the slim 215-to-214 margin. An analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that millions of low-income Americans could lose benefits and food assistance as a result. President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have lauded the “big, beautiful” bill as a way to save money.

2 weeks ago | whro.org | Cianna Rothwell Morales

Memorial Day weekend signals the start of summer and brings waves of tourists to the beaches. In Virginia Beach, a patchwork of people are keeping another local Memorial Day weekend tradition alive — celebrating strawberries. The Pungo Strawberry Festival was held for more than 30 years until 2019 and didn’t return after it was cancelled during the pandemic. A handful of fests have sprouted up, but without much involvement from the farmers who grow the fruit.

2 weeks ago | whro.org | Cianna Rothwell Morales

Green spaces populated by native plants. Water features and splash pads to play in. A lawn designed to provide views of the sunset over the marina on one side, and a sweeping raised pathway with ocean views on the other. These are just some elements in the plans for a multifaceted public park at Rudee Loop architects unveiled to Virginia Beach city council this week. The turnaround at the south end of Atlantic Avenue used to be part of the system of sand dunes and the maritime forest.

3 weeks ago | whro.org | Cianna Rothwell Morales

Virginia Beach city council on Tuesday adopted a $2.78 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning in July. Since it was proposed in March, the spending plan underwent a few changes, but most of it remained intact. These included an increase in the meals tax and stormwater fees and the elimination of five library jobs. The budget passed 10-1, with Barbara Henley voting against it. She opposed eliminating the library jobs — four branch service coordinators and an administrator.

3 weeks ago | whro.org | Cianna Rothwell Morales

Virginia Beach City Council will vote to approve the budget Tuesday and one unpopular hike will likely remain in the plan: the meals tax increase. Amber Kostka, co-owner of The Stockpot, an Oceanfront staple, wants cities to stop viewing restaurants as untapped revenue sources. “We are looked to very often when the city is looking for extra funding,” she said in an interview. She sits on the board of the Virginia Restaurant Association and it’s a trend she sees statewide.