| Happy Friday, Historic Triangle!
A summertime preview is in store for us this weekend as temperatures soar.
Highs today will reach the mid-80s, about 20 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, according to Meteorologist Myles Henderson of WTKR News 3. Scattered showers or storms are possible this evening as a cold front moves through the area.
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| Meteorologist Myles Henderson's 5-day forecast. (Photo via Facebook) |
| Highs in the mid-80s will continue on Saturday and Sunday, though windy conditions with gusts around 30 mph are expected on Sunday.
Dramatically cooler weather will move in as we start the work week. Rain and a cold front will sweep across the region on Monday, dropping the highs to the 60s and 50s.
Now to the news.
-Christin |
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Williamsburg ranked among safest spring break destinations in the U.S. |
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| A horse-drawn carriage transports visitors throughout Colonial Williamsburg. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) |
| Williamsburg is one of the safest places in the nation to travel to for spring break, according to a new study.
Personal injury law firm 844SeeMike conducted an analysis to determine the safest and most dangerous spring break destinations in the United States. The study reviewed a breadth of safety data for 31 popular vacation spots, including DUI incidents, pedestrian safety measures and water activity risks.
Williamsburg ranked #3 on the list of the safest places to visit for spring break 2025 based on the findings, according to a release from the law firm.
The historic city was praised for its "structured and family-friendly atmosphere" as well as its "well-regulated visitor areas" and low crime rates.
Coming in at no. 1 on the list was San Diego, California. Also ranked among the safest locations were Breckenridge, Colorad0 (no. 2), Cannon Beach, Oregon, (no. 4) and Austin, Texas (no. 5). |
| Conversely, Daytona Beach, Florida was listed as the most dangerous spring break destination. Other dangerous spots on the study's list included Panama City Beach, Florida (no. 2); Naples, Florida (no. 3); South Padre Island, Texas (no. 4); New Orleans, Louisiana and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (no. 5), according to the firm.
The study's methodology relied on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. |
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WJCC School Board to consider new names for James Blair Middle School despite split community feedback |
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| James Blair Middle School. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) |
| The Williamsburg James City County School Board is planning to review new potential names for James Blair Middle School despite divided community feedback on the topic.
Findings and recommendations put forth by a recently created renaming committee were presented during school board's work session on Tuesday. The committee was appointed to review feedback from citizens and stakeholders regarding a possible school name change. |
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Kara Wall, the division's strategic communications officer, said the committee's recommendation came after they analyzed community survey responses, considered budget implications and reviewed the history surrounding Blair, a 17th-century reverend and slaveholder who co-founded William & Mary. |
| Community feedback: The committee acknowledged the majority of citizens surveyed did not express support for renaming the school. Participants included James Blair teachers and staff, students who attend the school, parents of current students, residents who live in the James Blair attendance zone and the general public.
Here are the results of the survey: |
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| Board member Michael Hosang said he did not support moving forward with the renaming process based on the community's feedback. Some constituents also complained that the public comment portion of the survey was rushed, he said. |
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"[The survey] was presented or offered on a Friday afternoon, and the cutoff was Tuesday at noon, which was not enough time for the public to respond," he said. "If we're not going to listen to these surveys from our society, from our constituents, they're not going to take them anymore. They're not going to listen to what we're trying to do if we ignore them when they come back to us and tell us what they want." |
| Vice Chair Andrea Donnor provided impassioned commentary on the subject, saying that James Blair was initially founded as an all-white high school a year after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Today, the school board has the chance to correct past injustices by choosing a more inclusive name, she said. |
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"If I have the opportunity to right a historical wrong, my values make me have to take that step, as unpopular as it might be," she said. "I think it's valuable to spend $100,000 to fix a historical wrong 70 years later." |
| Acting Superintendent Daniel Keever said the next step involves reconvening the renaming committee to solicit feedback from citizens regarding potential new names. |
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| Read the full story here. |
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Pregnant woman among 2 dead in York County crash |
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| York-Poquoson deputies are investigating a fatal crash on Water Street. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) |
| Two people, including a pregnant woman, died in a crash on Water Street in Yorktown on Thursday night.
According to the York Poquoson Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to Water Street, in the area of Daniels Drive and the Colonial Parkway entrance, around 8:15 p.m. to investigate reports of a two-vehicle crash. |
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The driver of the Challenger, identified as 22-year-old Hunter Arnold of Windsor, Virginia, sustained multiple injuries and was taken to Riverside Hospital. The driver of the Honda Fit, a 28-year-old woman, sustained a leg injury and was treated at the hospital and released. |
| Charges are pending for Arnold, according to officials. The crash remains under investigation. |
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Anheuser-Busch invests $4.2M into Williamsburg brewery |
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| An aerial view of Anheuser-Busch in Williamsburg. (Photo courtesy of Anheuser-Busch) |
| Anheuser-Busch is investing $4.2 million in its Williamsburg brewery to support major upgrades to the facility, the company announced.
Why it's happening: The improvements will enhance production quality and increase the efficiency of operations to meet "the highest-quality brewing standards," the company announced in a statement. |
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"We've been producing high-quality American-made products for generations, and through our continued investments in places like Williamsburg, we are continuing to drive economic prosperity and create opportunity in American manufacturing," Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth said. |
| Founded in 1972, the Williamsburg brewery plays a key role in the company's operational pipeline. It is one of 5 Virginia facilities that employs more than 750 people. Last year, the company poured an additional $6.5 million into the facility to support other renovations. |
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"As one of James City County's leading employers, this $4.2 million investment reinforces Anheuser-Busch's commitment to quality products and contributing to our local community," said Tom Jokerst, General Manager of the Anheuser-Busch Williamsburg Brewery.
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In the Headlines |
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An investigation is continuing into the fatal officer-involved shooting of a man in a James City County grocery store parking lot. (WTKR) -
A renowned conservation scientist will deliver the 2025 commencement address at William & Mary. (Virginia Gazette) -
Newport News has launched a two-phase survey to improve quality of life for its citizens. (WTKR) -
TowneBank is acquiring and merging with Old Point Financial Corp. (WAVY) -
Richmond released its final water crisis report, revealing information about communication failures. (WTVR) -
Abigail Spanberger is the Democratic nominee for this year's Virginia governor race. (WRIC) -
Virginia was ranked the most likely state to survive an alien invasion. (Fox 5) -
TikTok is slated to shut down by April 5 unless parent company ByteDance strikes a deal. (USA Today) |
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| This newsletter was written by Christin Nielsen. Thanks for reading! |
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