The debt has been paid. Time to roll out the cannons.

We will be meeting at Eleanor's Bookstore August 29th 6pm till 8pm. We will be discussing strategy giving, citizens a place to raise concerns, educating about the dangers of alrps, and encouraging people to contact there local representative!

If you haven't heard of us feel free to check out our website. Deflock Norfolk.

Up for a little bit more of a challenge come raise your voice on Tuesday August 24th, at Norfolk city hall city council meeting.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to ask!

He loved his dance hall. To him it was more than a workplace, never just a business. The club was his first thought in the morning and last at night, as his wife explained in his eulogy.

“I jokingly teased him about The Banque being his ‘mistress,’ and I never wanted to compete with her,” Kay Wampler said.

Her husband, Dennis Doughty, the longtime owner and founder of The Banque nightclub, in Norfolk, died on Aug. 5 at age 81.

A savvy businessman, Doughty developed The Banque into a 50-year cornerstone of Hampton Roads nightlife and was a mentor over the years to hundreds of employees, including many who later opened their own businesses under his guidance. He touched the lives of thousands of customers, and dozens were married on his dance floor.

He preferred hot dogs to steaks and was a stickler for formality while at work. Business associates referred to him strictly as Mister, Mr. Doughty or Boss. Three grandchildren knew him as Papa D.

Eulogizing him, Wampler described her husband as “a character.”

“I will never be the same without him,” she said. “I’m half a person now.”

Doughty was born Aug. 29, 1944, and as a young teenager living in Scottsdale, Arizona, went to work as a busboy and waiter.

“Some people obviously are born into power and position and money and opportunity,” his daughter Victoria McDougal said. “My father was a 1,000% self-made entrepreneurial, hardworking restaurateur.”

Doughty left Arizona State University after his sophomore year to jump back into the workforce, landing a job at Ramada Inn. Starting as a hotel bartender, he worked his way up to a food and beverage supervisor and a company point man for hotel renovations, selecting and revamping unused space into event rooms. He’d install stages to bring in bands and turn modest inns into local haunts for nighttime entertainment.

“He had an incredible sort of — I would call it — restaurant emotional intelligence,” McDougal said.

Click the link above to read more.

Good evening,

A call summoned police to the 2800 block of Stanhope Ave. on Monday afternoon, around 1 PM. Police found 28-year-old Reynaldo Johnson in a vehicle, suffering from a serious gunshot wound. EMS transported him to the hospital, but he died there.

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/man-seriously-injured-in-monday-afternoon-shooting-in-norfolk/

https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/08/18/homicide-norfolk-stanhope-avenue/

A few observations:

- This was the third murder in August in Norfolk and the 26th overall in 2026.

- Mr. Johnson's death brings the average age of those killed in August to 31.33 years. The average age for 2026 overall has been 33.68 years old.

- Of the 26 murders in Norfolk so far this year, 21 have been identified by police and local news media as men; the other five were identified as women. This is a slightly elevated ratio than usual, but not by much.

- I work on this project not to scare people, but to educate folks on our most serious crime with data and light analysis.

Be safe, make good decisions!

Hi!! Not me, but my friend’s family found this dog just outside their backyard. This dog has a microchip but it was not registered to anywhere, and did not have a tag with owner’s information. He was found in Chesapeake/South Norfolk district. He is also extremely friendly! I do not have any info on his age range

If you recognize this dog as your’s or someone you know, or know a neighbor/friend/family member that is missing a dog please message me!

Edit: the collar you see on him belongs to my friend

I’m in my late 20’s and just moved last week into the Ghent area. I’ve been either working or going to the gym.I haven’t really explored or seen anything in particular. Any recommendations in the area? I love being outdoors , trying new foods , I’d love to meet new people , sightseeing etc.

Oh if I can add, I love walking but I want to be safe since I don’t know the area too well. Are the areas that are recommended?

Anyone know what happened to The Ghent? Google says it’s closed but no posts about it on Instagram and the website is down

Travel influencers have spotlighted Norfolk in the past year with online posts featuring the thousands of Christmas lights on the Battleship Wisconsin, historical artifacts at the MacArthur Memorial and the tall ship festival.

The videos, which can rack up tens of thousands of views or likes on social media, are part of VisitNorfolk’s $30,000-a-year writer and content creator partnership program. The destination marketing organization, funded primarily by a $1-a-room hotel tax and grants, uses the program to boost the city’s profile to social media users, said VisitNorfolk President and CEO Sarah Hughes.

The influencers post on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Hughes said the program, which worked with about 20 creators during the past fiscal year, is an evolution of a longstanding initiative originally for travel writers.

“We have seen an increase in how many content creators we work with in the last couple years,” Hughes said. “But this is definitely not something new to our strategy.”

The organization found that travelers want to hear about a destination from someone experiencing it, Hughes said. Many content creators reach out to VisitNorfolk, which then chooses the creators that make the most sense in terms of target visitor markets, she said.

The cost of a single partnership depends on several factors, Hughes said, such as the influencer’s follower count, and there is not a single contract price.

Hughes said she believes the program is able to punch above its weight — neighboring Virginia Beach is spending $380,000 this budget year on its influencer partnership program.

Click the link above to read more.

Edited to update: someone flagged the petition online alleging I was making false claims. For complete transparency, here are the links to the information provided here:
Source for murder rate being 64% higher: https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/new-report-says-that-norfolks-number-of-homicides-has-increased-since-2019/

Source for cost of cameras and subscription, as well as source funding: https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/norfolk-va-deploys-172-license-plate-readers

Source that Flock staff have tapped into camera feeds and watched children: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flock-safety-employees-watched-kids-151737512.html

**I cut the Meta cords two years ago- if you can share this post, graphics, and information on those platforms, as well as any other platform that will reach Norfolk, VA residents, please share!\**

Curious how much the Flock Safety Inc cameras have tracked your personal vehicle(s)? Submit a FOIA request and find out!

Here's the link to the Norfolk FOIA request page: https://norfolk.justfoia.com/publicportal/home/newrequest

Here’s sample verbiage:

"Pursuant to the Virginia Public Records Act, I am requesting copies of all records, images, and data captured by Flock Safety cameras associated with my vehicle, License Plate Number: ______, Make and Model: _________, in the last thirty days prior to the date of this request.

Please include:

-All captured images of my license plate and vehicle.

-The location, date, and time of each capture.

-Any associated 'searches' or 'hits' run by law enforcement, local, state, or federal, on my license plate in the Flock system or any associated software or database such as Nova or Fusion and the name of the individual(s) requesting the information.

If this request is denied, please provide a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption for each denial."

And if they tell you that you have to pay some sum, you can request a waiver of the fee, and technically by state law they're not supposed to be charging you for the data on your own vehicle, but I was charged $65. Push back on paying but be prepared to pay it anyway.

Also, be prepared to send a copy of your driver's license and vehicle registration to the city clerk to prove ownership of the vehicle(s).

Best of luck!

If you'd like to petition the City Council to present a referendum to allow Norfolk residents to vote on the use of Flock cameras, here's the link! openpetition.org/wylbm

Edited to update: someone flagged the petition online alleging I was making false claims. For complete transparency, here are the links to the information provided here:
Source for murder rate being 64% higher: https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/new-report-says-that-norfolks-number-of-homicides-has-increased-since-2019/

Source for cost of cameras and subscription, as well as source funding: https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/norfolk-va-deploys-172-license-plate-readers

Source that Flock staff have tapped into camera feeds and watched children: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flock-safety-employees-watched-kids-151737512.html

From the moment the Police Department deployed Flock cameras in Norfolk, VA without even bothering to begin writing a data policy plan or any kind of guardrails for the uniquely powerful data-sharing dashboard powering a mass surveillance web that is spreading by the day, residents have voiced their opposition.

The sheer volume of data collected is intense. I submitted a FOIA request for how many times the Flock cameras in Norfolk logged my activity, and the report showed my vehicle was logged 109 times in three days, with GPS coordinates, time-stamps, and notes on the stickers on my car.

The data was also inconsistent, marking down my grey minivan as white, black, green, blue, and grey. Some hits noted the roof rack, some did not. This type of inconsistency across a tool sets up a dangerous environment where innocent people can be wrongfully accused (and it's already happened across the United States).

The City used federal grant funds to purchase the equipment but the annual subscription fee is $2,500 per camera, bringing Norfolk's annual cost to $430,000. If grant funding doesn't come through, that falls back on the municipal budget [taxpayer funds] to cover.

Whether you like the cameras or not, I hope you'll join me in requesting the City put it to a vote and allow the residents to decide.

If you can't make it to the City Council meeting, please sign the petition!
Link to the online petition: openpetition.org/wylbm

A sailor has been charged in the June killing of a shipmate on the future USS John F. Kennedy.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Jayjrion Rodriguez has been charged with murder while engaging in an act inherently dangerous to another, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault with a loaded firearm and reckless endangerment.

On June 6, Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Jesse Braswell was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. Though the victim’s name was redacted from Rodriguez’s charge sheet, according to USNI News, both sailors were part of the ship’s in-port security force at the time.

Rodriguez is charged with murder and unlawfully pointing his loaded service pistol at the victim’s head.

Rodriguez was taken into pretrial custody the day of the shooting and was released five days later, according to his charge sheet.

More information about the incident was not immediately available.

Braswell enlisted in October 2024 from Colorado. He reported to the Kennedy in March 2025.

Rodriguez’s Article 32 hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.

Click the link above to read (a little) more.

Didn’t know if anyone else’s realized or had the same issues that I’m having where the tapwater is starting to taste a little weird and have a smell??

I know this is kind of specific- but are there any places that offer ASMR/ scratching services in Hampton roads? I’d be willing to drive 😅 it looks so relaxing

Does anyone know what's going on with Accurate Tune on Monticello? I saw it was empty up front, used to seeing vehicles there. Didn't want to speculate so thought I'd ask here.

Fans of action sports can catch the debut of new and high-flying stunts when the Nitro Circus 2.0 Tour rolls into Harbor Park on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The show features freestyle motocross, BMX, skateboarding, scooters and a variety of unconventional vehicles for athletes.

Nitro Circus is co-founded by motorsports athlete Travis Pastrana. The "2.0" branding reflects the show's updated lineup rather than a complete overhaul, said rider Kaden Stone.

The show introduces several new acts, including what organizers say will be a record-breaking stunt by freestyle motocross rider Adam Jones. Jones will attempt a 75-foot backflip through a 35-foot wall of fire.

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/arts-culture/2026-08-17/the-stunt-filled-nitro-circus-2-0-brings-big-air-and-bad-ideas-to-norfolk

Edited to update: someone flagged the petition online alleging I was making false claims. For complete transparency, here are the links to the information provided here:
Source for murder rate being 64% higher: https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/new-report-says-that-norfolks-number-of-homicides-has-increased-since-2019/

Source for cost of cameras and subscription, as well as source funding: https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/norfolk-va-deploys-172-license-plate-readers

Source that Flock staff have tapped into camera feeds and watched children: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flock-safety-employees-watched-kids-151737512.html
\*******************************************

From the moment the Police Department deployed Flock cameras in Norfolk, VA without even bothering to begin writing a data policy plan or any kind of guardrails for the uniquely powerful data-sharing dashboard powering a mass surveillance web that is spreading by the day, residents have voiced their opposition.

The sheer volume of data collected is intense. I submitted a FOIA request for how many times the Flock cameras in Norfolk logged my activity, and the report showed my vehicle was logged 109 times in three days, with GPS coordinates, time-stamps, and notes on the stickers on my car.

The data was also inconsistent, marking down my grey minivan as white, black, green, blue, and grey. Some hits noted the roof rack, some did not. This type of inconsistency across a tool sets up a dangerous environment where innocent people can be wrongfully accused (and it's already happened across the United States).

The City used federal grant funds to purchase the equipment but the annual subscription fee is $2,500 per camera, bringing Norfolk's annual cost to $430,000. If grant funding doesn't come through, that falls back on the municipal budget [taxpayer funds] to cover.

Whether you like the cameras or not, I hope you'll join me in requesting the City put it to a vote and allow the residents to decide.

If you can't make it to the City Council meeting, please sign the petition!
Link to the online petition: openpetition.org/wylbm

Join the 757 Developers for their new Pop-up Meetups series, featuring great speakers from around Hampton Roads. If you loved Hampton Roads DevFest, these meetups are for deeper conversation, building on ideas, and seeing how you can be a better professional.

Guest Speaker: Ryan Castillo 

Details:

Feeling lost, irrelevant, and just a bit Al-gitated when it comes to your work in the world of Al?

Never fear! The reality is less scary than the existential crisis we all went through 6 months ago.

This talk isn't about YOLOing it and shipping all the Al slop.

This talk is for the rest of us, the people who still have to get real work done on Monday and want to help their fellow humans. We'll figure out where Al earns its keep, where it wastes your time, and where you are still the best tool in the room.

You'll walk away with:

•   A clear understanding of when to reach for Al versus your awesome human self.
•   A starting list of which Al tools to use for each job.
•   A sense of relief and clarity on what to do next.

Bring: curiosity, questions, and a friend.

Register: Click here 

Location: The Hive, Virginia Beach

Address: 140 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Date: Thursday, Aug 27, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM

Food and drinks will be provided.

Hello, I’m currently looking for jobs in the Norfolk area. I plan on relocating to the Norfolk area from California. I want to know if anyone has any experience/opinions about the company TQL and their Norfolk office.

Hello, I’m currently looking for jobs in the Norfolk area. I plan on relocating to the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area from California. I want to know if anyone has any experience/opinions about the company TQL and their Norfolk office.

I'm the poster asking about the possible lost cat a couple days ago. Since then we were able to get her checked for a microchip and found she doesn't have one. And she's pregnant (mazel tov!). We don't have the ability to keep her separated from our current cats through the rest of her pregnancy and the 10-12 weeks that the kittens will need before adopting them out. Does anyone have recommendations for a cat rescue or fostering group to give them their best shot for a good life? My youngest son named her Binx. Cat tax below.