Search WAVY.com

Despite challenges, the Portsmouth public defender’s office continues with its mission, which is literally the writing on the wall in the office just outside downtown Portsmouth. It reads: “Dedicated to Protecting and Defending the Rights and Dignity of our Clients through Zealous, Compassionate, High-Quality Legal Advocacy.”

A $20.7 million defamation lawsuit filed by State Sen. Louise Lucas against Virginia Beach attorney and House of Delegates candidate Tim Anderson has been dismissed.

The City of Portsmouth is paying out thousands of dollars to 10 people who claim their rights were violated when they were arrested in connection to the vandalism and destruction of the Confederate monument in 2020.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — More than a year after protesters destroyed Portsmouth’s 54-foot-tall Confederate monument, a petition has been submitted to have state Sen. L. Louise Lucas “immediately” removed from office over her role in the incident. The petition filed Tuesday in Chesapeake Circuit Court accuses Lucas of misusing her office when she told Portsmouth […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — From the waters around Hampton Roads, to the removal of the Portsmouth Confederate monument, to the Portsmouth Pavilion and more, WAVY’s Drone 10 flew high over Hampton Roads and North Carolina in 2020. See where we went and what we saw in this year’s Drone 10 roundup.

Changes Portsmouth City Council were hoping to make to their City Charter won’t be happening this year, after a Virginia Beach state delegate rallied Republicans to kill the bills.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Portsmouth Police Department will hold its first-ever State of the Department briefing. The briefing is scheduled for Friday, January 29 at 11:30 a.m. The event will be live-streamed via Facebook Live and later shared to other social media platforms. In a press release sent Monday morning, the police department is […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Numerous protests and rallies have taken place in Portsmouth following the fight for racial injustice and the death of George Floyd. The circumstances surrounding Floyd’s death sparked outrage across the nation — including the call for removing Confederate monuments. The protest in June at Portsmouth’s Confederate monument left one with major […]

This is a story of the unusual intersection of three characters: a delegate, the judge, and a kidney.

New Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Portsmouth is honoring a living Black History legend. 

UPDATE Nov. 19, 2021: The lawsuit has been dismissed. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A judge has ordered that the lawsuit from former Portsmouth CIty Attorney Solomon Ashby against former Mayor John Rowe will be dismissed if the suit is not amended by April 16.  In his March 26 opinion, Norfolk Judge Everett Martin said that he […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – After years of debate, Portsmouth City Council voted unanimously to relocate its historic Confederate monument that made national headlines after a destructive protest turned tragic last month. City Manager Dr. Lydia Pettis-Patton is now charged with arranging for the removal of the 54-foot-tall granite structure “as soon as practicable” for storage. […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A wrongful termination suit brought by former Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene has been tossed out by a judge. Earlier this year, a judge in Dinwiddie County sided with the City of Portsmouth and dismissed multiple claims in a suit that demanded Greene be awarded millions of dollars in damages. She […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Symbols associated with racism, bigotry, slavery and oppression were stripped of romanticism Wednesday as they dangled in the air, coated in colorful paint. Crews officially began removing Portsmouth’s Confederate monument on Wednesday morning. A crane had removed to the top portion of the monument’s obelisk as of 10:30 a.m. and one […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Protesters in Portsmouth spray painted the Confederate monument in the city Wednesday, decapitated all four soldier statues and dismantled other parts. A man was seriously hurt when one of the statues toppled. The question about who owns the monument has been a major roadblock in the city’s years-long quest to remove […]

Former Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene is asking a higher court to review her wrongful termination lawsuit.

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) – Pilot Scott Abbott and the Chopper 10 team were back in the skies this week. On Tuesday, Chopper 10 flew over early morning voting lines in Virginia Beach. The Election Day lines started at sunrise and eased up as the day went on. Most voting locations were busy throughout the […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The names and faces of those who were front and center in the controversial Portsmouth politics following the fall of the Confederate monument last year have been published or aired across the country. But many in Portsmouth and across the region may not know the name Cherie Reenee Brown — and […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — State Senator Louise Lucas and several other Black community leaders were arraigned in court Friday morning on charges in connection to the June demonstration at Portsmouth’s Confederate monument. The protest called for the removal of the decades-old monument honoring Confederate soldiers, which was erected at the site of a former slave […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — If you visit the intersection of Court and High streets in Portsmouth today, you may have never known a 54-foot-tall Confederate monument with four soldier statues once towered over passing vehicles. A Portsmouth spokeswoman confirmed to 10 On Your Side Wednesday that the road has been reopened to traffic following the […]

Lisa Lucas-Burke was selected by Portsmouth City Council on Tuesday to serve as the city’s newest vice mayor.

More than three months after state Sen. Louise Lucas, (D-Portsmouth), was awarded a six-figure settlement from the City of Portsmouth as part of the Confederate monument fallout, she is revealing where she will be spending some of the money.

Portsmouth City Council voted Tuesday to permanently change an existing street name to “Missy Elliott Boulevard.”

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach attorney who has been periodically involved in the controversy surrounding the Confederate monument in Portsmouth has announced his intent to run for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Attorney and gun shop owner Tim Anderson announced Monday he plans to run against Democrat and incumbent […]

Despite expectations of an impending vote, the Virginia Senate did not weigh in on the censure resolution against state Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) on Tuesday. After a quick debate, a Democratic colleague defended Chase’s request for more time and two of the most outspoken critics of the senator obliged following a tearful revelation.

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) — In response to Virginia Senate Democrats’ plan to censure her, state Sen. Amanda Chase is reportedly moving to censure state Sen. Louise Lucas, for her involvement in the destructive Confederate monument demonstration in Portsmouth in June. Chase (R-Chesterfield) — who is also running for governor — tweeted Friday that, “Monday I […]

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A group that for years staunchly opposed the relocation of Norfolk’s Confederate monument, is now praising the city for how they handled reassembling the controversial symbol. Crews with the city completed the relocation of the 1907 structure to Elmwood Cemetery within the last few weeks. In all, the monument isn’t as […]

The festive atmosphere last month at the dismantling of the Portsmouth Confederate monument came an abrupt hault when a protester was severely injured after part of the statue toppled on to him.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — As a removal team continues to carry away the remnants of the Confederate monument, the Portsmouth Police Department is continuing to take out charges against those who allegedly played a role in the June 10 protest that damaged the monument beyond repair and left a man with serious injuries. 24-year-old Hannah […]

NOTE: Black Lives Matter 757 is scheduled to have a protest beginning at 7:57 p.m. at the Confederate monument in Portsmouth Wednesday. Stay with WAVY News’ Wednesday LIVE BLOG for updates. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Portsmouth’s Confederate monument was covered in spray paint Wednesday afternoon, hours after two Portsmouth NAACP leaders, including chapter president James […]

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Whose Heritage? Public Symbols of the Confederacy report, which was released this month, Virginia removed 20 Confederate memorials in 2021.

The Board of Supervisors is taking steps to give that land to two Confederate organizations.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Dozens of people braved the hot summer heat Tuesday to participate in a prayer pilgrimage to three Confederate monument sites in Hampton Roads. The group, Catholics and Friends, held the event for Black lives and racial equity. Originally starting at the site of the Confederate monument in Virginia Beach, the crowd […]

Governor Glenn Youngkin said he will not try to restore Confederate monuments taken down under Democratic leadership, and he is not taking a stance on statues that remain in Capitol Square.

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) — Portsmouth public defender Brenda Spry has been elected to be a Portsmouth Circuit Court judge.   Spry was elected with 51 “yes” votes in the 100-member Virginia House of Delegates. She was elected in the Senate with 33 “yes” votes. Her eight-year term will begin Feb. 16, according to the House resolution. In addition […]

Latest Drone 10 Coverage:

EDITOR’s NOTE: Black Lives Matter 757 organized a protest at the Confederate monument starting at 7:57 p.m. Wednesday. During the demonstration, protesters broke off pieces of the monument, threw paint and set it on fire. It came to an end after one of the soldier statues toppled over and injured a male at the protest. […]

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Despite having 30 days to make an offer on Norfolk’s Confederate monument, no historical organizations or other groups have offered to take “Johnny Reb.” City spokeswoman Lori Crouch said nobody — not a museum, historical society, government or military battlefield — submitted a proposal within the state-mandated 30-day window to take […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Sen. L. Louise Lucas has filed a motion to dismiss two felony charges against her stemming from a destructive protest earlier this summer at the Confederate monument in Portsmouth. In the motion, which was filed Sept. 3 in the Portsmouth General District Court, Lucas and her attorney called the matter […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — About a month before 14 people were charged in connection with a destructive protest at a Confederate monument, the Portsmouth police chief said she had launched an internal investigation into an impassioned letter written by one of her sergeants. That sergeant, Kevin McGee, was also the investigator who eventually took out […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY/AP) — Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene announced during a Monday afternoon press conference that State Sen. Louise Lucas has been charged with two felonies for an incident at the city’s Confederate monument on June 10. She, among others, is facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument […]

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander announced Thursday night that the confederate monument downtown would be removed within 24 hours, weather permitting. To his word, crews arrived that very night to begin the dismantling process. Cranes moved in to remove the statue on top of the monument and had completed the removal by […]

Portsmouth city leaders have appointed a new interim city attorney.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A magistrate has declined an attempt by local NAACP leaders to file charges against two Portsmouth City Council members. Local NAACP leaders attempted to bring charges against City Council members Bill Moody and Elizabeth Psimas, saying the two violated the city charter when they called for the police chief to file […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia State Police say their investigation into the incident at the Confederate monument on June 10 continues — even though Portsmouth’s police chief announced it concluded more than a month ago. Portsmouth Chief Angela Greene said during a press conference Aug. 17 that state police concluded an “accident investigation” into the […]

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Communities across the nation continue to hold demonstrations in remembrance of George Floyd and to bring awareness to racial injustice. Portsmouth City Council held a virtual meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the Confederate monument, ahead of the Black Lives Matter protest scheduled for 7:57 p.m. Read more about the […]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Mayor John Rowe says Portsmouth Police made the correct call not to act as protesters vandalized the downtown Confederate monument Wednesday night. LIVE BLOG: GoFundMe set up for man severely injured during Portsmouth Confederate monument demonstration; State Police investigating incident “Our police department made the right choice – confine the vandalism […]

EDITOR’s NOTE: Black Lives Matter 757 organized a protest at the Confederate monument starting at 7:57 p.m. Wednesday. During the demonstration, protesters broke off pieces of the monument, threw paint and set it on fire. It came to an end after one of the soldier statues toppled over and injured a male at the protest. […]