Good morning, this is Virginia Beach Local Pulse for December 25, 2024.
We're starting with a quick reminder that most city facilities and state agencies are closed today and yesterday for the Christmas holiday, and they will also be closed on New Year's Day. This includes all Virginia Beach government administrative offices, public libraries except the TCC/City Joint-Use Library, and various other facilities like the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts Box Office and the Virginia Beach Convention Center administrative offices[1][5].
In local news, the Virginia Beach Planning Commission held a public hearing on December 11, discussing several key projects including a conditional rezoning for properties on Dam Neck Road and Dam Neck Station Road. These changes could bring new mixed-use developments to the area, potentially impacting local residents and businesses[3].
Moving on to the job market, Virginia's unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.0% in December. The labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 66.9%, which is the lowest it has been since March 2012. Employment decreased by 8,395 to 4,484,295, and nonagricultural employment decreased by 11,800 to 4,157,000. However, the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area saw a job gain of 900, bringing the total to 798,000[2].
In real estate, there have been several notable developments. The Planning Commission discussed a resolution to schedule monthly meetings for 2025, which could impact zoning and property development decisions throughout the year. Additionally, the conditional rezoning on Dam Neck Road and Dam Neck Station Road could lead to new construction projects in the area[3].
From City Hall, we have updates on holiday closures and service schedules. Solid waste and recycling collection will not be provided on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, with Wednesday collections occurring the Monday prior for both holidays. City parks and park facilities have alternate schedules, with most closing early on Christmas Eve and remaining closed on Christmas Day[1][5].
Weather-wise, it's a chilly Christmas morning in Virginia Beach. We recommend checking the latest forecast for any updates on today's activities and events.
In new business activity, we don't have any major openings or closings to report today. However, we encourage you to support local businesses during the holiday season.
Looking ahead to community events, there aren't any major events scheduled for the next few days due to the holiday closures. However, we recommend checking the city's website for any updates on upcoming events.
In local school achievements, we don't have any specific updates today, but we wish all our students and educators a happy holiday season.
For a feel-good community story, we'd like to highlight the Virginia Beach Homeless Persons' Memorial Service, which was held on December 18. This event brought the community together to remember those who have experienced homelessness.
In today's crime report, the Virginia Beach Police Department made an arrest in a barricade incident on Garden Grove Court on December 16. We appreciate the swift action of our local law enforcement.
This has been Virginia Beach Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
