Ebony Parker’s charges dismissed, Buxton jetty repair, U.S.-Cuba tensions: Sunrise Brief

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Top stories: Ebony Parker’s charges dismissed, Buxton jetty repair approved, U.S.-Cuba tensions

1. The child neglect charges brought against Ebony Parker by the Newport News commonwealth's attorney following the 2023 shooting of Abby Zwerner by a 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary have been dismissed by the judge.

   Ebony Parker's child neglect charges in Richneck shooting dismissed by judge

   Parker broke down in tears as the judge ruled on a defense motion to strike down the case. Judge Rebecca Robinson said the issues debated in the trial were "legal theories," and in order for them to amount to a crime, the Virginia General Assembly would need to essentially write new laws. "If [Parker's actions] are meant to amount to a crime, the legislature will need to codify it," Robinson said. "Therefore, I do grant the defense motion to strike in full on all counts, all eight counts of felony child abuse and endangerment."

   Reporters followed Parker outside the courthouse and asked if she felt vindicated by the judge's decision, but she continued walking without answering. Attorneys for Parker said after the dismissal that she's relieved to move on from this chapter. "It was a relief for her, a great relief for her," said Defense Attorney Stephen Teague. "We're just happy that we were a part of her journey."

   The attorneys who represented Zwerner in her civil case against Parker and the Newport News School Division, Diane Toscano, Kevin Biniazan and Jeffrey Breit, issued a joint statement after the case dismissal Thursday. "From the beginning, our focus has remained on obtaining justice in civil court for the preventable failures that led to Abby being shot. A Newport News jury has already spoken, returning a $10 million verdict in Abby’s favor," the statement reads. "Yet even today, the City of Newport News continues to resist accepting responsibility and delivering the justice that verdict represents.”

2. A final permit hurdle was cleared for a Buxton jetty repair as part of the beach reopened after being closed for almost a year.

   Final permit hurdle cleared for Buxton jetty repair

   This week, the Army Corps of Engineers gave the green light for the upcoming single jetty repair project. This was the final permit needed after the state and National Park Service gave the OK on it earlier this year. "We only get one, but one's better than none. We'll take progress however it comes," said Wendi Munden, a member of the Buxton Civic Association.

   The deterioration of the jetty over the years was a major cause of accelerated erosion on the oceanfront that led to 19 homes being taken by the ocean in 2025. For Dare County Manager Bobby Outten, it now looks like everything is going according to plan. "Our goal was to have it where we could start on it and get it completed at or about the same time that we can complete our beach nourishment, and it looks like that can happen now," Outten said. Bids are currently open for the jetty repair project with a deadline of June 4. Outten says they're already seeing interest from potential contractors.

   Meanwhile, a more than mile-long portion of beach has reopened from the south end of Buxton to off-road vehicle ramp 43, according to a Cape Hatteras National Seashore official. The beach parking area will be reopened in the coming days after a contractor removes house collapse debris in the area. Lifeguards will monitor this beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day, officials said. The beach in front of the Village of Buxton remains closed due to threatened oceanfront structures, but is expected to reopen after Dare County’s upcoming beach nourishment project.

3. President Donald Trump on Thursday denied the United States is trying to intimidate Cuba, despite the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group in the Caribbean earlier this week.

   Trump denies US is intimidating Cuba after Castro indictment

   Trump said past presidents had considered intervening in Cuba, but suggested it ultimately fell to his administration to take action. "It looks like I’ll be the one that does it," he said. His comments came one day after the indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro on murder charges tied to the 1996 shootdown of planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. The attack killed four people, including three Americans.

   The Trump administration has increasingly framed Cuba as both a national security threat and a failed state. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration still prefers a negotiated agreement with Cuba, though he acknowledged the chances of that happening are low. "The president's preference is always a negotiated agreement that's peaceful. That's always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba," Rubio said. "I'm just being honest with you, the likelihood of that happening, given who we're dealing with right now, is not high. But if they have a change of heart, we're here."

   Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller added on Thursday that Cuba’s fate is “in their own hands,” while reiterating the administration’s concerns about the threat Cuba poses to the United States. The comments come as U.S. officials, including the CIA director, have engaged with Cuban officials while also increasing pressure through sanctions and the indictment of Castro.

This morning's weather: Much cooler today, Several rain chances ahead

Meteorologist Myles Henderson says much cooler today with highs in the upper 60s, about 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. Expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers and a NE breeze. Today will be more of a gloomy day than a soggy day.
We will be stuck in an unsettled weather pattern through the holiday weekend. Expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers and isolated storms each day. Temperatures will climb from the upper 70s to the low 80s, closer to normal for this time of year.

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