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Major Hampton investment, Va. marijuana proposal, more details on boat strikes: Sunrise Brief

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TOP STORIES: Major Hampton investment, Va. marijuana proposal, more details on boat strikes

Hampton Mayor Jimmy Gray announced a large investment during the inaugural State of the City address on Wednesday.

Hampton Mayor announces HII spending $28M to upgrade facility in the city

HII, the company that owns Newport News Shipbuilding, will invest $28 million in its Light Manufacturing Advanced Technology facility. This move will lead to around 300 jobs being created down the line, according to the City of Hampton. In a video message, Newport News Shipbuilding Human Resources VP Xavier Beale said the move will strengthen the relationship between the company and the city.
Following economic growth, the mayor talked about what's being done to address sea level rise and climate change. Efforts to address housing, crime, and health care needs were next.
“With the help of Congressman Bobby Scott, we received funding to establish several neighborhood resource centers that will serve as hubs for police and for members of the community. The first center will be opening soon off of Rip Rap Road," said Gray.
A revised framework for a proposed retail marijuana market was recently introduced by Virginia lawmakers.
If the current proposal is approved as it stands, then retail cannabis sales could begin on Nov. 1, 2026, WHRO reports. Commission Chair Paul Krizek along with Hampton Roads State Sens. Louise Lucas and Aaron Rouse sponsored this proposal.
The new proposal, which would be voted on during the General Assembly's 2026 session, was presented on Tuesday by the legislature's Joint Commission on the Future of Cannabis Sales, WHRO reports. This framework builds off previously proposed plans; however, it removed the option for localities to opt out of retail sales.
The bill would allow localities to increase local taxes on cannabis products to up to 3.5% while removing the additional sales tax on paraphernalia. The Democratic-controlled General Assembly has passed similar legislation for the past two years, only to see Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin veto it. Spanberger outlined her stance on this issue during the gubernatorial debate earlier this year, saying it’s important to have a "clear market" for retail marijuana sales. She urged for transparency and a prioritization of public safety.
The Pentagon knew there were survivors after a September attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea and the U.S. military still carried out a follow-up strike, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The rationale for the second strike was that it was needed to sink the vessel, according to the people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly. The Trump administration says all 11 people aboard were killed.
What remains unclear was who ordered the strikes and whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was involved, one of the people said. The questions are expected to emerge Thursday during a classified congressional briefing with the commander that the Trump administration says ordered the second strike, Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley. Hegseth has defended the second strike as emerging in the “fog of war,” saying during a Cabinet meeting this week at the White House that he didn’t see any survivors but also “didn’t stick around” for the rest of the mission.

This morning's weather: Building clouds today, rain & snow on Friday

Thursday Morning Weather Webcast

Meteorologist Myles Henderson says we've got a cold start this morning with temperatures near 30 degrees. We will warm to near 50 today, warmer than yesterday but still below normal for this time of year. Expect sunshine to start the day with building clouds.

Messy weather returns on Friday. A rain/snow mix is possible Friday morning with better snow chances to the NW and better rain chances to the SE. Precipitation will change to mostly rain by midday. The best chance for snow accumulation with be on the Eastern Shore, Middle Peninsula, Peninsula and inland Southside. Highs will only reach the mid 40s on Friday.

For the latest weather updates, watch Myles live on News 3 This Morning here.

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