🌅 Good Morning, Newport News. Here’s what’s happening around the city as we head into the weekend:

🚍 Hampton Roads Transit holiday schedule.

Heads up if you’re riding the bus or light rail on Monday, HRT will run on a Labor Day schedule in Newport News. Check routes early so you don’t miss a connection. 

📚 Students making progress

Virginia’s latest SOL test results show gains in reading and math across many divisions. In Newport News, the pass rate sits at 53% better than last year but still shy of pre-pandemic levels. Educators are leaning on programs like All in VA to keep the momentum going. 

🌪️ Post-Hurricane Safety

Cleanup can be as risky as the hurricane itself. Key tips: wear protective gear, avoid floodwater, and document property damage before starting repairs. It’s methodical work, but it keeps recovery safe and steady. 

🏈⚡ Sports spotlight Warwick football opens at John B. Todd Stadium tomorrow at noon against Mallard Creek. Woodside kicks off its varsity season next Friday at Grassfield, while CNU Captains host Trine University on Sept. 6 at 1 PM.

Let’s get to it.

Newport News, Virginia is located on the banks of which historic river that flows into the Chesapeake Bay?

⛅Thursday 82° 62° Periods of clouds and sunshine

⛅Friday 84° 65°       Periods of clouds and sunshine

🌦️Saturday 78° 66°   Sun and some clouds with a shower in the area

⛅Sunday 79° 62°     Partly sunny and comfortable

⛅Monday 78° 63°     Rather cloudy

This Week's Sponsor

Viking Burger

WHAT'S HAPPENIN' IN THE NEWS 

Tech Center Summer Concert Series: Jenny Don’t and the Spurs

📅Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025

🕒Time: Museum hours

🕒Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

📍Location: Tech Center Drillfield, 880 Tech Center Parkway, Newport News, VA

🔖Admission: Free and open to the public

A high-energy, country‑western live concert featuring the acclaimed band Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, known for their infectious enthusiasm, outlaw‑inspired sound, and dynamic stage presence.

"Till" Film Screening with Filmmaker & Producer Keith Beauchamp 

📅Date: Friday, September 5, 2025

🕒Time: 7:30 PM

📍Location: Downing‑Gross Cultural Arts Center, 2410 Wickham Avenue, Newport News, VA

🔖Admission: Free

Join a powerful screening exploring the tragic true story of Emmett Till, presented by acclaimed filmmaker and producer Keith Beauchamp—renowned for his groundbreaking documentary work on the Till case

Night Concert with Gospel Music Artist Luther Barnes

📅Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025

🕒Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

📍Location: New Beech Grove Baptist Church, 361 Beechmont Drive, Newport News, VA

🔖Admission: Free (advance tickets available

Celebrate an uplifting evening of gospel music with legendary artist Luther Barnes, joined by his renowned Red Budd Gospel Choir. Presented by the Andrew Shannon Gospel Music Celebration, this special concert blends spiritual depth with musical excellence—open to all.

Dinosaur Quest – Virginia Living Museum

📅Date: Through Monday, September 7

🕒Time: Time: Museum hours

📍Location: Virginia Living Museum 

🔖Admission: Museum admission applies

Discover life‑sized dinosaur exhibits and interactive displays in the Dinosaur Quest, perfect for families and running through Labor Day weekend.

34th Annual Southeast Community Day Parade & Festival

📅Date: Saturday, September 6

🕒Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📍Location: Southeast Community, Newport News, VA

🔖Admission: Free

Join the 34th Annual Southeast Community Day Parade & Festival, celebrating neighborhood pride and the theme “Building A Stronger Community.” Participants line up at 9:00 AM on the 3700 block of Chestnut Avenue, with the parade officially beginning at 10:00 AM. Enjoy floats, cultural music, performances, and a sense of community spirit!

65th Annual Denbigh Day Parade & Festival

📅Date: Saturday, September 20

🕒Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍Location: Courthouse Way Community Center, 14302 Old Courthouse Way, Newport News, VA

🔖Admission: Free

Celebrate the 65th Annual Denbigh Day Parade & Festival with a fun-filled community event featuring a lively parade, live music, games, inflatables, arts & crafts vendors, food, photo ops, and more family-friendly amusements.

8th Annual Great Food Truck Festival

📅Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025.

🕒Time: 11:00 am to 06:00 pm (EDT)

📍Location: Habitat ReStore Lot, 371 Chatham Drive, Newport News

🔖Admission: General admission (12 pm-6 pm) is $7.00 ($7.75 including $0.75 transaction fee) and a raffle ticket for a chance to win one $100 cash prize awarded at 5:05 pm at the DJ Booth (must be present to collect cash)

V.I.P. admission (11 am-12 pm) is $10.00 per person ($10.75 total including $0.75 transaction fee) and a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of three $100 cash prizes awarded at 12:05 pm at the DJ Booth (must be present to collect cash)

Children ages 5 and under admitted FREE!

Enjoy 20+ food vendors, live shows, celebrity guests, and fun for all ages—plus games, prizes, Disney & Marvel photo ops, and $50 cash giveaways. A full day of family fun!

After a hurricane, Newport News, Virginia residents face daunting cleanup and safety risks as they begin recovery.

Protective gear like hard hats, gloves, and waterproof boots is essential to guard against debris and contaminants.

Be especially mindful of electrical hazards—turn off power at the main breaker if any flooding occurred, and wait for an electrician before restoring it.

Avoid all floodwaters due to the dangers of hidden debris, sewage, or downed power lines.

Discard contaminated food and remove water-soaked porous items like mattresses to prevent health hazards.

Ventilate enclosed spaces to limit mold growth, and disinfect exposed belongings.

Thoroughly document storm damage by taking photos, listing losses, and saving receipts for insurance claims.

Quickly contact your insurance agent for guidance.

Following these steps helps ensure a safer, more efficient recovery for the Newport News community.

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) will run a modified schedule on Monday, September 1, 2025, to observe Labor Day, impacting service across Newport News and nearby communities.

All bus routes, light rail, the Naval Station Norfolk Base Express, paratransit, and ridesharing will follow a Saturday schedule.

Ferry service shifts to its winter timetable the same day.

Labor Day is also the last full day for the VB Wave trolley’s summer schedule, with a reduced timetable starting September 2 through September 28.

All transit center information booths, administrative offices, and ID badge services will close for the holiday, but Customer Service will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents and visitors should check updated schedules, especially if attending events like the Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival on September 6, to ensure hassle-free transportation.

Virginia’s public school students are showing gradual gains in their Standards of Learning (SOL) test scores, but districts like Newport News are still striving to reach pre-pandemic achievement levels.

Statewide progress is evident, with 70% of school divisions improving in reading and 75% advancing in math for grades 3 through 8 during the 2023-2024 school year. Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized this positive trend, underscoring the state’s commitment to ongoing recovery.

Newport News mirrors nearby cities, posting an average SOL pass rate of 53%. This marks steady improvement, yet highlights the work ahead to fully close learning gaps from the pandemic.

Chronic absenteeism has dropped across Virginia, falling to 16.1%, which means more students are actively attending classes.

To boost outcomes, reforms now count SOL scores as 10% of final grades and place tests at the end of the school year for maximum impact. Superintendent Emily Anne Gullickson praised these steps as a modern approach to assessment.

Focused initiatives in Newport News, like the “All in VA” recovery program and high-intensity tutoring, are key for accelerating student progress as the school community looks ahead.

News in a Nutshell

Freshmen kick off Day One of Service at CNU

Nearly 400 first-year students from Christopher Newport University dove into community service on Day One, working at local schools, cultural sites, and environmental spaces like the Virginia Living Museum. It’s a hands-on welcome to campus and community life. 

NNPS keeps momentum in student performance

Newport News Public Schools teachers stayed laser-focused on Virginia’s Standards of Learning exams—and results are trending upward. The district is doubling down on strong instruction, evidence-based literacy methods, and an uplifting school environment.

Sport Spotlight

Warwick Raiders – Open season Saturday, Aug. 30 at 12 PM vs. Mallard Creek at John B. Todd Stadium.

Denbigh Patriots – Season kicked off Aug. 28 on the road against Manor High.

Woodside Wolverines – Varsity opener at Grassfield, Friday, Sept. 5.

Heritage Hurricanes – Faced Warwick on Aug. 28 in multi-sport matchups, including field hockey and volleyball.

🏐 High School Volleyball

Woodside (Boys Varsity) – Two road games this week: Aug. 26 at Western Branch, Aug. 28 at Hampton.

Woodside (Girls Varsity) – No matches scheduled this week; next action begins in September.

Heritage vs. Warwick (Girls Varsity) – Faced off on Aug. 28 to launch their season.

CNU Captains football

Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 PM – Season opener at home vs. Trine University, TowneBank Stadium.

💡COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

African American Cultural Experiences Trolley Tour

🌻Seasonal Tips for Your Garden and Home🍂

💡 Tip for Newport News gardeners:

Early September: focus on greens and root crops (fast growers).

Mid to late September: get broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants in before the first frost window (usually late October).

Keep soil moist and consider using row covers for an extra few weeks of growing time.

Thanks!

Thanks for reading The Newport Newser today. If you smiled once, share it with the neighbor who still forgets trash day.