You probably are familiar with the top-10 most-read stories from 2023 — that's how they make the traditional top 10 lists.
But these stories are just as good and almost cracked the top spots.
Here are the almost-top 10 WHRO News stories from 2023:
No. 11: Dominion can soon start building Virginia Beach offshore wind farm, feds say
The $9.8 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project will be the largest in the country’s history and it’s happening right here in Hampton Roads.
Dominion plans to start construction in May and hopes to be operational by late 2026.
No. 12: Recreational Marijuana Is Now Legal In Virginia. Here Are The Rules.
This story is from 2021, but we understand you want to know the rules before you play the game.
Since these laws went into effect, Virginia was supposed to have established, or at least start building, a retail market. That hasn’t happened for a number of political reasons.
There could be some movement with a new Democratic majority in the statehouse, but even that party was hesitant to move forward with a regulatory framework for a retail market.
No. 13: Norfolk Tides to become the "Norfolk Lumpia" for an evening to celebrate Filipino-Americans
We get it: Baseball in the springtime is good. Baseball in the springtime with lumpia is even better.
No. 14: Pamunkey Tribe withdraws casino development plan after Norfolk leaders' frustration
The saga of Norfolk’s casino continued this year, with plans being pulled from the approval process, but meetings between Pamunkey and city leaders continuing.
The Pamunkey Tribe proposed a $500 million waterfront casino development years ago, which voters approved. Since then, the plan was revised to a $150 million casino and parking garage.
Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander previously told WHRO he would not "settle for anything less" than the original plan brought before voters.
No. 15: Military Circle Mall redevelopment proposals, arena plans have been shelved
Pharrell’s plan for Military Circle included a music venue while local developer Steve Ballard suggested a plan with a youth sports complex.
But those dreams were dashed, as Norfolk leaders said economic conditions aren’t in a good enough plan to support those proposals as they are.
Norfolk Economic Development Director Sean Washington continues to talk to developers about what may be feasible and demolition of the mall is on schedule to happen in 2025.
No. 16: From her own hospice bed, a Virginia Beach woman plans the city’s first independent hospice facility
Terry Jenkins knew she would likely die from ovarian cancer before she saw the Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads, a freestanding, 12-bed hospice care center in Virginia Beach, built and open.
Still, she spent her last weeks of life raising money for the center.
Jenkins died in June, a few days before a topping-off ceremony was held at the new hospice center, marking the end of external construction.
The Dozoretz Hospice House is planning to open in the spring.
No. 17: VA attempts to crack down on predatory fees related to filing veterans’ claims
Erica Fernandez, a naval parachute rigger, was illegally charged $10,000 by Vetlink for having an unlicensed company help her dispute her disability status.
Companies like Vetlink are getting more popular, and potentially defrauding more veterans, as more people apply for benefits under the PACT Act. The company has not responded to WHRO’s repeated requests for comment.
No. 18: Live updates from the 2023 election
This year, you joined us as we followed General Assembly elections.
We’ll see you next year for live updates on the 2024 presidential election, city council, school board and other local races.
No. 19: Norfolk's monument for Black Civil War veterans is a rarity in the South. Some say it’s been neglected.
The statue to Sgt. William H. Carney in Norfolk’s West Point Cemetery is rare for the South: A recognition of the sacrifice of Black Civil War veterans.
But it’s been neglected, with little progress to address maintenance and restoration needs.
No 20: Election 2023: A guide for voters in Hampton Roads
Virginia’s election season can feel like a flurry of deadlines rules about which IDs to bring to the polls.
That’s why we introduced a voter’s guide to give you all the information you need to make sure you’re registered on time and know how to get your ballot in.
Election rules can change depending on what state lawmakers do in January, so we’ll have the most up-to-date information again before early voting starts in 2024.
