Jim Morrison

A row of boarded-up apartments in Young Terrace photographed on Nov. 7, 2026. More than 200 units in the public housing community sit empty as Norfolk's Housing Authority struggles to catch up on maintenance.

NRHA claims it doesn’t have money to renovate its units. Leaving them vacant may cost federal funding.

Jim Morrison

The housing authority, still planning the redevelopment of Young Terrace, is grappling with millions of dollars of needed renovations that go back years.

Mold grows behind the newly-installed cabinets of the Young Terrace apartment Corinne Hicks shares with her two children.

Local Government

Norfolk’s cash-strapped housing authority can’t keep up with maintenance, leaving residents in dangerous conditions

Jim Morrison

As Young Terrace awaits redevelopment, those living there say they’re enduring chronic hazards.

Hampton Roads Ventures, created by the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, is headquartered in this office building in Norfolk.

Local Government

Norfolk-backed firm invests millions elsewhere as city waits

Jim Morrison

Hampton Roads Ventures has not backed a local project since 2008. Council members want its profits to help address the city's housing crisis.

Signs in front of Granby High School warn motorists they may get a ticket if they're caught speeding by a camera. But only about half of speeders actually pay the fines.

Local Government

Hundreds of thousands of traffic camera fines go unpaid in Virginia. Legislation to force payments will make “nightmarish” workload for the courts.

Jim Morrison

Many cities and counties are already opting not to pursue unpaid fines, forgoing tens of millions of dollars.

Photo by Virginia Sea Grant, Flikr. As sea level rise accelerates, a Virginia Beach study concluded the city must spend $2 to $5 billion on projects to respond.

Environment & Sea Level Rise

Hampton leaders cool to limited Army Corps flood solutions

Jim Morrison

Nathan Simms was fired from his job leading Norfolk's housing authority after the board learned about the use of no-bid contracts. Six months later, the authority is still assessing the full scope of the problems.

Local Government

A recruitment firm got two no-bid contracts from Norfolk’s fired housing authority head. It later led the search that got him hired in Charleston, S.C.

Jim Morrison, Ryan Murphy

Gans, Gans & Associates was paid up to $82,500 across two contracts approved under Nathan Simms. Norfolk housing board members said they never saw or heard about them.