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Smithfield Volunteer Firefighter Charged with DUI Following Firetruck Crash

Smithfield Volunteer Firefighter Charged with DUI Following Firetruck Crash

A volunteer firefighter from Smithfield, Virginia, has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after a firetruck he was operating crashed in September. The incident occurred on September 21, around 10:51 p.m., as the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) was responding to a house fire on Lakeview Cove. The firefighter was the sole occupant of Engine 52 when it crashed. Following the crash, the driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment and subsequently released. Virginia State Police (VSP) filed the DUI charge. In response to the incident, the SVFD immediately suspended the firefighter from all operational duties on the night of the crash. The department has stated its commitment to cooperating with the VSP's ongoing investigation and will also conduct its own internal administrative and safety review.

Patriotic apparel brand closing nearly all its stores

The retailer saw early growth from direct-to-consumer sales of military-inspired merchandise.

Where to watch Season 5 of 'Fire Country' this week

Where to watch Season 5 of 'Fire Country' this week

Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch the show as it airs on television, while others can stream it on Paramount+ the following day.

128-year-old iconic furniture chain closing down and liquidating all locations

128-year-old iconic furniture chain closing down and liquidating all locations

The furniture chain, which opened in 1898, will discontinue its two retail store brands.

'They are children': Ice cream shop owners tell customers to chill out

'They are children': Ice cream shop owners tell customers to chill out

The Blackstone, Massachusetts, ice cream shop told angry customers in a now-viral Oct. 4 Facebook post to be kinder to its young employees.

Senator Jack Reed Touts NOAA's Marine Operations Center-Atlantic Move to Naval Station Newport

Senator Jack Reed Touts NOAA's Marine Operations Center-Atlantic Move to Naval Station Newport

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) recently toured the nearly completed $147 million waterfront complex at Naval Station Newport, which will house the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Operations Center–Atlantic (MOC-A). The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of January 2027, marking the culmination of over a decade of effort by Senator Reed to bring the NOAA hub from Norfolk, Virginia, to Rhode Island. The new 5-acre site will coordinate NOAA’s ships operating in the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes, serving as a homeport for several of the agency’s research vessels. It will provide administrative, maintenance, engineering, and logistical support for NOAA missions and ship operations. Currently, two NOAA ships, the Henry B. Bigelow and the Okeanos Explorer, are homeported at the station’s Pier 2, with the Thomas Jefferson slated to join them. A fourth vessel, the Discoverer, is under construction.

NeeDoh craze hits Aldi with new Halloween collection

NeeDoh craze hits Aldi with new Halloween collection

Shoppers are looking to get their hands on Aldi's new Halloween NeeDoh collection.

Tuesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Tuesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Scorpiocard says Rick Pitino can still eat it.

Tunnel Boring Machine Unearths Mastodon Remains in Virginia

Tunnel Boring Machine Unearths Mastodon Remains in Virginia

During the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project in Virginia, a 46-foot tunnel boring machine named Mary, operating 110 feet beneath the harbor, unearthed mastodon remains. An operator at the slurry treatment plant spotted a mastodon tooth among the excavated material, leading to the discovery. The machine processes up to 16,000 gallons of slurry per minute, and operators are primarily trained to identify objects that could damage the cutterhead, such as metal. The mastodon tooth, with its distinctive pointed ridges, stood out from typical seabed contents. This discovery marks only the third mastodon found in Virginia. The project's soil data suggests the remains are between 12,000 and 50,000 years old. Experts from the Virginia Museum of Natural History, William & Mary, and Virginia’s historic-resources department believe the animal likely died in a mud pit within a freshwater river that once flowed through the area when sea levels were lower.

Virginia Law Prohibits Mask-Wearing with Intent to Conceal Identity in Public Places

Virginia Law Prohibits Mask-Wearing with Intent to Conceal Identity in Public Places

Virginia law, specifically § 18.2-422, makes it unlawful for individuals over 16 years of age to wear any mask, hood, or device that substantially conceals their face with the intent to hide their identity in public places or on private property without written consent from the owner. The statute outlines several exceptions to this prohibition. These exceptions include wearing traditional holiday costumes, protective masks necessary for physical safety in certain professions or activities, masks used in bona fide theatrical productions or masquerade balls, and masks worn for legitimate medical reasons with a physician's affidavit. Additionally, the law can be waived by the Governor during a declared state of emergency related to a public health crisis, provided the waiver specifies the appropriate mask and its duration. Violations of this law are classified as a Class 6 felony.

Kraft announces new cheesy ramen bowls. See when you get them

Kraft announces new cheesy ramen bowls. See when you get them

The move comes about three months after Kraft released its Kraft Dinner Ramen line in Canada.

Urban Strategies, Inc. Receives $1.5 Million Truist Foundation Grant to Boost Community Wealth and Emerging Businesses

Urban Strategies, Inc. Receives $1.5 Million Truist Foundation Grant to Boost Community Wealth and Emerging Businesses

Urban Strategies, Inc. Receives $1.5 Million Truist Foundation Grant to Boost Community Wealth and Emerging Businesses