Good morning, Norfolk.

Celebrate Healthcare is hosting job fairs in Hampton to connect workers who lost their jobs with employers and guide them on affordable health insurance options—these events will offer workforce development through local colleges and more fairs are planned for Portsmouth and Chesapeake next month.

King David Manning Jr. was sentenced on April 11 to 14 years for abducting and assaulting his then-girlfriend during a car ride on March 26, 2023, when she tried to exit the vehicle and escaped by seeking help from a stranger (the jury convicted him of abduction but found him not guilty of using a firearm).

Hope House Foundation has announced the 41st annual Stockley Gardens Spring Arts Festival, a free two-day art event presented by TowneBank that will be held on May 17 and May 18 at Stockley Gardens Park.

The festival runs May 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. plus includes an Artist Award Party from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on May 18 from noon to 5 p.m., featuring more than 115 artists and family friendly activities while proceeds support programs helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their homes.

NSU leaders, architects, and partners broke ground Friday on a new $118 million science building — a 131,000+ square-foot facility set to replace the Roy A.

Woods Science Building and house labs, classrooms, a planetarium, greenhouse and makerspace — that will serve the biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics programs along with the Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences, with work set to finish by fall.

John Taplin earned the DGS Gold Star Award for his work on street sweepers and fleet vehicles (over 18 months, his efforts saved the City more than $250,000).

He kept all plows, spreaders and briners ready during the recent snow event (ensuring streets stayed safe).

The Virginia DMV and VDOT installed 300 bright yellow anti-speeding signs across the state to remind drivers to slow down — the signs are placed at rest stops and public areas to help reduce severe crashes and fatalities.

The initiative follows last year's high number of speed-related crashes as officials work to improve roadway safety.

Michael Vick, head coach at Norfolk State University and former NFL player, will appear in a new BET docuseries produced by SMAC Entertainment.

The series will follow his transition from playing football to coaching as he works to inspire local student-athletes.

Spring Into Stories: New Season, New Fiction!

10:00 AM – 9:30 PM — The Muse Writers Center — 35% discount available — Ignite your creativity with fiction workshops this spring.

Diversity in Creativity Workshop

10:00 AM – 9:30 PM — The Muse Writers Center — Free entry — Nurture your creativity this spring through diverse writing paths in a supportive environment.

Spring Into Stories: New Season, New Fiction!

10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. — The Muse Writers Center — Special offer of 35% discount — A day of creative fiction workshops to rejuvenate your writing spirit.

April is Poetry Month Celebration

10 AM – 10 PM — The Muse Writers Center — Free entry — Celebrate the beauty of poetry in a nurturing environment this April.

Driver Improvement Course

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown — $68 cash or money order — Complete your driver improvement course and receive your certificate on the same day.

Driver Improvement Course

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown — $68 cash or money order only — Complete your driver improvement course and receive your certificate on the same day.

ODU Big Blue 5K

8-11 a.m. — Old Dominion University — Registration required — Experience a scenic 5K run across campus ending at S.B. Ballard Stadium with a post-race celebration.

Driver Improvement Course

9 a.m. — Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown — $68 Cash or Money Order — Enhance your driving skills and receive your certificate the same day.

The Muse Writers Center Presents: A Diverse Garden of Creativity

10 a.m. — The Muse Writers Center — Free entry — Explore new creative paths and embrace diversity in artistic expression this spring.

Spring Into Stories: New Season, New Fiction!

10:00 AM – 9:30 PM — The Muse Writers Center — 35% discount on workshops — Embrace your creativity this spring with inspiring fiction workshops.