English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Hampton, VA

Michael Harper will remain in the role until a new director is appointed or another director is assigned, according to a Hampton VA spokesperson.

HAMPTON, Va. — A new director has been appointed to the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Michael Harper, the associate director for operations and second in the VA center's hierarchy, has been promoted to acting director.

Harper will remain in the role until a new director is appointed or another director is assigned to Hampton, according to a Hampton VA spokesperson.

Previously, Walt Dannenberg from Long Beach VA Healthcare System in Long Beach, California, was assigned to serve as director. That assignment has now concluded.

Before Dannenberg's Hampton service, Harper served as the Acting Medical Center Director for a short period.

Off-camera, during last week's veterans' town hall, Dannenberg gave Harper his vote of approval.

"This Friday, I will be passing the baton to him as Acting Executive Director for the VA here in Hampton. And I have complete faith. I have leaned on Mr. Harper many a time," he said.

Numerous leadership changes came after a report by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General revealed "widespread failures" at the center.

The report also revealed "failures of facility leaders to ensure that the required processes were appropriately implemented, but also a lack of leaders’ basic understanding of the processes that support delivery of safe health care."

The report led the center to replace its director, chief of staff and chief of surgery.

The American Federation of Government Employees Local 2328 represents more than 1,200 staff members at the Hampton VA.

President Sheila Elliot told 13News Now she is "sorry" to see Dannenberg go and that things were "were going really well" under him.

Elliot said she's "sure" Harper will do a good job.

The Hampton VA Medical Center, a 468-bed facility, has over 2,000 full-time employees and serves over 50,000 veterans annually from six counties in Virginia and nine in North Carolina.

In 2020, the center celebrated its 150th anniversary.

SITW may be canceled for this year, but a Hampton coffee shop is hoping to fill the void with a new event. Help pick a t-shirt design for the event

HAMPTON, Va. — The Something in the Water music festival may be canceled for this year, but a Hampton coffee shop is hoping to fill the void with a new event.

The "Nothing in the Water" festival is planned for the same weekend — April 25-27 — that Pharrell Williams' Virginia Beach event was set to occur.

Something in the Water is not returning to the Oceanfront this spring after officials issued a termination letter to the festival's organizers. Organizers missed their extended deadline to release a lineup for ticket sales, violating their agreement with the city. Despite a breach of contract notice and deadline, festival organizers failed to meet the required terms.

David Spring, co-founder of Buckroe Beach Co., says the 3-day festival held at their business on East Pembroke Avenue is a grassroots effort.

"It's all about community, and I think we're all really craving that," Spring said.

Spring and his co-owner John Napier own 17 acres surrounding the coffee shop, giving them the space and ability to hold the festival. It's part of a larger effort to revitalize the space, what Spring calls "Operation Mullet."

"Business in the front, party in the back."

Utilizing the space behind the building, the coffee company aims to host open mic nights and bonfires along with expanded hours and new menu items.

As of this week, the business owners say they are only awaiting approval on their stage.

RELATED: Something in the Water festival is canceled. Now what?

The festival will have 24 bands playing over three days, or eight acts per day. The acts will be "hyperlocal," Spring said, with music ending at 9 p.m.

A nearby nonprofit is offering up 500 parking spaces, and Buckroe Coffee has about 300 spaces available onsite.

At this time, Spring says tickets will cost $20 per person per day if purchased in person at Buckroe Coffee or Bohemian Amigos record shop. Tickets purchased online are set to cost $25 per person per day, Spring said. A discount for weekend passes is also in the works.

Spring said he has recruited others to help with the festival's logistics, such as ensuring there are enough portapotties, volunteers and parking spaces. Organizers from the Supernova International Ska Festival and Chesapeake Bay Reggae Fest are part of the task force.

Spring is hoping they can shift the focus of what the coffee shop is known for. It opened in June 2024 and carries items like the world's most expensive coffee, but they want people to remember the events and experiences they offer as well.

Preparations for the event have gone far beyond the stage: Spring says the business is installing a playground and planting 100,000 flowers per week. (Yes, 100,000.)

But their main goal is "bringing the community together," Spring said.

Those interested in the event can find updates on Facebook and Instagram.

Those wanting to volunteer for rule enforcement or miscellaneous event tasks should email hello@buckroecoffee.com with a short summary of your skills with the subject 'Volunteer. ' Volunteers will receive a t-shirt and a weekend pass.

You can also help choose a T-shirt design for the festival on their social media.

Aberdeen Gardens, a historic Black community in Hampton, could lose a $20M EPA grant.

HAMPTON, Va. — Correction: A previous version of this story stated that the $20 million grant had been canceled. It has not been canceled; it is under review.

Last year, the city of Hampton announced it would be receiving a $20 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to protect a historic neighborhood. Now, that grant could be canceled by the Trump administration.

Democratic senators say the possible cancellation, along with hundreds of others, would be illegal.

In 2024, Wetlands Watch, a local nonprofit partnering with the city of Hampton, received one of the 84 grants the EPA distributed as part of the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program to help mitigate flooding and pollution in the historic Aberdeen Gardens community.

A member of Wetlands Watch said the grant is now under review.

RELATED: Hampton receives $20 million from EPA to mitigate flooding in Aberdeen Gardens

The EPA administrator at the time, Michael Regan, said the grant aims to "create jobs, improve public health, and uplift community efforts in all corners of this country, regardless of geography or background."

Aberdeen Gardens, built from 1934 to 1938 under the New Deal, was a groundbreaking homestead community for African Americans. Designed by Black architect Hilyard R. Robinson and built by Black workers, it remains the only such project of its kind in the U.S.

Today, it’s recognized on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, led by ranking member Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, signed a letter demanding that the EPA's administrator, Lee Zeldin, reverse his "illegal termination of congressionally authorized grants aimed at eliminating childhood lead poisoning, reducing toxic air pollution, and mitigating health risks from heat and wildfires, among other essential purposes."

The senators argue the EPA is aiming to terminate grants, knowing they were violating the terms and conditions of the EPA's contracts. They also claim they sent termination letters that "knowingly and deceptively cited contract language not actually in many of the contracts."

In a release in March, the EPA said grant terminations were part of an effort to save money from "wasteful DEI and environmental justice initiatives."

EPA Administrator Zeldin said on the cancelations that "the American people deserve accountability and responsible stewardship of their hard-earned tax dollars. At President Trump’s direction, EPA, with the assistance of DOGE, are reviewing every dollar spent. There will be zero tolerance for waste and abuse."

The $20 million grant for Hampton is just one of eleven grants for different Virginia agencies and programs that could be terminated by the EPA, totaling around $71 million.

You can find more information and data on the grants that could be canceled on the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works' website.

HAMPTON, Va. — News 3 is following through on our coverage of federal workers being laid off under the Trump administration.

After nearly a month of unemployment, one employee at the Hampton VA is telling News 3 she was asked to return to work.

Lashavia Prather was one of 12 employees at the Hampton Veteran Affairs Medical Center whose positions were cut. Prather says she recently got a call from her supervisor to return to work.

Watch previous coverage: Hampton VA Medical Center confirms employees let go as Trump admin makes cuts

"We just got the notice saying to rescind everyone's job and you're coming back. She said we're going to put you on administrative pay. We don't have a date or you all to come back yet so just be on standby," Prather said.

Prather is a veteran and had been working at the VA for about ten months as a secretary. She says she was confused but eager to be employed again.

"A week went by and she called me saying 'Hey, you can come back to work.' Even though we were allowed to come back, it's still too many questions and not enough answers," Prather said.

Last month, the acting executive director of the Hampton VA said the dismissals were "limited" and involved staff who were still considered probationary. They followed cuts being made across the federal government as Elon Musk and his team look for ways to save money.

Watch related coverage: Veterans most affected by layoffs as 30% of federal workforce

The AFGE Local 2328 Union represents federal employees at the Hampton VA. They say 12 employees initially lost their jobs.

They sent News 3 a statement below:

"AFGE filed lawsuit and judge determined terminations were illegal. Office of personal management does not have authority to fire people at other agencies. They did not have authority to fire people at the VA medical. We are thrilled our people are back," Stavy Shorter, the vice president of AFGE Local 2328 Union said.

Prather says the union was instrumental in her getting her job back. But she says the last month has been a roller coaster ever since she was let go.

"I got an email Feb. 24 a couple minutes before it was time for me to get off of work. In big letters, it said terminated. I'm seven months pregnant," Prather said.

The Department of Veteran's Administration announced more than 1,400 employees were laid off nationwide.

The Hampton VA sent News 3 the following statement below.

VA is complying with the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland’s March 13 temporary restraining order and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California’s March 13 preliminary injunction related to probationary employees.