Warner hears about challenges to Oceanfront economy
Previously: Virginia Beach tourism fuels $3.8 billion into local economy, report finds
The head of the Virginia Beach Hotel Association, John Zirkle, reminded Warner about a successful Memorial Day weekend, with on tap this weekend, and the the following weekend. It highlighted a subsegment of Oceanfront tourism — sports tourism.
'This whole notion of sports tourism didn't exist 20 years ago,' Warner told the panel and about 100 invited guests.
Mike Mauch, head of the , made his pitch to Warner.
'If there's any possible way to find funding mechanisms to help us to provide an even more broad spectrum of sports tourism, that would benefit the entire city,' Mauch said.
Zirkle cited 2023 figures, the latest available, about tourism overall: 14.1 million visitors to Virginia Beach with an economic impact of $3.8 billion. However, he said tariffs are making towels, sheets and blankets more and more expensive.
'We need some help with getting the tariffs under control,' Zirkle said. 'The back and forth is causing huge delays in shipping. It's causing huge price increases.'
And then there's an 80% funding cut for what's known as , the marketing of destinations in the U.S. to international tourists.
'As we look at international travel declining, whether it's Canadian or other countries that are off, it's really important that we get that [funding] back,' said Eric Terry, head of the .
North End native and landscape architect Billy Almond of the Resort Advisory Commission talked about resiliency.
'In my lifetime, I have seen the beach change dramatically,' he said. 'All the sand that we put at the south end is on 89th Street. We have a huge resource that needs to be studied and protected.'
'That's something I can take on,' Warner told reporters afterward. 'Unfortunately, there are efforts in Washington right now to cut out all resiliency funds. That makes no sense. If the beach erodes away, then a lot of this economy is going to be in real trouble.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
My son brought home his college girlfriend for a week. We had to set ground rules, but yes, they slept in the same room.
My son brought his college girlfriend home for a week, and we set up some ground rules. But mostly, we let them do whatever they wanted as long as they were respectful. Yes, they shared a room, but it wasn't awkward because we treated them like adults. Welcoming a young adult home from college isn't always easy. They aren't the same people you dropped off nine months before. While my husband and I were thrilled we'd have our son home this summer between his freshman and sophomore years, we knew things had changed. After all, he chose to attend university halfway across the country, blazed his own trail out west, and started dating a fellow student. It seemed serious fairly fast, so we weren't surprised when he told us he planned to travel to Europe for a weeklong visit during the break to see her. However, when it became clear she wanted to make the same trek to stay with us, we weren't entirely sure what to expect. A bit of level-setting off the top made all the difference and kept things easy, breezy, and fun. Here's how we navigated the experience. We first established house rules We've always had pretty simple rules: If you're borrowing one of our cars, never drive impaired. Give us a general idea of when you'll be home. Call if you need help. Be conscientious, treat others as you'd prefer to be treated. In short: Don't be a jerk. Ahead of our guest's arrival, we reminded our son of our home's code of conduct. Discussing sleeping arrangements ahead of time was also crucial. Together, we decided they would share his bedroom, bathroom, and, of course, our common spaces. We simply asked for respect and discretion. The young couple was courteous, lovely, and sweet. They appreciated being treated as the adults they are, and there was no weirdness whatsoever. They set their own itinerary Aside from the first evening, when I knew his girlfriend would be exhausted after her long flight and made dinner at home, I left the entire week's planning to my son. His dad and I offered suggestions when he asked for them, but for the most part, we stayed out of the logistics. We didn't impose a curfew. We let them have access to one of our vehicles for the week, and off they went. This gave them agency to pursue their shared interests and to explore as they saw fit. They stayed busy sightseeing, hiking, and exploring as our son showed off his hometown. Truthfully, we didn't see much of them. Plenty of space and grace were key It was important to provide our son and his girlfriend plenty of privacy during her stay. We made sure to knock before entering any closed door — bedroom, bathroom, or otherwise — to avoid any potential embarrassing encounters. We were interested and engaged, but didn't smother, snoop, or otherwise try to insert ourselves in their activities. They needed time together, not with us. How they spent that time was different, too. They stayed up well into the wee hours (but never woke or disturbed me) and slept in far beyond my morning alarm. The two of them ate lots of sugary cereals, gummy candies, and instant ramen — culinary dorm room staples I don't usually keep at home. But I wasn't about to nag or scold. They reminded me of myself at that age. Perhaps someday they'll opt for more nutritious foods and a better circadian rhythm. Or not. That's not mine to manage anymore. We'd be thrilled to welcome her back anytime The week of the visit flew by without a single awkward word, moment, or circumstance. We were all somewhat sad to say our goodbyes. We'd enjoyed getting to know her a bit better and vice versa. She's a delightful human, and we made it clear she is welcome back in our house whenever she wishes to visit again. We look forward to seeing her during the sophomore year move-in, just a few weeks away. While it was a bit strange to see our young adult, well, adulting as he interacted with his girlfriend in our home, we couldn't be more grateful. At a time when so many teens are struggling to connect with anything other than a screen, his dad and I were thrilled to see him happy in a mature, healthy relationship. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Republicans look to make a U-turn on federal commitment to electric vehicles for the Postal Service
WASHINGTON (AP) — A year after being lauded for its plan to replace thousands of aging, gas-powered mail trucks with a mostly electric fleet, the U.S. Postal Service is facing congressional attempts to strip billions in federal EV funding. In June, the Senate parliamentarian blocked a Republican proposal in a major tax-and-spending bill to sell off the agency's new electric vehicles and infrastructure and revoke remaining federal money. But efforts to halt the fleet's shift to clean energy continue in the name of cost savings. Donald Maston, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, said canceling the program now would have the opposite effect, squandering millions of dollars. 'I think it would be shortsighted for Congress to now suddenly decide they're going to try to go backwards and take the money away for the EVs or stop that process because that's just going to be a bunch of money on infrastructure that's been wasted," he said. Beyond that, many in the scientific community fear the government could pass on an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming when urgent action is needed. Electrified vehicles reduce emissions A 2022 University of Michigan study found the new electric postal vehicles could cut total greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 million tons over the predicted, cumulative 20-year lifetime of the trucks. That's a fraction of the more than 6,000 million metric tons emitted annually in the United States, said professor Gregory A. Keoleian, co-director of the university's Center for Sustainable Systems. But he said the push toward electric vehicles is critical and needs to accelerate, given the intensifying impacts of climate change. 'We're already falling short of goals for reducing emissions,' Keoleian said. 'We've been making progress, but the actions being taken or proposed will really reverse decarbonization progress that has been made to date.' Many GOP lawmakers share President Donald Trump's criticism of the Biden-era green energy push and say the Postal Service should stick to delivering mail. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said 'it didn't make sense for the Postal Service to invest so heavily in an all-electric force." She said she will pursue legislation to rescind what is left of the $3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act allocated to help cover the $10 billion cost of new postal vehicles. Ernst has called the EV initiative a 'boondoggle' and "a textbook example of waste,' citing delays, high costs and concerns over cold-weather performance. 'You always evaluate the programs, see if they are working. But the rate at which the company that's providing those vehicles is able to produce them, they are so far behind schedule, they will never be able to fulfill that contract," Ernst said during a recent appearance at the Iowa State Fair, referring to Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defense. 'For now,' she added, "gas-powered vehicles — use some ethanol in them — I think is wonderful.' Corn-based ethanol is a boon to Iowa's farmers, but the effort to reverse course has other Republican support. Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, a co-sponsor of the rollback effort, has said the EV order should be canceled because the project "has delivered nothing but delays, defective trucks, and skyrocketing costs.' The Postal Service maintains that the production delay of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles, or NGDVs, was 'very modest" and not unexpected. 'The production quantity ramp-up was planned for and intended to be very gradual in the early months to allow time for potential modest production or supplier issues to be successfully resolved,' spokesperson Kim Frum said. EVs help in modernization effort The independent, self-funded federal agency, which is paid for mostly by postage and product sales, is in the middle of a $40 billion, 10-year modernization and financial stabilization plan. The EV effort had the full backing of Democratic President Joe Biden, who pledged to move toward an all-electric federal fleet of car and trucks. The 'Deliver for America' plan calls for modernizing the ground fleet, notably the Grumman Long Life Vehicle, which dates back to 1987 and is fuel-inefficient at 9 mpg. The vehicles are well past their projected 24-year lifespan and are prone to breakdowns and even fires. 'Our mechanics are miracle workers,' said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union. 'The parts are not available. They fabricate them. They do the best they can.' The Postal Service announced in 2022 it would deploy at least 66,000 electric vehicles by 2028, including commercial off-the-shelf models, after years of deliberation and criticism it was moving too slowly to reduce emissions. By 2024, the agency was awarded a Presidential Sustainability Award for its efforts to electrify the largest fleet in the federal government. Building new postal trucks In 2021, Oshkosh Defense was awarded a contract for up to 165,000 battery electric and internal combustion engine Next Generation vehicles over 10 years. The first of the odd-looking trucks, with hoods resembling a duck's bill, began service in Georgia last year. Designed for greater package capacity, the trucks are equipped with airbags, blind-spot monitoring, collision sensors, 360-degree cameras and antilock brakes. There's also a new creature comfort: air conditioning. Douglas Lape, special assistant to the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers and a former carrier, is among numerous postal employees who have had a say in the new design. He marvels at how Oshkosh designed and built a new vehicle, transforming an old North Carolina warehouse into a factory along the way. 'I was in that building when it was nothing but shelving,' he said. 'And now, being a completely functioning plant where everything is built in-house — they press the bodies in there, they do all of the assembly — it's really amazing in my opinion.' Where things stand now The agency has so far ordered 51,500 NGDVs, including 35,000 battery-powered vehicles. To date, it has received 300 battery vehicles and 1,000 gas-powered ones. Former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in 2022 the agency expected to purchase chiefly zero-emissions delivery vehicles by 2026. It still needs some internal combustion engine vehicles that travel longer distances. Frum, the Postal Service spokesperson, said the planned NGDV purchases were "carefully considered from a business perspective' and are being deployed to routes and facilities where they will save money. The agency has also received more than 8,200 of 9,250 Ford E-Transit electric vehicles it has ordered, she said. Ernst said it's fine for the Postal Service to use EVs already purchased. 'But you know what? We need to be smart about the way we are providing services through the federal government,' she said. 'And that was not a smart move.' Maxwell Woody, lead author of the University of Michigan study, made the opposite case. Postal vehicles, he said, have low average speeds and a high number of stops and starts that enable regenerative braking. Routes average under 30 miles and are known in advance, making planning easier. 'It's the perfect application for an electric vehicle," he said, 'and it's a particularly inefficient application for an internal combustion engine vehicle.' ____ Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report. Susan Haigh, The Associated Press Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Powell's Jackson Hole speech, Walmart earnings: What to watch this week
The investing world will turn its attention to northwestern Wyoming in the week ahead, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell set to give his most important policy speech of the year on Friday at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. Held each year at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, the Kansas City Fed's annual meeting often serves as a crucial set piece in the Fed chair's calendar that signals key shifts in the central bank's thinking. Ahead of Powell's speech — likely to be his last as Fed chair — markets are placing the probability the Fed will cut rates by at least 0.25% next month at around 85%. Clues from Powell about the speed and depth of the cycle the Fed is about to embark on will be the week's biggest market-moving event. On the corporate calendar, results from Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Home Depot (HD) highlight a slowing earnings schedule that sees the retail sector remain the key focus. And the economic data flow will be slow this week, with Thursday's updates on initial jobless claims and service sector activity the top highlights. Investors may also keep a closer eye than usual on the minutes from the Fed's July 30-31 meeting released Wednesday, which could offer more color on the decision from Fed governors Waller and Bowman to vote against the central bank's decision to keep rates unchanged in a range of 4.25%-4.50% last month. One more for the road In 2018, Jerome Powell addressed the Jackson Hole symposium for the first time as Fed chair, outlining his views on the key variables that central bankers wrestle with, elucidating his non-economist's view on the most technical aspects of monetary policy. In the intervening seven years, Powell has proven himself to be more of a pragmatist than a theoretician as he navigated 2018's false start on rate hikes, the COVID pandemic, the 2022 inflation shock, and the still-incomplete rate-cutting cycle that kicked off over a year ago. "The time has come for policy to adjust," Powell said last August. Rate cuts from the Fed in September, November, and December of last year have been on pause since. Growing dissent among his colleagues on the FOMC — and months of more forceful commentary from the White House — has seen Powell end up right where he stood a year ago. In his 2018 speech, Powell spoke at length about Alan Greenspan's decisions in the mid-90s to hold off on rate hikes, lauding the former Fed chair's "wait and see" approach and foretelling a preference to wait that has defined much of Powell's tenure. "Given what the economy has shown us over the past 15 years, the need for the sort of risk‑management approach that originated in the new-economy era is clearer than ever before," Powell said at the time. Barring the Fed's quick actions in March 2020, this line explains much of Powell's approach. As Powell gets set to end his time leading the Fed, the president has bestowed on him a nickname: "Too Late." "The diversity of views on the FOMC is one of the great virtues of our system," Powell said. "Despite differing views on these questions and others, we have a long institutional tradition of finding common ground in coalescing around a policy stance." In a year, a new Fed chair will address the crowd at Jackson Hole. Interest rates will likely be lower. But how this new chair views these tenets of central banking will be the more important answer for the future of the Federal Reserve. Retail's tale Retail sales rose 0.5% in July following a 0.9% jump in June. Economic data indicates US consumer spending has stabilizedafter tariff-related surprises this spring. How this information comes through in earnings reports scheduled for the week ahead will be one of the week's defining themes. Walmart's results Thursday morning, given the retailer's sheer size, will offer the broadest canvas for investors to work from. The company said in May that consumers remained "choiceful," with the company seeing growth across all income cohorts. Three months later, any signs of more confident spending will be welcomed by investors. Wall Street expects its US same-store sales rose 4% in its fiscal second quarter, according to Bloomberg data. In its fiscal first quarter, same-store sales rose 4.5% in the US. Walmart stock has gained over 10% this year, outperforming the S&P 500 by roughly a percentage point. At Target, questions over the company's leadership loom with shares of the retailer down over 20% this year. Home Depot, meanwhile, is navigating a US housing market some commentators have said is in recession, though interest rates have pointed to potential signs of a thaw in the coming months. Single-stock stories always stand at the ready to push around markets. Earnings from Nvidia on Aug. 27 will be another in this genre. But last week's market action showed investors starting to move past the daily headlines in an indication of a market finding firmer footing. "The bull market for stocks continued this week, and we've even seen some rotation out of the year's biggest winners into beaten down laggards like Health Care and homebuilders," Bespoke Investment Group wrote in its weekly letter to clients. "When momentum names stall or sell-off, it can really hit the major indices hard if no other areas of the market are there to pick up the slack, but this week, the year's worst performers finally saw some buying interest as investors rotated across the market instead of out of it." Like most things in modern life, the stock market story remains defined by easily digestible ideas like "Sell America" or acronymic memes like TACO. But the S&P 500 hit a record high this week. Twice. The absence of euphoric feelings from the investor class is another way to stamp this rally with a clean bill of health. And while the market has been driven by Big Tech and the AI trade, this week's market rotation shows investors acting on another one of the society's defining themes in 2025 — everybody gets a turn. Economic and earnings calendar Monday Economic data: NAHB homebuilder sentiment, August (34 expected, 33 previously) Earnings: Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Blink Charging (BLNK) Tuesday Economic data: Housing starts, July (-2.4% expected, +4.6% previously); Building permits, July (-0.2% expected, -0.1% previously) Earnings: Home Depot (HD), XPeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), Amer Sports (AS), Toll Brothers (TOL), La-Z-Boy (LZB) Wednesday Economic data: FOMC Minutes, July 30-31 meeting; MBA weekly mortgage applications (+10.9% previously) Earnings: Target (TGT), Baidu (BIDU), Lowe's (LOW), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Thursday Economic data: Initial jobless claims, week of Aug. 16 (224,000 previously); S&P Global US manufacturing PMI, August preliminary (49.8 previously); S&P Global US services PMI, August preliminary (55.7 previously); Existing home sales, July (-0.8% expected, -2.7% previously) Earnings: Walmart (WMT), Intuit (INTU), Workday (WDAY), Ross Stores (ROST), Zoom (ZM) Friday Economic data: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium Earnings: BJ's Wholesale (BJ), Buckle (BKE) Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices
