[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6606978,"mediaKeyId","2956665-375586b76a306989b46609246f9e9af5","parentId",2956665,"title","Virginia Living Museum thanks council for budget support, highlights education and accessibility programs","audioSeconds",141,"startMs",226000,"endMs",367000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956665-375586b76a306989b46609246f9e9af5&start=226&end=367","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956665-375586b76a306989b46609246f9e9af5/thumbnail_226000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606978/Virginia/Virginia-Living-Museum-thanks-council-for-budget-support-highlights-education-and-accessibility-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606978-0744d033516f181fdb3c0994ec98abfb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187243&Signature=Oy3nPcTQ2KaucIOcrkWfQf5FLqPC3M-znn-~zFO6EX3pWqxDrpgR7uSANT7I3KOgdlVNfsLk2D9B6yw395dShU4v4o2QeUtUIs5r7oFUpL-vAV24DGSRqB~OXdkoNj7VwIrjLHT6x9OBOf0lk3taL9HZfuFL1avLTJ4kMP~SazChzOM3IUFa7RrFzD9LtxhJw5ca0UShuBTq-W0QlB6U8rF5Ca2Hg1Yx-Lv~3JoMBI7eLHemIf~J2-a2cUCicCwJ~My8B8WRpRcNNh-tHjgl3jgziNbwjJYoM7AXi3u6HZnd5S6FLRKtlCnCY4dY86MyXtcDO8r90UOI5OrsLceEbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newport News (Sugggested)","date","2025-04-11T00:11:44.083Z","article","Sarah Messersmith, president of the board of trustees at the Virginia Living Museum, thanked City Council for including the museum in the annual budget and described the institution's role in science education and community engagement.

Messersmith said the museum is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction shared by about 14 institutions nationally, and that volunteers outnumber staff by approximately 7 to 1. She said the museum offers free and reduced admission days to all Newport News residents and participates in the Museums for All initiative, which provides access to SNAP recipients.

The museum, Messersmith said, recently opened a café with partner Satay and chef Kyle Hulks and expanded its campus with a wild-care center that includes a transparent veterinary hospital and nutrition center for educational experiences. She argued that the museum supports the region's quality of life, school science education and workforce development by training volunteers.

Messersmith's remarks were delivered during the public comment period; no city action on museum funding was recorded during the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Newport News FY2026 Budget Public Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Sarah Messersmith, president of the Virginia Living Museum board, thanked the council for including the museum in the annual budget and described the museum's accreditation, volunteer base, education programs, reduced-admission initiatives and recent campus expansion.","taxTitle","Newport News (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",12491,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606982,"Sister Cities executive highlights international programs, launches city cycling partnership",180,32000,212000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956665-375586b76a306989b46609246f9e9af5&start=32&end=212","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956665-375586b76a306989b46609246f9e9af5/thumbnail_32000.jpg","/articles/6606982/Virginia/Sister-Cities-executive-highlights-international-programs-launches-city-cycling-partnership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606982-812b904a9f721ecbf7e1edb09f86bb5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187243&Signature=o2R-NVgL3dFHLzuEwnJ3m12WMkd3dOgONKo7~Q9Cp8bohc4ZXryknbIiJFHILCwqk549f2J5u20g8aNzn0~He6mEde-LMiHiCAdyeeS1pelO3ZiX8TrDPM5meqf5tpSQcf2qRxAcbprE8SEXhzUjNDsEOBH-WdA8ug6Cm2TA7VFzB86H88YA-D9ajIy6Iy10A35-aAcsXgldy1V7pVhjbJqCIbeT6gYhWyjc5o8Ql85GjzPXLeKw-sa~DX5BQGQM0nr~DnNZ9K7~FgxItgIHZz2nIvyGLub6mnwG19nAk-sRU7Z-0a3Em1NpD5UNXG7RpfZOmF1heGdDIbNaN9cD3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kate Helwig, Executive Director of Sister Cities Newport News, told the City Council that the nonprofit manages the city's official international partnerships and executes community programs aimed at education and engagement.

Helwig said Sister Cities has more than 300 members and about 1,400 Facebook followers and that volunteers allow the organization to produce events that reach thousands of residents. She cited local international firms Cannon and Liebherr as examples of the city's global ties and said Sister Cities is exploring new partnerships in Malawi and Australia.

As one program aligned with city strategic initiatives, Helwig said Newport News will participate in a coordinated European city-cycling campaign from May 1 through May 20 with its German sister city, Griswold, to promote cycling, climate protection and quality of life. \"I'm proud to say that Newport News is the first US city participating in city cycling,\" Helwig said.

Helwig framed the organization's work as supporting several of the city's strategic goals, including strengthening education, fostering arts and culture, cultivating welcoming communities and encouraging active transportation such as sidewalks, shared paths and bicycle lanes.

Helwig thanked the council for its leadership and support of the volunteer team that runs Sister Cities events and programs.","Kate Helwig, Executive Director of Sister Cities Newport News, described the nonprofit's membership and programs and announced a May 1'20 city cycling partnership with a German sister city to promote cycling and climate protection.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606987,"Residents, advocates ask Newport News to expand tax relief and outreach for older homeowners",805,0,805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956665-375586b76a306989b46609246f9e9af5&start=0&end=805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956665-375586b76a306989b46609246f9e9af5/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6606987/Virginia/Residents-advocates-ask-Newport-News-to-expand-tax-relief-and-outreach-for-older-homeowners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606987-64fad9020dc1032459dc38e79844e928/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187243&Signature=JsCXHf1hRglpO9lsA~zRLXjzdTWIGZyjCbsnmB4dhlCjcuprFoUBFj2swo~YXWowdc4aEfpBXzxrccOz50fLBqKs2eJTOUz9z-Deaoyi-WwwXQ8-068NnkXC2BAcHC2hO35YH-xGrLFCQKWw78KJcTJ1ZxOe0RzHbxxZVtYPwBHykizZ7~ieyDvHJi6gY7yCM-kAplYDGkuAHj9AOOQaI~FMF4gtJ-Qv~0S9eoQc4f~TGhxQMW6Yq-5T3vYN8tqr0v8FAy4XCZl4r4c~f~yH~jqMDyJJjV3oMOklAST019DxjgbVMGL53B9pVPnG4Zbw1JP-5Y1UVjEulNBlscwIdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a public hearing, Newport News residents and advocates urged City Council to expand property tax relief and improve non-digital outreach to older homeowners who say rising assessments are pushing longtime residents toward losing their homes.

The requests came from several public commenters who described seniors facing higher assessments and limited access to electronic communications. Justin Kennedy, representing the Kennedy firm, said he had interviewed older residents and delivered two questions: “If you have over $200,000 worth of assets ... what can the city do to help people that are in their particular situations?” and how the city can reach seniors who do not use digital channels for information. Kennedy said several people he interviewed had lost homes after being priced out by rising assessments.

Lonnie Colson, who said he has lived in Newport News for more than 45 years, said rising property taxes threaten longtime homeowners. “My 401(k) does not need a roof now and then,” Colson said, arguing assessments treat homes only as investments rather than places to live. Sharon Scott, speaking later, expressed sympathy for seniors and urged the council to do more and to improve outreach to residents who do not use social media.

City staff responded during the hearing by pointing to a briefing from the city assessor's office given at a recent council work session. The staff speaker said the work-session recording and briefing explain the city's assessment and appeal process and that residents may schedule appointments with the assessor's office to discuss valuations. The speaker also said the recommended operating budget includes a proposal to raise the eligibility threshold for additional tax relief, which could allow some residents who previously did not qualify to be reconsidered under new guidelines.

No formal policy or ordinance change was adopted at the hearing. The council moved to close the public hearing at the end of the comment period; the motion carried on a 6-0 vote.

The public comments reflect concerns about assessment-related displacement and access to city communications; staff directed residents to the assessor's office for individual appeals and noted a forthcoming budget-based change to eligibility criteria for tax relief.","Speakers at a public hearing urged City Council to consider broader tax relief and non-digital outreach for older residents facing rising assessments; city staff pointed to the assessor's appeal process and a proposed budget change to expand eligibility.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Virginia Living Museum thanks council for budget support, highlights education and accessibility programs

Sister Cities executive highlights international programs, launches city cycling partnership

Residents, advocates ask Newport News to expand tax relief and outreach for older homeowners