Virginia could be a hub for electric vehicles (EVs), from tractor-trailers to your familyâs sedan. Just last month, Gov. Ralph Northam joined 15 other states and the District of Columbia in pledging that all new truck and bus sales be electric and zero emissions by 2050, with the interim goal of 30% of all heavy-duty vehicle sales being zero-emissions by 2030. This commitment is one of many recent electrification advances. In the past decade alone, almost 30,000 EVs have been sold across the commonwealth. Â Read more in this Sunday's Opinion section 
Old Dominion University has grown up. Founded as a joint division of the College of William & Mary and Virginia Tech in 1930, becoming an independent college in 1962 and offering doctoral degrees since 1971, ODU is now a âVery High Research Activity,â or R1, institution, as designated by the prestigious Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The Carnegie Classification has been the leading measure of research activities among the nationâs colleges and universities for nearly half a century. Carnegie R1 status is the highest designation for research universities. Only 137, or 4.5%, of four-year institutions of higher education across the country are designated as R1. ODU is now a member of that exclusive club. Read more in this Sunday's Opinion section Despite the pandemic and labor shortages, the show â or cooking, rather â must go on. For the next three weeks, dining spots around the region will be launching their annual Restaurant Weeks with special menus and lower prices to lure in the hungry and curious. Itâs a great way for restaurants to pull in patrons during a typically slow month while enticing budget-conscious eaters to try places they wouldnât normally consider. Newport News announced in December that it is canceling its two-week event because of labor shortages, supply chain issues and increased food prices. It hopes to reschedule for the summer or early fall, according to a news release. Suffolk and Hampton have plans for March, and Chesapeake has an October spread scheduled. Check with restaurants for takeout options if you have concerns about dining in. Read more in the Sunday Break section
Every generation has their own TV dad who becomes so familiar, heâs like a real member of the family. In earlier eras, it may have been Andy Taylor on âThe Andy Griffith Showâ or Carl Winslow on âFamily Matters.â For me, growing up in the 2000s, it was Danny Tanner on âFull House.â I wasnât born when the sitcom first aired in 1987, but watching re-runs on TBS became as essential a part of my afterschool routine as homework and dance classes. Iâll admit I wasnât a âFull Houseâ loyalist because of Bob Saget, who died on Jan. 9 at 65 and played Danny Tanner, the wholesome clean freak and father of three girlsâ D.J. (Candace Cameron), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Michelle (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen). I was unapologetically obsessed with the youngest member of the family, a character who was so popular, sheâd make the Olsen twins into tween moguls. In my eyes, the smart-aleck catchphrase âYou got it, dude!â was the pinnacle of comedy. How Bob Saget became America's Dad. Saget, 65, died on Jan. 9, 2022. He grew up in Norfolk.
Read more in the Sunday Break section Like many high-performance athletes and small-business owners, Malissa Murphy knows all about endurance. Murphy kept her store, Endurance Apparel and Gear at Hilltop Plaza in Virginia Beach, open throughout the pandemic but will close shop on Jan. 31. Adjacent to Trader Joeâs off Laskin Road, the 1,400-square-foot store carries everything related to CrossFit, Spartan races, UFC, mud runs and everyday fitness gear and apparel. âYou name it; everything you can find online that you canât find local is here in the store,â Murphy said. All store items â right down to the fixtures, mirrors, wall racks and massage tables â went on sale Jan. 10. Read more in the Sunday Work & Money section
Daryl and Ebony Cherry have been married for 18 years. Daryl is the head football coach at Kempsville High. Four miles down Kempsville Road, Ebony is the head girls basketball coach at Tallwood High. The couple has found a way to mix marriage, coaching, parenting - they have one daughter - and impacting the lives of their players. Read more in the Sunday Sports section
Parade 1/16/2022 features:
Betty White Parade Picks - New Year, New Books What America Eats - Irish-Style Onion Soup Stay Healthy - Energy Boosters for Dark Days
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