The Virginia General Assembly session kicked off last week with a divided political makeup. After Novemberâs election, Republicans hold a majority in the House of Delegates. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin assumed office on Saturday. Democrats, meanwhile, retain a slight majority in the Senate. Lawmakers from both sides have introduced dozens of bills that would change environmental rules. Hereâs a look at some of those introduced thus far. Â Read more in the Sunday Main News section 
More than 200 people lost their lives to homicides in Hampton Roads last year, as the region faced similar spikes in killings as seen in some of the nationâs larger cities. The region recorded 213 slayings for 2021, a 17 percent increase over the year before, according to numbers tallied by the Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot. Last yearâs jump was on top of an even larger spike -- of 21 percent -- in 2020. Over the past two years, killings are up 42 percent over the 150 people slain in Hampton Roads in 2019. Norfolk recorded the highest number of homicides in the region in 2021, with 61 homicides â up from 38 slayings in 2019. But several citiesâ homicide rates have spiked even higher than Norfolkâs in terms of the percentage increase. Read more in the Sunday Main News section The Virginia Arts Festivalâs 25th anniversary season will be one to remember, thanks to its lineup: Tony Award-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth will perform with opera legend Renée Fleming; Renée Elise Goldsberry, best known as the original Angelica of âHamiltonâ musical fame, will come to Norfolk for a one-night-only event; cellist Yo-Yo Ma will pair with pianist Kathryn Stott; the Nashville Ballet will dance to an original score performed by Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens. The season launches in March with a highly anticipated performance by the American Ballet Theatre. The schedule of concerts and plays spans jazz, country, bluegrass and classical. The festival will include world premieres, including one-act operas âBriar Patchâ and âCompanionship.â The shows were created through the festivalâs John Duffy Institute for New Opera, giving composers and librettists the chance to create performances while being mentored by professionals. Read more in the Sunday Break section
Bennyâs, a pizza place known for its âVirginia sliceâ and jumbo 28-inch pies, has made its way to Virginia Beachâs Town Center. Benny Cavalloniâs opened on Market Street in November. The surname, which means wave or breaker in Italian, is fitting for the restaurant situated 10 miles from the Oceanfront. The restaurant is an ideal addition to Town Center, said Chelsea Forrest, director of marketing for Armada Hoffler Properties, developer of the mixed-use development. âIt fills a void for a hassle-free, quick-service eatery so our patrons can enjoy a delicious large slice during their visit,â she said. Forrest noted it was even more enticing to have Bennyâs expand there since one of the founders, Chris Brown, is a Virginia Beach native. Founded in Blacksburg in 2011 by fellow Virginia Tech alumni Brown and Zach Toth, Bennyâs has grown to 23 locations including Benny Damatoâs in Norfolk and Bennyâs on the Ocean, located within Ocean 27 along the Boardwalk.
Read more in the Sunday Work & Money section
Noodles! Parade Picks - Gold in the Cold Books We Love - Celebs Tell All
| 
