Welcome to Middle Neck News: Local News, Sports, Weather and Community Coverage for Virginia’s Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula

Middle Neck News provides daily local news, sports, weather, community events and public safety coverage for Virginia’s Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. News coverage is updated daily and includes local government, schools, public safety, business, sports and community events.  mnn.edhisted.com

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Little Wicomico River closed to oyster and clam harvesting through November 7

Virginia health officials have closed part of the Little Wicomico River to oyster and clam harvesting through November 7. The closure follows a Salmonella outbreak in Pennsylvania linked to oysters from the area that sickened at least 5 people. Crabs and finfish can still be harvested, and officials say drinking water is not affected.

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Westmoreland preps for end of Verizon copper phone lines

Westmoreland County is preparing for Verizon’s retirement of traditional copper-wire landlines under new federal rules. County officials say phones, alarm systems, fax machines and other equipment using old-style lines will need replacements. The county plans to move to network-based phones with cellular backup. Officials stress providers cannot disconnect copper service if it is a customer’s […]

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King George reaches deal with AWS

King George County and Amazon Web Services have reached an agreement ending a legal dispute over a proposed data center campus at the former Birchwood Power Plant. The county now recognizes AWS has vested development rights, while Amazon agreed not to build data center structures along the Rappahannock River. AWS also pledged 10 million dollars […]

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Osprey breeding struggles along Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay ospreys had their worst breeding season on record, according to William and Mary’s Center for Conservation Biology. Roughly 4 out of 5 nesting pairs in brackish waters failed to raise chicks to flight. Researchers point to food shortages, but say the reasons for reduced fish availability remain unclear. They warn the Bay’s osprey […]

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EPA awards millions for Chesapeake Bay projects

The EPA is directing tens of millions of dollars toward Chesapeake Bay cleanup projects, including several in the Rappahannock watershed. A 682-thousand-dollar grant will support shoreline restoration, cover crops and oyster reef work at Corbin Hall Farm in Middlesex County. The Rappahannock Tribe will receive about 459-thousand dollars for more than 8 acres of oyster […]

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VDOT posts Norris Bridge replacement proposals ahead of public meetings

Materials are now online for the public to review about the proposed replacement of the Norris Bridge ahead of public hearings later this month. VDOT will hold the hearings October 21 in Irvington and October 22 in Locust Hill. Comments can be submitted online, by email or sent by mail through November 2.

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Four Middle Neck counties seek 1% local sales tax authority

Mathews, Middlesex, Essex and King and Queen counties are seeking voter approval for the same additional 1% sales tax authority already in place in Gloucester County, with revenue dedicated to school construction and renovations. The Virginia Mercurty reports supporters point to Gloucester’s more than 22-million dollars in collections through fiscal 2025, while opponents in York […]

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Gas prices more than a dollar higher than a year ago

Fuel prices in Virginia are starting the week averaging $4.09 a gallon for regular unleaded, down 12 cents from the previous week, but still $1.12 ahead of a year ago. Diesel statewide is averaging $6.27 a gallon. according to GasBuddy.com. The Middle Neck average is 4.11 a gallon. Gloucester County is among the state’s cheapest […]

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Lancaster man sets new Virginia watermelon record

Junior Brent of Lancaster set a new Commonwealth watermelon record to win first place at the 2026 State Fair of Virginia, which wrapped up yesterday in Doswell. Brent’s giant of a watermelon weighed in at 271 pounds, breaking the previous mark by 12 pounds.

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Over 348000 ballots already cast in midterm elections

More than 348-thousand ballots have been cast in early voting ahead of the November general election, more than double the pace in the 2022 mid-term election. Over 222,000 ballots have been cast in person so far. The deadline to register to vote in this election is October 23rd. Early voting runs through October 31st.

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