This Week in WAVY History June 14 | WAVY+

[00:00:05][music] >> You might recall the first confirmed deaths from COVID in the US were in a nursing home in Washington state. Since then, those facilities continue to be hotspots with more than half of Virginia's deaths happening at long-term care facilities.

[00:00:28]>> Just underlines the importance of working closely with nursing homes to prevent infections in residents and staff because this is a vulnerable population for for coronavirus um due to the congregate setting and >> The Virginia Department of Health's latest data shows 1,478 confirmed COVID deaths. 905 of those have happened in long-term care facilities. Those nursing homes are now reporting their case numbers to the National Healthcare Safety Network.

[00:00:58]>> is the first time that they've put out this data. So, we do think there are some discrepancies in the data from what has been reported to us.

[00:01:07]>> So, for now, VDH is sharing info on specific locations only with the facilities.

[00:01:12]>> There are often shared staff between long-term care facilities. And so, that way they sort of have better visibility in their community about what's going on.

[00:01:22]>> As part of Governor Ralph Northam's task force, the Virginia National Guard is helping to test nursing home residents just like we've seen them assist at community COVID clinics.

[00:01:31]It's an effort to gather even more data and identify the hotspots. Chris Horne, 10 On Your Side.

[00:01:42]>> We're down here at The Mount in Chesapeake, a wonderful church, and they are giving free COVID-19 tests.

[00:01:48]>> Just tilt your head back. I'm going to swab both your nostrils, okay?

[00:01:51]>> Okay.

[00:01:53]>> Orlando Gibson showed up to get the free COVID-19 test.

[00:01:56]>> All right.

[00:01:57]>> If it's positive, sir, they'll give you a call. If it's negative, you'll get a letter in the mail, okay?

[00:02:01]>> I did want to come and make sure that I did not have it.

[00:02:06]And the only way that you can really know is to be tested.

[00:02:08]>> Chesapeake's health department director, Dr. Nancy Welch.

[00:02:11]>> We are seeing that trend line slightly increasing, but it's not real sharp.

[00:02:17]It's just a slight increase, which could reflect, quite honestly, we're doing more testing, which is what we want to do.

[00:02:23]>> Howard Irwin calls getting the test a civic responsibility.

[00:02:27]>> It's important to call we need to contain the virus and to make sure that I'm not asymptomatic. And I simply don't want to give it to anyone in case I had it myself.

[00:02:37]>> The Urban League of Hampton Roads, Mary Bibbs.

[00:02:40]>> We're able to reach people who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford testing.

[00:02:44]>> The Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia on hand giving out food to those at-risk members of the community taking the COVID-19 test.

[00:02:53]>> MREs, this is our chicken pasta. You have our spaghetti. You have um beans.

[00:02:59]Um we have some chicken noodles.

[00:03:02]>> Chesapeake Regional Healthcare has been a valuable partner in three community COVID-19 testing events.

[00:03:08]>> Hospital that was built by the community for the community and we want to carry out our community mission during this time of this COVID crisis.

[00:03:14]>> Not a lot of positive cases at our church.

[00:03:17]Um we've been really blessed.

[00:03:19]>> The host of this event, The Mount Church Chesapeake, Bishop Kim Brown.

[00:03:23]>> We're called to serve our community and it gives the opportunity for us to be very visible in helping people to remember to get tested and wear their mask.

[00:03:31]>> Governor Northam continues his efforts to have events like this to make sure that we are increasing the number of tests given so that we can get a full picture on who has COVID and who does not.

[00:03:44]In Chesapeake, Andy Fox, 10 On Your Side.

[00:03:48]>> An act of God clause in teacher contracts is not unheard of in a school system, but because of the pandemic, some of the school systems here in Hampton Roads have added it.

[00:03:58]>> I don't think anyone would have imagined that we would be in the middle of a pandemic right now. Of course, you know, there's no way to predict the future or what impact a force of nature or perhaps another pandemic could have on our organization or others.

[00:04:12]>> COVID-19 not only canceled the last 3 months of schools, it's now causing school systems to take a hard look at teacher contracts.

[00:04:19]>> All we can do is just um you know, assess uh the situation um as as it occurs.

[00:04:26]>> Many school systems in Hampton Roads have what's called an act of God clause in teacher contracts. It allows teachers to be laid off or furloughed in dire need.

[00:04:34]>> That came from legal counsel. You know, we were advised that, you know, it's probably a good idea to put that in there.

[00:04:40]>> And this year, Chesapeake has added a similar clause, and they added it with specific language that includes a pandemic.

[00:04:47]>> It's not likely that a clause of this nature would be needed, but it does give employers the flexibility to address financial shortfalls.

[00:04:56]>> This is unprecedented.

[00:04:58]>> Portsmouth schools also added an act of God clause.

[00:05:01]>> It was a tough decision because we certainly don't want to alarm our employees.

[00:05:08]>> Like Chesapeake, Portsmouth says the clause will only be used as a last resort.

[00:05:12]>> And we certainly don't want to have employees to be without pay because we know that they need to support their families. We would cut other things before we would try to eliminate jobs.

[00:05:25]>> We called around to the other school systems in the seven cities. The only one that specifically mentions pandemic is Chesapeake. As latest here in Virginia Beach, Jason Marks, 10 on your side.

[00:05:37]>> Patricia Kurtz had a thriving business cleaning homes, but then COVID washed all of that away. And a computer glitch in Richmond was standing in the way of her benefits.

[00:05:49]>> All of my clients are between the ages of 55 and 80 and they were fearful of the virus, so they did not want anybody coming into their homes, not even to clean. I went from making about $1,000 a week to nothing. In March, starting in March.

[00:06:04]>> State unemployment, applied and denied.

[00:06:07]So, she filed for the federal program known as PUA and was approved. But, she still wasn't getting any money.

[00:06:14]A friend with connections to the Virginia Employment Commission got them to reach out.

[00:06:18]>> And they contacted me and told me that the money was just hanging out there. It was going into a bank account from when I filed unemployment back 20 years ago.

[00:06:30]>> In the years since, her account had switched when Wells Fargo bought Wachovia in 2008.

[00:06:36]But, 12 years later VEC was still stuck on her old Wachovia account number.

[00:06:41]>> They said that the Virginia Employment Commission has a very archaic system, electronic system, the computer systems.

[00:06:49]>> That's exactly what Senator Mark Warner told us a few weeks ago about the PUA money.

[00:06:54]Kurtz has this advice for people still waiting on benefits.

[00:06:57]>> I would encourage them to check the bank information that is in the system that they if they're doing direct deposit.

[00:07:05]>> Kurtz says she's now receiving benefits, but still has about $2,000 in back pay that is due to her. She says the whole process has been difficult, disheartening, and emotional, but she says, "You just can't give up."

[00:07:18]Chris Horn, 10 On Your Side.

[00:07:22]>> It's just been a whole different world in the shelter environment right now.

[00:07:26]>> Help and Emergency Response, HER, operates three shelters in Portsmouth and Chesapeake.

[00:07:31]>> We are full at two of our shelters. We are placing everybody else in hotels.

[00:07:34]>> This shelter is intentionally empty right now in case they get a client with COVID. The pandemic has put them in uncharted territory.

[00:07:42]>> Unfortunately, we did have to stop taking donations in the middle of March due to the pandemic, um, which has been a big hit to us because our, um, clients do rely on those kind of things.

[00:07:50]>> But now they're ready to start taking all the stuff you've been cleaning out of your attics and closets.

[00:07:56]>> And we need anything that somebody would need to start over in a new apartment.

[00:07:59]>> Some of their clients escaped their abuser with only the clothes on their back, and many have children in tow.

[00:08:05]>> It's so overwhelming when you move out to begin with, and people don't think about the fact that there's so many little things that you need to get started in an apartment.

[00:08:13]>> Bedding, towels, household appliances, clothes, and toys, they need it all. And you can drop it off here all next week.

[00:08:20]Central Baptist Church on Hodges Ferry Road in Portsmouth will take donations June 22nd through the 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Then those currently in the shelter and recent clients will get to come in first and scoop up what they need.

[00:08:34]>> And then we're going to go ahead and have a yard sale with anything that's left over as a fundraiser for the shelter.

[00:08:38]>> Making your trash a true treasure for victims on their way to victory.

[00:08:51]>> are trending.

[00:08:52]>> Today, Governor Ralph Northam laid out what phase three in Virginia will look like, even though we are not yet moving into it.

[00:08:59]>> We're going to be cautious and careful and watch the data for a little while longer before we move forward.

[00:09:06]>> Social gatherings up to 250 people will be allowed. The cap on capacity for non-essential retail will be lifted. The cap on capacity for restaurants will also be lifted, but physical distancing will still be required. Museums and zoos can reopen at 50% capacity with a cap of 1,000 people. Gyms can also reopen at 75% capacity.

[00:09:28]>> While our data is good and our restrictions may ease, the virus has not gone anywhere. We are adapting our lives around it, but it has not changed.

[00:09:40]>> Northam also said the demographic data the state has collected shows a 45.3% of coronavirus cases are Latino people, even though Latinos only make up 10% of Virginia's population. So, he's focusing efforts on those communities.

[00:09:55]>> We are directing free community testing events to areas with large Latino populations, particularly when in communities with a large number of uninsured people.

[00:10:08]>> 20 years before Jamestown, Sir Walter Raleigh attempted to found the first permanent English colony in North America.

[00:10:17]>> Female-related artifacts are important because the 1587 colony is the only one that brought women.

[00:10:24]>> In August of 1587, 115 people crossed the Atlantic.

[00:10:32]Settling on Roanoke Island in present-day video, these artifacts may be all that's left of them.

[00:10:38]>> So, you've got a sword handle here from a swept-hilt rapier.

[00:10:42]>> A small group went back to England for more supplies and returned to find the colony completely abandoned. No one knows for certain what happened. Some argue the colonists traveled inland.

[00:10:53]Some think they died or were all killed.

[00:10:55]Others firmly believe they came here to Hatteras Island.

[00:11:00]>> Because the colony doesn't know they're lost. In their minds, someone's coming back with resupplies.

[00:11:04]>> The colonists did leave behind a clue, the word Croatoan carved into a wooden post. The Croatoans were a friendly tribe. They lived on Hatteras Island.

[00:11:14]>> This one being thicker like this would have been more toward the middle or the bottom of the bowl.

[00:11:18]>> Scott Dawson is a native of Hatteras and a hobby archaeologist. He grew up hearing the stories.

[00:11:24]>> I saw a lot of artifacts coming up when people were building houses or sometimes from erosion from storms, and it it kind of gutted me to to see that and no one was doing anything about it.

[00:11:35]>> Dawson set out to see if he could find the colonists here, where they all but said they were going, and where no one has really looked for them until now.

[00:11:43]His mission piqued the interest of Professor Mark Horton, a well-established British archaeologist.

[00:11:49]>> And thought, "Well, maybe I could bring a new perspective on this problem."

[00:11:53]>> They began digging in 2009 and have since assembled an international team of experts who travels to Hatteras every spring.

[00:12:01]>> It's our history and heritage as well as yours.

[00:12:04]Um but, you know, it's it's part of that shared story.

[00:12:08]>> Under layers of dirt, the team found what they came for.

[00:12:11]>> We did test the isotopes. It is English copper. You see where earrings become fish hooks and glass becomes arrowheads and >> There is evidence to support other theories. Professor Horton says there might not be just one answer to their fate.

[00:12:26]>> When these colonies become abandoned, you get massive political um ruptions and disagreements and people walking out and things. So, so it's not unlikely that one group might have gone up the Chesapeake towards the Chesapeake up the Albemarle. Um but, I'm pretty confident that one group at least, and probably the substantial part, um come out to Hatteras Island.

[00:12:50]>> I think that it it's almost a duty to learn about it. This is the birth of America. And this is the real story.

[00:12:56]>> It's a story of failure, but these failures are what the success of our nation is founded on.

[00:13:05]>> Maury High School in the Ghent section of Norfolk was named in 1910 for a Confederate naval commander, Matthew Fontaine Maury. During that same period, other schools were named for figures with a racist past. Taylor Elementary School in West Ghent was named for Walter Herron Taylor, who was Robert E.

[00:13:24]Lee's aid. Ruffner Academy, just outside downtown is named for slave owner William Henry Ruffner, the architect of state-mandated segregated schools in Virginia. On the streets of Norfolk, some say the time for change is now.

[00:13:41]>> Yeah, this should just be something we get rid of entirely.

[00:13:44]>> I think the whole country needs to just reconsider a lot of the things, whether it comes down to maple syrup or pancake mix or statues.

[00:13:53]>> Last week, the city's first black mayor removed the Johnny Reb Confederate monument. Now, the school board is laying the foundation to potentially remove tainted names.

[00:14:03]>> I started looking at the names and I can definitely see how, you know, once you look back into some of the history, how some individuals might feel that that's offensive.

[00:14:13]>> Next month, the school board in its governance meeting will take up the issue of the names Maury Taylor and Ruffner. Maury High School rising senior Shinaya Williams has a different take on the name issue. She says if leaders want to make a difference at her school, they should bring in more training for trades, improve food service and security.

[00:14:34]>> It's just a name, in my opinion. That doesn't really change anything.

[00:14:37]>> Regina Mobley, 10 On Your Side.

[00:14:41]>> It's not new or unique to Virginia Beach, but a question being asked to police departments across the country.

[00:14:47]>> There needs to be more people of color, and not just black, but included especially in these high positions. And what are you going to do about that?

[00:14:57]>> How can communities obtain a force sworn to serve and protect that mirrors the population they're protecting?

[00:15:03]>> It's a challenge in national policing to get persons of color to join the police department for a assortment of reasons.

[00:15:12]>> Interim Virginia Beach Police Chief Tony Zacarías says, yes, some of those reasons have to do with the racial divide and the younger generation, frankly, not gravitating towards police work. The latest data shows nearly 35% of the city's population identifies as minority.

[00:15:27]In the police department, that number dropped to 13%.

[00:15:31]>> What we're going to do is I've called together a a police citizen recruiting consortium.

[00:15:39]>> Zacaroli says he is bringing together leaders from across the community to try to figure out a way to find qualified people of color to dawn the uniform. He says already underway are community planned expos and social media pushes.

[00:15:52]>> The bottom line is we need help from all sectors of of the community.

[00:15:58]>> Before the pandemic hit, the department was roughly 60 positions down. The chief says if you have a positive attitude, lots of energy, and want to give back to your community, you should apply.

[00:16:10]Brett Hall, 10 On Your Side.

[00:16:18]>> Some have heard of Juneteenth, others haven't, but it's a day for many that represents the long and overdue struggle for freedom that our country was founded on. So, I went to Fort Monroe to learn more about the day and why it means so much to American history.

[00:16:35]All American history seems to trace back to here at Fort Monroe. [music] >> Fort Monroe has so much significance when you're trying to understand the making of America.

[00:16:47]>> The place where African slaves were first brought in 1619 and the place that earned the nickname Freedom's Fortress after a Union General allowed three slaves that sought refuge here to stay as contraband.

[00:16:58]>> In 1861, you have this contraband decision allowing freedom seekers refuge and [music] they were followed by thousands not only here at Fort Monroe, but across the country.

[00:17:08]>> That helped lead to the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 [music] and eventually the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery in early 1865, >> [music] >> but it wasn't until months later, June 19th, 1865, when the news finally reached those the furthest away in [music] Galveston, Texas.

[00:17:25]>> Juneteenth was um a time of celebration, a time of freedom and liberation uh for enslaved people in Texas, [music] and it it just became a time of of freedom.

[00:17:39]>> A time of freedom and importance that's significant to all Americans, according to state Senator Mamie [music] Locke.

[00:17:45]>> So, that's America's history.

[00:17:49]And so, African-American history is America's history.

[00:17:56]So, when the Union soldiers went to Galveston, Texas, and told those enslaved people that they were indeed free, that too became a part of American history. So, [music] as we commemorate Juneteenth, we are commemorating a part of America's history.

[00:18:20]>> Locke, who spoke at the governor's press conference earlier this week, says it shows that Virginia is no longer waiting around to make rightful [music] changes for the black community.

[00:18:29]>> of freedom and liberation should not always be slow and deliberate.

[00:18:35]You know, [music] and it should not always be around um having to protest for it or having to fight for it. Um >> [music] >> it should be about um just the recognition of our humanity.

[00:18:55]Uh so, um >> [music] >> and I think that the governor acknowledging Juneteenth as a state [music] holiday recognizes that humanity.

[00:19:07]>> So, this Juneteenth may be different for you, or it could be your first time celebrating. Regardless, it's your chance to remember all those who came before and celebrate something in history that brought us closer together.

[00:19:18]>> Juneteenth is really a moment for us to reflect on that, which is so relevant today.

[00:19:25]>> Senator Locke says that some might see this as a day off, but she says like the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, people should see this as a day on where they give back to their community. Now, if you'd like to learn more about emancipation history at Fort Monroe or through the National Park Service, we have links over on wavy.com. In Portsmouth, I'm Cara Dixon, 10 On Your Side.

[00:19:50]>> The events that have occurred across this country over the last several weeks and the emotions they bring about hard to ignore even at the beach.

[00:19:58]As a matter of fact, some community leaders and business owners say they shouldn't be ignored and now they have a plan to make sure they aren't.

[00:20:05]There are many sounds of the oceanfront.

[00:20:08]But if you truly listen, you'll find a group of people who thinks you need to hear a particular sound more.

[00:20:15]>> If you are black, brown, white, gay or straight, you're welcome in Virginia Beach.

[00:20:20]>> The sometimes tough conversations of inclusion.

[00:20:23]>> Take a look at our diversity and inclusion practices and have a real conversation with our staff and employees.

[00:20:31]>> These are just five of the roughly dozen Virginia Beach business owners, elected leaders, and community members who have formed listen, learn, love Virginia Beach. A movement that is pushing those tough conversations on race relations to happen. Richard Maddox, who owns the famed Dairy Queen at 17th Street and Atlantic, says something in the water helped flip the negative perception of College Beach Weekend because Virginia Beach people welcomed people.

[00:20:55]>> We need to make this our way of life 365 days a year.

[00:20:59]>> Their best shot at bringing that feeling back >> to listen to what my family has been through, my experiences, so we can first, can understand each other. You can't understand or learn until you actually listen.

[00:21:09]>> The group is encouraging all businesses and residents of Virginia Beach to commit to making this place a sanctuary for human rights. Former police chief Jim Sivera thinks that in itself could help cut back on crime.

[00:21:20]>> Strong communities, what you're seeing here, will could make police obsolete.

[00:21:24]In other words, the stronger the community, the more the community works towards public safety, the better it is for the police.

[00:21:31]>> They hope to also be out with official events planned soon.

[00:21:35]At the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Brett Hall 10 On Your Side.

[00:21:39]>> This is Bill Deelen and he is the owner-operator of Abbey Road Pub and Restaurant. And in April, his business was down 93%. He was open 50% this weekend and he was only down 20%.

[00:21:52]>> Bill Deelen wants his restaurant to have no restrictions, 100% open right now.

[00:21:57]And he points to the General Assembly that he claims had no input to what Governor Northam ordered.

[00:22:03]>> In April, when they came back for veto session, he didn't ask them to address this virus.

[00:22:07]>> Deelen, through his attorney, argues Governor Northam's executive orders are an impermissible restriction on the constitutional right of assembly. They deprived the plaintiffs of their liberty, property, their business operations and proceeds without anything resembling due process. But Governor Northam's supporters say he knows what he's doing. He's a doctor, other states are getting COVID-19 spikes and we are not. What about that?

[00:22:33]>> I would say that he's doesn't appear to be following the numbers that are out there.

[00:22:37]Did we have any more spikes, you know, back in March when the beaches were littered with thousands of people?

[00:22:43]>> In phase three, Deelen's restaurant will likely reopen 100%. Is Deelen's court action still necessary? Deelen says, "Absolutely."

[00:22:51]>> We don't challenge the governor, he lets us reopen 100%. What's going to happen in September or October when he declares there's another emergency and we all have to shut down again?

[00:23:01]>> A Northam spokesperson responded, "All of the governor's executive actions are lawful. We do not, however, comment on pending litigation. The governor will continue to make decisions based in science, data, and public health."

[00:23:15]Dillion is also disappointed in his fellow restaurant owners who he thinks are with them secretly but afraid to challenge the governor.

[00:23:23]>> people to join and they didn't. And I'm I'm surprised. I got to say I'm surprised.

[00:23:27]>> Are you disappointed?

[00:23:28]>> I am disappointed.

[00:23:29]>> you're a lone wolf?

[00:23:30]>> I am disappointed.

[00:23:31]>> As you heard, Bill Dillion thinks of himself a little bit like a lone wolf, standing alone. But stand alone he does, basically saying to the governor, "Let's go to court."

[00:23:42]In Virginia Beach, Andy Fox, 10 On Your Side.

[00:23:46]>> Now, this is an event that was held throughout the year for the past 20 years. So, organizers felt this was the perfect time to show the community love once again.

[00:23:56]>> Andrew Shannon once again came together for his community in the peninsula today with his Feeding 5000 organized event.

[00:24:03]Today was held at The Alley in Newport News, but the event held much more significance because they were also celebrating Juneteenth, a holiday Governor Northam just announced as a holiday throughout the Commonwealth.

[00:24:14]Shannon says this is a perfect time to remember how to show love to those who are less fortunate.

[00:24:19]>> Juneteenth means freedom. That means that everybody found out about freedom. Uh but we are not free until we continue to to work on behalf of those who have been least served, those who have been socially and economically disadvantaged.

[00:24:35]>> Now, I heard from a lot of people that they were just so excited to be able to celebrate Juneteenth with their community, and they hope to see the same type of event in years to come. In Newport News, Tamara Scott, 10 On Your Side.

[00:24:48]>> [music] [music] >> Mhm.