News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 28, 2025
Local News
New Kent School Board adopts $46 million budget for FY2023-24 cycle
New Kent’s School Board unanimously adopted a $46,075,167 budget for FY2023-24 as part of Monday evening’s regular board meeting. Of the proposed amount, approximately $42,914,660 will be designated for the general funds. The school nutrition fund will account for $1,734,336, the school grant fund is pegged at $1,159,478, and the school textbook fund rings in at $266,693. The budget process for adoption for New Kent County Public Schools continues to be a puzzle, as the rapid growth of the county has shifted to more needs of the school system. Originally, the school had requested $47,375,167 in their budget. And while…
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Charles City’s $21.2 million proposed budget keeps tax rate flat; focuses on CIP, personnel hires
With a focus on personnel and attracting workers to both the county and school system, Charles City County Administrator Michelle Johnson presented her budget at Charles City’s Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday night. Johnson presented a budget of $21,210,303 to county leaders. That budget includes no tax increase, keeping the equalized rate at 66 cents per $100 of assessed value. Of the $21,210,303, approximately $11,646,546 will be local dollars for the general fund, a slight decrease from this year’s amount. In a competitive job market, Johnson is requestion $1,006,624 in new hires to assist with meeting the demands of the…
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No tax increase part of New Kent Board of Supervisors $105 million adopted budget for FY2023-24
For nearly two weeks, New Kent’s Board of Supervisors pondered on how to address a proposed budget that rewarded county employees for loyalty while keeping their citizens happy. And even at Tuesday morning’s work session, county leaders had sturdy discussions before passing the FY2023-24 budget. New Kent supervisors approved a proposed budget of $105,600,963 at their work session meeting by a 5-0 vote. But that vote didn’t come easy. County Administrator Rodney Hathaway approached the board with a revised amendment that called for no tax increase, keeping the real estate rate at 67 cents per $100 of assessed value. To…
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Lanexa man receives two months in jail for kicking young relative in stomach
A Lanexa man who kicked a younger relative will spend the next two months in jail. Joshua Bryan Lane, 46, entered a no contest plea to one count of misdemeanor assault and battery on a family member during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. One count of felony child abuse was dropped. A no contest plea indicates that evidence presented in the case would be enough to convict the defendant of the crime. In a summary of evidence presented by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick, on Nov. 25, 2022, the young victim told an older relative that…
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Providence Forge man to serve 14 months in jail for threatening to burn Charles City home
A Providence Forge man will spend the next 14 months in jail after receiving formal sentencing in Charles City Circuit Court Friday morning. Richard Gene Wray Jr., 47, of the 14000 block of Crumptown Drive, learned his tenure behind bars on crimes of making a burn or bomb threat and misdemeanor destruction of property stemming from a Sept. 11, 2022 incident During a Feb. 4 contested trial, Wray and Tiffany Talbert were residing in the same home when Talbert didn’t want to speak to Wray on the day of the incident. Talbert said Wray threatened to burn her vehicle and…
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New Kent pursuit results in Richmond man’s arrest on several felonies
A Richmond man who led New Kent officers on a pursuit has been arrested following an Apr. 17 incident. James Alonzo McLaughlin, 39, of the 3800 block of Chamberlayne Avenue, has been charged with three felonies and five misdemeanors as the result of the chase. In a New Kent Sheriff’s Office press release, at approximately 1:15 p.m., a call for service was received about a suspicious vehicle and possible intoxicated occupants. The officers responded to Chesapeake Circle in the Providence Forge area, finding a vehicle matching the description. Deputies made contact with the occupants of the vehicle, with one deputy…
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New Kent School Board to vote on reduced FY2023-24 budget in May
After hearing recommendations for New Kent’s Board of Supervisors at their public hearing on the budget, New Kent’s School Board have adjusted their proposed budget for FY2023-24. New Kent Public School’s Director of Finance Haynie Morgheim recommended a budget of $42,914,660 for the upcoming school cycle. That number is a reduction from the original $47,375,617 originally proposed. Many of the reductions include the removal of personnel hires that include elementary school teachers, secondary teachers, occupational therapist, and more. School board members plan to adopt the new cycle’s budget on May 1 after action is taken by county leaders. New Kent’s…
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New Kent man receives two-year jail sentence for possession of child pornography
Editor’s Note: This story may contain content unsuitable for some readers. A New Kent man will spend two years in jail after entering no contest pleas to possession of child pornography. Timothy Nathaniel Douglas, 34, entered a no contest plea to one count each of possession of child pornography and possession of child pornography (second offense) as part of a plea deal reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. Nine additional charges each of possession of child pornography and possession of child pornography (second offense), and one charge of possession of a Schedule I/II drug were dropped as part…
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Individual arrested after altercation occurs at Pine Fork Park
A Providence Forge resident has been arrested in relation to an altercation Friday evening at Pine Fork Park. Haley Meila Groves, 25, of the 2700 block of Windsor Shades Lanes, has been charged with several crimes stemming from the incident. According to a press release, New Kent Sheriff’s Officers responded to a call for service around 5 p.m. due to a fight at Pine Fork Park. Deputies arrived six minutes later, arriving to find citizens detaining a possible suspect. The suspect was taken into custody and the parties were separated. New Kent Fire-Rescue treated injured individuals, with one transported to…
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New Kent supervisors to evaluate budget after Monday night’s public hearing
Monday night’s regular board meeting and public hearing on New Kent’s Board of Supervisors FY2023-24 budget left pondering thoughts among local leaders. County Administrator Rodney Hathaway proposed a revised budget of $106,603,017 for county operations at the public hearing, adhering to suggestions from the board at a March work session. That amount is $1.265 million less than the original recommendation ($107,868,017). Hathaway rehashed information about the new figure, including $12,948,542 in expected new revenue. That revenue also includes a two-cent tax increase in the county’s real estate tax, bumping it up to 69 cents per $100 in assessed value from…
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