News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | April 4, 2026
Local News
Close vote by planning commission sends favorable recommendation for mining operation in Charles City
A decision to grant use of a special use permit (SUP) to bring a mining operation to a busy intersection in Charles City County will now head to county leaders after a narrow favorable recommendation passed at Charles City’s Planning Commission meeting on Dec. 9. Commissioners voted 4-3 in favor to support Bardon Inc., Aggregate Industries plans for a mining operation near the intersection of John Tyler Memorial Highway (Route 5) and Roxbury Road (Route 106). At the November planning commission’s meeting, citizens voiced opposition to the project as questions asked were not answered to their satisfaction. At the Dec….
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Richmond woman dies in New Kent car crash on Interstate 64
A Dec. 8 accident in New Kent County has resulted in the death of a Richmond woman. According to a Virginia State Police Report, just after 11 a.m., officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 64 near mile marker 213. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2020 Buick Encore was traveling westbound when it abruptly moved from the right lane to the left lane and then abruptly went from the left lane to the right shoulder where it struck a disabled tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer was fully on the shoulder and had its emergency hazard lights engaged. The driver…
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Citizens outraged by New Kent School Board’s implementation of public comment policy
A decision made at New Kent’s School Board November work session has left several citizens in an uproar. More than 50 people filled New Kent High School’s media center during Monday night’s regular school board meeting to voice their displeasure with school leaders regarding the public comment session. At the November work session, school board members voted unanimously to not allow the conceding of a speaker’s time to another person so that they may speak longer. The move was immediately questioned at the work session, but public comment is not received at that time. As the doors to Monday’s meeting…
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Attempting to hide drugs under seat of car in New Kent results in 10-month jail sentence for Deltaville man
A Deltaville man who tried to slide drugs under the passenger seat of a vehicle during a traffic stop entered guilty pleas to several charges during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Morgan Lee Mullins, 26, of the 200 block of Deagles Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug and misdemeanor obstruction of justice stemming from a June 5 incident as part of a plea deal. He also entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of drugs by a prisoner from a violation that took place on July…
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Charles City leaders approve financing for construction of new fire station
Charles City County’s Board of Supervisors approved the financing for the construction of a new fire station during Tuesday evening’s regular monthly meeting. A presentation from financial consultant Davenport and Company provided county leaders an overview of the bidding procedure of the project. An RFP published for bank institutions was issued on Oct. 19, with four companies yielding proposals for a request to borrow $5 million for the construction of the facility to be located on Roxbury Road (Route 106). Of the returned inquiries, two banks yielded proposals: Atlantic Union and Truist. Atlantic Union’s proposal recommended a fixed interest rate…
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Redistricting plan for New Kent County heads to December public hearing
New Kent County Board of Supervisors have selected an option for a redistricting plan that will head to public hearing in December. With a population clocking in just over 23,000 according to the 2020 census, county leaders considered recommendations regarding redistricting at its October 2021 meeting. From there, County Administrator Rodney Hathaway recommended a proposal at Tuesday morning’s work session. The proposal recommended by the county administrator include District 3 losing residents on Farmer’s Drive and most of Polish Town Road (to District 5), most of the area to the southeast of Interstate 64 (with Mt. Pleasant Road serving as…
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Motorcyclists involved in pursuits among nine indicted in New Kent Circuit Court
Several individuals, including a pair allegedly involved in unrelated felony eluding pursuits while riding motorcycles, were indicted by a New Kent grand jury during Monday morning circuit court proceedings. –Bryant Maurice Brooks, 36, of the 7400 block of Courthouse Road, Providence Forge, on one count each of felony hit and run and misdemeanor DUI (first offense). The offenses allegedly took place on Aug. 21. –Tracey Bunting Jr., 31, of the 400 block of North Trellis Court, Newport news, on a lone count of felony eluding of police. Bunting allegedly fled from the police on a motorcycle while traveling on Interstate…
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Lanexa man enters guilty plea to murder of New Kent businessman
What started off as a robbery attempt of a well-known New Kent businessman has resulted in a Lanexa man a guilty plea to second degree murder. Michael Anthony Jenkins, 40, of the 15000 block of Pocahontas Trail, entered the plea during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court as part of a plea agreement. Jenkins also entered straight guilty pleas to two counts of firearm larceny, and one count each of grand larceny, breaking and entering, and possession of a firearm by a nonviolent convicted felon. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick,…
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Inconsistency in testimony leads jury to render not guilty verdicts lodged against Lanexa man
Inconsistent stories stemming from a marriage that lasted approximately three days has resulted in a jury finding not guilty verdicts on five charges lodged against a Lanexa man. Charles Daniel Cochrane, 40, of the 9800 block of Crossover Road, had verdicts of innocence returned on one count of breaking and entering, abduction, misdemeanor assault and battery, misdemeanor destruction of property, and misdemeanor assault and battery of a family member during Monday’s trial in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of unlawful wounding was dismissed. Cochrane met Amanda Hornbeck in late 2020. After two weeks of getting to know each other,…
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Adkins, McBeath retain seats in special election
Byron Adkins Sr. will remain as the District 3 supervisor in Charles City County and Margaret “Molly” McBeath will continue to serve as New Kent School Board District 5 representative after a special election took place Tuesday evening as part of the general election. Adkins, who ran unopposed or his seat, accumulated 96.2 percent of the votes to serve out the remaining two years as the District 3 leader in Charles City. McBeath, who also ran an uncontested race for her District 5 school board chair seat in New Kent, notched 96.3 percent of votes to remain in that position….
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