TheVoiceOfJoyce WHRO Virginia Beach local news covers hospital billing opacity and methods to eliminate medical debt, a look at light rail and the use of all electric freight trucks to reduce carbon emissions.

Katy Cady holds her child after giving birth in 2023 at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News. (Photo courtesy of Katy Cady)

When hospital bills aren’t itemized, Hampton Roads patients say they pay the price

More than two years after giving birth at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital, local resident Katy Cady is still fighting a hospital bill that was reduced after billing errors but later sent to collections with a higher balance. 

Advocates and experts say her experience reflects widespread problems with opaque medical billing systems, where patients often lack access to itemized bills and accounts can be sent to collections while disputes are ongoings. 

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Truck driver Mohamed Jomni charges one of NFI’s new electric trucks at a warehouse in Chesapeake on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Photo by Katherine Hafner)

Hampton Roads has a brand new fleet of electric cargo trucks

A New Jersey–based logistics company launched its first East Coast fleet of all-electric freight trucks in Chesapeake as part of a pilot project aimed at reducing carbon emissions in heavy industry. 

The 10 trucks are expected to collectively travel about 3 million miles over the next six years and prevent roughly 5,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. 

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A proposal in the General Assembly could lead to a study of the feasibility of extending light rail to the Oceanfront. (Photo by John-Henry Doucette)

Delegate from Virginia Beach seeks study of extending light rail to the Oceanfront

Del. Alex Askew has proposed a two-year study to examine the feasibility of extending light rail to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, arguing it could reduce congestion and support tourism. 

The proposal comes despite past voter opposition to light rail in a 2016 referendum. It also drew skepticism from Virginia Beach officials, who cite high costs and limited benefits for most residents.

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