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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Hope for Life Rescue, located in the Hilltop area, is an animal rescue facility that is currently over capacity.

This is not due to an influx of strays, but rather an increase in previous adoptions being returned.

In the last two months, the organization has been asked to take back 15 animals that were adopted over the last few years.

Pauline Cushman, founder of Hope for Life Rescue, stated, "We have no space here, and every foster home we have is full."

For nearly 25 years, Cushman has dedicated herself to saving the lives of animals through her nonprofit organization, Hope for Life Rescue. The organization aims to rescue strays, find foster families, and secure forever homes for these furry companions.

The group plans to open an expansion to their facility soon. However, even with the additional space, they are still over capacity. Cushman explained that many of the returns are dogs adopted years ago.

She said the facility will take the animal back however, she's reminding those looking to adopt about the importance of considering this decision as adding a member of your family.

Cushman emphasized the need for future pet owners to plan for life's changes.

"You may have a baby, or you may have to move across the country, but try to plan for things that are just normal life events and include that pet," she added.

Hope for Life offers various ways to assess if an animal is the right fit before adopting.

This includes their fostering program and a "puppy sleepover" event, allowing prospective adopters to take home a puppy for one or two nights to see if they are a good match.

Currently, the organization is processing even more applications for foster homes due to the number of animals being returned.

If you are looking to adopt or foster, click here.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Changes are coming for the Virginia Standard of Learning (SOL) tests, and the move is getting mixed reactions.

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, SOL tests will count for 10% of the final grade for students in grades 7 through 12. Currently, these assessments do not impact student grades.

Parents, including Harley Columbus-Boyd of Virginia Beach, are expressing concerns about this significant change. Her 7th grade daughter has ADHD and has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) designed for those with unique learning needs. The mother said the expectations have changed over the years.

“It almost seems they’re prepping the entire school year for a test that didn’t count, but now it’s going to count 10% of their grade, and I’m like, ‘Ya’ll are doing a lot of back and forth, shuffle, shuffle.’” She added, “I’m not saying it’s an easy problem to solve, but I don’t think making it 10% of their grade is going to make them more likely to actually want to try and do it.”

The shift to incorporate SOL scores into final grades is part of a bipartisan effort aimed at improving test results across the Commonwealth.

In addition to the grading change, adjustments will include the introduction of a 100-point scoring system, replacing the current 600-point system. Also, the SOLs will be administered during the final two weeks of the school year, rather than over a span of 5 to 6 weeks.

According to the Virginia Department of Education, SOL tests measure students' success in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.

Heather Sipe is the president of the Virginia Beach Education Association. She has mixed feelings about the changes, but isn’t a fan of having 10% of the SOL score go toward the student’s final grade in that class.

Sipe stated, “It’s a standardized test, and we don’t have standardized students. We are taught to differentiate to our students needs and throughout the entire year to offer different learning experiences… Many of us give free response in ways that the kids can actually show what they know outside of straight multiple choice or standardized type tests.”

Online, some parents expressed concerns about opting out and retakes.

Sipe said she’s glad teachers have time to decipher the changes and inform students.

“It’s going to take us the summer to digest and process, and then that’s when we’ll probably really get the thoughts and feelings of the impact of this,” she said.

Christy McAnally is a former Virginia Beach City Public Schools teacher, now working in North Carolina schools. She sent News 3 the following statement.

“Not every student is a good test taker, and there are other ways students show mastery of the standards. It would penalize those students to attach SOL scores to their grade. Re-testing students just places added stress on children who were feeling anxious to the SOL to begin with. In my opinion, teachers feel the pressure and end up teaching to the test. We need to do away with all this unnecessary testing, especially for elementary children.”

Former VB School Board member, Vicky Manning weighed in, writing:

"I see both sides on this issue. While I wish we could go back to traditional exams as measures of student knowledge--will school leaders actually enforce these? If we are going to have SOLs, then maybe they should actually mean something. Right now, it seems the system is flawed with requiring students to retake tests to memorize the material so the school gets credit. It seems the new model will at least prohibit or severely limit retakes and possibly take up less instructional time. I do like the scoring change to 100."

For more information on the legislation, click here.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Meals in Virginia Beach are getting a little more expensive. While it may not seem like a big increase, businesses News 3 talked with said it could have a big impact.

One of those businesses is The Stockpot, located just a few blocks from the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Co-owner Amber Kostka smiled as she worked, despite being frustrated about the meal tax increase.

Watch: Meals tax, boat registration fee, library cuts included in approved Virginia Beach budget

“Our industry is continuously looked at, not just here in Virginia Beach, but across the state, to kind of make up budgetary shortfalls," said Kostka.

On May 13, Virginia Beach City Council approved the budget for fiscal year 2026 in a 10-1 vote. The budget includes increasing the city’s meals tax from 5.5 percent to six percent starting July 1.

“We net three to five percent on a good year here at our location, so that means at the end of the day, the city’s making more money off the restaurant than we are. So it’s really something to think about in terms of what is a recipe for success. Right now, I don’t feel like we are coming up with that," Kostka said.

Watch: Virginia Beach restaurants feeling impact of egg price increases

News 3 went to the oceanfront to talk to others about their thoughts on the tax increase.

"Oh, yes. Definitely," tourist Carina Potts responded when asked if a meals tax increase woulds make her consider eating out less. "Because I like to take my daughter to eat out. As a single mom with limited income on VA disability, that would definitely limit our ability to eat out.”

Like Kostka, she wondered why the money can’t come from somewhere else.

“I feel like there’s property taxes, there’s things like that," said Potts.

Watch: Will politics keep Canadians away from Virginia Beach? The local tourism industry hopes not

Another Virginia Beach restaurant owner News 3 talked with who didn’t want to be identified said they don’t understand why the tax was even considered. They believe it’s bad advertisement for the city.

The city estimates the meals tax overall will bring in $111 million for the city, an increase of more than 14 percent from the current fiscal year.

“We have a lot of benefits that we offer to our staff, like health insurance, a 401K, paid time off. Things you can get at a normal job. My goal is to continue to expand those benefits, but if I can’t get enough business, how can I do that?" said Kostka.

The tax increase is expected to pay for projects to boost tourism and preserve outdoor spaces.

The school board voted 6 – 5 in favor of keeping the suspension, which was the second vote that failed to pause the suspension in one week.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach School Board met for the third time on Tuesday to determine their stance on diversity, equity and inclusion in the school division.

The school board voted 6-5 in favor of keeping the suspension of DEI initiatives in schools.

Back in April, the school board voted on a resolution to suspend DEI to comply with an executive order made by President Donald Trump.

Then, the board hosted a special meeting on May 6 to reconsider their vote on the school division’s stance on DEI, with a proposed pause on the suspension.

During that special meeting the board ultimately tied with a 5-5 vote, as one school board member was not in attendance.

Virginia code 22.1-75 states when there is a tie vote and not all school board members are present, there must be a re-vote at the next school board meeting, which was Tuesday night.

Tuesday’s meeting featured several Virginia Beach community members sharing their opinions on whether they were in favor of a pause or in favor of a suspension of DEI.

“These decisions and gutted policies are heartbreaking as a teacher,” said one Virginia Beach City Public Schools teacher in favor of a pause of the suspension.

“Equity and equality are two different things,” one man in favor of the suspension said to 13News Now. "I'm all for equal opportunity, which is enshrined in the Constitution, but equal outcome, which is what equity is, is not enshrined in the Constitution."

One of the reasons the school board originally created the May 6 special meeting was due to several court cases across the United States challenging the legitimacy of the executive order.

“The school board hasn’t been clear on what they’re getting rid of … they haven’t given clear guidance on what will be affected,” one student told 13News Now.

During the meeting, there was more insight to what will change under the suspension of DEI in Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

Proposed modifications include removing words like "diverse" from the school division’s compass, and replacing it with the phrase “a wide range.” Changes to the compass could also include removing the phrase “equity emphasis.”

It is still unclear what programs in the schools could be affected.

The school board will meet again on May 27 to vote whether to adopt the proposed changes.

A new strawberry festival kicks off at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend with music, contests, and local vendors.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A new strawberry festival is coming to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend!

The first annual Strawberry Fest at the Beach will be held May 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Laskin Road, near Pacific Avenue and east of the roundabout. It will feature a (strawberry) jam-packed schedule with local vendors, live music, a pie-eating contest, and much more.

Here's what to know about Strawberry Fest at the Beach:

8 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. -- Free community workout with Kayla Cason of Drip Athletic Club

9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. -- Live Music: Take Your Pick Bluegrass Band

10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. -- Live Music: DogJaw

12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. -- Pie Eating Contest (featuring members of city council!)

1 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. -- Live Music: Lost Berry Pickers

3 p.m. -- Raffle Prizes

3:15 p.m. - 5 p.m. -- Live Music: BuckShot

5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Strawberry Fest After-Party at the Smartmouth Pilot House featuring the Tiki Bar Band

Other events throughout the day include face painting for kids, a chalk mural, and local vendors and artisans will be selling their work. At least 10 local farms will also be providing fresh strawberries!

Many local restaurants along Laskin Road will be serving up strawberry-themed dishes as well:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Below is a map of where the festival will be held on Saturday, May 17. Laskin Road will be closed east of the roundabout to Pacific Avenue. Arctic Avenue and Holly Road/Baltic Avenue will also be closed at the Laskin Road intersections.

Parking will be available at the 31st Street Garage event parking. The lot across from Murphy's Irish Pub at 2906 Atlantic Avenue will also be reserved for Strawberry Fest attendees, with a flat rate of $10 per car.

Credit: strawberryfestvb, arterydistrict on Instagram

Festival organizers say parking is limited, and recommend if you live in the North End or along the Oceanfront, to take a bike or golf cart to the festival.

Long-time residents may remember Virginia Beach's long-running Pungo Strawberry Festival.

This festival is all-new, but organizers say it's inspired by the Pungo festival, which has been on hiatus for the last five years. That event began in 1984 and was held every year until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Organizers previously told 13News Now they had struggled to find a suitable venue for the Pungo festival.