PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Inflation numbers show consumer prices have ticked up again. President Trump said he’s committed to improving everyday life for Americans. 

According to AP, U.S. inflation got worse with rising prices of groceries and gasoline. 

In the latest report from Wednesday, Feb. 12, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics about the consumer price index report, inflation jumped 3% for January. Prices rose half a percent just a month earlier.

It is the largest month-to-month increase in over a year. 

When you go to the grocery store, your wallet might feel the pain. Grocery prices have climbed half a percent in January and pushed higher due to egg prices that have jumped to 53% higher when compared to prices a year ago; these prices are also due to the effects of the Bird Flu, AP states.

Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach confirms bird flu cases, announces temporary closure

Although many might be feeling the pain of inflation, one person told 10 On Your Side they make every dollar count. 

Another said inflation is not hitting them too hard. 

“Just about the same,” said Michael Smiley. “You just gotta be careful.”

AP states inflation often jumps in January due to companies raising their prices at the beginning of the year, but the government season adjustment process is supposed to balance the effects. 

Now, the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not cover President Trump's first couple of weeks in office. But AP's data still shows it could be more difficult than President Trump and many economists had hoped. 

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – A family is grieving the loss of a beloved son and brother after 44-year-old Earl Wiggins got struck by a train early Friday morning. 

Pedestrian dies after being struck by a train in Suffolk

Wiggins was struck and killed by a train on South Saratoga Street in Suffolk. 

A train operator called Suffolk Emergency Communications Center at approximately 3:20 a.m. for a report of a person hit by a train. 

At the scene, police were seen picking up a bike. The family said that seemed unusual if Wiggins was the one riding it. 

“He would walk. He would mainly walk. So, for him to be riding a bike, I guess it was just something spur of the moment for him,” said Vanessa Daughtry, Wiggins' little sister. 

Another sister expressed her devastation over the saddening news.

“It was traumatic. I was hysterical. And then I thought for a second, more like, well, maybe they got the wrong person on his shoulders, and can we identify the person to make sure? How do they know? Is it him? Where is he? Where is the body?” said Shannon Gray. “That's where all of our thoughts were. And we spoke to one of the detectives, and he confirmed that it was him. He had his I.D. on him. So, you know, still in shock.”

The family said they still have many unanswered questions.

“We can't speculate where he was going. We don't want to do that. We have no clue what was going on. He was trying to get somewhere,” said James Pittman, Wiggins' brother. 

But what they do know is that Wiggins will be truly missed. 

“He lights up any room he's in, and he had a smile and a laugh that was distinctive to just him,” said Pittman. 

“My first child, it’s so hard,” said Caraway. 

His family said Wiggins had no life insurance. With the unexpected loss, they started a GoFundMe to help offset the cost.

“It’ll help with funeral and memorial services for him,” said Gray.

The investigation is still ongoing. 

If you are interested in donating, click here.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A judge ruled Wednesday that a lawsuit about Norfolk’s use of license plate readers, known as Flock cameras, will go forward.

With more than 172 cameras in Norfolk, the city tried to get the lawsuit dismissed. 

The Flock cameras don’t just read and capture your car’s license plate. They also take details of your car’s make, model and color, including if your car has a roof rack, bumper sticker or any damage. These images are then stored for 30 days.

The lawsuit was filed last October by a Norfolk resident. Lee Schmidt and Portsmouth resident Crystal Arrington both are represented by the Institute for Justice. The two say these cameras violate their privacy. 

| Federal lawsuit filed against use of Flock cameras in Norfolk

“Our lawsuit alleges that that violates people's Fourth Amendment right to be secure in their persons against unreasonable searches. You have an expectation of privacy in the whole of your movements,” said Institute for Justice attorney Michael Soyfer.

The judge rejected the city’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, citing the United States Supreme Court case Carpenter v. United States, a case that states that using cell phone location to track someone’s movement is a search that requires a warrant under the Fourth Amendment. 

These cameras do not take video or get drivers for speeding or traffic violations. But in 2023, Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot stated it has been used to help crime, as previously reported by 10 On Your Side. 

This also comes as 24-year-old Andrew Sharrold Williams was sentenced to a year-and-a-half for stealing an SUV that police found using flock cameras in Norfolk. 

Soyfer said each camera should be thought of as a police officer. 

“When you think about it, under current Supreme Court precedent, the court asks, 'What is society's expectation of privacy?' And we can look at history to try to evaluate that,” Soyfer said. “Historically, no one thought that police would be posted at 172 locations to write down everyone who went by for 30 days at a time.”

10 On Your Side reached out to Norfolk for a statement. It reads:

In ruling not to dismiss this case on the pleadings, the court did not address the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims. The court’s decision affords the opportunity to establish through discovery that the plaintiffs’ challenge to the city’s use of Flock cameras is not grounded in the facts or the law.

In Virginia, Flock cameras are not regulated. The House of Delegates passed HB2724 in hopes of changing that in its 2025 regular session.

Virginia lawmakers looking to put guardrails on use of automatic license plate readers

HB2724 limits the use of Flock cameras by law enforcement agencies to the following:

• Part of a criminal investigation where there is a reasonable suspicion that a crime was committed
• Part of an active investigation that relates to a missing or endangered person, human trafficking, receiving notifications related to a missing person, a person with an outstanding warrant, a person associated with human trafficking, a stolen vehicle or a stolen license plate.

But Soyfer said that is still not enough.

“The ultimate goal is to stop the operation of this unconstitutional dragnet surveillance system,” Soyfer said. 

Soyfer said they are now in the discovery phase to get all their facts. They have a pretrial conference set for Feb. 20, which will set the case schedule. 

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — When you see fire trucks, you assume help is on the way, but in this case, they were part of the problem for some Virginia Beach residents.

Off Birdneck Road at the Birdneck Village Apartments, some residents park their cars on the side of the streets and in the parking spots. The Virginia Beach Fire Department was responding to a call, and when the crew was leaving, the engine was going through a parking lot. After going over multiple speed bumps, the 1-and-three-fourths inch hose bundle at the back of the firetruck detached from the rear. VBFD said the hose bed netting was secured. 

The loose hose got stuck under a parked car's front tire, and the remaining 400 feet of the hose unraveled, according to VBFD.

“As it fully deployed, it tightened, resulting in the movement of several parked vehicles along the street," the Virginia Beach Fire Department said. "The hose eventually split at a coupling, causing a recoil effect both toward the engine and back toward the 24th Street turn.”

In photos sent to 10 On Your Side from Chris Fagan, you can see the yellow hose on the ground beneath multiple cars in the parking lot. 

Courtesy: Chris Fagan

Courtesy: Chris Fagan

Courtesy: Chris Fagan

Courtesy: Chris Fagan

Courtesy: Chris Fagan

Once it split, it hit multiple cars in the parking lot and on the side of the street. 

Julia DeMoss’ car was parked on the side of the street, and when she came out, she was shocked by the damage. 

“I realized it was totally smashed,” DeMoss said. 

VBFD said all its crew were wearing headsets, and the truck windows were rolled up, preventing them from hearing the incident, and no one was aware the hose had deployed because it was dark. 

DeMoss said her car is totaled. 

“I initially thought that it was just the windshield," she said. There had been some cosmetic scrappage on the hood of my car and some on the roof. But what happened was, because the fire hose hit so hard in the windshield, it turned the glass into a fine powder that leaked into the vents of my car,” said DeMoss.

DeMoss said her car is filled with micro-shards of glass. Her car was paid off, and she said the city has not been helpful. 

“I had to pay out of my pocket and use my insurance to be able to protect myself,” DeMoss said.

10 On Your Side reached out, and the city’s finance Risk Management Division is working to address the damages. 

But it’s been more than a week, and DeMoss has not seen any help. 

“The city operates as its own insurance company, from what I understood, and so they weren't able to put in writing that I would be guaranteed reimbursement on a rental car," she said. "They sent it verbally, but wouldn't put it in writing. And so, I just didn't feel comfortable with how the process worked. I felt that as somebody who was sort of a victim in the situation, I didn't have the support that I thought."

10 On Your Side reached out to Virginia Beach for clarification on its insurance coverage, but we have not heard back. 

There were no injuries reported, and the Virginia Beach Fire Department said the incident resulted only in property damages. 

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – Family, friends and teachers from Larkspur Middle School came together Sunday to remember the life of Juan Acevedo, the 12-year-old who went missing and whose body was recovered three days later in a pond; officials confirmed his death to be a drowning. 

More than 50 people came to sing one more song to Juan. 

“You could tell he just had a really big heart. So I'm going to miss him,” said Juan’s English teacher, Shae Pointer. 

People came to the retention pond Juan was found in to send candlelit lanterns into the water.

“It's a different type of emotion to know that you've lost a student and that this was the place that we lost them. It's just very hard to even be here to be honest because to know that he was here for three days was very difficult,” said Dr. Tamika Singletary-Johnson, the principal of Larkspur Middle School.

Flowers and notes were under a tree near the pond in tribute to Juan.

“It was just an overall blessing for us to be able to come together during this time, just to support each other, uplift the family. And one in a beautiful person. Beautiful spirit and a bright smile from day one. So to just be here today is just a blessing,” said Pointer. 

Teachers and the principal of Larkspur Middle School admitted being there was devastating. 

“I think that's what a school family is about. Not only the good times but the hard times and how we come together. So Larkspur is a strong community, a strong school family, and we wanted to make sure that we supported one of his family during this time,” Dr. Singletary-Johnson. 

Pointer added Juan was one of a kind. 

“From day one, respectful, kind, bright smile and eager to learn. He made friends, I would say, easily. And he just came into the classroom. He just had a—you could tell he just had a really big heart,” said Pointer. 

His principal says they have counselors available for students. 

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Cutting the red tape to in-demand careers, Tidewater Community College is expanding its Skilled Trades Academy in Portsmouth, with its new space offering room for training in the maritime trade, construction and other industries.

STA, off Airline Boulevard in Portsmouth, now has an extra 12,000-square-feet of space to expand its industry opportunities for students. 

The 32,000-square-foot building has students that are learning how to weld or using a forklift simulator. 

“When we first opened in 2018, we were already bursting at the seams," said Art Hall, TCC vice president for Workforce Solutions. "And so we knew what we needed to expand and expand fairly quickly."

The new space was created due to the industries' need for construction trades. 

“Our aim is to be sensitive and responsive to industry, and to make sure that we provide a skilled labor force to fill their labor needs," Hall said. 

The Beazley Foundation and Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo. have named sections in the center that house courses in carpentry, forklift, logistics, marine coatings, pipefitting, sheet metal, ship fitting, HVAC, plumbing and welding.

“It’s super special for us because it’s here in Portsmouth, and that reinforces, again, our commitment to Portsmouth and with the region,” said Anna Bonet, CEO of Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo.

The academy helps students once they finish their courses and stay in the area. Hall said 82% of its students stay in Hampton Roads and help contribute to the economy. 

“The Skilled Trades Academy is extremely important, not only for the students that come in here for the training, for the economy, for the industry,” said Mike Vander Werf, STA program manager for TCC. 

STA is expecting to double the amount of students enrolled. It’s already had more than 130 students enroll in the new programs since September.

One welding student told 10 On Your Side that STA has changed her life.

“It's 2025, like there's new technology, new equipment evolving every day," said Breiona Gray. "I like that here. Like, it's the same stuff we're going to see out in the field."

If you are interested in Skilled Trades Academy, click here. 

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Six dead horses were found, and 22 more horses showed signs of neglect following an investigation in Suffolk, police said Tuesday, with residents saying they've shared their concerns about them numerous times.

Suffolk Police’s Animal Control Division launched an investigation Sunday following allegations of animal neglect in the 1200 block of Buckhorn Drive, and multiple search warrants were obtained and executed at the property and other nearby locations, all of them owned by the same people, according to police.

Previously: Horse in Suffolk photographed with ribs showing has been euthanized, officials say

During their investigation, officers found several horses on the property, including the 22 suspected of neglect and six other horses that were dead and in varying states of decomposition. Police said the dead horses have been taken to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for necropsy.

On Wednesday, more than five horses were still on the property on Buckhorn Drive, many with their ribs showing and covered in mud. 

“I guess whoever owned them thought it was OK for the horses to live like this," said one woman who has reported the property multiple times and asked to remain anonymous. "I mean, right out in public for everybody to see, so thank God there’s something being done now."

While 10 On Your Side was at the property, multiple people driving by stopped to say they had reported the property many times, with one viewer saying she called the barn more than 10 times over the years. One person gave us a thumbs up, and another said she was glad change was coming. 

“I reported to the Suffolk Humane Society twice," the woman said. "I reported how these horses were living in deplorable conditions."

There is hope for the future of these horses.

Suffolk Animal Control was at the property Wednesday with hay, and a nonprofit is ready to help. Circle A Home for Horses rehabilitates horses in Virginia Beach, and its executive director said she is ready to hook up the trailer and go get them. 

“So we have empty stalls, and I've already told the person who's sort of organizing it, and the animal control chief knows that we're ready to take some of their severe cases," said Alicia Mahar, Circle A Home for Horses founder and executive director. "We just have to hook up and head out that way."

Suffolk Police are working with the state veterinarian and an independent licensed veterinarian to assess and treat all the horses on the property, and the Suffolk General District Court has ordered that the remaining 22 horses be impounded.

Police said the transportation of the horses began on Tuesday, Jan. 28, and that the horses are being relocated to several undisclosed rescue organizations and shelters throughout Virginia.

10 On Your Side reached out to Suffolk Police about a timeline and was told it is an active and ongoing investigation. The city of Suffolk confirmed that no one has been charged at this time. 

The Suffolk Animal Control Division, in coordination with the city’s Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, is leading the investigation.