🌱 Patch AM: How a Portsmouth kid from Ida Barbour became a trailblazing judge

Hey hey Portsmouth! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Portsmouth kid from Ida Barbour became a trailblazing judge
• How to win Gladys Knight tickets for Rivers Casino Portsmouth

Also on today's calendar: Inner Peace Summit: A Day to Recharge. Reconnect. and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the fish say when she hit a wall? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Humid with a few showers, with a high of 84 and low of 64 degrees.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny and less humid, temps: high: 81, low: 62.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 'From an outhouse to the courthouse:' How Johnny Morrison broke barriers to become one of Virginia's longest sitting judges (pilotonline.com) — A Portsmouth native who grew up in Lincolnsville and Ida Barbour, Johnny Morrison rose from poverty to become the city's first Black commonwealth's attorney and a longtime circuit court judge. Over 45 years in Portsmouth's justice system, he created recovery court and emphasized fairness, and the city recently unveiled his portrait in Courtroom 4 following his retirement.
   

• Win Tickets to see Gladys Knight (audacy.com) — Portsmouth residents can listen this week for a chance to win tickets to see Gladys Knight at Rivers Casino's Event Center in Portsmouth on October 9, 2026. The contest runs September 14–18, requires being caller nine, and winners must use a mobile ticketing app and follow any venue COVID-related rules to redeem their prize.
   

📸 Around Portsmouth

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Portsmouth

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★ Featured events ★

Sunday September 20
• Inner Peace Summit: A Day to Recharge. Reconnect. →
  Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum - VA, 14020 Thunderbolt Rd., Chantilly, VA,
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday September 14
• Practical Magic 2 at the Commodore Theatre →
  Commodore Theatre, 421 High Street, Portsmouth
  7:00 pm
Tuesday September 15
• Tacos & Talk About It →
  Portsmouth Department of Behavioral Healthcare Services, 1811 King Street, Portsmouth
Wednesday September 16
• Narcan Distribution & Rapid Revive Trainings →
  Portsmouth Department of Behavioral Healthcare Services, 1811 King Street, Portsmouth
• ROC the Block - Douglass Park and Truxtun →
  St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 2714 Frederick Blvd, Portsmouth
  9:00 am
• A Seat of Justice: The Courthouse that Changed Portsmouth Exhibit →
  Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, 400 High Street, Portsmouth
  10:00 am
• Art on the Square →
  Portsmouth VA
  10:00 am
• Art Lab →
  Portsmouth VA
  10:30 am
• Sound Bites →
  Portsmouth VA
  11:30 am
• Music Bingo at MoMac Brewing →
  Portsmouth VA
  7:00 pm
Thursday September 17
• Night of Healing: Why My Mom Screening →
  900 Portsmouth Boulevard, Portsmouth
Friday October 2
• Higher Purpose Consulting LLC presents Health & Well-Being Conference & Expo →
  Hub 757, 6801 Bridgeway Dr, Suffolk
  5:00 pm

📣 Portsmouth Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Portsmouth PatchAM possible:

• AARP Virginia — (866) 542-8164

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Picked this guy up this morning on my walk and got him to an ER vet through Eastern Va Wildlife Rescue.
  Not sure if he was hit by a car or what, but I surely couldn't just leave him there. Hoping he'll be okay. (Nextdoor Elmhurst Manor)
• I've been quite busy this week w/my husband's doctor appointments, grandkids.
  etc. not time wasted but not much for crafts. However with a few minutes here and there I was working in this. Overall, I'm happy with the cats. (Nextdoor Cavalier Forest)

• Yard House Restaurant Company posted a job opening for Prep Cook in Portsmouth. Apply here.
• Dollar Tree posted a job opening for Assistant Manager I in Portsmouth. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Portsmouth here.

🗞 Nearby News

Norfolk

• Norfolk 9/11 stair climb honors first responders 25 years later (13newsnow.com)
• 'Every Step Counts' sickle cell walk held at Norfolk State University (13newsnow.com)
• Norfolk, Virginia Beach Urge Residents to Cut Water Use (tidewaternews.com)

Chesapeake

• Civil Litigation Attorney – Chesapeake, VA (valawyersweekly.com)

Ok Portsmouth! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Dam! (Thank you George G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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