Recent Articles from Beth JoJack
Developer withdraws unpopular Pittsylvania data centers proposal
After months of Pittsylvania County residents and business owners speaking against an $8.85 billion data center campus and natural gas power plant proposed for land along Chalk Level Road, the developer announced Monday that it has withdrawn its rezoning application “The company is now evaluating alternative development options for the property in addition to the […]
Roanoke jury rules ER doc wasn’t fired for whistleblowing
A jury ruled Friday that a Roanoke Valley emergency room doctor was not fired for complaining that HCA Healthcare’s emphasis on short wait times at LewisGale Medical Center and its Cave Spring ER had a negative impact on patient safety. Dr. Thomas Bolton sought $20 million in his lawsuit against his former employer, Lake Spring […]
Chesterfield’s Atlantic Constructors Inc. acquired by Texas co.
One of the U.S.’s largest providers of mechanical services, Texas-based TriplePoint MEP, has acquired Chesterfield County-based Atlantic Constructors Inc. (ACI), according to a Monday announcement. ACI, which provides mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection products and services, also has locations in Roanoke, Suffolk, Sterling, and Wilmington, North Carolina. A request for comm[...]
U.S. Cellular to lay off 95 Va. employees due to T-Mobile merger
U.S. Cellular will lay off 95 workers in Virginia in June, according to a post on the Virginia Department of Workforce Development’s website Friday. The Chicago-based U.S. Cellular’s wireless operations will be sold to T-Mobile for $4.4 billion, the companies announced in May 2024, and U.S. Cellular plans to lay off 4,100 employees nationally, according […]
Averett president steps down after 3 months, citing wife’s illness
David Joyce stepped down Friday as the 15th president of Averett University due to a family medical matter, according to the Danville private school. “It is with a heavy heart I share that my wife, Lynne, has experienced a serious medical diagnosis that will require our fulltime attention,” Joyce said in a statement. “Lynne and […]
Averett files lawsuit alleging ex-CFO, firm ‘drained’ school’s endowment fund
Danville private university Averett University has filed a federal lawsuit alleging its former chief finance officer worked with an investment firm to conceal illicit draws from its endowment that were used to cover budget deficits. In a complaint filed March 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Averett states that […]
Fire causes $4.25M in damages to custom van biz
A three-alarm fire at Roanoke‘s Riverdale campus on Saturday started accidentally from an electrical cause, Roanoke Fire-EMS Chief David Hoback said Wednesday. Damages from the fire that reduced Noke Van Co., a custom camper van business, to rubble are estimated at $4.25 million. “Once you have a structural collapse and a roof collapse, sometimes we […]
Roanoke ER doc seeks $20M in landmark whistleblower lawsuit
A Roanoke Valley emergency room doctor’s $20 million lawsuit goes to jury trial this week, with Dr. Thomas Bolton alleging that he was fired for complaining that HCA Healthcare’s emphasis on shorter ER wait times at LewisGale Medical Center and its Cave Spring ER had a negative impact on patient safety. The case is believed […]
Warner worried about Microporous $100M grant
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia’s senior Democratic senator, is worried about the possibility of the Trump administration clawing back a $100 million federal grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to Microporous, the Tennessee company planning to invest $1.3 billion to build a lithium-ion battery separator facility at the Southern Virginia Megasite at […]
Bank of Botetourt CEO retires after nearly four decades at bank
G. Lyn Hayth III will retire as CEO of the Buchanan-based Bank of Botetourt at the end of June after nearly four decades at the bank, according to a Wednesday announcement. Michelle R. Austin, the bank’s president and chief operating officer, will become CEO on July 1 and retain her role as president. After joining […]