Sign In
Free Newsletter
Virginia joins six-state antigen testing agreement
Virginia will be part of a six-state agreement that will expand rapid testing for COVID-19, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The state will purchase 500,000 antigen tests, which the governor says can deliver results in 15 to 20 minutes. Virginia joins Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio in the compact, according to a news release […]
Sentara, Truist launch emergency meals program with state
As Feeding America projects that more than 1 million Virginians will face food insecurity this year, Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare, Optima Health and Truist Financial Corp., along with the state government, launched the “We Care” COVID-19 Virginia Emergency Fund Support Plan to provide free meals to families during the pandemic. The state committed $1.4 million of […]
Va. saw nation’s second-highest jobless spike last week
Coming on the heels of reports that the U.S. domestic gross product in the second quarter dropped to its lowest point since 1947, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that Virginia saw the second-highest increase in initial jobless claims in the nation last week. The Department of Labor reported Thursday morning that 46,524 Virginians […]
Va. hotel revenues dropped by 50% last week
Hotel revenues last week continued to decrease by 50%, compared with the same week last year, according to new data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group providing market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. Last week, STR had reported that the U.S. hospitality industry had marked its worst quarter yet. Nationally, however, the […]
UPDATED: Busch Gardens set to reopen Aug. 6
Updated Thursday, July 30: Busch Gardens will reopen to the public Aug. 6, although not the entire park, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. announced Thursday. The park will open for the first time this year Aug. 6-16 for its Coasters and Craft Brews event. Three roller coasters and the Screamin’ Swing ride will be open, and the […]
Northam restricts Hampton Roads region, bans gatherings of more than 50
Gov. Ralph Northam said he would place Hampton Roads localities on further restriction, starting at midnight Thursday. No alcohol can be sold or consumed at restaurants after 10 p.m., and all restaurants must close by midnight. Gatherings of more than 50 people will be prohibited until further notice, according to a public health emergency order […]
Amherst County launches small business relief program
The Economic Development Authority of Amherst County (EDA) announced Tuesday the launch of its $500,000 Back in Business grant program, offering small businesses up to $15,000 in funding. The EDA received the funding Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for small business recovery assistance. Small businesses can also apply […]
7,697 new COVID-19 cases in state last week; Hampton Roads sees high numbers
Virginia saw a gain of 7,697 COVID-19 cases last week, another gradual increase in the weekly number of new cases. According to the Virginia Department of Health’s statistics Monday, July 23, the state has 86,072 total cases, at a 7.5% positivity rate. The number of virus-related deaths is at 2,082, up 51 from last week […]
Va. unemployment trust fund facing $750M deficit
With jobless claims at a record high, the state trust fund that pays for jobless benefits is expected to rack up a $750 million deficit by the end of the year, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. And Virginia employers already hurting from the pandemic’s economic fallout could face tax increases to replenish the state’s […]
Va. State Fair canceled for first time since WWII
The 2020 State Fair of Virginia has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virginia Farm Bureau board of directors announced Thursday. The fair has run annually since 1854, and was last canceled during World War II. It was also canceled during the 1918 Spanish influenza and the Civil War, according to the Virginia […]
Va. sees 5K spike in initial jobless claims last week
Since January, more than 1 million Virginians have filed initial jobless claims, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. More than 37,000 Virginians filed initial jobless claims last week — an increase of more than 5,000 claims from the previous week, according to a VEC statement released Thursday. “The jump in initial unemployment claims in Virginia […]
Playing it safe
The Virginia Tourism Corp.’s DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant Program will award $866,000 in grants to 90 destination marketing organizations that were heavily impacted by the pandemic, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. Each recipient will receive a maximum grant of $10,000, which can be used for efforts including participating in VTC co-ops, local advertising and out-of-state […]
