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New Va. unemployment claims down 32%
Virginia’s new unemployment claims declined by almost 32%, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending Jan. 22, Virginians filed 1,940 initial claims, down 909 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 7,543, an increase of 484 claims from the week before. Compared to the same week last year, initial claims were […]
Va. economic growth will slow in 2022, ODU economists predict
Virginia’s economy is likely to grow at a slightly slower pace in 2022 than it did last year, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to make future predictions murky, according to the 2022 Annual Economic Forecast released Wednesday by Old Dominion University’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy. “If we can control COVID-19, the economy […]
Hotel industry recovering, but unevenly
The hotel industry will continue its recovery from 2020 this year, but unevenly, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2022 State of the Hotel Industry Report. “Hotels have faced enormous challenges over the past two years, and we are still a long way from full recovery. The uncertainty about the omicron variant suggests […]
Parsons lands $100M COVID testing contract
Centreville-based defense contractor Parsons Corp. has been awarded a task order to provide COVID-19 tests to Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities across the United States, the company announced Jan. 19. Parsons will supply emergency-use authorized, portable, rapid molecular and rapid antigen test kits to DHS, as well as provide logistics, […]
Virginia ABC stores to change to noon opening
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority will change its daily opening hours to noon at its 395 stores starting Monday. Staffing stores has become difficult as “increasing numbers of ABC’s retail employees continue to be affected by COVID-19,” the authority said in a news release. Store closing times will remain the same. “Like other retailers […]
Va. new unemployment claims up 16%
New unemployment claims in Virginia increased 16% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending Jan. 15, Virginians filed 2,849 initial claims, an increase of 406 from the week before. Continued claims totaled 7,059, down 1,131 from the previous week. Compared to the same week last year, initials claims were […]
Roaring ’20s repeat possible, Richmond Fed president says
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Thomas Barkin said he could visualize another round of the “roaring ’20s,” he said Thursday during the Virginia Bankers Association/Virginia Chamber 2022 Financial Forecast event. Driven by investment and real estate appreciation, the nation has seen a 28% boost in household net worth over the past two […]
Va. new unemployment claims up 35%
Virginia’s new unemployment claims increased by 34.9% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending Jan. 8, Virginians filed 2,446 initial claims, an increase of 633 from the week before. Continued claims totaled 7,895, down 3,367 from the previous week. Compared to last year, increased claims were almost 92% lower […]
Northam calls state of emergency to increase hospital staffing
With an all-time high number of Virginians hospitalized for COVID-19 on Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam issued a 30-day executive order Monday to expand the number of available hospital beds, increase staffing capacity at hospitals and nursing homes, and allow public health agencies greater flexibility. “It is painful to see the number of COVID cases rising,” […]
VDH funds $5 million for new COVID-19 testing centers
As COVID infection rates reach record numbers from the omicron variant, the Virginia Department of Health will open nine new COVID-19 community testing centers across the state to increase testing availability, Gov. Ralph Northam’s office announced Thursday. The centers will offer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, considered the most reliable type of COVID-19 test. The […]
Va. new unemployment claims up 51%
Virginia’s new unemployment claims increased by almost 51% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending Jan. 1, Virginians filed 1,813 new claims, an increase of 609 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 11,262, an increase of 6,358 claims from the week before. Compared to last year, initial claims […]
Looking back
In November 2021, Gov. Ralph Northam sat down for an interview with Virginia Business, looking back at his eventful four-year term. This is a transcript of the full interview, part of which was used in the January 2022 cover story, “A dramatic shift.” The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Virginia Business: What […]
