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Not with a bang, but a whimper
This story has been updated since publication. Despite lofty promises from Democrats and Republicans, divided government in Richmond meant few wins or losses for either party during the 2024 General Assembly session — and few sweeping changes for Virginia in the year ahead. “The only thing that the legislature really did is the one thing […]
Virginia’s fundamentals remain strong after unsuccessful arena competition
As Virginia celebrates Economic Development Week, there is no better time to recognize that when it comes to success in economic development, fundamentals matter most. Incentives, public sector support, personal connections and various intangibles — like, say, letting a CEO pick his favorite Grateful Dead concert to play during a recruitment dinner — can undoubtedly […]
Youngkin vetoes cannabis, minimum wage legislation
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation Thursday that would have put Virginia on the path to a $15 per hour minimum wage and set up a retail cannabis market, killing bills that were important to Democratic state legislators he blamed for torpedoing the $2 billion Alexandria sports arena deal he’d championed. Amid a deepening partisan […]
Washington Wizards, Capitals reach deal to stay in D.C.
The Washington Wizards and Capitals NBA and NHL teams are staying put in the District of Columbia and will not be moving to Alexandria, according to announcements from Washington, D.C., and Virginia officials Wednesday. These events put the final nail in the coffin of a controversial $2 billion Alexandria arena proposal touted by Virginia Gov. […]
GMU report: Arena project would produce 5,400+ affordable housing units
Updated Feb. 22, 2024 A study conducted by George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis found that the proposed $2 billion Alexandria sports arena and entertainment district supported by Gov. Glenn Youngkin would create more than 5,400 workforce-affordable housing units, far exceeding the city’s goals. The report released this week was requested by JBG Smith […]
Va. unions oppose Alexandria arena, but governor sticks by it
The AFL-CIO’s Virginia member unions announced Tuesday that they oppose the proposed Alexandria arena for the Washington Capitols and Wizards teams and a surrounding entertainment district. The $2 billion deal has been promoted by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and some City of Alexandria officials, while receiving significant pushback from key Democratic state lawmakers and some Alexandria […]
Alexandria arena proposal economic impact report released
An economic and fiscal impact analysis released Friday by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership forecasts that the proposed Washington Capitals and Wizards arena in Alexandria could generate up to $7.96 billion in annual economic output for the state. Additionally, the report says the arena could be completed as soon as 2028 if its construction schedule […]
Lucas: Alexandria arena deal is dead as far as she’s concerned
A bill that would establish a state authority for the proposed Alexandria basketball and hockey arena is not on the Virginia State Senate’s Finance and Appropriations Committee’s docket “because [Gov. Glenn Youngkin‘s] proposal is not ready for prime time,” wrote Sen. Louise Lucas, the committee’s powerful chair. According to a video released by Senate Majority [...]
