Earle-Sears has faced tough races before. Her campaign for Virginia governor is no different
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is used to facing formidable obstacles in her political campaigns, and her bid to be Virginia’s next governor is no exception. The Jamaican immigrant, Marine veteran and devout Christian will first need to win the Republican primary in June at a time when her party has been […]
Fairfax casino bill appears to be dead, following subcommittee vote
A bill that would have given Fairfax County the right to hold a casino referendum is likely dead for the 2025 session, after passing a vote last week in the Virginia State Senate. Senate Bill 982, introduced by Democratic Sen. Scott Surovell, was passed by for the day — in other words, not passed along […]
Spanberger leads Earle-Sears in early state polling
It’s still early days, but in Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial race, Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger leads Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in a pair of new statewide polls. In the Virginia Commonwealth University Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs poll released Friday, former U.S. Rep. Spanberger has the support of 44% of people polled, and […]
Va. to receive $107.4M in updated opioids settlement
Virginia stands to receive up to $107.4 million in a multistate settlement proposed by OxyContin producer Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Thursday. The defendants in the federal case have offered to pay $7.4 billion to 14 states to settle claims that under the leadership of the […]
Richmond water crisis shuts down many restaurants, businesses
Jan. 9 update: Richmond starts water testing, but city remains under boil water advisory “Dry January” became all too literal in Richmond, where most city residents and businesses were struggling with a water outage that started Monday afternoon and was still leaving much of a city with a population of more than 225,000 people without […]
What to expect from the 2025 Va. General Assembly
The General Assembly enters the fourth year in the gubernatorial cycle with even more gridlock than usual. Democrats hold narrow majorities in both the House of Delegates and Senate, but are vulnerable to vetoes by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who begins the final year of his constitutionally mandated single term. Hopes for bipartisan compromise were […]
Judge rules Youngkin’s RGGI exit was unlawful
A Floyd County Circuit Court judge ruled this week that Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative was unlawful, but the governor plans to appeal the decision, according to a spokesperson. Judge Randall Lowe ruled that “the only body with the authority to repeal the RGGI regulation would be […]
Youngkin announces plan to grow workforce housing
At the Governor’s Housing Conference in Virginia Beach Thursday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled the Workforce Housing Investment Program, an initiative at Virginia Housing that will invest $75 million over five years to spur the creation of workforce-priced housing. The funding holds the potential, according to a news release from the Governor’s Office, to “catalyze $750 […]
Va. appoints new DRPT director
Tiffany Robinson is the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s new director, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. Robinson succeeds Zach Trogdon, who has served as acting director since Jennifer DeBruhl retired July 1. Robinson has almost 15 years of experience in state and local government, according to a DRPT news release issued Tuesday. She […]
Va. tourism generated $33.3B for 2023
Virginia’s tourism industry generated $33.3 billion in visitor spending in 2023, an increase of nearly 10% over 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. “The commonwealth’s record-breaking visitor spending numbers are a testament to our abundance of attractions and unique destinations,” Gov. Youngkin stated in a news release. Virginia’s tourism industry supported over 224,000 jobs[...]
Top Five August 2024
The five most popular daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from June 12 to July 12 included news of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointees now holding a majority on the governing boards of Virginia’s state colleges and universities. 1 | Youngkin peppers university boards with GOP power players New members included some conservative movers […]
Broadband aid
A couple of Holstein cows poke their heads through the metal gates of the barn as Mark Sowers fiddles with one of his most important pieces of farm equipment — a smartphone. Sowers opens an app on his phone that gives him real-time information from the nearly 300 milking cows that roam Huckleberry Dairy, the […]