Government | Politics
AMANDA CHASE SENATOR, SENATE OF VIRGINIA, CHESTERFIELD Chase is a proud, even defiant, conservative. She is an adamant backer of gun rights who has been known to pack heat on the statehouse floor, and she believes that abortion should be outlawed. A Virginia Tech graduate and former campaign manager for several conservative Virginia candidates, Chase […]
Va. saw slight decrease in initial jobless claims last week
More than 11,000 Virginians filed initial jobless claims last week — a decrease of nearly 4,000 claims from the previous week, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. The number of initial claims filed during the Aug. 22 filing week fell to near the average weekly volume in 2009, according to the VEC. However, 249,745 people […]
11 Va. employers recognized for hiring veterans
Eleven Virginia employers received this year’s Virginia Values Veterans Awards, which were announced Wednesday during the virtual 2020 Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Conference, which is hosted by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) and the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (VVSF). “Virginia is home to a […[...]
10 Va. companies graduate from VEDP’s export trade program
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday that 10 Virginia companies have graduated from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program, which now has more than 300 graduated companies. The VALET program helps Virginia companies to establish domestic operations for exports and encourages using international exporting as a growth strategy. Du[...]
State awards $278K to COVID-19 economic recovery projects
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that the state has awarded $278,000 among 18 economic revitalization projects in Virginia as part of the state’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan. “Downtown districts are the lifeblood of our communities and our local economies and they need our support now more than ever,” Northam said in a statement. “Main Street […]
Va. Supreme Court grants eviction moratorium through Sept. 7
The Supreme Court of Virginia granted a temporary statewide eviction moratorium to begin Aug. 10 and remain in effect through Sept. 7, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The moratorium halts all eviction proceedings related to rent payment failures due to the pandemic. Northam requested the moratorium in a letter to the state’s highest court on […]
Va. first state to launch COVID-19 tracking app
Virginia on Wednesday became the first state in the nation to launch an app that offers alerts to people who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The app, Covidwise, is available for Apple and Android devices. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology (which does not drain phone batteries) […]
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 […]
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 […]
State deficit stands at $236.5M, down from $1B spring forecast
The state’s fiscal year 2020 deficit, predicted at one point to reach as much as $1 billion, stands at $236.5 million, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. Also, the state’s revenues increased by 2% compared to fiscal year 2019. The news comes as the General Assembly prepares to meet in August to make adjustments to the […]
Va. is first Southern state to join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday that Virginia is the first Southern state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a collaborative among Northeast and mid-Atlantic states intended to combat climate change and reduce power sector greenhouse gas emissions through a “cap-and-invest” program. “As the southernmost state to join RGGI, Virginia is sending a powerful [&h[...]
Va. Minority Business Commission starts Wednesday
With the initiation of a swath of bills passed during the most recent Virginia General Assembly session, the bill that creates the Minority Business Commission went into effective Wednesday, July 1. The Minority Business Commission will provide policy input and operational guidance to the General Assembly with a goal of addressing challenges facing minority business […]