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Battlefield Virginia
It’s a nerve-wracking time this fall for a small group of campaign managers, with the balance of power in the General Assembly coming down to a handful of close political races. In House District 97, freshman Republican Del. Karen Greenhalgh is defending her Virginia Beach-centered seat against Michael Feggans, a Democrat who [...]
Travis Hill to step down as Va. ABC’s CEO
Travis Hill, CEO of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, announced Thursday he plans to step down from his post at the ABC, where he’s worked since 2014. Hired nine years ago as the Virginia ABC’s chief operating officer, Hill became CEO in 2018 after managing the former state department’s transition [...]
Youngkin signs executive directive on AI
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has signed an executive directive around artificial intelligence, instructing the state government to establish use standards and identify opportunities for the government to use AI technologies. Executive Directive No. 5, announced by the governor’s office late Wednesday, directs the Office of Regulatory M[...]
Va. trade office opens in Taiwan
Virginia has opened its trade office in Taiwan. Announced in April, the office is Virginia’s fourth international trade office and follows Youngkin’s meeting with Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, during the governor’s first international trade mission. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merri[...]
Va. broadband goal includes access for all by 2027-2028
A new five-year plan calls for connecting more than 162,000 Virginia businesses and homes that currently lack broadband access to high-speed internet by 2028. On Friday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin released the plan, as well as volume 2 of the state’s initial proposal outlining its strategies under the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. […]
Va. Lottery reports record $4.6B in FY23 revenue
Virginia Lottery reported $4.6 billion in sales for fiscal 2023, the first time its sales have broken $4 billion, and record profits of $867 million. Profits increased almost 10% from the last fiscal year, when the lottery reported $779.6 million. The lottery’s fiscal year ends on June 30, and the lottery board announced the r[...]
Virginia ABC: Vodka is Va.’s best-selling spirit
Tito’s Handmade Vodka notched its sixth year as the commonwealth’s most popular liquor at Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority stores in fiscal 2023. According to VABC, the Austin, Texas-based craft vodka accounted for $72 million in sales in fiscal 2023, up $5.1 million over the prior year. Tito’s out[...]
VIPC leader to step down
Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. President and CEO Robert “Bob” Stolle will step down from his role in September after 13 years with the not-for-profit state corporation and its predecessor. Stolle became CEO of VIPC’s predecessor, the Center for Innovative Technology, in 2020. Before that, he was the economic develop[...]
Va. Lottery’s Gee tapped as next secretary of commonwealth
Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James has resigned from her post, and Virginia Lottery Executive Director Kelly Gee has been appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin as her successor starting Friday, the governor’s office announced Tuesday. James, a native of Portsmouth and a Hampton University alum, served as president of[...]
ABC reports almost $1.5B in FY23 revenue
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority reported $1.47 billion in gross revenues for fiscal year 2023, up $54.3 million over the prior fiscal year, on Wednesday. The reported revenue is a record for the authority. This is the fifth year that ABC has brought in revenues above $1 billion. As a division of the state [&hel[...]
‘A generational shift’
Updated June 29 Politicians like to suggest every new election is the most important of our lifetimes, but Virginia’s off-off-year state legislative elections in 2023 might actually live up to the billing for once. In November, voters will elect representatives to all 140 seats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, in[...]
Unfinished business
The tone of the 2023 General Assembly can be encapsulated in its approach to electricity rates. With dozens of lawmakers poised to retire, the General Assembly passed a major energy law, giving the State Corporation Commission added leeway over adjusting customer rates for utilities Dominion Energy Inc. and Appalachian Power. Ye[...]
