SCHEV funds internship programs at 3 Va. colleges
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) this week awarded $535,000 in funding to the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University and Marymount University for the Innovative Internship Fund and Program, also known as the Virginia Talent+ Opportunity Partnership. U.Va. and ODU will each receive $250,000 to connect employers with students and increase […]
Virginia ABC announces next Pappy lottery
Want a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon whiskey without paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars? The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority will serve up a shot at the popular whiskeys in an online lottery later this month. Virginia ABC customers will have the opportunity to enter online to win a chance to purchase f[...]
Fed still likely to raise rates, despite Russia-Ukraine conflict
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Thomas Barkin said Thursday that he hopes to bring interest rates up to pre-pandemic levels “relatively quickly,” while noting that it’s hard to predict the future effect of the geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the nation’s economy. Spe[...]
Youngkin signs bill to conform tax code
This year’s tax season may be a little less complicated for businesses that were granted Paycheck Protection Program loans and Rebuild Virginia grants during the pandemic. A bill that Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law Wednesday will ensure that the aid granted through those programs won’t be treated as taxable inco[...]
VEC reduces backlog by 89%
The Virginia Employment Commission has decreased its backlog by nearly 89%, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The VEC reduced the backlog of employment separation reports from 246,273 to 27,728 and unpaid pending claims from 24,887 to 15,846 claims. “Virginians deserve an unemployment insurance system that is responsive, e[...]
GOP lawmakers push to protect workers who decline COVID vaccines
RICHMOND, Va. – Lawmakers narrowly passed a bill this month that would allow people fired for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine to receive unemployment benefits if no other misconduct took place. The measure advanced from the House of Delegates on a 51-48 party line vote and was assigned to a Senate committee on Feb. 10. The [&helli[...]
ID.me to drop facial recognition requirement for government agencies
Amid concerns over privacy and data security, McLean-based tech company ID.me announced Tuesday it would drop the facial recognition requirement in its identity verification software, offering a new option to all government clients. Founded in 2010 as TroopSwap, ID.me works with 10 federal agencies, including Social Security and[...]
Va. Senate rejects former EPA chief for Cabinet
The Virginia Senate voted Tuesday to reject Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointment for state secretary of natural and historic resources, former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said in a statement, “It’s clear Mr. Wheeler is extraordinarily qualified to be [...]
IRS drops plan to use Va. firm’s facial recognition tech
The Internal Revenue Service is dropping a controversial plan to require taxpayers to submit to facial recognition to access their online accounts, the agency announced Monday. McLean-based contractor ID.me was working on the facial recognition system, which the IRS had earlier said would be implemented on its website this summe[...]
Avula tapped as Va. social services commissioner
Dr. Danny Avula, the director of Richmond and Henrico County’s health districts and the state’s former COVID vaccine coordinator, has accepted Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointment to become commissioner of the state’s Department of Social Services, the health districts announced Friday. In January 2021, Avul[...]
Va. Senate committee rejects former EPA chief for Cabinet
The Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted 9-6 Tuesday against confirming former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointment for state secretary of natural and historic resources. The vote does not eliminate Wheeler’s chances of confirmation. Youngkin spok[...]
Va. bills advance to halt minimum wage increases
RICHMOND, Va. – Two bills introduced by Republicans to halt future minimum wage increases have advanced to the House floor. Minimum wage in Virginia increased to $11 an hour on Jan. 1 and is set to increase to $12 next January. The House Commerce and Energy committee approved House Bill 320, introduced by Del. Nicholas [&helli[...]