On the cusp
Once again, Virginia is a significant factor in this year’s national electoral playing field, in which Democrats are jockeying to stay in power and Republicans are anticipated to make midterm gains. Three congressional districts in the commonwealth — all held by Democratic female incumbents — are considered vulnerabl[...]
Juul settles with Va., 32 other states for $438.5M
After a two-year investigation, ongoing federal scrutiny and numerous lawsuits, Juul Labs Inc. tentatively settled with Virginia, 32 other states and Puerto Rico for $438.5 million on Tuesday. Virginia will receive $16.61 million over the next six to 10 years, state Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Tuesday, but the large[...]
Artemis I to launch with help from Va. contractors
EDITOR’S NOTE: Monday’s launch was scrubbed by NASA shortly after 8:33 a.m. because of an engine issue. Weather permitting, if the Artemis 1 moon mission launches from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Monday morning as planned, it will be powered in part by the work of Virginia-based contractors. The uncr[...]
Va. layoffs and discharges down in June
Virginia companies put the brakes on layoffs in June, even as workers continued to seek new opportunities, refueling the Great Resignation. Virginia had 28,000 layoffs and discharges in June, a decrease of 13,000 from May, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data rel[...]
Virginia Lottery reports record $3.75B in revenue
The Virginia Lottery posted record sales of $3.75 billion and a record of almost $779.6 million in profits for fiscal year 2022, the lottery’s board announced Tuesday. Sales increased roughly 15% from last year, and the lottery’s profits increased about 1.9% over the prior fiscal year’s record. The lottery̵[...]
Va. ABC hires chief digital and branding officer
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority has named Vida Williams as its first chief digital and branding officer, the authority announced Thursday. Williams will guide the state ABC’s digital and web operations, communications and education with prevention teams, and support e-commerce initiatives. She started at [...]
Youngkin names director of rail, public transit agency
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has appointed Jennifer DeBruhl to lead the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation permanently. She has been leading the agency on an interim basis since March. DeBruhl, who succeeds former DRPT director Jennifer Mitchell, is on the Commonwealth Transportation Board, serves as chair of the Virgi[...]
EY names eight Virginians mid-Atlantic entrepreneurs of year
Eight leaders from six Virginia businesses have been named winners of Ernst & Young LLP’s Mid-Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2022. The winners, named in early July by the Big Four multinational professional services company, include: 10Pearls | Imran Aftab, co-founder and CEO, Vienna Aireon LLC | Don Thom[...]
Prince George County hires economic development director
Prince George County has appointed Panayiotis “Yoti” Jabri its director of economic development, effective Aug. 1. Jeff Stoke, who became the county’s administrator on April 12, selected Jabri as his successor. “We are very pleased to be able to appoint Mr. Jabri to this very important county position,” Stoke said [...]
Midterm murkiness
Republicans look to extend their 2021 wins in state elections as they closely eye congressional targets in November’s midterm elections. Democrats hold seven of the state’s 11 congressional seats, with three of those having changed hands during the last midterms in 2018. U.S. Reps. Elaine Luria of Norfolk, Abigail Sp[...]
Balancing act
The Virginia General Assembly returned to a familiar configuration in 2022, legislating with a Republican-majority House of Delegates and Democratic-controlled Virginia Senate for the seventh time since 2000. But while the partisan split was old hat, much else about the session was new, taking place two years into the global COV[...]
Va. Beach native to lead Navy Region Mid-Atlantic
The next commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic is a former naval flight officer and Virginia Beach native. Rear Adm. Christopher “Scotty” Gray will take over for Rear Adm. Charles “Chip” Rock during a change of command ceremony scheduled at Naval Station Norfolk Thursday. Rock, who has commanded a region [...]