New ABC laws go into effect July 1
Starting July 1, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) will begin enforcing new laws passed by the Virginia General Assembly during its 2021 session, including allowing localities to create special large outdoor entertainment districts where consumption of alcohol would be allowed. Other measures passed by the [...]
F-22 fighter jet training unit will relocate to Joint Base Langley-Eustis
The U.S. Air Force is relocating the branch’s only advanced training unit for F-22 Raptor fighter jets from Florida to Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, bringing some 2,300 people to the region, the Air Force confirmed to the Air Force Times newspaper on Wednesday, June 23. “We are thrilled to welcome the F-22 Raptor[...]
Va. new jobless claims dropped below 7,000 last week
Virginia’s new unemployment claims fell last week, as did continued claims, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending June 19, 6,905 people filed initial jobless claims, a decrease of 944 from the previous week. Continued unemployment claims totaled 42,878 last week, down 1,915 claims[...]
State unemployment rate slid to 4.5% in May
Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 4.5% in May, dropping 0.2 percentage points below April’s jobless rate. May’s statewide unemployment rate was 4 percentage points below May 2020’s rate of 8.5% in the first months of the pandemic shutdowns. Virginia continued to trend lower than the nation; the U.S. unemployment rate for May was […]
Va. General Assembly to convene special session on Aug. 2
The Virginia General Assembly will convene in Richmond on Aug. 2 for a special session to allocate more than $4.3 billion in federal relief funding, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday in a proclamation. In May, Northam and Democratic leaders from the Virginia State Senate and the House of Delegates outlined their priorities [...]
Va. initial jobless claims rise slightly
Virginia’s new unemployment claims rose slightly last week, while continued jobless claims declined, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending June 12, 7,849 people filed initial claims, an increase of 639 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 44,793 last week, down 5,468 c[...]
NoVA CEO to be nominated for U.S. Navy secretary
Carlos Del Toro, president and CEO of Alexandria-based defense contractor SBG Technology Solutions, will be nominated to become secretary of the U.S. Navy, President Joe Biden announced Friday. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Del Toro will be the second Latino man to serve as head of the U.S. Department of the Navy, after Edwar[...]
State sees historic 66.2% General Fund revenue increase in May
The state’s General Fund revenue rose 66.2% in May 2021 compared with May 2020, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday, the largest increase in more than 50 years. He also announced the appointment of the state’s new secretary and deputy secretary of finance. May is usually a big month for revenue collections due to the[...]
State program would incentivize new workers with up to $1,000
To combat Virginia’s tight labor market, the state plans to invest $3 million in a program to provide new employees of qualifying small businesses with up to $1,000 to support their transition back into the workforce, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The Virginia Return to Earn grant program will match up to $500 from [...]
New, continued jobless claims maintain decline in Va.
Virginia’s unemployment claims, both initial and continued, fell again last week, continuing the positive trend of the last few weeks, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending June 5, 7,210 people filed new unemployment claims, a decrease of 880 claims since the previous week. Contin[...]
Va. Democratic primary concludes Tuesday
Tuesday is the final day for Virginians to vote in the Democratic primary races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Based on a recent poll by Roanoke College, two familiar faces — former Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Attorney Gen. Mark Herring — are likely to win handily, but the lieutenant governor nomination[...]
Petersburg sues to demolish old Ramada
The city of Petersburg filed a lawsuit Friday against the company owned by developer and former NFL player Chris Harrison, who promised in 2015 to replace the city’s shuttered and dilapidated Ramada Inn with a brand-new hotel, 100 apartment units and retail space. Six years later, redevelopment has not taken place. In Frid[...]