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Pharrell biopic musical to film in Va. this year
Virginia Beach-born-and-bred entertainment superstar Pharrell Williams will film a movie this spring and summer in Virginia based on his childhood, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. There had been rumors about the musical film project, called “Atlantis” in movie trade publications recently, but Youngkin confirmed[...]
Virginians wagered $545M on sports in February
Virginians bet $545 million on sports in February, 25.6% more than in February 2023, according to data released Monday by the Virginia Lottery. February’s handle was a 16.5% decrease from the $652.87 million Virginians bet in January. Virginia bettors won approximately $495 million in February and more than $587.5 million in J[...]
Second new SCC judge is sworn in
Attorney Kelsey A. Bagot was sworn in Monday as the newest judge on the Virginia State Corporation Commission, filling its three-commissioner bench for the first time since March 2022. The SCC’s panel was short two judges after the December 2022 resignation of Judge Judith Jagdmann, and nominations were held up by partisan pol[...]
Fort Monroe Authority exec director to retire
G. Glenn Oder is retiring as executive director of the Fort Monroe Authority in October, the authority announced Friday. Oder has led the FMA for the past 12 years after leaving the General Assembly, where he served as a state delegate from 2002 to 2012, representing the 94th District in the House of Delegates. “On [&helli[...]
Youngkin vetoes cannabis, minimum wage legislation
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation Thursday that would have put Virginia on the path to a $15 per hour minimum wage and set up a retail cannabis market, killing bills that were important to Democratic state legislators he blamed for torpedoing the $2 billion Alexandria sports arena deal he’d championed. Amid a dee[...]
General Assembly tackles consumer transparency, fails to fix ticket service fees
RICHMOND — Virginia lawmakers, in alignment with recent federal attempts, introduced consumer protection bills to tackle surprise tickets fees and recurring subscriptions, but only one measure passed. Autorenewal notification updates — passed Del. Michelle Maldonado, D-Manassas, introduced House Bill 744 to update current st[...]
Franklin County names economic development director
Roanoke County’s assistant director for economic development, Danielle Poe, will start her new job as director of economic development for Franklin County on April 15. Since joining Roanoke County in 2022, Poe has been responsible for real estate development, business retention and expansion and key community partnerships, F[...]
Washington Wizards, Capitals reach deal to stay in D.C.
The Washington Wizards and Capitals NBA and NHL teams are staying put in the District of Columbia and will not be moving to Alexandria, according to announcements from Washington, D.C., and Virginia officials Wednesday. These events put the final nail in the coffin of a controversial $2 billion Alexandria arena proposal touted b[...]
‘Bipartisanship’ fizzled in General Assembly this session
RICHMOND, Va. — Democrats and Republicans emphasized bipartisanship and working across the aisle after the election, in press conferences and throughout the legislative session, but the sentiment seemed to fizzle by the end. Lawmakers wrapped up the busy 60-day session on March 9 after they passed a biennial budget and ove[...]
First of two new SCC judges sworn in
Samuel T. Towell, a former Virginia deputy attorney general and Smithfield Foods associate general counsel, was sworn in Wednesday as the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s newest judge. The SCC governs utilities, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, insurance, retail franchising and the Virginia Health[...]
Va. casinos report $57.3M in Feb. revenue
Gaming revenues from Virginia’s three casinos totaled $57.3 million in February, according to Virginia Lottery data released Friday. The Bristol Casino: Future Home of Hard Rock temporary facility opened July 2022, making it Virginia’s first casino. The Virginia Lottery Board approved HR Bristol’s casino license in April 2[...]
Fed’s Fifth District economy stays the course
Economic activity in the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District was little changed in recent weeks, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released March 6. Published eight times per year, the Beige Book is based on anecdotal information about economic conditions gathered from the nation’s 12 Feder[...]
