VCU scientists studying cancer drug as COVID-19 treatment
A group of scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center discovered that an experimental cancer drug keeps the virus that causes COVID-19 from infecting cells and replicating. Their findings were published Monday in the Biochemical Pharmacology journal and will be tested in a clinical trial at VCU Health. AR-12 has been studied as an […]
Leidos lands $89M Air Force task order
The U.S. Air Force awarded Reston-based Fortune 500 federal contractor Leidos Holdings Inc. a five-year, $89 million task order to support energetics research and development for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OUSD) and the Combat Capability Development Command, Armament Center (CCDC-AC), the company announced Friday. Under the task order awarded by the U.S. […]
VDH reports first child COVID-19 death in Va.
The Virginia Department of Health on Friday announced the first COVID-19 death of a child under the age of 19 in the commonwealth. The adolescent was a resident in the Southside Health District, which covers Brunswick, Halifax and Mecklenburg counties, but VDH said it would not disclose further information about the teenager due to privacy […]
Va. recovers 68K jobs in August
In August, Virginia employers recovered a total of 68,000 jobs (a 1.8% increase from July), but the commonwealth is still 212,600 jobs shy of where it was last year, according to employment statistics released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. “Despite the sizable increase in August, total employment remains way below the pre-pandemic […]
Northam casts ballot on first day of early voting
Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday voted early in person at the Richmond general registrar’s office on the first day of Virginia‘s 45-day early voting period. Amid the pandemic, Virginians, through a new law, are permitted to vote absentee by mail or in person at their local registrar’s office or satellite location[...]
SAIC announces restructuring, longtime executive retirement
Reston-based Fortune 500 defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) announced Thursday it would restructure itself along two business lines as Jim Scanlon, a longtime leader with the company and current head of SAIC’s Defense Systems Group, prepares to retire in January. Starting in the fiscal year [...]
VDOT OKs work to begin on $3.8B Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion
The Virginia Department of Transportation has issued its approval for the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel’s five-year, $3.8 billion expansion to proceed, VDOT announced Thursday. Hampton Roads Connector Partners (HRCP) received a notice to proceed for the project, allowing the builder to start interstate and tunnel work in the[...]
Va. Supreme Court denies Kanye West’s appeal
The day before Virginia‘s absentee ballots were set to begin being sent out, the Supreme Court of Virginia denied an appeal from Kanye West’s campaign, a last-ditch effort by the rapper, producer and presidential candidate to appear on this year’s general election ballots. On Thursday, the court dismissed witho[...]
Four Va. localities earn Main Street designation
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday that the towns of Cape Charles, Onancock, Tappahannock and Tazewell have joined the Virginia Main Street Program, which, through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), provides services to strengthen downtown communities. Designated towns must participate in an application process to receive services including market analysis, marketplace development, capacity […][...]
SAIC lands $185M Army contract
The U.S. Army awarded Reston-based Fortune 500 federal contractor Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) a $185 million task order to support the Decision Support Division for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) in services related to space, space control, high altitude, air and missile defense and cyberspace operations, the company announced Thursday. […]
Va. initial jobless claims slightly drop last week
Virginia saw a slight decrease in the number of initial jobless claims last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday, but the number of ongoing claims has dropped to 50% from the May 16 filing week peak, when 403,557 Virginians filed for unemployment. For the week ending Sept. 12, 10,100 Virginians filed initia[...]
Northrop Grumman lands $298M Space Force contract
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) awarded Falls Church-based Fortune 500 defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. a $298 million contract to help the agency develop hardware and software for a new military satellite communications system, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will build a payload to support the Space and Missile […]