Fairfax, Petersburg could hold casino referendums
Two pending Virginia State Senate bills would change the list of locations eligible to host a casino, adding Petersburg and Fairfax County to the mix and removing Richmond. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology’s gaming subcommittee met to discuss these and other measures regarding skill games, sp[...]
Va. casino revenues total $58.5M in December 2023
Virginia’s three casinos generated $58.5 million in December 2023 gaming revenues, according to data released Friday by the Virginia Lottery. Virginia’s first casino, the Bristol Casino: Future Home of Hard Rock temporary facility, opened July 2022. The Virginia Lottery Board approved HR Bristol’s casino license in April 2[...]
Economy healthy but more work is needed, Barkin says
The U.S. economy is showing signs of health, but bringing down inflation remains necessary, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Thursday during the 2024 Financial Forecast event co-hosted in Richmond by the Virginia Bankers Association and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Economic conditions have[...]
FAA probes Boeing’s possible role in 737 Max 9 cabin blowout
Nearly a week after a four-foot wall panel blew out of a Boeing plane cabin midair, exposing Alaska Airlines passengers to open air at 16,000 feet, the Federal Aviation Administration formally notified the Arlington County-based aerospace giant Wednesday that it will investigate the company’s potential role in the incident[...]
Virginians bet almost $639M on sports in November
Virginians bet $638.8 million on sports in November 2023, up 23.1% from November 2022, according to data the Virginia Lottery released on Dec. 29, 2023. November’s handle is an 11.8% increase from October 2023, when Virginians bet $571 million on sports. Virginia betters won $595.8 million in November and about $507 million in[...]
Back in the saddle again
The political version of musical chairs — aka the 2024 General Assembly session — begins again in Richmond this month, as legislative control shifts once again to Democrats, who won majorities in the House of Delegates and the state Senate in the November 2023 elections. Nevertheless, a 6-foot-5-inch Republican roadblock sta[...]
Visit Alexandria CEO announces retirement
Visit Alexandria President and CEO Patricia Washington will retire at the end of June 2024, the tourism organization announced Friday. Washington has led Visit Alexandria since 2012. She led two rebranding efforts and four brand campaigns and helped Alexandria become a national tourism destination, according to a news release an[...]
JLARC: GO Virginia’s economic impact positive but undefined
The state’s GO Virginia economic development initiative is likely improving regional collaboration and having positive economic impacts, but those can’t be reliably determined, according to a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission report presented Monday. In 2022, JLARC directed staff to review GO Virginia, which [...]
Gov. proposes $90M to launch ‘Va. Research Triangle’
In a preview of his 2024-26 proposed budget, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday that he is including $90 million in one-time funds to create “Virginia’s Research Triangle,” a network between the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech to build collaboration in biotechnology,[...]
$729M federal transportation package will finish Long Bridge expansion
The most significant rail choke point on the East Coast will be fixed as part of a $729 million federal funding package for transportation projects in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday at an event in Arlington County also attended by a[...]
Stoney declares candidacy for Va. governor
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney declared his candidacy for governor Monday, setting up an early contest with U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who announced her own run for the Democratic nomination last month. The general election will take place in November 2025. If elected, he would be Virginia’s second Black governor, more tha[...]
Virginians bet $571M on sports in October
Virginians wagered $571 million on sports in October, up 8.2% from a year ago, according to data released Friday by the Virginia Lottery. About $565.5 million in sports betting revenue came from mobile operators, and the rest, roughly $5.7 million, came from casino retail activity. Virginia’s current casinos are the temporary [...]