Bill seeks to clarify workers’ rights for pregnant, lactating employees
For employees who are pregnant or lactating, their workers’ rights are sometimes viewed as vague and can be difficult to discern for them and business owners alike. In Virginia, Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, hopes to clear things up once and for all. Her bill, SB712, is designed to expand upon the federal law that protects […]
Northam announces $292.5M revenue windfall
A mid-session revised revenue forecast has resulted in the state government projecting a windfall of $292.5 million in additional revenues for fiscal year 2020, which ends on June 30, Gov. Ralph Northam said in a letter on Friday to the General Assembly Money Committees. According to state statute, $112.3 million of that $292.5 [...]
Warner, Kaine announce nearly $95 million for Va. affordable housing
Nearly $95 million in federal funding has been earmarked for affordable housing in Virginia, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner, D-Virginia, and Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, announced Friday. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through four grant programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) […]
General Assembly snuffs marijuana legalization hopes for now
RICHMOND, Va. — Going into the 2020 legislative session, advocates say Democratic leaders had an ambitious marijuana reform agenda. By crossover day, several decriminalization bills passed their respective chambers, but hopes of legalization went up in smoke. Lawmakers, who say that the state isn’t ready for legalization[...]
Three-building office portfolio in Chesapeake sells for $8.4M
Three office buildings in Chesapeake have sold for $8.4 million, according to an announcement Thursday from Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based commercial real estate company Colliers International. The three-building portfolio in the Greenbrier submarket was sold by Virginia Beach-based Davenport Group Real Estate Inc./Lefcoe Develo[...]
McLean defense contractor wins $248M Navy contract
McLean-based defense contractor Alion Science and Technology Corp. was awarded a $248 million Navy contract, the company announced Thursday. The contract is for the Navy Continuous Training Environment (NCTE) for architecture development. Alion will provide research, development and engineering to develop architecture for advanced warrior training at Fleet Warfighting and Training Commands. “It is imperative […][...]
NoVa tech companies selected for $159 million Air Force contract
Vienna-based information technology company MicroTechnologies LLC and Reston-based Agile Defense Inc. have been awarded a $159 million Air Force contract to provide communications support, the companies announced Thursday. The task order was awarded by the U.S. Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC). “We look forward to working alongside Agile […][...]
VCU receives $2.5M grant to extend battery life development
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers will receive a $2.5 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop long-lasting rechargeable batteries, the university announced Thursday. VCU researchers believe they can significantly extend battery life, drive down costs and reduce safety risks by redesi[...]
Reston-based tech firm acquires Danish company
Reston-based federal contractor and tech firm SOS International LLC (SOSi) has acquired Denmark-based analytics software company NorthStar Systems, SOSi announced Tuesday, making it the company’s fifth acquisition since 2016, including New World Solutions, Defense Group Inc., STG Group Holdings Inc. and Vykin Corp. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We’re continuing to expand […][...]
Two Va. hospitals ranked in nation’s top 100
Healthgrades has named its 2020 list of the top 250 hospitals in the United States, and two Virginia hospitals landed in the top 100. Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church and Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk are in the top 2% of the America’s Best Hospitals survey released Tuesday. Inova Fairfax was recognized as one […]
Dominion attributes $1B annual earnings drop to SCANA acquisition
Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. reported $1.4 billion in earnings for 2019 — $1 billion less than the utility earned during 2018, the company reported in its fourth-quarter earnings call Tuesday. The difference in earnings is primarily related to Dominion’s acquisition of SCANA Corp., which closed on Jan. 3, 2019, says Dominion spokesperson Ryan Frazier. The […]
Dominion sets net-zero carbon goal by 2050
Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. announced Tuesday a new goal of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its electricity generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. The new benchmark significantly raises the stakes for Dominion, which announced in October 2019 plans for reaching 80% carbon reduc[...]