Judge rules Youngkin’s RGGI exit was unlawful
A Floyd County Circuit Court judge ruled this week that Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative was unlawful, but the governor plans to appeal the decision, according to a spokesperson. Judge Randall Lowe ruled that “the only body with the authority to repeal th[...]
AeroVironment to acquire BlueHalo for $4.1B
AeroVironment, an Arlington County defense contractor, announced this week it will purchase aerospace and defense tech firm BlueHalo for approximately $4.1 billion in an all-stock transaction. Also based in Arlington, BlueHalo is owned by private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners and works in space technologies, counter-unc[...]
Armada Hoffler’s next CEO to assume role Jan. 1
Shawn Tibbetts, Armada Hoffler Properties’ president, chief operating officer and CEO designate, will become CEO on Jan. 1, 2025, earlier than previously announced. The Virginia Beach-based real estate investment trust announced in February that it expected to name Tibbetts as CEO in spring 2025, upon current CEO Louis Had[...]
Volkswagen’s U.S. subsidiary names new president and CEO
Rivian Automotive’s Kjell Gruner will become the new president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America on Dec. 12, the Reston-headquartered subsidiary of the German automaker announced Tuesday. Gruner succeeds Pablo Di Si, who “has stepped down … on his own request,” according to a news release. Di Si assumed the role[...]
Miyares declares run for 2nd term as Va. AG
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares declared Monday he will run for a second term in 2025, leaving Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears a clear path to the Republican nomination for governor. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is prohibited by state law from serving consecutive terms as governor, endorsed both candidates following MiyaresR[...]
Inova pays $2.37M to settle False Claims Act allegations
Three Inova Health entities have agreed to pay more than $2.37 million to settle claims that Inova submitted Medicaid claims containing falsified information. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced on Friday the agreement with Inova Health System Foundation, Inova Health Care Services and[...]
Va. casinos report $57M in October revenue
Gaming revenues for Virginia’s three casinos totaled $57.04 million in October, according to data the Virginia Lottery released Friday. Last month, the temporary Bristol Casino: Future Home of Hard Rock reported about $13.41 million in adjusted gaming revenues (wagers minus winnings), of which about $11.16 million came fro[...]
Smithfield Foods to pay $2M to settle child labor claims
A subsidiary of Virginia-based Smithfield Foods has agreed to pay $2 million to settle allegations it hired children to work at a meat packaging plant in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Smithfield’s operation in Minnesota allegedly employed at least 11 children between the ages of 14[...]
Appalachian Power plans small nuclear reactor in Campbell
Appalachian Power, an electric utility subsidiary of American Electric Power which serves more than one million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee, announced plans Thursday to bring a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) project to Campbell County. The company, which has its headquarters in Charleston, West Virgin[...]
Youngkin announces plan to grow workforce housing
At the Governor’s Housing Conference in Virginia Beach Thursday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled the Workforce Housing Investment Program, an initiative at Virginia Housing that will invest $75 million over five years to spur the creation of workforce-priced housing. The funding holds the potential, according to a news releas[...]
Permanent Hard Rock Bristol casino opens
The bright lights of Bristol shine considerably brighter now following the opening of Virginia’s second full-fledged casino. Thursday heralded the grand opening of the $515 million-plus Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, Virginia’s first hotel/casino combo. Symphonies of sounds, from music to slot machines, indica[...]
Pittsylvania megasite wins $1.3B battery separator project
Tennessee-based Microporous will invest $1.3 billion to build its battery separator manufacturing facility at the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill in Pittsylvania County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. The company expects the project to create 2,015 jobs. The megasite’s first tenant, Microporous will deve[...]