Va. unemployment stayed steady in March
Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained above 5% in March, dropping just 0.1 percentage points below February’s jobless rate. March’s 5.1% unemployment rate was 2.5 percentage points above March 2020’s rate. Virginia contends to trend lower than the nation, however. The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 6%. “Virginia’s unemployment rate is steadily improving and […][...]
VMI names Wins new superintendent
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins was named Virginia Military Institute’s new superintendent by the VMI Board of Visitors on Thursday. Wins, who has served as interim superintendent at VMI since November 2020, is a 1985 graduate of the state-supported military college in Lexington. “Maj. Gen. Wins has distinguis[...]
Rockingham County produce stand expands to 27-acre facility
Mount Crawford-based Overlook Produce and Farm Adventures will invest more than $850,000 to construct a produce packing facility and retail market pavilion on a 27-acre site in Rockingham County, according to an announcement Wednesday from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. Located off Interstate 81’s Exit 240, the facility will replace Overlook Produce’s roadside produce stand and […][...]
Fed says Fifth District economy shows moderate growth
The economy has grown “moderately” in recent weeks, with strong production increases, employment rising and consumer spending up in the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District, which includes Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland, according to the latest edition of the Fed’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. The Beige Book, which is published eight times […][...]
Mary Baldwin University announces $5 million gift
William H. “Bill” Goodwin Jr. and his wife, Alice, have made a $5 million gift to Mary Baldwin University to fund the launch of a new hybrid doctor of nursing practice degree program. The prominent Richmond philanthropic couple, who have given tens of millions of dollars to charitable causes, said in a statement that they [&[...]
Hampton Roads bank receives regulatory approval
Integrity Bank for Business, a new bank forming in Virginia Beach, has received all necessary regulatory approvals to open for business as a bank, it announced Wednesday. The approvals obtained include: the issuance of a Virginia state bank charter from the Virginia State Corporation Commission and the Virginia Bureau of Financi[...]
Virginia expands Medicaid access for legal immigrants
RICHMOND, Va. — Ni Kin became a permanent resident in 2002 at 70 years old, but she was unable to work after moving from Myanmar to Virginia due to mobility problems. Kin required more medical attention related to her condition as she aged, but was unable to see a doctor because she didn’t have insurance, […]
Virginia public transit grapples with reduced ridership, zero fare
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia public transit systems from Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads are looking for a path forward after losing riders and revenue during the pandemic. Some transit systems have been harder hit than others. “We are serving a market of essential workers that can’t stay home; they have to use our service,” said […]
German auto parts maker to build $38M Wythe County factory
German auto parts manufacturer STS Group AG will invest $39 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Wythe County’s Progress Park industrial park, creating 120 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. Located near Wytheville, the new facility, operating as a subsidiary of STS Group North America, will supply Volvo Trucks in Pulaski […]
Telecom company SES building $17M facility in Prince William
Luxembourg-based telecommunications company SES will invest $17 million in a new U.S. hub facility in Prince William County facility where it will merge its satellite and network operations, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. The facility is expected to create up to 200 net jobs by 2026. “In consolidating our local SES satellite and network […]
Lawmakers OK recreational marijuana, cultivation
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia lawmakers signed off on amendments that make the possession of small amounts of recreational marijuana and homegrown plants legal in the state in July as opposed to 2024. “On July 1, 2021 dreams come true,” Marijuana Justice stated in a tweet. The group has worked to legalize the use and posses[...]
Leesburg anti-phishing tech company Cofense buys Israeli firm
Leesburg-based tech firm Cofense, which specializes in phishing detecting and response solutions, announced Wednesday that it has acquired Israel-based Cyberfish, a company that provides artificial intelligence-based technology to battle phishing emails and websites. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. According to a news release, Cofense plans to use the data it has gathered […][...]












