Averett files lawsuit alleging ex-CFO, firm ‘drained’ school’s endowment fund
Danville private university Averett University has filed a federal lawsuit alleging its former chief finance officer worked with an investment firm to conceal illicit draws from its endowment that were used to cover budget deficits. In a complaint filed March 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Av[...]
Boar’s Head agrees to $3.1M settlement tied to recalled meat products
Boar’s Head Provisions’ recall of 7 million pounds of deli meat due to a deadly listeria outbreak last year, which put 60 people in the hospital and killed 10 others, has resulted in a class action lawsuit and a proposed $3.1 million settlement. The July 2024 outbreak originated at Boar’s Head meat production f[...]
S&P 500 soars 9.5% to one of its biggest gains since WWII after Trump pauses most tariffs
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks surged to one of their biggest gains since World War II after President Donald Trump paused his tariffs against most other nations, as investors had desperately hoped he would. The S&P 500 soared 9.5% Wednesday. The index is still below where it was when Trump announced his sweeping set of […]
China raises its retaliatory tariff on the US to 84% as it vows to ‘fight to the end’
BANGKOK (AP) — China is boosting tariffs on American goods to 84% and vowed Wednesday to “fight to the end” in an escalating battle that threatens to disrupt trade between the world’s two largest economies. The new rate, which takes effect Thursday, comes in response to President Donald Trump’s move to raise th[...]
Supreme Court blocks order requiring Trump administration to reinstate thousands of federal workers
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked an order for the Trump administration to return to work thousands of federal employees who were let go in mass firings aimed at dramatically downsizing the federal government. The justices acted in the administration’s emergency appeal of a ruling by a federal ju[...]
Roanoke ER doc seeks $20M in landmark whistleblower lawsuit
A Roanoke Valley emergency room doctor’s $20 million lawsuit goes to jury trial this week, with Dr. Thomas Bolton alleging that he was fired for complaining that HCA Healthcare’s emphasis on shorter ER wait times at LewisGale Medical Center and its Cave Spring ER had a negative impact on patient safety. The case is b[...]
Trump threatens more tariffs on China as global markets plunge
WASHINGTON (AP) — Undeterred by a panicked stock market, President Donald Trump threatened additional tariffs on China on Monday, raising fresh concerns that his drive to rebalance the global economy could intensify a financially destructive trade war. Trump’s threat came after China said it would retaliate against U[...]
Panic Monday: World stock markets plunge again as Trump doubles down on tariffs
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Global stock markets extended a severe plunge Monday, fueled by fears that U.S. tariffs would lead to a global economic slowdown. European and Asian shares saw dramatic losses, the leading U.S. index flirted with bear market territory in pre-market trading, and oil prices sagged. The massive sell-of[...]
Warner worried about Microporous $100M grant
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia’s senior Democratic senator, is worried about the possibility of the Trump administration clawing back a $100 million federal grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to Microporous, the Tennessee company planning to invest $1.3 billion to build a lithium-ion battery separator fa[...]
China retaliates as Trump’s tariffs affect world markets
BANGKOK (AP) — Countries and industries were scrambling Friday to respond as President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs hikes upend global trade and world markets. China responded to the 34% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on imports from China by announcing it will impose a 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning [...]
Dow drops 1,600 as US stocks lead worldwide sell-off after Trump’s tariffs cause a COVID-like shock
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street shuddered, and a level of shock unseen since COVID’s outbreak tore through financial markets worldwide Thursday on worries about the damage President Donald Trump’s newest set of tariffs could do to economies across continents, including his own. The S&P 500 sank 4.8%, more than[...]
NoVa govcon firm Mitre to lay off 442 employees after DOGE cuts contracts
Federal contracting firm Mitre, which has dual headquarters in McLean and Massachusetts, expects to lay off 442 people in Virginia in two months. The cuts come after the Trump administration has announced more than $28 million in canceled contracts for the company. Mitre notified the state Wednesday of 442 job cuts in McLean, in[...]