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Power outage at Virginia International Gateway leads to port backup

Power was out early morning Friday at the , the privately owned container terminal leased by the , leading to a several-hour halt in service while electricity was restored and the terminal’s systems were restarted.

According to port spokesman Joe Harris, the outage occurred for about four hours, and electricity was restored by 9 a.m. However, it took about two more hours, until 11 a.m., for all of the terminal’s systems to be back online and operating, he said. VIG is one of the port’s two main container terminals.

“You don’t want to rush it back online and cause a problem,” Harris said.

According to spokesperson Cherise Newsome, the outage was reported to Dominion around 6:40 a.m. “Our crew assisted the Port of Virginia and found a fault on the power equipment,” she said in an email. “Power was restored around 9 a.m.”

Truck gates at VIG reopened at about 11:30 a.m. Friday, according to the port’s website, and the terminal’s truck gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday to handle any delayed traffic from Friday.

Truck gates will also be open all day Saturday at the Pinner’s Point Container Yard, the Portsmouth Chassis Yard and the Reefer Service Area. Typically the gates are closed during the weekend.

According to the Port of Virginia’s weekly metrics, there were more than 16,000 gate transactions a week at VIG in March, which averages to more than 3,000 transactions a day.

U.Va. eyes $72M replacement data center

The ‘s data center is nearing its maximum capacity. So, school leaders think it’s time to build a new one, estimated to cost $72 million, to aid faculty and researchers in their work.

“We can already see that our researchers are experiencing significant delays in their ability to access the computational resources,” Kelly Doney, a vice president and chief information officer at the University of Virginia, told the members of the ‘ finance committee at a March 7 meeting. “This is a big factor in terms of faculty recruiting and retention, and we want to be competitive with other schools when we’re looking for those top-notch faculty to bring here to .”

Doney believes the university’s current data center will be able to hang on until 2029. To have another data center ready by that time, Mr. Jefferson’s University will need to begin construction on a new facility next year.

The school’s current data center, according to the March presentation, cannot be expanded due to its physical location as well as cooling and power limitations. A request for details about the current U.Va data center and the planned project was not returned Friday by university officials.

Initially, the new university data center will have a 4-megawatt capacity, but it will be able to expand to 15 megawatts.

The identified site for the new facility is at Fontaine Research Park, off U.Va. grounds, about two miles southwest of the university’s historic Lawn.

“It is conveniently located adjacent to the Fontaine Energy Plant, which is fantastic for us, because that really enables some great efficiencies through geothermal heating and cooling, and we’re able to share back the excess heat generated through that data center for other needs on grounds,” Doney explained.

The Fontaine Energy Plant is slated to open in 2026, according to news reports.

University officials analyzed three options for meeting the campus’ computing needs, according to the presentation. U.Va. could operate its own equipment in a data center owned by someone else. The university could also purchase time on major cloud providers. The research showed that the university building its own own data center would be most cost effective.

Josh Baller, associate vice president for research computing at U.Va., said that while applications are currently increasing demand for power and computing capacity, the data center will help the university grow into other future usages as well, even if tools become more efficient in power usage. “It really just opens up the potential for more research that our faculty could be engaged in, rather than negating the need for this,” he said.

The goal at the March presentation was to provide the finance committee with an overview of the project. When the committee reconvenes in June, it may make a decision about whether or not to move forward with the project.

Trump administration cancels Jefferson Lab operator search

The has cancelled its search for a new operator and manager of ‘ , as the current operator’s is set to expire at the end of May — prompting speculation of what the federally funded lab’s future entails.

The DOE said in a statement that it plans to rebid the contract to manage and operate the in a way that more closely aligns with President Donald Trump’s priorities, and tweeted this month that the Trump administration has a vision for the future of Jefferson Lab and its work. However, questions remain about the timeline of a new management contract and how the function of the lab could change under the Trump administration.

In February 2024, under President Joe Biden, the DOE initiated a competition for the selection of a management and operating contractor for the facility, and issued Requests for Proposals in July 2024. According to an informational meeting presentation in March 2024, the DOE had hoped to award the contract earlier this month.

The lab, under the Biden administration, has been awarded several significant projects. In 2023, the DOE announced it would lead a $300 million to $500 million data science computing hub, the High Performance Data Facility hub, that will make scientific data more accessible nationwide. The project was set to include the building of a data center that is expected to be operational by fiscal 2028. Also, researchers at the lab are working on a project to eliminate harmful chemicals — known as “forever chemicals” — in drinking water through 2026.

But on Feb. 28, the DOE issued a special notice saying the solicitation for a new management and operating contractor was cancelled. The lab is currently operated by Jefferson Science Associates, a limited liability company created by the Southeastern Universities Research Association. Its contract is set to expire May 31.

“The cancellation is necessary because key elements of the solicitation’s statement of work and evaluation criteria do not adequately reflect or align with the priorities of the current administration, as outlined in several executive orders issued by President Trump,” the notice said, without elaborating which orders they were. Since taking office Jan. 20, the president has issued hundreds of executive orders, many of which roll back priorities of former President Biden, including DEI and renewable energy initiatives.

The DOE sent Virginia Business a statement indicating it intends to rebid the contract, saying it remains committed to “restoring America’s leadership in , energy and innovation,” and that Jefferson Lab is a critical part of the DOE’s National Laboratory complex, which includes 17 labs across the nation conducting multidisciplinary research, some going back as long as 70 years.

“Regarding the solicitation, the source selection authority did not believe that any of the bids would allow for the long-term success of Jefferson Lab,” said a DOE spokesperson in a emailed statement. “The current contract remains in effect. The department will ensure the seamless continuation of operations while evaluating the best path forward, including a new solicitation process to secure strong leadership that aligns with our mission of maintaining America’s technological and scientific edge.”

The spokesperson did not answer whether the current contract with SURA would be extended or for how long. The DOE also did not answer what changes will be made in the new proposal to better align with the Trump administration’s goals.

“While we cannot share the details at this time, our priority is to make decisions that serve the best interests of the United States, ensuring that Jefferson Lab remains a pillar of innovation and economic growth for Newport News and the nation,” the spokesperson said.

Jefferson Lab officials declined to comment, and SURA did not respond to requests for comment.

Like other federal workplaces, the Jefferson Lab is going through a great of uncertainty under Trump, who has made moves to slash federal spending and federal jobs, as well as placing most government agencies under a hiring freeze. Some federal departments and agencies have been closed, and according to the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire , the federal government plans to sell many of its buildings and end hundreds of its leases nationwide. 

Many of Trump’s layoffs and agency closures are being opposed in court, and some actions have been paused by federal judges, but it’s unclear which jobs, projects and departments will remain after the dust clears.

On March 12, Youngkin posted on social media platform X that he had spoken with Energy Secretary Chris Wright about the future of Jefferson Labs and had “Great News!”

“The management contract will be recompeted with a new, clean RFP that’s in line with the Trump Administration’s vision for the future of this important institution,” Youngkin wrote. “I’ve invited him to join me for a tour of JLAB soon. Thank you, Mr. Secretary!”

Youngkin’s spokesperson Peter Finocchio declined to provide any further information.

The Virginian-Pilot reported though, that Youngkin told reporters on Wednesday that the current management contract is to be extended while the DOE rebids the contract.

“There was some concern that the management contract that had been out for an RFP prior to the transition of the new administration had been completely terminated, and therefore, [would] that mean something bad for Jefferson Lab?” Youngkin said, according to the Pilot’s reporting. “The reality is no. What they have communicated clearly is that some of the priorities in what they would want in a management contract were not in the previous RFP. They’re going to extend the current management contract, rebid it, but are very much supportive of Jefferson Labs.”

ODU taps new dean of Eastern Virginia Medical School

Dr. Judette Louis, a maternal-fetal health physician from the University of South Florida, will be the next of the Eastern Virginia Medical School within Old Dominion’s newly created health sciences college, announced this week.

Louis will start Sept. 2 as dean of the at ODU. According to a university spokesperson, she will succeed Dr. Alfred Abuhamad as dean of the medical school, while he will retain his title as executive vice president for health sciences, a position created last year when the formerly independent EVMS integrated into ODU in July 2024.

Abuhamad, in that role, oversees all of the colleges and schools associated with the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU, and each of those programs have deans. Upon Abuhamad’s promotion to executive vice president, ODU conducted a search for his replacement as the medical school’s dean.

Louis currently serves as the James M. Ingram Professor and chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology in the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida health system, with a joint faculty appointment in the USF Health School of Public Health. Additionally, she is director of the USF Health Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center Obstetrical Satellite Programs.

“Dr. Louis is a widely regarded physician-scientist with extensive leadership experience in an academic health center,” Abuhamad said in a statement. “She is also a fellowship-trained maternal-fetal medicine physician and a national leader within the field.”

During her career, Louis has collaborated with the Florida Perinatal Collaborative, a consortium of professionals dedicated to the advancement of perinatal , and led statewide initiatives to improve outcomes during childbirth and postpartum. She has also worked on programs designed to increase access to care.

“Her experiences and knowledge will be vital as we continue our work to address similar health challenges here in southeastern Virginia,” Abuhamad said.

Louis, who has authored more than 150 scientific articles and book chapters, specializes in studying obstructive sleep apnea in pregnancy and its implications for maternal and infant health. She’s also studied hypertensive disease in pregnancy, maternal morbidity and mortality and cardiometabolic consequences of sleep disorders.

After earning a master of public health degree from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, Louis earned her medical degree from MCP Hahnemann University, now Drexel University College of Medicine in Pennsylvania.

In July 2024, after more than two years of planning, Old Dominion merged with Eastern Virginia Medical School to form the largest suite of health care programs in the state.

The newly integrated entity, in recognition of a $20 million gift from Joan Brock, is known as Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at . Dennis and Jan Ellmer also gave $20 million, announced in June 2024, to provide scholarships to students pursuing health sciences degrees at ODU.

Stock market today: Wall Street slips and heads for a fifth straight weekly loss

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell in morning trading Friday and Wall Street is veering toward its fifth straight weekly loss.

The fell 0.6%. The index, which is a benchmark for the broader market’s health, is facing its worst weekly losing streak in nearly two years.

The fell 228 points, or 0.5%, as of 11:19 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.6%.

stocks were the biggest weight on the market. The sector has been at the center of much of the market’s recent sell-off in a reversal from their market-driving gains throughout the previous year.

The stocks are among the most valuable on Wall Street and have outsized impacts on the whether the market gains or loses ground.

Nvidia fell 1.7% and Microsoft fell 0.6%.

Stocks have been losing ground for weeks over uncertainty about the direction of the U.S. economy. A trade war between the U.S. and its key trading partners threatens to worsen inflation and hurt both consumers and businesses. Inflation remains stubbornly above the Federal Reserve’s goal of 2% and tariffs could hurt the central bank’s efforts to ease the rate of inflation.

Businesses have been warning investors about tariffs, inflation and growing uncertainty about the impact to costs.

Nike slumped 6.5% after it forecast a steep decline in revenue in the current quarter, blaming geopolitical dynamics, new tariffs by the Trump administration and a less confident consumer.

FedEx tumbled 9% after the package delivery company said it expects revenue to be flat to slightly down year-over-year and lowered its per-share profit guidance.

Homebuilder Lennar fell 5.5% after giving investors a weaker-than-expected forecast for new orders and average sales prices for the current quarter. It said high interest rates, inflation, and waning consumer confidence are weighing on an already tough housing market.

High interest rates have been a key issue for the housing market. The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate steady at its most recent meeting this week as it assesses the potential impact from tariffs and other U.S. policy shifts.

The Fed cut interest rates through the end of last year amid consistently easing inflation rates, but has been holding steady so far in 2025. Lower rates can bolster the economy, but they can also push inflation higher.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has acknowledged that the economy remains solid, but stressed that uncertainty is making forecasting difficult.

A recent batch of economic reports on home sales, industrial production and unemployment reinforced the view that the economy is holding strong. But other reports on consumer sentiment and retail sales have revealed rising caution from consumers.

In the bond market, Treasury yields mostly held steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.24% from 4.23% late Thursday.

Airlines were under pressure. A fire knocked out power at London’s Heathrow Airport, forcing it to shut down and disrupting global travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Ryanair Holdings fell 1.6%.

U.S.-based airlines, including American Airlines and United Airlines, held relatively steady.
Markets in Europe fell. Britain’s FTSE 100 shed 0.6% after the Bank of England held its main interest rate steady a day earlier.

Germany’s DAX slipped 0.7%. German lawmakers voted for a budget that will boost and infrastructure spending.
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Jiang Junzhe and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

Eyeing China threat, Trump announces Boeing wins contract for secretive future fighter jet

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Friday that will build the Air Force’s future fighter jet, which the Pentagon says will have stealth and penetration capabilities that far exceed those of its current fleet and is essential in a potential conflict with .

Known as , or , the manned jet will serve as quarterback to a fleet of future drone aircraft designed to be able to penetrate the air defenses of China and any other potential foes. The initial to proceed with production on a version for the Air Force version is worth an estimated $20 billion.

Trump, who announced the award at the White House with Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force leadership, said the new fighter would be named the F-47. Gen. David Allvin, chief of staff of the Air Force, said, “We’re going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare with this.”

Hegseth said the future fleet “sends a very clear, direct message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere.”

Critics have questioned the cost and the necessity of the program as the Pentagon is still struggling to fully produce its current most advanced jet, the F-35, which is expected to cost taxpayers more than $1.7 trillion over its lifespan. In addition, the Pentagon’s future stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, will have many of the same cutting edge technologies in advanced materials, , propulsion and stealth.

More than 1,100 F-35s have already been built for the U.S. and multiple international partners.

FILE - The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is unveiled at Northrop Grumman, Dec. 2, 2022, in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
FILE – The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is unveiled at Northrop Grumman, Dec. 2, 2022, in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

A fleet of about 100 future B-21 stealth bombers at an estimated total cost of at least $130 billion is also planned. The first B-21 aircraft are now in test flights.

With evolving drone and space warfare likely to be the center of any fight with China, Dan Grazier, a military procurement analyst, questions whether “another exquisite manned fighter jet really is the right platform going forward.” Grazier, director of the national security reform program at the Stimson Center, said $20 billion is “just seed money. The total costs coming down the road will be hundreds of billions of dollars.”

Few details of what the new NGAD fighter would look like have been public, although Trump said early versions have been conducting test flights for the last five years. Renderings by both Lockheed Martin and Boeing have highlighted a flat, tail-less aircraft with a sharp nose.

A separate Navy contract for its version of the NGAD fighter is still under competition between Northrop Grumman and Boeing.

Last year, the Biden administration’s Air Force secretary, Frank Kendall, ordered a pause on the NGAD program to review if the aircraft was still needed or if the program, which was first designed in 2018, needed to be modified to reflect the past few years of warfighting advances.

That review by think tanks and academia examined what conflict with China would look like with NGAD and then without it — and determined that NGAD was still needed. Kendall then left the decision on which firm would build the fighter jet to the incoming Trump administration, a defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to provide details on the decision-making.

NGAD will bring “an entirely different level of low observability,” the official said. It will also have a much longer range than the F-35 or other current fighter jets, so it will require less refueling. A future unmanned version of NGAD also is planned as the Pentagon improves the AI for the aircraft, the official said.

HII awarded $147M contract to assist Navy

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ McLean-based Mission Technologies division has been awarded a $147 million to support shipboard and shore-based combat services for the .

, which made the announcement Tuesday, says the five-year task order will provide engineering support for every aspect of training systems under the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dam Neck Activity (NSWCDD DNA). Some of the tasks HII will tackle include installing, certifying and testing integrated training system hardware, troubleshooting and doing repairs.

“Providing full-cycle support for U.S. Navy, joint, coalition and Department of training systems requires a seamless, well-orchestrated approach and close collaboration with the Navy customer to make sure we’re providing the best quality service possible,” Michael Lempke, president of Mission Technologies’ global security group, said in a statement. “We look forward to expanding our relationship with NSWCDD DNA and ensuring our military fleets remain mission-ready through warfare systems superiority.”

HII says it supports the U.S. naval fleet across various bases and operational theaters worldwide. It was awarded the task order under the SeaPort Next Generation multiple award contract indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity vehicle. It will perform work at various locations in the country and overseas.

-based HII is the nation’s largest military shipbuilder and the largest industrial employer in Virginia. The company employs about 44,000 workers. The Mission Technologies division has more than 7,000 employees and more than 100 facilities globally.

1.4M-sq-ft Target distribution center coming to New Kent

Target plans to build a 1.4 million-square-foot distribution facility in a busy industrial park, with construction work expected to start this month, according to local officials.

“This substantial investment and the creation of hundreds of high-quality jobs is a tremendous economic boost for our community and region,” Rodney Hathaway, an administrator for New Kent County, said in a statement this week.

A spokesperson for confirmed the land in New Kent County had been purchased but declined to provide other details. According to the county, Target’s plant will be built on the southwest quadrant of the 1,600-acre industrial-zoned , which sits near Exit 211 off .

, an Indiana-based real estate and investment company which specializes in speculative projects for the industrial, office and multifamily markets, is marketing the site.

Target’s neighbor at New Kent City Center will be auto parts retailer , which announced plans to invest $185.2 million for a warehouse and distribution center there in 2022.

In December 2024, New Kent County announced via Instagram that AutoZone would begin stocking stores in January.

Buc-ee’s, the Texas-based mega-travel center chain, also plans to build a New Kent location off Exit 211. It’s slated to open in 2027. Additionally, Matan, a Maryland based real estate investment firm, plans to build more than 1.8 million square feet of industrial space in that area.

Target plans to begin construction at its New Kent site, which it bought earlier this month, by the end of March, according to New Kent County. The county also noted that the site is marketed by Scannell, an Indiana-based real estate development and investment company that specializes in speculative projects for the industrial, office and multifamily markets.

New Kent’s economic development office, AutoZone and Scannell did not immediately return calls for comment Thursday.

Currently, Target has two distribution centers in Virginia, one in Stuarts Draft and one in Suffolk, according to a spokesperson for the retailer.

Based in Minnesota, Target has more than 2,000 stores. The retailer’s 2024 net sales were $106.6 billion, a 0.8% drop over the previous year.

In latest blow to Tesla, regulators recall nearly all Cybertrucks

U.S. safety regulators on Thursday recalled virtually all Cybertrucks on the road, the eighth of the -made since deliveries to customers began just over a year ago.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall, which covers more than 46,000 Cybertrucks, warned that an exterior panel that runs along the left and right side of the windshield can detach while driving, creating a dangerous road hazard for other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

The stainless steel strip, called a cant rail assembly, between the windshield and the roof on both sides, is bound to the truck’s assembly with a structural adhesive, the NHTSA report said. The remedy uses an adhesive that’s not been found to be vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement,” the NHTSA said, and includes additional reinforcements.

Tesla will replace the panel free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 19, 2025.

The recall of 46,096 Cybertrucks covers all 2024 and 2025 model years, manufactured from November 13, 2023, to February 27, 2025. The NHTSA order says that Tesla became aware of the problem early this year.

Videos posted on social media showing people ripping the panels off of Cybertrucks with their hands have gone viral in recent days.

The Cybertruck, which Tesla began delivering to buyers in late 2023, has been recalled eight times in the past 15 months for safety problems, including once in November because a fault in an electric inverter can cause the drive wheels to lose power. Last April, the futuristic-looking trucks were recalled to fix acceleration pedals that can get stuck in the interior trim. Other recalls were related to windshield wipers and the display screen.

It’s the latest setback for the -owned electric automaker, which has come under attack since President Donald Trump took office and empowered Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency that’s slashing government spending.

While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations and privately owned cars have been targeted.

Prosecutors in Colorado charged a woman last month in connection with attacks on Tesla dealerships, including Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles and the words “Nazi cars” spray-painted on a building.

And federal agents in South Carolina last week arrested a man they say set fire to Tesla charging stations near Charleston. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote in an affidavit that authorities found writings critical of the government and DOGE in his bedroom and wallet.

Even before the attacks ramped up in recent weeks, Tesla has been struggling, facing increased competition from rival , particularly out of .

Though largely unaffected by Thursday’s recall announcement, Tesla shares have plummeted 42% in 2025, reflecting newfound pessimism as sales crater around the globe.

With regard to Thursday’s recall, Cybertruck owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to nhtsa.gov.

Virginia Fortune 500 company agrees to $11B buyout

Herndon-based company has agreed to an $11 billion buyout by Connecticut software and professional services company QXO after previously rebuffing a slightly lower offer from the same suitor.

The two businesses have entered into a definitive merger agreement with QXO purchasing the company for $124.35 per share in cash, according to a news release distributed Thursday. In January, Beacon scoffed at a previous offer from QXO that was 10 cents lower per share, stating the company founded by billionaire and serial entrepreneur Brad Jacobs in late 2023 had “significantly undervalued” the roofing and other building supplies distributor.

“Since QXO made its initial offer last November, we have evaluated strategic alternatives to enhance value for all of our shareholders,” Stuart Randle, Beacon’s chair, stated in a news release. “ Following our board’s comprehensive review, we concluded that this transaction is in the best interests of Beacon and its shareholders given the immediate premium and certainty of value in cash it offers, particularly in an uncertain environment.”

When launching QXO in 2023, Jacobs announced his intent for the company to become a leader in the building products distribution industry through and organic growth.

“Acquiring Beacon is a key milestone in our plan to create substantial shareholder value and establish QXO as a leader in the $800 billion building products distribution industry,” Jacobs, chair and CEO of QXO, said in a statement. “We will be applying our proven playbook to a platform ripe to deliver above-market organic growth and significant margin expansion.

In February, QXO, which counts President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner among its board members, announced it had obtained antitrust clearance in both the United States and Canada for its of Beacon.

QXO will cover the purchase price of Beacon with financing commitments and $5 billion in cash. The company announced Monday that it had raised $830 million in private placement from institutional investors., contingent upon closing the Beacon acquisition. The company plans to sell approximately 67.5 million shares of its common stock at $12.30 per share, according to a news release.

A spokesperson for Beacon declined to comment beyond the press release Thursday.

Founded in 1928, Beacon ranks No. 429 on the Fortune 500 list. The company has about 8,000 employees and operates more than 580 branches throughout all 50 states and seven provinces in Canada.

In 2024, Beacon reported net sales of $9.76 billion, a 7.1% increase over the prior year. The company has been on a growth streak of its own, opening new locations in multiple states and racking up a list of acquisitions, including an announcement earlier this month of the purchase of DM Figley Co., a California wholesale distributor of sealants, waterproofing and concrete repair materials.