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Biz & Life

Virginians will get SNAP benefits during shutdown, says Youngkin
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Virginians will get SNAP benefits during shutdown, says Youngkin

With the federal government shut down, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it lacks sufficient funding to cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through November. The news has left states scrambling, as millions of Americans face the risk of losing a portion of their food budget next month. In Virginia, the Department of Social Services warned that benefits could lapse if the shutdown is not resolved by October 28. However, Governor Glenn Youngkin stepped in, pledging that he would not allow that to happen. Need Youngkin photos like the one above for your content? Visit here Virginia has more than 850,000 SNAP recipients, including an estimated 320,000 children. On October 23, Youngkin declared a state of emergency directing state agencies to ...
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Beaches in Newport News & Yorktown under swim advisory
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Beaches in Newport News & Yorktown under swim advisory

UPDATE: The advisory for Yorktown Beach has been lifted.VDH said results received on July 17 indicate bacteria levels now meet the state water quality standards for recreational waters. Know before you go: 3 beaches in the Newport News–Yorktown area are under swimming advisory. Swimmers heading to the water this week should check before they dive in—Hilton Beach and Huntington Beach in Newport News, along with Yorktown Beach in Yorktown, are under a swimming advisory due to elevated bacteria levels. Less Beach Hassle | Sand-Free, Waterproof Beach Mat Health officials from the Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts tested the water on July 15, and results showed that bacteria levels exceeded what the state considers safe for swimming. These levels can increase the risk of st...
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Keyshawn Davis’ homecoming fight canceled & title stripped
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Keyshawn Davis’ homecoming fight canceled & title stripped

In a stunning blow to Norfolk boxing fans, Keyshawn Davis’s WBO lightweight title defense against Edwin De Los Santos, scheduled for tonight at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, has been canceled. The reason? Davis missed weight by a staggering 4.3 pounds, coming in at 139.3 pounds against the 135-pound limit. As a result, he was stripped his WBO lightweight title. This marks a bitter disappointment for Davis’s homecoming fight, which was set to be Norfolk’s first world title fight in over 30 years. Last Punch Heavy Duty Punching Bag w/ Chains WTKR 3 reported that before the cancellation was announced Friday, Davis said, “I outgrew the weight.” He added, “I’ve been making this weight for over four years now. I woke up early this morning trying to make the weight.” The weight miss ...
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Data centers in Glenns? Gloucester to gauge sentiment at upcoming meeting
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Data centers in Glenns? Gloucester to gauge sentiment at upcoming meeting

Gloucester County appears to be trying to soften property owners and residents on the idea of having industrial move in. Gloucester is considering a Technology Overlay District (TOD) to accommodate data centers. The plans to host an informational meeting that it says is to learn and to hear from the public, but Gloucester has already inserted the idea of property owners selling land into the conversation. Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging “Before the County begins to work on creating a TOD, we want to gather public input regarding data centers to determine if there is general support for a new ordinance and landowners who might be interested in selling their property for development,” said Carol Steele, Gloucester’s County Administr...
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Alexandria, VA mayor addresses city’s stance on immigration enforcement
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Alexandria, VA mayor addresses city’s stance on immigration enforcement

Amid the “fear, confusion, and concern” about the current state of immigration enforcement, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins issued a statement expressing commitment to Alexandria being a city where all residents are supported, respected, and valued and where all are welcome. But Alexandria is also a city that will follow federal and state laws and act accordingly. Based on Gaskins’ message and the resources she directed the public to, the city’s position is — just like it’s not the city’s role to enforce federal tax, patent, or commerce regulations, Alexandria will not be assisting with immigration enforcement, which is also a federal responsibility. Throughout the material, it’s emphasized that Alexandria will focus on the work of local government but will comply with requirements fr...
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Why & how lawmakers aim to protect Virginians from upcoming tax hike
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Why & how lawmakers aim to protect Virginians from upcoming tax hike

In 2018, the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)went into effect. Bloomberg Government described it as “the largest tax code overhaul in nearly three decades.” One thing the TCJA did was to nearly double the standard deduction for federal income taxes. The federal standard deduction for single filers went from $6,350 to $14,600. For married couples filing jointly, the figure rose from $12,700 to $29,200. In 2019, Virginia began raising its standard deduction. A report from the Department of Taxation explained that was done in response to the TCJA. Since that time, the standard deduction for Virginia tax rose from $3,000 for single filers to $8,500. For married couples filing joint, the figure jumped from $6,000 to $17,000. However, both the federal and state increases in stand...
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Why Virginia’s 2025 minimum wage hike is only $.41
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Why Virginia’s 2025 minimum wage hike is only $.41

As of January 1, Virginia’s minimum wage inched up from $12 to $12.41 giving a full-time, minimum wage employee an additional $65.60 a month based on a 40-hour work week. Virginia’s minimum wage could have increased to $15 an hour this year. During the 2024 session, the General Assembly voted in favor of the higher increase, but the final call was made by Governor Youngkin who vetoed the bill. The governor said, “The free market for salaries and wages works.” He claimed the increase would be detrimental for small businesses across the state, except perhaps in Northern Virginia. "A one-size-fits-all mandate ignores the vast economic and geographic differences and undermines the ability to adapt to regional cost-of-living differences and market dynamics,” the governor stated. But...
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Caesar’s Virginia casino resort opening in December
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Caesar’s Virginia casino resort opening in December

Caesars Virginia casino resort in Danville will open its doors to guests on December 12 at noon. Caesars Virginia says the property will include over 90,000 square feet of gaming space, including nearly 1,500 of the “newest” slots, 79 live-action table games, 48 electronic table games, a WSOP poker room and Caesars Sportsbook. There will also be a 320-room hotel tower and 50,000 square feet of meeting and convention space that will also serves as 2,500-seat live entertainment venue. Other amenities include a full-service spa and pool. (Photo: Caesar's Virginia) (Photo: Caesar's Virginia) Ceasar Virginia says there will be bars, lounges, and a wide variety of dining options, noting that Ramsay’s Kitchen, the restaurant concept of chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay ...
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Virginia Supreme Court decision a ‘win’ for dog hunters, says AG
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Virginia Supreme Court decision a ‘win’ for dog hunters, says AG

Like the lower courts, Virginia’s Supreme Court sided with the State in a dog hunting lawsuit. Three property owners, including a Dinwiddie farmer, the owner of a Chesterfield horse boarding business, and the operator of a recreational hunting operation in Halifax were suing the Department of Wildlife Resources over the Right to Retrieve law. That law allows hunters to go onto private property unannounced and without permission to retrieve their hunting dogs. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claimed they experienced “routine invasions” by dogs and hunters. They claimed hunting dogs chased, spooked, and killed their animals, and the situation also interfered with the operation of their businesses and resulted in lost clients. The property owners also claimed that the situation infrin...
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Beaches from DE to VA close as medical waste washes ashore
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Beaches from DE to VA close as medical waste washes ashore

Authorities have closed access to waters at beaches from Delaware to Virginia’s Eastern Shore due to debris with medical waste washing ashore. Sunday brought a series of beach closures rolling down the East Coast. The Town of Fenwick Island in Delaware announced swimming closures following reports of medical waste washing ashore from Indian River Inlet to Fenwick Island. The Town said it was sending out an emergency response team. Closures continued through the early days of this week as debris, “including syringes,” reportedly continued washing ashore. Also on Sunday, Assateague Island National Shoreline announced “immediate closures” for swimming and wading closures at all beaches in the Maryland district “due to medical waste on the beach.” Visitors were still allowed to go ...
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