Monday, August 17WATCHFUL EYE

Tag: Virginia Business

BBB Alerts Virginia Consumers About Alleged Richmond-Based Biz
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Biz & Life, Business, News

BBB Alerts Virginia Consumers About Alleged Richmond-Based Biz

Virginia consumers are advised to exercise caution if considering purchases from Ridgewell Retail, a company that reportedly offers products to reduce electric and gas bills. Over the past 30 days, BBB reports receiving over 1,100 inquiries about Ridgewell Retail and three customer reviews, each alleging similar experiences. Consumers claim Ridgewell Retail advertises products on social media that promise to help customers save money on utility bills. Then, during checkout, additional products are offered at discounted prices, and although the offer is declined, customers allege they were still charged for products they didn’t authorize. Here are two of those comments from the BBB site: BBB findings The BBB conducted a review and reported that Ridgewell Retail's bus...
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Northampton Standing in Opposition to Offshore Mining Lease
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Business, News

Northampton Standing in Opposition to Offshore Mining Lease

The Northampton County Board of Supervisors has officially opposed a proposed commercial lease that could open the door to subsea mining offshore of Virginia. The vote comes as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) considers an unsolicited request from Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration. The company submitted the proposal in November 2025, asking the federal government to hold a commercial lease sale for hard minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore the Commonwealth. BOEM said it reviewed the request, including the proposed lease area, the targeted minerals—primarily heavy mineral sands and phosphorites—and the available environmental and resource data. The agency has now taken what it calls a "first step that could potentially lead to a lease sale" by publish...
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Innovative Defense Technologies Adding 210 Jobs in Arlington
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Business

Innovative Defense Technologies Adding 210 Jobs in Arlington

Innovative Defense Technologies announced plans to invest $19 million to expand its headquarters in Arlington and create 210 new jobs, expanding its footprint in Ballston. IDT is a federal contractor that works with the Department of Defense to develop software and testing systems involving autonomous systems, mission software, and automated technologies. Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging In the May 22 announcement, the company said it plans to hire for positions in engineering, software development, systems integration, program management, cybersecurity, and operational mission support. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The ex...
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VADOC Preparing to Roll Out Inmate Tablet Program at Facilities Statewide
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News

VADOC Preparing to Roll Out Inmate Tablet Program at Facilities Statewide

The Virginia Department of Corrections has launched a pilot program providing inmate tablets at Baskerville Correctional Center, Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, Green Rock Correctional Center, and Lawrenceville Correctional Center. Heavy Duty Steering Wheel Lock | Adjustable | Highly Visible The tablets offer telephone capabilities, streaming music and movies, games, and secure messaging, according to Joseph Walters, the new VADOC director appointed under the Spanberger administration. Walters said the rollout marks an important step in the department’s commitment to improving inmate services through modern technology and infrastructure. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with vendors ViaPath and Abilis. The pilot program is expected to run for several m...
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Dominion Energy Bills Set to Increase in 2026
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Business, News, Trending

Dominion Energy Bills Set to Increase in 2026

The bad news: Dominion Energy customers will see higher bills starting in 2026. The good news: The day is coming when they’ll be protected from shouldering as much of the costs tied to massive electricity users like data centers. The State Corporation Commission (SCC) conducted its biennial review of Dominion Energy, an effort required to ensure rates reflect reasonable costs and returns. The review is supposed to balance the utility’s need to recover expenses with protections for everyday ratepayers. Sense Energy Monitor | Track Electricity Usage in Real Time & Save Rate Increases Customers will see their bills increase over the next two years, but not by as much as Dominion wanted. Dominion was seeking increases of $822 million in 2026 and $345 million in 2027. Th...
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Paid Sick Leave Bill Swiftly Condemned by Virginia Small Business
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News

Paid Sick Leave Bill Swiftly Condemned by Virginia Small Business

Prefiling for the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session opened this week, and one of the first bills already has people talking. Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler of Virginia Beach introduced HB 5, a paid sick leave proposal that would significantly expand current requirements beyond home health workers to cover nearly all employees across the state. Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging HB5 would: Expand existing paid sick leave provisions to all employees of private employers and state and local governments Require fee-for-service employees to accrue sick leave under regulations set by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry Ensure employees retain accrued sick leave when transferred to another division or under a successor employe...
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Relief for Blue Ridge Bank: Consent Order Terminated
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Business

Relief for Blue Ridge Bank: Consent Order Terminated

A nearly two-year chapter of heightened regulatory oversight has come to a close for Blue Ridge Bank, which announced it has been released from the consent order imposed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The consent order stemmed from claims of ongoing deficiencies in Blue Ridge’s Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering compliance (BSA/AML). Specifically, the OCC called out alleged systemic internal control breakdowns, weak independent testing, and insufficient BSA staffing. Ongoing Non-Compliance In 2022, regulators raised red flags about these issues and Blue Ridge entered an agreement to correct the problems. By 2024, the OCC said the bank failed to follow through, and the bank was accused of engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, including those r...
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Virginia Launched Airport-Legit Digital ID
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News, Popular

Virginia Launched Airport-Legit Digital ID

Virginia is now offering an airport-legit digital ID. And it’s free. Whether you're catching a flight, buying drinks, or getting pulled over, you can whip out your phone and show your Virginia Mobile ID. Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging What Is Virginia Mobile ID? Virginia Mobile ID is a digital version of your driver’s license or state ID card. It’s stored in an app that DMV has stamped as secure and your information is accessed by scanning a QR code. Privacy & Security According to DMV, these digital IDs are designed to be fast, private, and keep you in control over the information you share. (Photo: DMV) Instead of handing over a full ID—or even your phone—DMV says you can choose exactly what information to sh...
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More EBT Card Skimming Cases Emerge in Virginia
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Crime, News

More EBT Card Skimming Cases Emerge in Virginia

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card fraud continues to be reported in Virginia, with law enforcement and social services agencies reporting a wave of skimming incidents that are swiping residents’ benefits. In Patrick County, officials are investigating multiple cases of EBT fraud following the discovery of a skimming device at a local business earlier this month. According to the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, investigators received 49 reports of EBT fraud in September and 76 more in October, all affecting local cardholders. Slim Airtag Wallet | Pop-Up Credit Card Holder | RFID Blocking Chip The problem isn’t isolated. In October, the Christiansburg Police Department also reported a skimming device found at a business in their jurisdiction. The department noted numerous case...
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VA has housing protections for federal govt. shutdowns
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News

VA has housing protections for federal govt. shutdowns

The federal government has entered another shutdown. While political leaders focus on the “who” and the “why,” thousands of Virginians are left to manage the real-life consequences. If you’re among those affected, it’s important to know that some protections and assistance are available. Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging Housing protection Virginia law provides safeguards to help residents maintain housing during a federal government shutdown. If you’re facing eviction for unpaid rent accrued after the shutdown began, you can request a 60-day delay in court proceedings under a provision passed in 2020. Homeowners facing foreclosure may also be eligible for a 60-day stay. To qualify, you must request the delay within 90 days of...
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