Saturday, July 25WATCHFUL EYE

Tag: Virginia Business

Hampton Roads port operations shut down by strike, reopening date unknown
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Hampton Roads port operations shut down by strike, reopening date unknown

Port workers from Maine to Texas started striking at midnight on August 1. The Port of Virginia (POV) confirmed that no cargo is moving in or out of its port during this work stoppage. This strike has closed several Hampton Roads operations, including: Norfolk International Terminals Virginia International Gateway Newport News Marine Terminal Pinners Point Container Yard Portsmouth Chassis Yard Reefer Service Area The Damage Annex During strike, the port will not be receiving vessels at the impacted locations. No containers will be moved in or out by train, and the truck gates are closed, said POV. The impacted locations have also stopped receiving empty containers or providing any chassis or repair services. And POV said the Richmond Express barge service i...
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SCC blocks attempt to hike tolls on Dulles Greenway
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Business, News, Traffic

SCC blocks attempt to hike tolls on Dulles Greenway

Virginia’s State Corporation Commission denied the requests to hike toll rates on Dulles Greenway and to change the process for rate hike applications. The Greenway is a privately-owned, 14-mile toll road in northern Virginia that runs through Loudoun County connecting Leesburg to Washington DC. Its owner, Toll Road Investors Partnership II, aka TRIP II, filed an application for increases to congestion and off-peak tolls. Whereas the rate for a car is currently $5.80 and $5.25, respectively, for peak and off-peak travel, TRIP II wanted to hike those rates to $8.10 and $6.40. Chart showing what rates would have been if TRIP II's application succeeded The SCC considered input from a local hearing in Chantilly, a telephone hearing and evidentiary hearing, and arguments filed by...
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VA pharmacist gets 2 years in federal prison for tampering with opioids at CVS
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Crime, News

VA pharmacist gets 2 years in federal prison for tampering with opioids at CVS

A pharmacist who worked at CVS in Gate City has been sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for drug tampering in a scheme that involved stealing narcotics and replacing them without other medications. Dillion Breeding, 34, pled guilty to one count of tampering with consumer products after he admitted that while he was pharmacist, he stole oxymorphone, morphine, hydromorphone, and testosterone, federal court documents show. He used two methods to obtain the pills. In some cases, while counting out medications with a spatula, he would hide a pill in his hand then take it by mouth, he admitted. In some instances, he stated he shorted patients when he was dispensing their prescriptions. Court documents show Breeding’s theft was uncovered because the pharmacy manager was filling an ox...
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Richlands gets $2 million grant for energy project that’ll save residents an avg. of $1,500
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News

Richlands gets $2 million grant for energy project that’ll save residents an avg. of $1,500

Richlands was awarded $2 million for an energy project that’s supposed to substantially lower residents’ energy bills. Richlands is a town that owns and operates an electric utility, which serves roughly 2,500 people. Currently, Richlands claims to be purchasing energy from American Municipal Power at wholesale rates and providing it to customers “at very competitive rates.” In recent years, residents beg to differ on the claim of competitive rates. In 2022, News Channel 11 did a segment titled “Richland residents furious over expensive utility rates” after rates jumped 20% in two years. “We’re running businesses out, running residents out. We have people who are getting their electricity and water turned off because they can’t afford to pay such high rates. And everybody mirrored...
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Schools, retailers, & players benefit from record year for Virginia Lottery, reports Youngkin
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Biz & Life, Business, News

Schools, retailers, & players benefit from record year for Virginia Lottery, reports Youngkin

Governor Glenn Youngkin is celebrating a record year for Virginia Lottery that reportedly resulted in record benefits for schools, retailers, and players. Although the exact figures aren't final, Youngkin’s office announced that, during Fiscal Year 2024, which ended June 30, Virginia Lottery had record sales of over $5.5 billion including retail, website, and app sales. “Approximately 10 percent of Virginia’s K-12 education budget comes from Virginia Lottery profits that assist in funding public schools,” a statement from the Governor said. The record sales will lead to over $934 million for the state’s education system. According to Younkin’s office that’s the highest education contribution in the Lottery’s 36-year history. “I am so thrilled these record profits will help prov...
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No more private-run state prisons in VA, state takes control of Lawrenceville
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News, Trending

No more private-run state prisons in VA, state takes control of Lawrenceville

There are no more private-run state prisons in Virginia. As previously reported, in December, Virginia Department of Corrections announced a plan to take over control of Lawrenceville Correctional Center, which was the state’s only privately-run prison. On schedule, VADOC announced that it assumed control of the Lawrenceville today, August 1. VADOC assumed control from the GEO Group, a company that owns, leases, and manages prisons in the U.S., Australia, and South Africa. Lawrenceville opened in 1998, and today marks the first time during its existence that the facility has been run by the state, VADOC confirmed. “Today marks a new day at Lawrenceville Correctional Center,” said director Dotson. “Our Department is excited to assume operations at this facility – and to ...
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1st offshore wind cable facility in U.S. coming to Chesapeake, offering 330 jobs
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News

1st offshore wind cable facility in U.S. coming to Chesapeake, offering 330 jobs

Virginia, and more specifically Chesapeake, is set to become the home of the first offshore wind cable manufacturer in the United States, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott announced yesterday. LS GreenLink USA is investing $681 million to build a facility to produce high-voltage subsea cables used for offshore wind farms. Those cables are designed to optimize bulk clean power transmission, the company said. A February 20 letter signed by nine members of congress calling on the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide financial support for the project noted that work is underway on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project – a 2.6 gigawatt commercial offshore wind farm that is expected to power over 650,000 homes in the Commonwealth. Mean...
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VADOC taking control of Lawrenceville prison from GEO Group in August
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News, Popular

VADOC taking control of Lawrenceville prison from GEO Group in August

VADOC recently confirmed the department is still on track with its takeover plan Lawrenceville Correctional Center is in its final weeks under private management. Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) will assume control of the prison on August 1. VADOC announced its intention to take over the state’s only privately-run prison last December. In a press release earlier this month, the department revealed a VADOC team conducted a shakedown at Lawrenceville and discovered an array of contraband, including drugs, phones, and cash. VADOC added that it is still set to take control of the facility next month. Lawrenceville is currently run by GEO Group, a company that owns, leases, and manages prisons in the U.S., Australia, and South Africa. But Lawrenceville is its only operat...
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Companies plan to ramp up shift to automation, reports Richmond Fed
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News, Trending

Companies plan to ramp up shift to automation, reports Richmond Fed

Workers may want to prepare. According to the Richmond Federal Reserve, companies have been investing in automation and plan to ramp up that shift as inflation persists. Over the past year, about 60% of companies have automated tasks previously performed by employees, and nearly two-thirds of companies have made it a “strategic priority” to now ramp up automation going forward, the Richmond Fed said the CFO Survey revealed. The automation that occurred over the past year has come from a combination of software, equipment, and technology. But the  Fed said the majority of firms that plan to automate over the next 12 months intend to do so with AI. And why are companies increasing automation? The majority, 58%, reported using automation to improve product quality, the Fed no...
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VA ABC hosting grand opening today for new Northern Virginia store
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Business, News, What & Where

VA ABC hosting grand opening today for new Northern Virginia store

Virginia ABC is holding a grand opening ceremony today, May 29, for its new store at 825 S. Washington St. in Alexandria. This new VA ABC location, Store 119, is in the South Washington Street Shopping Center. According to the Authority, it’s 3,700-square-foot store and will offer more than 1,500 different products. Store 119 hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. This is the 8th Virginia ABC in Alexandria. “As Virginia ABC celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, we are proud to serve all Virginians by generating revenues from new stores like this one that help make the commonwealth the best place to live, work and raise a family,” said CEO Dale Farino. According to Farino, Virginia ABC has returned more than $2.9 billion to th...
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