Wednesday, May 6WATCHFUL EYE

Tag: Virginia Business

VA pharmacist gets 2 years in federal prison for tampering with opioids at CVS
No Comments
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...
Read More
Richlands gets $2 million grant for energy project that’ll save residents an avg. of $1,500
No Comments
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...
Read More
Schools, retailers, & players benefit from record year for Virginia Lottery, reports Youngkin
No Comments
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...
Read More
No more private-run state prisons in VA, state takes control of Lawrenceville
No Comments
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 ...
Read More
1st offshore wind cable facility in U.S. coming to Chesapeake, offering 330 jobs
No Comments
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...
Read More
VADOC taking control of Lawrenceville prison from GEO Group in August
No Comments
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...
Read More
Companies plan to ramp up shift to automation, reports Richmond Fed
No Comments
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...
Read More
VA ABC hosting grand opening today for new Northern Virginia store
No Comments
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...
Read More
Northern Neck man pleads guilty to $2.4 million in bank fraud at Primis
No Comments
News, Trending

Northern Neck man pleads guilty to $2.4 million in bank fraud at Primis

James Stevens, a former Primis employee, is facing a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud. The 46-year-old man from Weems worked for the bank from 2002 to 2023, although, over that period, the bank was sold several times and operated under different names. According Stevens' own admission in federal court documents, from about 2008 up until his departure from Primis in 2023, he was exploiting his position to get money for himself, for others, and to pay fraudulent loans he was making at the bank. Stevens last position at the bank was as commericial lender. His “primary method” of fraud was issuing loans in other people’s names, the court documents state. For example, he admitted that he originated at least $530,000 in loans in the nam...
Read More
Virginia lawmakers vote to make cocktails to go permanent
No Comments
Biz & Life, News

Virginia lawmakers vote to make cocktails to go permanent

Lawmakers in both houses have decided Virginia should keep the ability to sell cocktails to go. During the pandemic, Virginia was one the states that allowed the sale of cocktails to go on a temporary basis to help businesses survive through struggling times. As it stands, that ability will expire on July 1, 2024. House Bill 688, patroned by Delegate Jay Leftwich, and Senate Bill 635, patroned by Senator Aaron Rouse, repeal the sunset date. And the bills give properly licensed distillers, restaurants, and farm wineries a permanent ability to sell mixed beverages and pre-mixed wine for off-premises consumption. The final vote in the House received overwhelming support with an 81-18 vote. In the Senate, the vote in favor was unanimous. Although the bill still has to be signed int...
Read More