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Amazon to open giant warehouse in Goochland County

By ERIC KOLENICH, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Subscription Required)

Retail giant Amazon broke ground Wednesday on a massive, 3.1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Goochland County. It will be the 10th Amazon facility in Greater Richmond, feature robotic operations and create more than 1,000 jobs, the company said. Amazon is building the warehouse at 2022 Ashland Road, near two dozen other industrial business locations. Expected to open in 2027, it will be the largest Amazon facility in greater Richmond and the second largest in the state, following Suffolk.

VaNews May 15, 2025


Democrats running for attorney general say Virginia needs to challenge Trump

By KATE SELTZER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Democrats will choose between a longtime prosecutor from the Richmond suburbs and a former lawmaker from a politically active Hampton Roads family in the primary race for attorney general. Former state delegate Jay Jones and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor are facing off in the Democratic primary. Democrats are hoping to win big this year. Virginia is considered to be a bellwether state because its statewide elections are held the year after the presidential election.

VaNews May 15, 2025


These non-traditional candidates say they represent the evolving politics of Virginia

By BRAD KUTNER, WVTF-FM

As GOP Lt. Governor candidate John Reid paves the way for Virginia political candidates of different backgrounds, others from both parties are following suit and having their lifestyles thrown into the spotlight. On the western side of the state a Democratic candidate for House of Delegates recently announced she was ethically non-monogamous in a social media post now seen by hundreds of thousands. And in the eastern side, a Republican delegate-hopeful had her background in the fetish community exposed. Both are facing down what might have been campaign ending scandals just a few years ago.

VaNews May 14, 2025


Levar Stoney goes on TV with six-figure ad buy in lieutenant governor race

By ANNA BRYSON, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Subscription Required)

Former Richmond mayor Levar Stoney — one of six Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for lieutenant governor June 17 — will appear on TV commercials played across Virginia in a new TV ad blitz starting Thursday. Four different spots will run in the expensive Washington media market as well as in Richmond and Norfolk. The ad buy is “well into the six figures," according to his campaign. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe appears in two of the four ads.

VaNews May 15, 2025


Lynchburg midwives lead resurgence in maternity care provider options

By MARK HAND, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Lynchburg has a long history of midwifery and is once again at the forefront of advocating for midwives who care for women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Katie Page, a staff midwife at Centra Medical Group Women’s Center in Lynchburg, has been pushing for legislation to advance midwifery in Virginia and help the women for whom midwives provide care. Through her leadership role with the Virginia affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Page was instrumental in the passage of a bill this year in the General Assembly that will bring greater equity in insurance reimbursement for all classifications of midwives.

VaNews May 15, 2025


Virginia Beach board votes to keep suspension of DEI in place

By MARKESHIA JACKSON AND JIMMY LAROUE, WAVY-TV

The Virginia Beach School Board voted 6-5 Tuesday to move forward with its initial vote to suspend diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. This is the third vote the board has taken on the matter. “I want to thank the public for coming to the school board meetings repeatedly to voice your overwhelming support for our educational practices that support all students in our division,” District 5 board member Melinda Rogers said in a Facebook post on the vote. “While the board majority voted in favor to remove needed supports, I will continue to work to support ALL staff and students, including listening to my constituents and educating myself in the policies and data that best support our community so I can make informed decisions on the dais.”

VaNews May 14, 2025


Norfolk prosecutor revokes city attorney’s authority on shoplifting charges following council vote

By TREVOR METCALFE, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Norfolk City Council members unanimously approved a code change this week that will let the City Attorney’s Office prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases, despite objections from some residents. But the change drew a swift rebuke from the city’s top prosecutor, who said he would revoke the city attorney’s authority to prosecute any misdemeanors in Circuit Court and would implement additional oversight of charges pursued in District Court.

VaNews May 15, 2025


Metro’s automated train expansion delayed over safety concerns, says oversight commission

By TOM ROUSSEY, WJLA-TV

The commission that has federally granted oversight of Metrorail on safety said Tuesday afternoon it is still not ready to allow Metro to expand its use of automated trains. Officials with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) said they still have too many safety concerns to allow Metro to increase its use of train autopilot features. But they added that they are working with Metro to get to a point where the transit agency will be allowed to use more automation.

VaNews May 14, 2025


Amazon fulfillment center in Goochland to create 1,000+ jobs

By KATE ANDREWS, Virginia Business

Gov. Glenn Youngkin participated Wednesday in a ceremonial groundbreaking for Amazon.com's 3.1 million-square-foot robotics fulfillment center in Goochland County, which is expected to create more than 1,000 full-time and part-time jobs. The fulfillment center will have a 650,000-square-foot footprint on a 107-acre parcel, according to the governor’s office, and will be Amazon’s fourth robotics fulfillment center in the state, joining others in Henrico County, Suffolk and Virginia Beach.

VaNews May 15, 2025


Green Recycle in Pittsylvania to create 28 jobs; QualiChem in Salem to add 12

By MATT BUSSE, Cardinal News

A plastics recycling startup will invest $4.3 million and create 28 jobs in Pittsylvania County, the governor’s office announced Tuesday. Green Recycle USA LLC will turn industrial plastic waste into raw material to be used in new products by manufacturers in a variety of industries, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a news release. ... A Salem-based producer of fluids used in fabricating metal components will invest $9 million to expand in the city, creating 12 jobs, the governor’s office announced Tuesday. QualiChem Inc.’s products include oils, coolants, rust preventatives and cleaners used in the aerospace, medical and automotive industries, among others.

VaNews May 14, 2025