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Logistics firm to lay off 54 in Richmond as shipping slows
A Florida-based trucking and logistics company plans to lay off 54 employees at its facility in South Richmond, as freight shipping worldwide slows down because of uncertainty over tariffs and the economy. Saddle Creek Logistics Services notified Virginia workforce officials this week that it will lay off employees at its facility on Commerce Road in July, with no plans to bring them back.
Early figures show local primaries are driving turnout
Early voting started earlier this month, and so far, the numbers are showing a strong turnout in places that have primary elections for sheriff and commonwealth's attorney. That's according to numbers from the Virginia Department of Elections posted to the Virginia Public Access Project. Republican operative Jeff Ryer points to the hotly contested Republican primary for sheriff in Chesapeake.
Two Virginia House of Delegates races have double primaries this year. One is in Hampton Roads.
One of Virginia’s most competitive races in this year’s House of Delegates elections is in Hampton Roads. House District 89, which encompasses parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk, is up for grabs as one-term incumbent Baxter Ennis, a Republican, isn’t seeking reelection. Chesapeake represents nearly 70% of the overall district. It’s one of two districts in the state that will have a Republican and Democratic primary June 17. [The other is House District 49 in the Danville area.]
Local leaders say they’ll pay $5.6 billion to automate Metro
A fully automated D.C. Metro in the next two decades is closer to becoming a reality, as local leaders found agreement at a region-wide meeting Friday on adding hundreds of millions of dollars in annual support to the system’s coffers starting in 2027. But the idea of a regional sales tax to raise the funds was quickly rejected by local officials who said they would rather figure out where to find the money on their own. ... Other suggested options included higher vehicle registration fees, fuel and sales taxes as well as higher property taxes and real estate fees.
Northern Virginia residents protest Dominion Energy’s transmission line
Residents of western Prince William gathered Thursday alongside lawmakers outside Patriot High School to protest Dominion Energy’s pending Morrisville–Wishing Star 500 kV and 230 kV transmission line as the utility provider simultaneously held a community meeting inside the Nokesville school. The Coalition to Protect Prince William County hosted the event, where around 35 residents were joined by state and local elected officials. Dominion’s proposed 36.5-mile transmission line would begin in southern Fauquier County and run through Prince William and Loudoun counties.
Democrats fight for nominations in five Richmond-area House primaries
A June 17 primary will decide which Democrats run in five Richmond-area contests for the House of Delegates. Around the state there are five more Democratic House contests and eight Republican House primaries. The nomination contests set up the fall elections in which all 100 House seats are up for election. Democrats currently hold a 51-49 edge in the chamber. In the Richmond area, nine of the 11 hopefuls running in the five primary contests are seeking the chance to take on Republican incumbents.
Earle-Sears calls for more school ‘options’ at Fishburne Military School graduation
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' admiration for her father is evident. Speaking with the News Virginian after delivering the commencement speech to the Fishburne Military School class of 2025 on Saturday, the Republican candidate for governor reflected on her father's journey from Jamaica to America and his journey, once stateside, to see his children educated. ... Earle-Sears said she wants to offer Virginia parents as many options as possible when it comes to their own children's education. That includes more charter schools.
Fort Eustis’ Army training headquarters to relocate to Texas
The Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters is set to move to Austin, Texas, after more than a decade at Fort Eustis. The plan is part of a larger reorganization effort by the Defense Department which will see several bases around the country consolidate and combine with the Army Transformation Command — which was created during the first Trump administration and operates in Austin — to create a new Army Transformation and Training Command. . . . Roughly 10,000-13,000 soldiers and civilians live on the Army base. It remains unclear how many soldiers will leave under the transformation plan.
McClellan: Let me tell you what the Republican budget means for Virginia
Tuesday afternoon, I walked into a House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting to address federal funding for health care, energy, the environment and communications agencies and programs. More than 26 hours later, committee Republicans voted for a bill the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed will kick millions of Americans off their health insurance. This bill puts Medicaid at risk for hundreds of thousands of Virginians and raises health care costs for the rest of us. Meanwhile, House Republicans on the Agriculture Committee voted to strip food assistance away from millions of children and families to pay for House Ways and Means Republicans’ tax cuts for the wealthy just a few doors down.
From VPAP New Episode: The Virginia Press Room Podcast
In the latest episode of the podcast from VaNews and VPM, Michael Pope is joined by Olivia Diaz of the Associated Press, Charlotte Rene Woods of the Virginia Mercury, and Brad Kutner of Radio IQ. They discuss the week's top headlines: DEI and the GOP, the House clerk vetoes the governor's vetoes, and nontraditional candidates. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.