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Report warns of deep hit to Virginia’s economy, citing federal government cuts
One in seven jobs in Virginia is directly or indirectly linked to the federal government. Cuts to the federal workforce and government spending will mean a significant hit to Virginia’s economy this year, according a new economic forecast. The University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service forecasts Virginia will lose 32,000 jobs this year because of federal government cuts, economic output will slow and the unemployment rate will rise to 3.9% this year and as high as 4.7% in 2026. Virginia’s current unemployment rate is 3.2%.
Curran announces write-in bid for lieutenant governor
John Curran, who did not qualify for the GOP primary for lieutenant governor, announced Monday that he is launching a write-in campaign for the general election in November. "My decision is not to split the ticket but to save it," Curran said in a statement, apparently referring to the controversy over John Reid, the party's nominee for lieutenant governor. He added: "This decision is not about my opponent being gay."
Virginia Lt. Gov. race: Republican John Curran announces write-in campaign
John Curran, a business consultant from James City County, announced Monday that he intends to reenter Virginia’s lieutenant governor race as a write-in candidate. Curran initially ran for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor but did not turn in enough signatures to qualify for the ballot ahead of the April deadline. He alleges he had gathered 10,000 signatures but many of them were stolen by a former campaign staffer, a matter he says Virginia State Police are investigating. “I know that write-ins are historically a long shot,” he said.
Study: Coal, natural gas retain roles in Southwest Virginia’s economy
Despite its decline in recent decades, Southwest Virginia’s coal industry still accounted for a $1.8 billion total economic impact in 2024, supporting over 5,000 area jobs, according to a new study by Chmura Economics & Analytics. Additionally, the economic impact of the natural gas industry accounted for over $480 million and supported over 1,100 Southwest Virginia jobs, the study shows. Commissioned by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, the study breaks down how the energy sector continues playing a role in the region’s economy.
More resignations at Virginia’s embattled Birth Injury Fund
A total of five employees have resigned from the Virginia Birth Injury Fund in the past month — an exodus that has gutted the small agency’s finance team as it tries to rebuild after an insider embezzled millions of dollars meant for the families of disabled children. The latest resignation is that of Kan Cheung, who was hired earlier this year to work as the fund’s director of finance and investments. Cheung was only hired in April, according to a former employee at the fund who asked to speak on the condition of anonymity.
Manassas GOP Calls for Action on Jail’s Immigration Policy Ahead of Meeting
The Manassas City Republican Committee is calling on residents to fill the room at the next Prince William-Manassas Regional Jail Board meeting, pushing for the jail to renew its 287(g) immigration enforcement partnership with federal authorities. . . . The city’s Republican committee says the jail’s decision to end the 287(g) program in 2020 amounts to a “sanctuary” policy, a claim they say was confirmed by Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office. The group is calling for full cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to process all undocumented immigrants charged with crimes.
Legislature narrows use of noncompetes
In recent years, federal and state governments have embraced a push toward restricting the use of noncompete agreements by employers, most notably with the ultimately unsuccessful 2024 Federal Trade Commission rule that attempted to ban noncompetes nationwide. While noncompetes are still enforceable in Virginia, recent legislation passed by the General Assembly will further narrow which employees can be subject to noncompetes. During the Legislature’s regular session earlier this year, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1218, which expands the definition of “low-wage employee” to an employee who is entitled to overtime compensation under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.