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Nuclear power company celebrates expansion with $50M investment, 500 new jobs
Framatome officially unveiled its newly expanded facility on Mill Ridge Road with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning, signaling both a bold investment in the future of nuclear power and a commitment to the Lynchburg community. ... Framatome’s North American President and CEO Tony Robinson said the ribbon cutting is not just opening a new facility but a testament to the shared vision and commitment to nuclear energy and its unwavering commitment to Lynchburg and Virginia. The upgraded site is part of Framatome’s broader $50 million investment to expand capacity, modernize its facilities and add up to 500 new jobs in Central Virginia.
2 western Va. counties chosen for flood warning systems
As the death toll continues to climb and questions persist about whether there were adequate warnings of catastrophic flooding in Texas on July 4, pilot flooding emergency warning systems have been deployed in two flood-prone counties in western Virginia. Buchanan County, which is mountainous and has had three major flooding events over four years, and Botetourt County, which has dealt with flash flooding, were chosen for the projects.
Virginia public media stations brace for impact of federal funding cuts
A bill granting a White House request to claw back $9 billion in federal spending on public broadcasting and foreign aid will likely shutter at least 80 NPR and PBS member stations nationwide, according to NPR CEO Katherine Maher. The rescission package, which the US Senate passed Thursday morning, withdraws all funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, leaving even stations that remain operational scrambling to restore their budgets. ... Bert Schmidt, president and CEO of WHRO, says the Norfolk-based station will lose $2 million in federal funding.
Hundreds of Richmond residents participate in nationwide ‘Good Trouble’ protest
The sound of car horns honking and people shouting filled the air as Richmonders took their activism to the streets yet again, this time hoping to get into some “good trouble.” “Good trouble is saying what you mean and what you feel,” said one of the demonstrators, Jane Ward. Hundreds were scattered on medians on Monument Avenue between Lombardy Street and Willow Lawn. It’s just one of 1,600 Good Trouble protests that began nationwide on Thursday. The phrase was dubbed by the late Congressman John Lewis, who encouraged people to get into “good trouble” to fight for justice and equality. Thursday marked the fifth anniversary of his passing.
Hashmi: For Va., drop in business rankings a wakeup call
CNBC’s latest “Top States for Business” report shows Virginia tumbling from the top spot to fourth place — our worst ranking since 2018. The primary culprit? Sharp federal workforce reductions that have hit the commonwealth disproportionately hard, and that will have long-term impacts on Virginia’s entire economy. With over 144,000 federal jobs in the commonwealth — and nearly 300,000 positions when federal contractors and commuters from D.C. and Maryland are included — Virginia feels every cut firsthand. Experts have warned that this federal downsizing could cost the state up to 32,000 jobs this year alone, dragging Virginia’s GDP and tax revenue into negative territory.
Newport News’ sheriff says his office doesn’t honor ICE detainers
The first time President Donald Trump took office, Gabe Morgan was a decade into his role as Newport News sheriff and leading the Virginia Sheriff’s Association. It was his job to help create a consensus on how 123 sheriffs across the commonwealth would handle a growing desire to crack down on illegal immigration. “Depending on where you may be the sheriff, politically, it was kind of like herding cats,” Morgan said.
Chesapeake City Council reverses course, approves Virginia Natural Gas project
After denying a natural gas compressor station project that had drawn the ire of many Chesapeake residents, city leaders reversed course Tuesday and approved it. On June 17, Chesapeake City Council denied a request from Virginia Natural Gas to push back a vote on its project, which was a rezoning request of 23 acres on South Military Highway to create a light industrial district for a new compressor station. ... It was on Tuesday’s agenda, and council members ultimately approved the project along partisan and racial lines.
Spotsylvania’s recycled water supply at capacity for data center cooling
Any data center developer without an application on file with the Spotsylvania County Planning and Zoning Department, may face water concerns in the future. Spotsylvania Director of Planning and Zoning Kimberly Pomatto said during a planning commission meeting Wednesday night that the county is at capacity for reusable water based on data center projects that are approved or awaiting approval from the county. Scott Phelps, who represents the Lee Hill District, said the county needs to inform developers that the capacity for reusable water reached its limit.
State agencies leaving Monroe Building will scatter across Richmond
When state government employees leave the James Monroe Building next year, they will disperse to about a dozen different office spaces downtown and outside Richmond. The Department of General Services, which manages real estate for the Virginia government, recently agreed to leases with landlords of local office buildings. The 29-story Monroe building is considered no longer functional — employees have gotten stuck in elevators and restrooms are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. State leaders expect the tower to be vacant by next spring. The new homes won’t be permanent. Eventually, state leaders plan to move government employees to a yet-to-be-built office at 1401 E. Broad St.
Letter from 12 deans to UVa. Board of Visitors goes unanswered for almost two weeks
In the wake of former University President Jim Ryan’s sudden resignation, 12 of the University’s 14 academic deans sent a letter to the Board of Visitors July 4 calling for transparency and expressing a desire to work alongside the Board during a time of "confusion and alarm” for many stakeholders. “We can be your partners in supporting the very best outcomes for our students, our patients and the broader University community,” the letter read. The Cavalier Daily obtained the letter from a source who wished to remain anonymous. The source said that, at the time of publication, the academic deans had received no response from the Board regarding their offer to meet with the Board “as soon as possible.”