Amazon Announces Fulfillment Center

Amazon announced it will build a cutting-edge robotics fulfillment center in Goochland County, outside Richmond, where it will eventually employ up to 1,000 people.

The facility will cover 3.1 million square feet and will be designed to handle the picking, packing, and shipping of small consumer items.

County authorities paved the way for the center by upgrading a nearby interchange off I-64 through the Commonwealth’s SMART SCALE prioritization process.

Amazon is building similar centers throughout Virginia, with locations in Suffolk, Henrico, and a soon-to-open facility in Virginia Beach.

Lawmakers Prepare for Federal Cuts

The House Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce wrapped up a series of meetings around the state with a public forum in Wytheville. The panel is examining the potential effects of cuts to the federal workforce and federal funding.

Much of the most recent meeting focused on the potential impacts of federal cuts to Medicaid, which covers more than 1.8 million people in Virginia.

When Medicaid was expanded under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government agreed to pay 90% of the cost, with the state covering the rest. If Washington trims that, the state will be required to end the expansion, which currently provides coverage to more than 580,000 Virginians.

While much uncertainty remains, some came away from the meetings upbeat about Virginia’s prospects. “The main thing that struck me today was a little room for optimism,” Republican Del. Ellen Campbell said.

Class of 2025 Graduates

It’s graduation weekend for many universities in Virginia. Others—including Liberty and VCU—held ceremonies last weekend.

George Mason honored its graduates yesterday, with a senior class of nearly 11,800 students accepting their diplomas. In Norfolk, most Old Dominion students walked last weekend, while health sciences students have their ceremony tomorrow morning.

Virginia Tech’s full commencement is this morning at Lane Stadium, with smaller, school-by-school ceremonies for others in the College of Science throughout the day.

Final Exercises for UVA students in the schools of Arts & Sciences, Education and Human Development, and Leadership and Public Policy are tomorrow morning on the Lawn, with Final Exercises for all other schools set for Sunday morning on the Lawn.

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➤ Statewide: Under a new state law, some misdemeanor or felony convictions can be sealed upon request—after seven or 10 years—so the charges won’t appear on background checks. (Details)

➤ Augusta County: The body of an 84-year-old Waynesboro man was recovered from a lake in Lyndhurst on Wednesday after a search involving the Virginia State Police and first responders from five departments. John Joseph Lacy Jr. fell into the lake when a boat he was in capsized. (More)

➤ Richmond: According to death certificates filed in Virginia, deaths from drug overdoses plunged 40% last year. The Virginia Department of Health reported 1,396 drug overdose-related deaths last year, down from 2,463 in 2023. (Details)

➤ Northern Virginia: Dominion Energy is hosting five community meetings so residents can comment on a proposed 36.5-mile power line that would cut across three counties. (More)

➤ Statewide: The DMV said that technical difficulties were “impacting agency services at our Customer Service Centers” yesterday, leading to longer wait times for customers. Online services were not affected. (Details)

➤ Wise County: The Virginia Department of Health selected Joie Cantrell as the state’s Public Health Nurse of the Year. She has worked for the department in different roles for more than 35 years. (More)

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➤ The Washington Capitals fell 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes and were eliminated, 4 games to 1, in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. (More)

➤ The Washington Nationals visit Baltimore today for the start of a three-game interleague series against the Orioles. (Details)

➤ Liberty, Virginia Tech, and UVA all play in the NCAA softball championship tournament beginning today. (Schedule)

➤ UVA men’s tennis faces TCU in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals today in Waco, Texas. (Schedule)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAB | Soccer | PGA

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➤ Using Ibuprofen? This “Antarctic Discovery” is rewriting pain science. While you rely on medications that merely mask pain, this Antarctic “super nutrient” activates a cellular pathway that extinguishes inflammation at its source. The solution to your inflammation might have been swimming in the ocean all along. (Learn More)

➤ The mayor of Suffolk said during his address on the state of the city that three businesses—Transnational Foods, Solenis, and Automatic Coating Limited—will relocate, expand, or invest in the city this year. (Details)

➤ Kroger broke ground on a new $40 million location in Mechanicsville, which will feature a Starbucks, an apparel section, and a fuel center. It will replace an existing Kroger supermarket nearby. (More)

➤ Green Recycle USA said it will spend $4.3 million to turn a Pittsylvania County warehouse into a center to reprocess industrially generated plastic scrap. The facility will eventually employ about 30 people. (Details)

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➤ Car insurance costs to hit record highs in 2025. With car insurance premiums projected to hit $2,101 in 2025, overpaying isn’t an option. Switching providers could save you $1,300 yearly–don’t leave it on the table. View Money’s best car insurance list to see if you could save. SEE IF YOU COULD SAVE

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New Research: Common Brushing Habit Could Be Damaging Your Teeth

A recent study from Kyoto University has revealed a surprising threat to your oral health: a toxic biofilm known as “Dental Rust.”

This bacteria hides deep in the gum line and enamel cracks—and routine brushing may actually push it in further, accelerating tooth decay and gum damage.

Left untreated, it may lead to serious infections.

The good news? A simple, science-backed 30-second Himalayan method is showing powerful results in neutralizing this threat.

Click here to watch the short video and learn how to protect your oral health.

➤ The inaugural Strawberry Fest at the Beach is set for tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Virginia Beach. It replaces the city’s Pungo Strawberry Festival, which was held every year from 1984 until 2019. (Schedule)

➤ The finals of the National Association of Rocketry Contest blast off tomorrow, with 100 teams competing at Great Meadow in The Plains for a shot at $100,000 in prize money. (Details)

➤ Patrick, an orangutan at the Metro Richmond Zoo, went viral on his 34th birthday when he wrapped himself in a cloak and double-knotted it to ensure it stayed on. (Watch Video)

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Did you ever attend the Pungo Strawberry Festival?

1. Yes
2. No

Thursday’s Results:

Should the federal government compensate local police forces for supporting the Secret Service? 

1. Yes: 49%
2. I’m not sure: 27%
3. No: 24%

What year was the House of Burgesses dissolved?

Show me the answer