AstraZeneca to Open Virginia Plant

International biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it will build a multibillion-dollar manufacturing center in the Commonwealth.

The company plans to invest $50 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, with the Virginia plant as its largest. The facility’s location hasn’t been announced.

“This project will set the standard for the latest technological advancements in pharmaceutical manufacturing,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said, “creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs and helping further strengthen the nation’s domestic supply chain.”

Water Working Groups Get to Work

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula announced that the city has launched two separate working groups tasked with designing a more resilient regional water system. Following recent water crises, the groups will also work to restore residents’ trust in the water system.

One group will bring together officials from the city and Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover counties to discuss ways to improve cooperation. The other group of city officials will focus on scenario planning.

“These efforts reflect Richmond’s commitment to deep and thoughtful analysis and regional partnership to ensure long-term, reliable water infrastructure for the decades ahead,” the city said in a statement.

Propane Tech Found Guilty in Home Explosion

Roger Bentley, a former propane technician with the company Southern States, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the February 2024 home explosion that killed volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown.

Prosecutors said Bentley’s “actions and failures to act” caused the blast at a Loudoun County home.

Another technician had called Bentley to the scene after smelling propane while filling an outdoor tank. Bentley’s lawyers insisted he did not know there was a gas leak, although others also reported smelling propane.

The propane ignited after firefighters arrived and were making certain everyone was out of the home, killing Brown and injuring 14 others.

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➤ Virginia Beach: Federal prosecutors have taken charge of the case against Alonzo Harden, 54, accused of running a multi-state drug ring. He was detained last year after police said they found 156 pounds of methamphetamine worth over $350,000 in his car. (Details)

➤ Arlington: The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission wants to find ways to prevent drivers from blocking designated bus lanes. (More)

➤ Statewide: Sixty percent of those arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Virginia in early June had no criminal charges or convictions at the time they were detained. (Details)

➤ Portsmouth: Police arrested Jalen Chesson, 20, for swatting—making at least three phony 911 calls to Virginia Beach authorities that resulted in high-priority law enforcement responses. None of the emergencies were real. (More)

➤ Roanoke: County firefighters received a visit from five-month-old Noa Emily, the baby they delivered during an emergency response to her home. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: A motorcyclist crashed while trying to escape an attempted traffic stop on I-264, suffering serious, life-threatening injuries when he ran into the back of an SUV. (More)

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➤ Virginia Tech placed 27 track and field athletes on the Coaches Association All-Academic team in 2025. (Details)

➤ Virginia’s Tony Elliott and Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry answered questions along with other head football coaches at the ACC media days. (More)

➤ Three Virginia high school football teams were ranked in the preseason national top 300, with Phoebus High School in Hampton predicted to be the best in the state. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Tour de France

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➤ The Northern Virginia Chamber and the consulting firm Accenture released a plan for the economy that recommends less reliance on the federal government and finding ways to attract new investment in future-focused industries. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Department of Health Professions said the state has a shortage of dental hygienists. There are 6,283 dentists in the Commonwealth, but only 5,306 dental hygienists. (More)

➤ Wasserhund Brewing Company announced that it will open a Norfolk location. The company already operates locations in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. (Details)

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Google and Meta Partnered with This XR Startup

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Immersed combined remote work software ($127 billion by 2030)¹, AR/VR hardware (over $100 billion by 2026)², and AI productivity tools ($36 billion)³ to create a productive, communal, and helpful virtual workspace. That’s why more than 1.4 million professionals, including Fortune 500 teams, already use it.

Now, Immersed is shipping the first units of its productivity-designed Visor headset. Over 75,000 people are already waitlisted, representing $71 million in projected first-year sales. No wonder leaders at Intel and Meta have already invested.

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➤ The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art will host a Monster Drawing Rally on Aug. 15. The event aims to bring together the excitement of a monster truck rally and the creative talent of the artist community. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Museum of History and Culture recently hosted author Rick Atkinson, who talked about his new book, The Fate of the Day, the second of three books he plans to write about the American Revolution. (More)

➤ The Bland Correctional Center graduated 16 incarcerated students who have been studying precision measuring and welding through a community college. The program prepares graduates for high-demand jobs when they are released. (Details)

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Which Commonwealth ACC team do you think will win more football games this year?

1. Virginia Tech
2. UVA
3. They’ll be tied
4. No clue

Tuesday’s Results:

Should Virginia build an NFL stadium? 

1. Let’s see the proposal: 37%
2. No: 35%
3. Yes: 28%

What was the first city founded west of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains?

Show me the answer