Union Sues Port of Virginia

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) sued the Port of Virginia for allegedly violating the union’s contract.

The suit claims that the port’s use of new technology—including rail cranes—violates federal law. It alleges that the port installed semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes “without any prior notice.”

The ILA walked off the job for three days last year to protest a similar implementation of automation.

Meanwhile, the Port of Virginia reported that its volume of trade is down so far this year, as the effect of the Trump administration’s tariffs ripples through the international economy.

Data Centers Spread Amid Concerns

Goochland County leaders proposed a zoning change to create a technology overlay district that would allow the construction of data centers and potentially a small modular nuclear reactor.

Some residents pushed back. “We don’t want to see them, we don’t want to hear them, and we don’t want to smell them,” one county homeowner said at a meeting this week.

In Montgomery County, supervisors met and discussed ways to maintain local control over where data centers might be built.

Public officials in Botetourt County are trying to find a way to deliver as much as 8 million gallons of water a day for a proposed Google data center. Their actions have involved zoning changes, purchasing land, and providing engineering technical assistance.

Meanwhile, in Hanover County, a developer proposed a 10-building data center campus that would cover more than 400 acres after neighbor Henrico County blocked a housing project on the site.

Visitors Spend Big in Blue Ridge

According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, tourists visiting Virginia’s Blue Ridge spent $923 million last year, a 4.6% increase from the previous year.

Last year’s spending helped to maintain more than 7,000 jobs in the region and generated $44.6 million in local tax revenue.

The economic impact could be even greater this year. The “region continues to see strong growth in the first half of 2025, and is pacing well ahead of national and state averages for lodging demand and revenue,” said Kathryn Lucas, director of the group Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

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➤ Statewide: The number of parents homeschooling their children jumped last year, according to the Virginia Department of Education. More than 56,000 students were homeschooled in 2024, up from about 38,000 in the year before COVID. (Details)

➤ Powhatan: About 130 Virginians with the 180th Engineer Company of the National Guard deployed for a mission to build roads and facilities in the Horn of Africa. (More)

➤ Fairfax: Three Democratic leaders in the state senate sent a letter to George Mason University Rector Charles Stimson asking him to recuse himself from talks about the future of the university’s president. Stimson works for the Heritage Foundation, which recently published a paper criticizing the school. (Details)

➤ Henrico: The Virginia Racing Commission will hold a meeting next Monday to discuss whether to provide a license for the planned Roseshire Gaming Parlor. (More)

➤ Richmond: Attorney General Jason Miyares said his office will investigate whether insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers inflated the cost of diabetic medicines in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. (Details)

➤ Statewide: The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee said it will pour an additional $1.5 million into statewide elections as part of its ongoing seven-figure investment in Virginia. (More)

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➤ Virginia Tech men’s soccer, ranked No. 14, remained undefeated after a scoreless draw against Furman, while the women’s team hosts ACC foe North Carolina tonight. (Stats)

➤ Longwood hosts the University of Richmond in women’s soccer this evening. (Preview)

➤ The Washington Commanders visit the Green Bay Packers tonight on Thursday Night Football. (Preview)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Nathan Trotter, a tin manufacturing company based in Pennsylvania, said it will open a production and processing facility in Henry County, creating 118 jobs. (Details)

➤ Community residents and 20 state legislators weighed in to oppose Dominion Energy’s proposal to build a gas-fired power plant at a site in Chesterfield. The utility said the plant is necessary to meet future demand. (More)

➤ The Virginia Beach Arena Corporation hosted a public forum to discuss a potential indoor arena. Businessman Coleman Ferguson predicted the site could eventually attract a professional team in the WNBA, NBA, or NHL. (Details)

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➤ The Smithsonian Institution announced plans to expand its branch of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly. The project is expected to be finished by 2028 and add 44,000 square feet of display space at the Udvar-Hazy Center. (Details)

➤ Brig. Gen. Christopher Batterton took command of the Virginia Air National Guard last week. He succeeds Brig. Gen. Catherine Jumper, who became the assistant adjutant general for Air Strategic Initiatives. (More)

➤ The Washington County Fair is underway in Abingdon and runs through Saturday. (Details)

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Would you support a professional basketball or hockey team in Virginia Beach?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Only if they win!

Wednesday’s Results:

Have you attended a stage play or musical in the last year? 

1. Yes: 41%
2. No: 59%

What year did the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center open?

Show me the answer