Emergency test
Pandemic stressed health systems, care providers
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Health systems found themselves at a crossroads in 2020. Their services were in demand more than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but elective surgical procedures and other appointments were postponed — necessitating layoffs and furloughs last spring, including between 200 and 250 Ballad Health employees furloughed in Southwest Virginia during April 2020. As of
Remote learning
Students adjust to Zoom, while colleges pore over finances
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For Virginia’s college students and faculty, 2020 was the year of Zoom. For the institutions themselves, though, it was a year that brought economic heartbreak and difficult decisions, although it also had a few brighter spots. Many universities faced budget crises due to the costs of housing refunds and moving classes online, as well as
Virginia could get 400K+ COVID vaccine doses for first week of March
If approved by FDA, Johnson & Johnson doses could arrive here in days
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Virginia could receive up to 433,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine doses for the first week of March, depending on the timing of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine, according to Dr. Danny Avula, the state’s vaccine coordinator. During a Friday news conference, Avula said the state expects to
Newport News Shipbuilding lays off 314 employees
119 managers also demoted in reorganization
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Newport News Shipbuilding has laid off 314 salaried employees and demoted 119 managers in its first workforce reduction since the shipyard laid off 1,218 employees in 2015, according to a letter sent to employees by the company’s president, Jennifer Boykin. “Today is a tough day as we say goodbye to 314 fellow shipbuilders as part
Richmond confirms six eligible bids for casino, seeks public input
First public meeting to discuss proposals is March 9
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Place your bets. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s office confirmed Friday that the six casino proposals made public this week all submitted proposals that are eligible for consideration by Richmond City Council and voters. The city also revealed the proposed locations for all six plans. Bally’s Corp. and Golden Nugget Hotels & Casinos are interested in
ODU hires executive director of coastal institute
Jessica Whitehead joins university from North Carolina
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Old Dominion University announced Thursday that Jessica Whitehead has been named the first Joan P. Brock endowed executive director of its Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR), launched in 2019. Her first day was Thursday. Whitehead comes from the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, where she served as the office’s first chief
Booz Allen wins $190M contract from Navy
Five-year potential contract will involve work in San Diego
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McLean-based Booz Allen Hamilton has been awarded a five-year $190 million task order supporting communications, networking and computing systems for the U.S. Navy, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday. The Fortune 500 global management consulting company will receive $33.1 million up front for the first year of the contract at the Naval Information Warfare Center,
Roanoke College taps alumna for resource development VP
Kimberly Blair returns in new post in March
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Roanoke College announced this week it has appointed an alumna to become its new vice president of resource development. Kimberly P. Blair, a 1993 graduate, will join the college on May 22 and serve in President Michael C. Maxey’s Cabinet. Blair is currently Virginia Tech’s assistant vice president of advancement for Roanoke, where she leads
Reston-based ASRC Federal wins $457.5M Air Force contract
One-year contract at Oklahoma base has six one-year options
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ASRC Federal Field Services LLC, which has part of its headquarters based in Reston, has been awarded a $457.5 million contract by the U.S. Air Force for base operation support, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday. The start date of the project at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma is April 1, and the one-year
Va. GOP to hold May 8 “drive-in” convention, possibly in Lynchburg
State Central Committee rejects party-run primary proposal backed by three former governors
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After months of discussion and indecision, the Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee elected Tuesday night to hold a May 8 “drive-in” convention — possibly around Liberty University in Lynchburg — to choose its 2021 statewide nominees for governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor. The state GOP committee conducted a three-hour, occasionally contentious public