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‘Slow yet competitive’: In Virginia, housing prices remain high and supply tight
Even as the housing market in Virginia has slowed, prices remain high statewide, researchers told the Virginia Housing Commission Tuesday. “The theme is slow yet competitive,” said Ryan Price, chief economist for Virginia Realtors. “A lot of things are driving that, primarily the increase in interest rates, which has deterred both buyers and would-be sellers, […]
Virginia begins collecting data on where evictions occur and when
After several years of attention-grabbing reports on high eviction rates in Virginia, the state has begun collecting data on the number and location of evictions that occur over the course of a year. The effort, which is being carried out by the Virginia courts that issue writs of eviction — the legal documents that authorize […]
Fredericksburg I-95 extension set to open to drivers Thursday
Ten more miles of express lanes on Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg, Virginia will open to traffic Thursday night, making the roughly 50-mile stretch between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers the nation’s longest reversible road, according to transportation officials. “This 10-mile segment is known to be among the most congested in the nation,” said Mike Discenza, […]
Va. appeals court says wine shippers need license for every shipping location
The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that wine shippers who buy wine from different wineries that then box and ship orders on to Virginia customers must get a state license for every location involved in the chain. The decision overturns an earlier ruling by Richmond Circuit Court that found California-based company VinoShipper only needed […]
New silica exposure rules aim to protect miners, but critics say they lack needed enforcement
Proposed federal rules to bring the amount of silica to which coal and mineral miners can be exposed on the job in line with standards for other occupations are poised to provide protections for workers after years of urging by medical and black lung organizations. But while those groups have hailed the change as a […]
Chesapeake Regional, Cigna reach deal in rate reimbursement fight
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center and health insurer Cigna reached an agreement that will allow Cigna members who get their insurance through their employer to continue to pay lower rates for services through the hospital system. The new contract, which was announced Friday, will be effective through July 31, 2025. Under its terms, Chesapeake Regional will […]
Messy Bon Secours-Anthem dispute threatens to disrupt care for thousands of Virginians on Medicare
A messy contract dispute between Bon Secours Mercy Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has left 11,000 Virginians who have Medicare plans through Anthem out of network for Bon Secours, which operates numerous hospitals in the Richmond and Hampton Roads regions. If the disagreement isn’t resolved by Oct. 1, an additional 39,000 Virginians who […]
Bipartisan backers pledge to reintroduce Virginia Prescription Drug Affordability Board in 2024
Bipartisan backers of a proposal to create a Virginia Prescription Drug Affordability Board vowed Tuesday to reintroduce legislation during the 2024 General Assembly session, saying they believe the new legislature will be more favorable to the idea than prior ones that struck it down. As Virginia approaches the 2023 elections, all 140 seats in the […]
Virginia community banks Atlantic Union and American National announce merger
Two major Virginia community banks, the Richmond-headquartered Atlantic Union and Danville-based American National, are merging, the institutions’ leaders announced Tuesday. During a press call, John C. Asbury, president and CEO of Atlantic Union, called the merger “the culmination of a long friendship between the two companies” and “a very logical expansion,” while American National President […]
Despite House defeat of proposal to add Reagan National flights, backers say fight isn’t over
Efforts to amend a pair of obscure aviation rules capping flights at Northern Virginia’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport foundered last week in the U.S. House of Representatives, although a group backing the change says “the fight is far from over.” On Thursday, the U.S. House rejected an amendment to a bill reauthorizing the Federal […]
Some good news: Virginia’s 2023 rabies numbers are looking normal
Despite some local upticks in animal rabies reports, Virginia health officials said cases in the commonwealth this year are in line with averages from the past decade. “While local health department statistics may vary and some localities may experience a series of rabies oriented events in quick succession, currently, from a statewide standpoint, we are […]
Looking back on five years of the Mercury
Just over five years ago, an email landed in my inbox. “Hi Sarah,” it read. “Not sure if you’ve seen the news about us, but I’d like to talk to you about a few freelance assignments I have available for our launch, which is scheduled for later this month. I came across your portfolio and […]