International Business News - VA http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Scientists are beginning to assess what they know--and what they don't--about the environmental consequences of drilling for gas and oil in a triangular section of the Atlantic Ocean off Virginia's coast. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081203/scientists-gauge-impact-of-drilling-off-va-coast.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:04:35 EST The News Leader has laid off 10 employees and eliminated five vacant positions. The Staunton newspaper announced Tuesday's cuts in a story published Wednesday. After the cuts, The News Leader will have 83 employees, including about 20 part-time workers. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081203/staunton-news-leader-lays-off-10-cuts-5-positions.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:37:07 EST A company that manufactures automotive fastener parts plans to close its Wytheville plant next year, eliminating about 160 jobs. A spokesman for Acument Global Technologies said Wednesday the closing is due to "very difficult automotive industry conditions." Timothy Weir says sales and use of plant capacity are down, and employment has declined steadily from 200 jobs last year to 162. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081203/automotive-fastener-plant-in-va-closing.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:44:39 EST The days of sparing public education and health care services from budget cuts are over, key Virginia legislators said Tuesday. A worsening economy has left lawmakers averse to raising taxes, so areas that had been protected will be on the table when legislators return to Richmond in January to craft a state spending plan, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Colgan and Del. Phil Hamilton told reporters and editors attending the annual AP Day at the Capitol. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081202/education-health-care-not-safe-from-cuts-in-va.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:17:43 EST A Virginia-based cable holding company has completed an acquisition that expands its presence in Virginia and West Virginia. Shenandoah Telecommunications announced Monday that its $16 million purchase of cable services from Rapid Communications LLC has closed. The deal affects about 17,650 customers in the two states. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081201/va-cable-company-completes-16m-acquisition.htm Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:31:35 EST Virginia's State Corporation Commission has approved an agreement providing a $63.4 million rate increase for Allegheny Power. Under the agreement approved Wednesday, an interim rate increase the SCC approved in July remains in effect. The monthly bill of a residential customer using 1,200 kilowatt hours has increased nearly 30 percent, by $24.50. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081126/allegheny-power-rate-hike-in-virginia-approved.htm Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:41:12 EST Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., wants Gov. Timothy Kaine to take the lead in forming a compact with other states to review plans for a regional power line. Wolf urged Kaine in a Monday letter to form a compact with the governors of West Virginia and Pennsylvania to take a final look at the project before it moves forward. Such a compact is allowed under federal law. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081125/va-congressman-wants-review-of-power-line-plans.htm Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:40:40 EST A company that makes a brand of hummus and vegetable dips plans to open a manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County, creating about 260 jobs beginning in mid-2010. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081119/food-company-sabra-to-open-virginia-plant.htm Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:37:46 EST Allegheny Energy Inc. has agreed not to raise bills by more than 15 percent starting next year for its Virginia customers. The agreement was announced Tuesday by Allegheny Energy, the state Corporation Commission staff, the Attorney General's office and a group of commercial and industrial customers. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081119/allegheny-announces-agreement-on-va-rate-schedule.htm Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:54:25 EST In dismaying detail, legislative budget writers got their fullest look Tuesday at a darkening fiscal crisis that will soon force them to cut government priorities once held harmless. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081119/va-budget-writers-learn-grim-details-of-economy.htm Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:03:26 EST Lobbyists' activities and spending in Virginia are now available online in a database based on annual disclosure documents. The database was created by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project and can be accessed on the group's campaign finance Web site. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081117/database-of-virginia-lobbying-activity-goes-online.htm Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:18:33 EST State government's October tax collections were slightly better than the lower targets Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine set for them last month. Total October operating revenues were down by 1 percent from the same month in 2007. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081114/va-oct-revenue-slow-but-meet-lower-expectations.htm Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:34:07 EST Well-timed rain is helping boost predictions of a bumper crop for Virginia peanut farmers this year. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says experts predict peanut producers will harvest about 23,000 acres, which is 9.5 percent more than the 21,000 acres harvested in 2007. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081114/va-peanut-crop-up-9-5-percent-over-last-year.htm Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:44:56 EST In just six years, trade between Cuba and Virginia farmers has grown from less than $1 million to more than $32 million. And Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Todd P. Haymore is hoping for even more growth. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081114/cuba-trade-worth-32-million-to-virginia-farmers.htm Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:25:15 EST A Virginia coal mine is being sanctioned for what the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration says are repeated violations of health and safety standards. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081113/feds-sanction-virginia-coal-mine-for-violations.htm Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:58:58 EST A 209-acre field in the Shenandoah Valley where one of the fiercest battles of the Civil War was waged will be preserved under a $3.35 million public-private purchase agreement. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081112/shenandoah-valley-battlefield-to-be-preserved.htm Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:10:47 EST Amid global concerns about food security, researchers at Virginia Tech and Ohio State University will be working to improve agricultural productivity and ease trade barriers in Africa. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081112/va-tech-osu-to-help-africa-boost-food-production.htm Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:19:10 EST Virginia's operating budget during the past decade has ballooned by about 80 percent, according to a legislative study released Monday. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission's study comes as lawmakers and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine gird for deep cuts because state revenues are at least $2.5 billion below their budgeted forecasts. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081111/va-state-operating-budget-up-sharply-since-1999.htm Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:37:20 EST A state commission approved a study Thursday to examine the impact of mining a rich uranium ore deposit in Virginia believed to be the largest untapped trove of uranium in North America. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081106/virginia-commission-oks-study-of-uranium-mining.htm Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:07:38 EST Virginia regulators have given the green light to the construction of overhead transmission lines from Dinwiddie County to the city of Chesapeake. The State Corporation Commission approved the two new transmission lines sought by Dominion Virginia Power. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081103/va-regulators-approve-dominion-transmission-lines.htm Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:20:07 EST