Keya Vakil

More than 310,000 state-licensed workers in Virginia will now be able to show their credentials on their smartphones.  The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) announced Tuesday that it is partnering with Merit, a California-based digital credentialing firm, to offer digital versions of licenses and credentials for licensed Virginia employees. The decision affects…

Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency on Monday as coastal Virginia braces for Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to dump several inches of rain and cause flooding in the region on Thursday and Friday.  The formerly category-5 storm devastated the Bahamas with its 185-mile-per-hour winds and 23-foot storm surge over the weekend and…

We know, we know. You really don’t want to be back at work today. So how about procrastinating by reading about this week’s Dogwood Dog of the Week. Today, our friends at the Fredericksburg SPCA would like you to meet Millie: Millie is 4 years old and was extremely loved before she came under our…

Virginia is the worst state in the country for workers for the second year in a row, according to a new report from Oxfam, an organization working to end poverty.  In determining its ranking, OxFam studied wage policies, such as minimum wage laws; worker protection policies such as paid sick leave and protections around sexual…

Starting September 3, citizens charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana in Alexandria will have their charges dismissed, so long as they successfully complete a new diversion program, Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter announced on Wednesday. The new program will require participants to complete a drug screening, community service, and to comply with pretrial supervision. They…

Welcome to the latest edition highlighting the Virginian of the week. This week, we interviewed Brett LaGue, a Fincastle-based artist. His work can be found on his website, and you can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Are you from Virginia originally? Born in Indiana, I could…

Looking for something to do over Labor Day Weekend? From wine tastings to county fairs to BuskerFest, we’ve got you covered. Northern Virginia / D.C. Open Late Concert Series – Shenandoah Conservatory – Aug 30 from 6 PM to 8 PM – 102 The Plains Rd, Middleburg, VA 20118 Environmental Town Hall – Aug 31…

The ship repair industry is regarded as a male-dominated profession, but a new grant from the U.S. Department of Labor aims to change that in Hampton Roads. The DOL awarded on Wednesday a $500,000 grant to increase opportunities for women in Hampton Roads’ ship repair industry.  The Hampton Roads Workforce Council, which received the grant,…

Howell Metal will invest $8 million to expand its metal factory in New Market, adding over 100 jobs in the process, Gov. Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday. Northam made the announcement inside the New Market factory, which will grow by 200,000 square feet as a result of the expansion. Northam spoke about how important it…

This is part two of our Back to School Week series. Check out part one, where we focused on a program at George Mason University that helps first generation students transition to college. As Virginia undergraduates move back to campus this week, it’ll be the first time in nearly two decades that most of them won’t be…