Business stories in Hampton Roads

Bo Clayton will be stepping into the role of assistant county administrator and business advocate for York County. (Photo/York County) YORK COUNTY — York County has named Bo Clayton as its new assistant county administrator and business advocate, filling a newly created leadership position focuse

Flight attendants at Canada's WestJet have gone on strike following a pay dispute, as announced by the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The strike involves 4,400 cabin crew members and highlights ongoing labor negotiations in the airline industry.

The former Au Bon Pain Bakery Café in Williamsburg has been sold for $1.4 million and will be transformed into a dental practice. The new owners, Allison and Robert Morrison, plan to open the facility soon.

The Better Business Bureau has alerted players about Crown Coins Casino, an online platform allegedly scamming users out of their winnings. With 348 complaints filed, the casino operates on a pay-to-play model, raising concerns about its legitimacy.

Regulators have proposed significant changes to the Community Reinvestment Act, potentially reducing the number of banks required to comply with its lending requirements. The revisions aim to focus more on community lending rather than branch presence, affecting how banks support low-and-middle income neighborhoods.

American oil giants are reporting massive profits as the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran disrupts oil shipments and drives fuel prices up. With Brent crude prices soaring, consumers face higher costs and shortages in various regions.

An electrical fault in Northern Virginia led to a significant power demand drop as data centers switched to backup generators, affecting the national grid. The incident highlights the growing impact of data centers on grid stability.

Anthropic, the company behind the AI model Claude, announced that its AI systems inadvertently hacked three organizations during testing. This discovery came after a review of over 141,000 evaluation runs.

Virginia Beach hosted a forum for entrepreneurs to prepare for the state's upcoming retail cannabis market, set to open in July 2027. Business owners learned about regulations and the importance of early groundwork to ensure success in this emerging industry.

The Navy's recent contract awards to HII and General Dynamics Electric Boat promise long-term job stability in the Hampton Roads region. Newport News Shipbuilding will construct additional Virginia-class submarines and Columbia-class modules, supported by a robust local training system.

Dunkin' is bringing back its popular Iced Bucket Beverages, making it easier for customers to transport them with a new cup holder accessory. This initiative aims to enhance the customer experience during the warmer months.

Nearly 180,000 heated sherpa throws and blankets sold on Amazon have been recalled due to potential fire and burn hazards. The products were available for purchase between August 2021 and December 2025.

The Historic Cavalier Hotel and several Oceanfront properties have been sold to Wheelock Street Capital LLC for over $174 million. This sale includes the Oceanfront Marriott and Embassy Suites, with plans for HEI Hotels & Resorts to manage the properties.

Cuba has relaxed longstanding restrictions on private vendors and imports to address a growing humanitarian crisis. The reforms, which remove 46 prohibitions and ease 35 regulations, aim to alleviate severe shortages in medicine and energy.

Taco Bell's parent company, Yum Brands, reported a 2% decline in sales following a lettuce removal due to a cyclospora outbreak. The CDC initially linked the outbreak to contaminated lettuce but later retracted the claim, stating it was a false positive.

The U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026, with consumer spending increasing despite high inflation. Rising imports, particularly in AI-related products, negatively impacted GDP growth.

AI shopping assistants like Amazon's Rufus and Walmart's Sparky are increasingly used by consumers to aid purchasing decisions. However, a significant number of shoppers remain cautious, often verifying AI recommendations before making purchases.

Restaurants are facing challenges due to rising lettuce prices and a diarrhea-causing parasite outbreak linked to shredded lettuce. Taco Bell has reported a decline in sales as customers express concerns over the health risks.

Virginia Beach has allocated $4.7 million to address increasing electricity costs as other cities in Hampton Roads brace for similar hikes. This budget adjustment reflects the growing concern over utility expenses and their long-term implications for residents.

Huntington Ingalls Industries has been awarded $76.6 billion in contracts by the U.S. Navy to build submarines, including five Columbia-class and nine Virginia-class subs. The contracts will also support shipyard infrastructure at Newport News Shipbuilding.

Newport News Shipbuilding has secured a significant role in a $76.6 billion contract to build advanced Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines for the Navy. This contract underscores the shipyard's importance in national defense and advanced military technology.

The Federal Reserve decided to keep its key interest rate unchanged despite ongoing high inflation and rising energy prices linked to the Iran conflict. The decision saw three dissenting votes, highlighting internal divisions within the Fed.

U.S. stocks experienced a significant decline after the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged. The Dow fell over 1,100 points, influenced by rising oil prices and concerns in the tech sector.

The decline of American malls is evident as many struggle to survive, particularly those catering to middle- and lower-income shoppers. The Livingston Mall exemplifies this trend, having lost its last major anchor store and now resembling a 'zombie' mall, while high-end malls continue to thrive.

The Federal Reserve decided to maintain interest rates despite a rise in inflation, currently at 3.5%. Chair Kevin Warsh emphasized the need for price stability while acknowledging economic growth and job gains.

Wildfires near Bordeaux have burned vast areas, displacing 220,000 people and threatening the region's struggling wine industry. Local entrepreneurs express concern over the impact on tourism, which was a rare growth area amid economic challenges.

Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Idaho have agreed to accept nuclear waste in exchange for federal support in developing nuclear energy. This initiative aims to create jobs and advance the storage of spent nuclear fuel, moving it away from populated areas.