State revenues up in April
State-government revenues rose 10.6 percent in April over the same month a year ago. On a year-to-date basis, total revenue collections have risen 5.9 percent, ahead of the revised annual forecast of 4.6 percent growth. Adjusted for the accelerated sales tax program, state revenues have grown 5.6 percent, ahead of the economic base forecast of 4.7 percent growth. Read more
DCCU staffers get financial-counselor certifications
DuPont Community Credit Union now has two certified financial counselors who recently completed the Credit Union National Association Financial Counseling Program. Lindsey Megginson, Marketing Manager, and Sarah Landram, Financial Educator, were recently awarded certificates from CUNA
“We are proud of both Lindsey and Sarah for their commitment in becoming certified financial counselors,” said Steve Elkins, DCCU Senior Vice President for Retail & Lending. “This certification will enhance the Credit Union’s financial education program and workshops, which we provide to our members and to the communities we serve.” Read more
Shenandoah National Park hosts regional conference
Shenandoah National Park and its neighboring communities will host a one-day conference, Connecting for Prosperity – Charting the Future Together, on May 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.
The workshop-style conference will include presentations by guest panelists, case studies, and facilitated discussions to help identify the region’s shared goals and to build an awareness of the economic potential for the area. Read more
AAA: Gas prices down for a fifth consecutive week
Pain at the pump continued to ease this week as prices dropped for the fifth consecutive week, extending a sharp decline that has eased fears that prices would be headed into record territory just in time for the summer driving season.
The national average price for regular grade gasoline dropped 7 cents this week and 21 cents since its April peak to $3.73 per gallon Friday. Prices are 19 cents lower than a month ago, 23 cents below year ago prices and 38 cents lower than the all-time record high of $4.11 per gallon set in July 2008. Read more
Cuccinelli announces suit against Apple and e-book publishers
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced today that he has joined a lawsuit against Penguin, MacMillan, and Apple Inc., alleging that the companies violated state and federal antitrust laws by conspiring to fix the prices of e-books.
“We do not want businesses interfering with the markets by illegally conspiring to fix prices,” Cuccinelli said. Read more
McDonnell signs coal bills
Standing in front of huge pieces of mining equipment built by Joy Mining Machinery along with members of the General Assembly, coal industry representatives, Gov. Bob McDonnell ceremonially signed legislation today that supports Virginia’s coal industry by promoting tax credits for coal industry jobs in Southwest Virginia, and making mining safer by requiring submission of mining maps and directional changes by companies extracting coal and natural gas in close proximity. Read more
Virginia wheat producers expect larger crop
Virginia’s 2012 wheat crop is expected to total 18,560,000 bushels, according to the initial season forecast just released by the Virginia Field Office of the National Agriculture Statistics Service, a branch of the USDA.
If realized, production will be up 810,000 bushels from 2011, a five percent increase. Producers in the Commonwealth are expected to harvest 290,000 acres of wheat that will yield an average of 64 bushels per acre. That is 16.4 bushels above the projected national yield. Read more
