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4+ hour, 7+ min ago (399+ words) Businesses still reeling from last year's low blow, sucker punch Budget are calling for some desperately-needed backing from the chancellor this time around. They want Rachel Reeves to "turn the tide" on the number of small firms being forced to axe staff and hike prices after her "25bn National Insurance raid last October. Businesses are warning that if the government wants growth it must work with firms, not against them. The chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce the Budget on Wednesday November 26 (Image: Justin Tallis/PA Wire) It its manifesto, Labour claimed to be 'pro business and pro worker', and the party of 'working people'. Small businesses say the government has been anything but so far. The chancellor's 'inflation-beating' minimum wage increase announced last year was immediately cancelled out by businesses reacting to the surge in employment costs by raising their prices....

9+ hour, 16+ min ago (266+ words) Travis Turner, a football coach at Union High School in Virginia, was declared a missing person by Virginia State Police on Sunday. As of Monday afternoon, police were still searching for Turner, who disappeared with his team in the midst of an undefeated season. Turner, 46, was reportedly last seen Thursday. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt, gray sweatpants and glasses, per WCYB.com. Police were sent to Turner's residence Thursday as part of an unrelated investigation, but Turner was not there. Police said they did not go to Turner's house to arrest the coach. On Friday, police confirmed they were performing an active search in Wise County, where Union High School is located. Police did not confirm whether the search was related to Turner's disappearance. That same day, a Wise County Schools staff member was placed on leave with pay,…...

10+ hour, 36+ min ago (564+ words) Since 2010, data centers in Virginia have not had to pay the state's sales and use tax. At a rate of 4.3%, that foregone revenue adds up: Over the past decade, data centers have been exempt from paying $2.7 billion. The state lost out on $1 billion through the data center exemption in fiscal 2024, up from $685 million in fiscal 2023. That's according to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which compiles an annual report on state spending for economic incentive programs. Those economic incentives are designed to encourage businesses to locate or expand operations in Virginia and include measures such as grants, tax credits and exemptions, business loans and gap financing. "So the tax revenue impact has been really increasing rapidly as well in Virginia." Virginia isn't the fastest-growing market for data centers any longer, Rephann said, as data center growth expands to other…...

11+ hour, 34+ min ago (168+ words) Marks & Spencer is looking to open five near food stores at locations across Norfolk. The supermarket giant has announced mass expansion plans for 500 new food stores across the country. The retailer is currently scouting out locations for the new shops, with five potential Norfolk locations earmarked. M&S is searching for sites in 500 potential locations to bring its tried and tested format for stores to modernise in existing markets and bring Food stores to new areas. The locations that M&S are looking at in Norfolk are Great Yarmouth, Diss, Holt/Cromer, north Norwich and Wymondham/Cringleford. Alex Freudmann managing director at M&S Food, said: "The strong performance of our new M&S food stores gives us the confidence to explore even more locations across the UK. "Our team want new sites where we could open a large M…...

15+ hour, 53+ min ago (260+ words) WASHINGTON " A federal judge dismissed a criminal case against New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday " less than two months after she was indicted on charges in connection with a Norfolk home she purchased. U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie concluded that Lindsey Halligan, the prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump's urging, was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. Currie also dismissed the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey for the same reason. Halligan was tapped to serve as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in September after her predecessor, Erik Siebert, resigned amid concerns he would be forced out for failing to prosecute James, CBS reports. Full speech: NY AG Letitia James tells supporters outside Norfolk courthouse she 'will not be deterred' James was indicted in early October in connection with…...

16+ hour, 22+ min ago (842+ words) A senior figure in a major crime gang which flooded Norfolk with almost "1.5m worth of cocaine using quiet country lanes to stash drugs in Tupperware-style pots is due back in court next month. Marc Kane helped run the group which concealed their wares in hedgerows in secluded rural spots in Norfolk from where they could retrieve them when required. Drugs were stashed in hedgerows, like in Blocka Road, St Olaves (Image: Sonya Duncan) The group was caught after police placed members under surveillance and monitored members. Six members of the gang were put behind bars for a total of 27 years for their roles in supplying more than 17kg of cocaine worth more than "1.3m between March and August last year. Among them was Ashley Youngman, 34, who together with Kane was a director of the Hideout caf" in Gorleston and one of the…...

21+ hour, 54+ min ago (832+ words) Miranda Mugford and her husband Mike planned to go sailing in retirement before Mike suffered a stroke A retired professor who looks after her 77-year-old husband is calling for more support for carers in Wednesday's Budget. Miranda Mugford, 75, a professor of mental health and social care at the University of East Anglia whose husband had a stroke, would like to see attendance allowance increased and more VAT relief on medical equipment. She said politicians often talked about more money for social care, but it never materialised. The government said its top priority was helping pensioners. Ms Mugford talked to BBC Politics East's Your Shout. Miranda Mugford's husband Mike had a stroke in 2013 Miranda, from Barford in Norfolk, said: "My husband Mike had a catastrophic stroke in 2013. "He needs someone around all the time. He needs food prepared, drinks prepared, toileting,…...