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Virginia jobs caught in cross-border dispute over company’s operations in Mexico | Virginia

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-25 13:01:00

(The Center Square) – A U.S.-based construction materials company, with operations supporting thousands of jobs in Virginia, is at the center of a growing trade dispute as lawmakers urge the Mexican government to reconsider actions they say undermine investor confidence and violate international agreements.

In a recent letter to Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., expressed their concern over the government’s efforts to expropriate property from the company.

“Vulcan Materials Company, a global leader in construction materials based in Alabama, has been operating in Mexico for over three decades… supporting thousands of jobs in Mexico and across Virginia and Tennessee,” the senators wrote.

Vulcan Materials Company, which supplies construction aggregates used in projects across the United States, has operated in Mexico for over 30 years. The U.S. Senators said that the Mexican government’s disruption of Vulcan’s operations may violate protections established under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The trade tensions follow recent efforts in Congress to address property seizures abroad. Hagerty also introduced the Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2024, which would identify property in foreign ports controlled by U.S. persons and restrict access to those ports if the property is nationalized or expropriated without due process.

The senators also emphasized that these actions “undermine efforts to strengthen these ties, as they create a perception of unpredictability toward foreign investments.”

They further warned that the Mexican government’s actions are “a critical blow to investor confidence under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.”

The letter urges the Mexican government to “reconsider its actions against Vulcan and to work with the company toward a resolution that respects the rights of foreign investors and Mexico’s commitments under international agreements.”

The senators highlighted the importance of a stable investment environment.

“By doing so, Mexico would demonstrate its commitment to honoring the principles of respect, transparency, and legal certainty that foster a stable and welcoming environment for all businesses,” the senators wrote.

They also noted that “Vulcan remains ready and willing to negotiate… to reach an amicable solution” and encouraged them to “cease unfounded public accusations against the company as you work to resolve the issue.”

They closed the letter by expressing that they are ready to “work with you to strengthen the bonds between our countries” and their hope that the Mexican government will “take the necessary steps to address our bipartisan concerns.”

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News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Intense storms downed power lines, left thousands in the dark across the Mid-South

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www.youtube.com – FOX13 Memphis – 2025-07-18 14:11:19

SUMMARY: Intense storms in southeast Memphis caused 13 power poles to fall along Shelby Drive near Getwell, leaving thousands without power. MLGW and Memphis Police have blocked affected roads due to live power lines posing a significant danger. One downed line even crushed a car, though the driver is expected to be okay. The outages have impacted many homes and businesses in the area amidst extreme heat, complicating recovery efforts. Utility crews are working through the night to clear debris and restore power, with no estimated timeline for repairs yet. Authorities have closed a half-mile stretch of the road for safety.

At least 16 power poles on Shelby Drive were knocked down around 7 p.m. Thursday. And on Friday morning, MLGW crews were …

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Alvarado echoes Trump in launching a congressional bid

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wpln.org – Tony Gonzalez – 2025-07-18 04:38:00

SUMMARY: Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Kentucky’s first Hispanic state legislator and former Republican state senator, announced his 2026 bid for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District seat. Now Tennessee’s health commissioner, Alvarado plans to return and align with Trump’s “America First” agenda, focusing on issues like border security and fighting the “woke agenda.” The seat, held by GOP Rep. Andy Barr, is a Democratic target for the 2026 midterms. The race includes GOP challengers Ryan Dotson and Deanna Gordon, and Democrats Zach Dembo, Cherlynn Stevenson, and David Kloiber. The district blends rural GOP areas and Democratic-leaning Lexington, shaped by recent redistricting.

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A heart implant could make Tennessee’s next execution painful and prolonged. Prison officials argue they don’t have to disable the device.

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wpln.org – Catherine Sweeney – 2025-07-17 17:25:00

SUMMARY: Byron Black, scheduled for execution in Tennessee on August 5, has a heart implant—a combined pacemaker and defibrillator—that could cause severe pain by delivering shocks if triggered during lethal injection. Experts warn that the drug pentobarbital used in the execution may induce dangerous heart rhythms activating the device, causing continuous shocks. Black’s attorneys argue the device should be disabled beforehand, but state officials and medical experts claim it’s unlikely to be triggered and that any shocks would be felt in a coma state, preventing pain perception. A court ruling on this issue is expected soon.

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The post A heart implant could make Tennessee’s next execution painful and prolonged. Prison officials argue they don’t have to disable the device. appeared first on wpln.org

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