BizSense Beat is a weekly collaboration between VPM News and Richmond BizSense that brings you the top business stories during NPR’s Morning Edition on Fridays.
Here’s a recap of the top stories for the week of Sept. 11, 2026:
Legal skirmish between Richmond officials and baseball team owners advances
Reported by BizSense’s Jonathan Spiers
Owners of the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ have filed a lawsuit against the City of Richmond and its economic development arm over alleged changes and delays tied to the Diamond District project.
The suit claims that Navigators Baseball —the entity tied to the Richmond ball club — were promoted to invest more than their initial financial commitments to the city, but Richmond Economic Development Authority has failed to deliver on its promise to deliver the mixed-use development surrounding CarMax Park.
The defendants are entities tied to Diamond District Partners, the development group led by Thalhimer Realty Partners, as well as Thalhimer itself.
The suit follows a seperate defamation case that Lou DiBella, the Navigators’ managing general partner, filed against Thalhimer and its principal Jason Guillot over heated exchange that occurred at CarMax Park’s opening night in April.
Long-awaited Powhite Parkway extension project underway this winter
Reported by BizSense’s Jack Jacobs
Construction of the $565 million Powhite Parkway extension will be underway soon. The overall project will lengthen the Powhite about 9 miles from its current endpoint near the interchange with Route 288 south and west to connect with Hull Street Road.
The project will be funded with a mixture of local, state and federal dollars, much of which comes from Central Virginia Transportation Authority, a regional authority that finances transportation projects across the commonwealth.
Chesterfield County is planning to issue a request for proposals for phase one of the project in the next several weeks. The county plans to award a contract by the end of the year.
Waters Edge bistro and winery moves to Richmond region
Reported by BizSense’s Jackie DiBartolomeo
Paul and Rebecca Williams are opening Waters Edge Winery Midlothian at 2201 Chartermark Drive off Charter Colony Parkway in Chesterfield County.
The storefront is one of franchises for the national winery and bistro brand which offers an “urban winery,” experience of imported goods and on-site winemaking equipment is used to make wine in front of guests.
On-site wine production is scheduled to start up sometime in the near future, Paul Williams said, but the business opened its doors on Aug. 17 and is now operating daily outside from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., except for Mondays.
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