Virginia offshore wind developer sues over Trump administration order halting projects

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The developers of a Virginia offshore wind project are asking a federal judge to block a Trump administration order that halted construction of their project, along with four others, over national security concerns.

Dominion Energy Virginia said in its lawsuit filed late Tuesday that the government's order is “arbitrary and capricious” and unconstitutional. The Richmond-based company is developing Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, a project it says is essential to meet dramatically growing energy needs driven by dozens of new data centers.

The Interior Department did not detail the security concerns in blocking the five projects on Monday. In a letter to project developers, Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management set a 90-day period — and possibly longer — “to determine whether the national security threats posed by this project can be adequately mitigated.”

The other projects are the Vineyard Wind project under construction in Massachusetts, Revolution Wind in Rhode Island and Connecticut and two projects in New York: Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind. Democratic governors in those states have vowed to fight the order, the latest action by the Trump administration to hobble offshore wind in its push against renewable energy sources.

Some local brands left out as Kildonan Place renovation shuffles tenant storefronts

“We’ve moved” and “Closed for relocation” signage dots the food court’s perimeter at Kildonan Place.

Why your holiday gift returns might go to a landfill and what you can do about it

The holiday season will soon come to a close, but the busiest time of the year for product returns is just beginning.

The National Retail Federation estimates 17% of holiday purchases will be sent back this year. More retailers are reporting extended return windows and increased holiday staff to handle the rush this year.

A major driver for returns is uncertainty. When we buy for other people, finding what they want is a bit of a guessing game. Online purchases have higher return rates because finding the right size and color is tough when you're just staring at images on screens.

“Clothing and footwear, as you can imagine, because fit is such an important criteria, they have higher rates of returns,” said Saskia van Gendt, chief sustainability officer at Blue Yonder, which sells software designed to improve companies' supply chain management.

Manitoba Trucking Association pitches ‘trusted employer’ program

In an effort to prevent worker abuse, the Manitoba Trucking Association is pushing for “trusted employer” certification within Canadian immigration programs.

“It’s not OK to break the law,” said Aaron Dolyniuk, the MTA’s executive director. “It’s not OK to sacrifice workers’ rights for your purpose of profit.”

Dolyniuk met with Manitoba’s deputy minister of labour and immigration earlier this month. During the meeting, the association pitched a new certification process that’s trucking-industry specific, Dolyniuk said.

The MTA envisions a program where companies demonstrate their ability to onboard foreign workers, including helping immigrants get a driver’s licence and social insurance number. Firms would need to prove a clean record of labour compliance to an auditor.

Trump overturned decades of US trade policy in 2025. See the impact of his tariffs, in four charts

Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has overturned decades of U.S. trade policy — building a wall of tariffs around what used to be a wide open economy.

His double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country have disrupted global commerce and strained the budgets of consumers and businesses worldwide. They have also raised tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. Treasury.

Trump has argued that his steep new import taxes are necessary to bring back wealth that was “stolen” from the U.S. He says they will narrow America's decades-old trade deficit and bring manufacturing back to the country.

But upending the global supply chain has proven costly for households facing rising prices. The taxes are paid by importers who typically attempt to pass along the higher costs to their customers. That includes businesses and ultimately, U.S. households.

Think you know business news? Test your knowledge with this 2025 quiz

From labour strikes to bankruptcies to tariffs, it was yet another eventful year in Canadian business.

The TSX soared to new heights and deals were made and lost. 

How well do you remember 2025? Take this business quiz to see how up-to-speed you are on some of the year's biggest headlines. 

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Boxing Day draws shoppers despite poor weather in Toronto, much of Ontario

TORONTO - Shoppers in some Canadian cities braved heavy snow and wintry conditions on Boxing Day, undeterred by the challenging weather in their hunt for a good deal.

Much of southern Ontario stretching from Belleville in the east to Windsor in the south and Sault Ste. Marie in the west was under weather warnings, for either snow close to 15 centimetres in some places, or up 10 millimetres of freezing rain in others.

The Toronto Transit Commission issued a statement urging shoppers to leave their vehicles at home and use public transit, adding it was taking measures such as running anti-icing trains on subway lines to keep the system moving.

The bad weather didn't stop Cornel Fisic, who was on the hunt for a new pair of shoes Friday when he entered the busy Toronto Eaton Centre.

Volunteering with children can build character and create lasting family memories

NEW YORK (AP) — When Cami Teacoach's son turned three she set out to find volunteer opportunities they could do together. He made Valentine cards for senior citizens. They hiked and picked up trash. He helped harvest produce at community gardens and made seed balls out of mud, throwing them into the forest to promote wildflower growth.

Teacoach had reached out to many organizations looking for volunteer projects that she could do with her young child, but most places said no, so she came up with her own.

“Everyone was like, 'A 3-year-old can’t do that,'” Teacoach said. “And I was like, ‘No, I swear, he really can if you would just give him a chance.’”

Volunteering with children can instill confidence in youngsters, teach social and problem-solving skills and provide unique ways for families to bond. During the holiday season, many people seek such opportunities, looking for ways to give back.

Amid a battery boom, graphite mining gets a fresh look in the US

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. (AP) — Graphite mines in the United States largely closed down seven decades ago. Mining the ubiquitous mineral found in everything from nuclear reactors to pencils seemed to make little sense when it could be imported inexpensively from other nations, especially China.

That view is changing now.

Demand for graphite, a key material in the lithium-ion batteries that power everything from phones to electric cars, is surging as trade tensions with China persist. With federal officials concerned about the steady supply of a number of critical minerals, several companies have plans to mine graphite.

In New York, Titan Mining Corp. has mined a limited amount of ore from a deposit in snowy woods about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Canadian border, aiming for commercial sales by 2028. Company officials believe the geopolitical winds are at their backs to sell graphite concentrate for high-tech, industrial and military uses. That could include heat-resistant coatings in factories, anodes in large lithium-ion batteries connected to electrical grids and lubricants for military vehicles, according to the company.