Smurfit Westrock
Coverage of Smurfit Westrock in the Nexus archive.
- The main lesson from DEQ’s groundwater report: Va. must budget to live within environmental limits
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's report highlights that industrial activity is disproportionately responsible for groundwater depletion in eastern Virginia. Two paper mills, International Paper’s facility at Franklin and Smurfit WestRock’s mill at West Point, account for 43% of the total reported groundwater withdrawal across all aquifers. These massive withdrawals are depleting groundwater levels, increasing land subsidence, and contributing to saltwater intrusion.
- Want a software engineering job? You'll need more than coding skills in the AI era.
AI is reshaping software engineering job requirements, with companies now prioritizing judgment and AI literacy over traditional coding skills. Employers use platforms like GitHub and X to evaluate candidates and increasingly allow AI tools during interviews. A 2025 report notes 74% of developers struggle to find jobs despite rising hiring rates.
- WARN Notices: 5,000 working Tennesseans affected by closures, layoffs halfway through 2026. Here’s what we know
Over 5,000 workers in Tennessee have been affected by layoffs or closures as of June 2026, with recent WARN notices from Hard Rock Cafe in Sevier County, YesCare Corp. in Williamson County, and Smurfit Westrock in Wilson County. Tennessee's unemployment rate remained at 3.6% for the fourth consecutive month, with 5,700 nonfarm jobs added in May 2026.