Central Virginia is on pace to record more homicides this year than last, a trend largely driven by more killings in Richmond, suburban Henrico County and Petersburg. Forty-eight slayings occurred during the first six months of this year in the 24 localities...

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• Henrico sheriff’s deputies rack up overtime 5 Comments
• VCU student Caressa Cameron begins reign as Miss Virginia

Death toll rises to 4 after Outer Banks fireworks explosion B3 OCRACOKE, N.C.—Two more workers who had been preparing for an Independence Day celebration died of injuries suffered when a truckload of fireworks exploded on a dock, authorities said....

• Central Va. likely to record more homicides this year than in 2008 5 Comments
• Gary Rhodes at intersection of education, business worlds
• Henrico sheriff’s deputies rack up overtime 5 Comments
• CarMax Summer League gives 17-and-unders, community, nice shot

He didn’t ask for this job. The job of chairman of the Democratic National Committee, that is. Now that he has it, six months later, even an outsider might understand why Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was somewhat reluctant to take it in the first place....

• GOP now grappling with deficit
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• Obama makes health-care pitch in N.Va. 21 Comments