The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, VA

Kaine Too Vague On Payday Reforms

Is Gov. Tim Kaine serious about protecting Virginians from predatory lenders? More than once, Kaine has declared his support for an interest- rate cap that would prevent payday lenders from gouging customers with fees equal to a 391 percent annualized interest.

Cornell Suicide Watch Good Model for State

Long before a mentally ill gunman's rampage at Virginia Tech, another university figured out better ways to identify troubled students and get them help. Cornell University, in Ithaca, N.Y., battling a decades-long reputation as a place for frequent suicides, began working in 2002 on a plan that essentially asked people on campus to look out for each other.

School Board, Pta Officials Exchange Views

By Amy Jeter The Virginian-Pilot

Richard O. Madson

VIRGINIA BEACH - Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Richard Oscar Madson, 87, decorated career naval officer and veteran of World War II and the Vietnam War, passed away Jan. 5, 2008, at Bay Lakes assisted living facility, Virginia Beach. Born Nov. 23, 1920, in Minneapolis, Minn., he attended Duluth High School (1934-1938) and Duluth Junior College before accepting a commission to the United States Naval Academy in 1939. His USNA Class of 1943 actually graduated in 1942, after a compressed three-year pr...

Your Views

What will stop street violence? LOOKING OUT MY FRONT DOOR, I can see where a man was gunned down in broad daylight on New Year's Eve at a GameStop store. I saw the cops, the paramedics and the media arrive. What could have prevented this from happening?

Firm Anti-Abortion Stance On Hopeful's Campaign Platform

By Warren Fiske The Virginian-Pilot

Father in Neglect Case Ordered to Stay in Va.

By Michelle Washington The Virginian-Pilot

Hampton Woman Claims Second $1 Million Prize

The Associated Press HAMPTON

Immigration Debate Is About Respecting Law, Pure and Simple

HERE'S A PREDICTION: It's going to get ugly in Richmond this winter. A bushel of bills before the General Assembly are aimed at illegal immigration at a time when emotions - at least around here - still are inflamed because two Virginia Beach teenagers were killed last spring by an inebriated illegal immigrant with a criminal record.

Charles Bishop Jr.

James D. Parker

VIRGINIA BEACH - James D. Parker, 90, died Jan. 4, 2008, at home. Mr. Parker was born in Ohio and was the son of the late John K. Parker and Alexandra Manas Parker. Mr. Parker graduated from the University of Michigan with an engineering degree B.A. (Phi Beta Kappa). He graduated Wharton Business School, B.A. He flew P-40 in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 and was a test pilot for Curtis Wright. He received his real estate broker's license in 1948. He also graduated from the Univers...

Farookh D. Mistry

SUFFOLK - Dr. Farookh D. Mistry, 61, passed away Jan. 6, 2008, in his residence. He was a native of India and was a son of the late Feroza Mistry. Survivors include his wife, Zarine Mistry; his father, Dinshaw Mistry; and two sons, Neville and Cyrus.

Japheth E. Saecker

MELFA - Japheth Edward Saecker, 54, beloved husband of Ann Rotariu Saecker, passed away Jan. 6, 2008, at Bayside Healthcare Center in Virginia Beach. Ed was born May 1, 1953, in Suffolk. He was the son of Wellington Mills Saecker and Marcella Rawls Saecker, both deceased. He was also predeceased by his stepmother, Joyce Folk Saecker and his closest lifelong friend, Ken Thomas. Survivors include two children, Christianna Mills Saecker of Smithfield, Va., and Japheth Edward Saecker Jr. of Houst...

Lois M. Bailey Richardson

CHESAPEAKE - Lois Marie Bailey Richardson, 90, widow of Curtis L. Richardson Jr., passed away Jan. 6, 2008. She was predeceased by her brothers, the Rev. Walter Bailey and the Rev. Paul Bailey. Born June 13, 1917, in Damascus, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Charles F. and Ethel Shreve Bailey. She was a graduate of Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky., and a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Calvin J. Watson

PORTSMOUTH - Calvin J. Watson, 76, of the 500 block of Bunche Blvd., died Jan. 5, 2008, in Chesapeake. Born in Norfolk County, Virginia, he retired after 30 years as a letter carrier from the U.S. Postal Service. He was also an airman for four years in the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of New Mount Vernon Baptist Church where he was a member of the usher board and gospel choir. He was also a member of Lebanon Lodge No. 34 F&AM and the I.C. Norcom Athletic Alumni Association. Surviving are h...

Michael Paul Massoth

Elizabeth Gow Sly

VIRGINIA BEACH - Elizabeth Gow Sly, 88, passed away Jan. 3, 2008. Mrs. Sly was the beloved wife of the late Raymond L. Jr.

Evelyn S. O'roark

CHESAPEAKE - Evelyn Sherron O'Roark of the 900 block of Cedar Road, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. Born in Granville County, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late F. Graham Sherron and Ida Wilson Sherron. She was a loving wife, mother and aunt.

Russell W. Jones

CHESAPEAKE - Russell William Jones, 79, of the 2500 block of Lofurno Road, died Jan. 7, 2008, in a Norfolk hospital. A native of Mount Olive, N.C., he was a retired brick mason with Phoenix Construction Company and an Army paratrooper during World War II. Mr. Jones was preceded in death by a son, Dean Jones. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Sue Jones; three daughters, Tammy Devine and husband Steve of Suffolk, Dawn Hughes and husband Tim of Portsmouth and Barbie Faulk and husband Brian of ...

From Hype to Fear From Hype to Fear

THE UNEMPLOYMENT report on Friday was brutally bad. Unemployment rose in December, while job creation was minimal - and it's highly likely, for technical reasons, that the job number will be revised down, showing an actual decline in employment. It's the latest piece of bad news about an economy in which the employment situation has actually been deteriorating for the past year. It's no longer possible to hope that the effects of the housing slump will remain "contained."