Altria Group 2Q earnings expected to reflect industry cigarette volumes rebounding

RICHMOND, Va. — Altria Group Inc. reports its second-quarter results on Wednesday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Some families, survivors of Virginia Tech killings publish ad opposing concealed gun proposal

RICHMOND, Va. — Some survivors and families of Virginia Tech shooting victims are asking their U.S. senators to reject a proposed national standard for carrying concealed weapons.

Former quarterback Michael Vick ends federal dogfighting term, free to lobby for NFL return

HAMPTON, Va. — Suspended NFL star Michael Vick ended his federal dogfighting sentence Monday, freeing him to lobby for a return to the field.

Biden travels to House GOP Whip Cantor’s backyard for defense of stimulus

RICHMOND, Va. — Vice President Joe Biden, in the backyard of the House’s No. 2 Republican, asked critics of the economic stimulus package Thursday to explain how they would help the struggling economy.

Virginia newspaper expresses regret for role in state’s fight to maintain school segregation

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia newspaper expressed regret Thursday for supporting a systematic campaign by the state’s white political leaders to maintain separate public schools for blacks and whites in the 1950s.

Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages down for 3rd-straight week

McCLEAN, Va. — Rates for 30-year home loans dropped for the third-straight week, inching toward a record low reached earlier this year, Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Gannett posts 2nd-qtr profit above analyst views, reversing year-ago loss despite sales drop

MCLEAN, Va. — Gannett Co. posted a profit in the second quarter, beating analyst expectations and reversing a loss recorded in the year-ago period.

Appeals court in Va. orders new arguments in case of Sept. 11 conspirator Moussaoui

RICHMOND, Va. — A federal appeals court ordered new arguments Tuesday in the case of Sept. 11 conspirator Zacharias Moussaoui, the only person to stand trial for the terrorist attacks in a U.S. court.

Former United Mine Workers president Sam Church dies at 72 after long illness

BRISTOL, Va. — Sam Church, former leader of the United Mine Workers of America, died early Tuesday after a long illness, the union announced.

CarMax completes private placement of $490 million in asset-backed notes

RICHMOND, Va. — Automotive retailer CarMax Inc. said Tuesday that it has completed a private placement of $490 million of notes.

Judge releases Nevada man who threatened Va. Tech alums, orders psychiatric treatment

ROANOKE, Va. — A man who pleaded guilty to sending an e-mail threat to two Virginia Tech alumni on the eve of the first anniversary of the university’s mass shooting has been released from jail and ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment.

Yes he can: Prison decides Obama’s books are suitable reading for al-Qaida inmate after all

McLEAN, Va. — The Bureau of Prisons says it reversed course months ago to allow some of the country’s most dangerous prisoners to read two books written by President Barack Obama.

Va. nudist camp to help stage largest simultaneous skinny dip, will admit newcomers free

IVOR, Va. — Virginia’s only nudist camp is doing its part to help stage the nation’s largest simultaneous skinny dip this weekend. White Tail Resort will offer free admission to newcomers at its annual open house Saturday and Sunday.

Audacity of Nope: Supermax prison tells inmate that Obama’s books harmful to national security

McLEAN, Va. — The federal government’s most secure prison has determined that two books written by President Barack Obama contain material “potentially detrimental to national security” and rejected an inmate’s request to read them.

Judge rejects plaintiff’s lawsuit against cup maker in first-of-its-kind patent case

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A federal judge has turned away a first-of-its-kind lawsuit filed by an attorney seeking to exploit a quirk in federal patent law that had been dormant for more than a century.

Video of La. congressman accepting suitcase full of cash from FBI informant played at trial

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — From four different angles, jurors saw a former Louisiana congressman accept a suitcase filled with $100,000 on videos played in court Tuesday.

Genworth says Canadian mortgage insurance operations closes IPO, company to raise up to $730M

RICHMOND, Va. — Genworth Financial Inc. said Tuesday that an initial public offering of 44.7 million shares of its Canadian mortgage insurance operations priced at 19 Canadian dollars ($16.35) per share.

Va. closing 18 of its 42 interstate rest areas July 21, adding truck parking at others

ROANOKE, Va. — Travelers who count on Virginia’s no-frills rest areas as places to stop are about to find their passage through the state less comfortable.

Va. woman gets trapped in trash bin, falls asleep, emerges unscathed after ride to dump

WINCHESTER, Va. — Workers at the Frederick County Landfill were surprised by what they found in a large trash bin trucked in from a Goodwill Industries store: a woman who had apparently gotten trapped. “They opened the door and she got out,” said landfill manager Ron Kimble.

Suspended NFL star Vick meets deadline for filing revised bankruptcy plan in Va. court

RICHMOND, Va. — Suspended NFL star Michael Vick would keep one vehicle, one home and a large assortment of furniture and personal items if his creditors and the judge who rejected his previous bankruptcy plan approve a revised one filed Thursday.

Circuit City completes sale of Canadian assets to Bell Canada

RICHMOND, Va. — Electronics retailer Circuit City, which closed all its U.S. stores, has sold its Canadian stores to telecommunications company Bell Canada.

Nation’s last known hand-poled ferry stays afloat at least 3 more months on Va.’s James River

RICHMOND, Va. — The nation’s last known hand-poled ferry has gotten a reprieve to keep it afloat for three more months.

Audi says US sales for June hit high for 2009

HERNDON, Va. — Audi said on Wednesday that the company had its best sales month for the year in June.

Authorities investigate white powder sent to Christian Broadcasting Network HQ in Va.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Authorities are trying to identify a powdery substance mailed to the Christian Broadcasting Network headquarters in Virginia Beach.

Volkswagen of America says June sales of fall 18 percent despite boost from clean diesel

HERNDON, Va. — Volkswagen of America Inc. said Wednesday its June sales fell 18 percent despite a rise in sales of clean diesel-burning cars.

Report: Gannett to jettison more than 1,000 workers to offset counter newspaper ad slump

MCLEAN, Va. — Gannett Co. is preparing to lay off more than 1,000 employees as the largest newspaper publisher’s work force continues to shrink along with its advertising sales.

Virginia official: some doctors reluctant to prescribe strong painkillers after hacker attack

RICHMOND, Va. — Some doctors are holding off prescribing painkillers after a hacker accessed more than 35.5 million of Virginia’s most sensitive prescription drug records two months ago, a state official told a legislative panel Monday.

Police: Son who escaped family slaying in Virginia says dad lured him home, shot him in back

ROANOKE, Va. — A college student played dead to escape a family shooting by his father, who killed the other son and their mother before setting their house on fire and taking his own life, investigators said Monday.

Police: Son who escaped slaying of family members in Virginia says dad lured him home

AXTON, Va. — A college student who was wounded in a shooting that killed his mother and brother told police his father lured him to the family’s house in southwest Virginia. The father later killed himself, authorities said.

Sheriff: 3 members of Va. family found shot to death in burning home; 1 son escapes father

AXTON, Va. — A Virginia man fatally shot his wife and adult son and wounded another son before killing himself, authorities said Sunday. Their bodies were discovered in the basement of their burning home.