RICHMOND As a barrage of mental-health bills spurred by last year’s Virginia Tech shootings get whittled down in the Capitol, legislation is taking shape that would dramatically restructure the way Virginia provides crisis care.

Del. Lionell Spruill Sr. doesn’t think it’s a good idea for legislators to carry firearms in the Capitol Square in Richmond –even if those lawmakers, himself included, have permits to carry a concealed weapon.

RICHMOND Most Virginians probably didn't know restaurants couldn't legally serve sangria, a Spanish beverage made of red wine, fruit, sugar and a small amount of brandy or triple sec.

RICHMOND New state health commissioner Dr. Karen Remley said Friday she will not participate in decisions related to current competing hospital proposals from Sentara Healthcare and Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System.

YORK COUNTY State police said Friday that a six-car pileup which killed a 20-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn child on Wednesday was caused by someone driving the wrong way.  

The record-breaking, 73-pound rockfish caught by a Chesapeake resident off Cape Henry in Virginia Beach this week apparently managed to avoid an epidemic afflicting more than half the Chesapeake Bay’s resident striped bass.

RICHMOND Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has appointed Paula Otto as executive director of the Virginia Lottery. Otto replaces Sheila Hill-Christian, who stepped down in October. Otto, 46, was part of the team that launched the lottery and served as public affairs director from 1988 to 1997. She then taught at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a former reporter for WTVR in Richmond.  

If you're not sniffling yet, hang on to your tissue box. The flu has been dubbed widespread in Virginia for the first time this season, according to statistics reported this week. Last year, widespread status was reached in mid-February. The state hit that level this season in the week ending Jan. 19.

RICHMOND The delegates and senators who descend on the Capitol for two frenzied months a year usually get credit for penning Virginia’s laws.

RICHMOND Partisan war erupted in the House Thursday when Democrats refused to vote on a sensitive bill introduced by one of their members and Republicans, invoking a rare procedure, cast the votes for them.