NEWS NEAR YOU

Chesterfield Chesterfield County museum docent and master gardener Pat Roble will explore the stories surrounding Chesterfield County's most notable trees next Saturday in "Historic Trees of Chesterfield County: Silent Witnesses to Our Past." The presentation from 11 a.m. to noon will be held at Magnolia Grange, 10020 Iron Bridge Road, and is free and open to the public. For details, call 768-7311.

Hopewell Poet Nikki Giovanni will speak at the Hopewell Library on Thursday at 7 p.m. Giovanni, a professor at Virginia Tech, rallied the campus with her speech and a poem after a student gunman's shooting rampage in April last year. Giovanni does not believe in going over old ground. In her 1988 book of essays, "Sacred Cows . . . and Other Edibles," she wrote, "I think speeches and fruit should always be fresh." Her visit is part of the Virginia Author Series at the Appomattox Regional Library System and is co-sponsored by the Hopewell/Prince George Friends of the Library.

Hanover For the ninth year, Richmond-area cyclists will be making a century ride -- 100 miles -- through Hanover and King William counties to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation for Cancer Research. Nearly 90 riders have signed up for the ride tomorrow morning, and more are welcome. Riders are asked to wear a yellow jersey and to contribute at least $25 to the foundation through its Web site, www.livestrong.org. The ride begins promptly at 6 a.m. at the Ashland Train Station.

Henrico A Sandston woman whose daughter died in a fatal traffic wreck in Spotsylvania County last Saturday night now faces charges in connection with the crash. Lindsey Fillner, 28, was charged with reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, said Sgt. F.L. Tyler, a spokesman for the state police. Fillner's 5-year-old daughter Ainsley was killed in the crash when Fillner turned into the path of a tow truck on U.S. 1. Fillner and three children in her 2006 Pontiac were injured in the wreck. Two people in the tow truck also were injured. All of the injured have been released from the hospital.

Richmond The Virginia Board of Medicine recently suspended the medical license of Wayne Wei-Yuan Chang of Glen Allen, pending a formal disciplinary hearing. Chang, a psychiatrist, is accused of prescribing OxyContin to a patient in exchange for sex. To see other disciplinary case decisions of state health regulatory boards, go to: www.dhp.state.va.us.

AROUND THE STATE

Pulaski The Pulaski County Courthouse is almost free of fleas that hitched a ride on an opossum found dead between the floorboards. In early June, workers started to complain that the pests were biting them and visitors. Assistant County Administrator Robert Hiss said the problem was primarily confined to the first floor, which holds offices that include court clerks and a general district courtroom. The building has been treated with chemicals, but another dusting may be done during the holiday weekend.

Manassas The owner of a Manassas animal shelter accused of mistreating dogs is denying the charges. Sandra Irene Cortes, 44, of Annandale, is the owner of Assisi's Animal Rescue Foundation. She was charged this week with 28 counts of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor that carries up to a year in jail. A caretaker at the foundation was also charged. Cortes says the malnourished dogs that investigators found on the property had arrived in that condition. She says shelter staff were working on fattening them up. -- From Staff and Wire Reports