NEWS NEAR YOU

Sussex A medical examiner has confirmed that the man whose body was found in Sussex County during the weekend died as a result of homicide. Authorities said yesterday that definitive identification is pending, but the victim is believed to be Yong Hui Zhang, 24, who had been missing since Thursday night when he left to make deliveries for his family's restaurant in Fredericksburg. Jermaine Montgomery, 34, and Marcey White, 36, two suspects in Zhang's disappearance, are being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. They are scheduled for a video arraignment today at 8:30 a.m. in Fredericksburg General District Court.

Petersburg Concerned Citizens of Petersburg will hold a meeting today with Petersburg Police Chief John Dixon to address crime issues. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Christ and Grace Episcopal Church, 1545 S. Sycamore St.

Chesterfield Chesterfield County will apply for an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $34,419 for fiscal year 2010. The funding is available for community justice programs and is being sought for the Day Reporting Center, a sentencing alternative provided by Community Corrections Services for substance-addicted offenders. For details, call (804) 706-1270 or e-mail communitycorrections@chesterfield.gov by July 30.

Richmond The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's former pastor, will speak tomorrow at the 2008 Life Empowerment Super Conference at St. Paul's Baptist Church, 4247 Creighton Road in Henrico County. Wright's talk, originally scheduled for 2 p.m., has been changed to 9:30 a.m. Wright is pastor emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. For details, visit www.myspbc.org. On-site registration will be available.

Colonial Heights A motorcycle driver was taken to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a van, police said. The crash occurred yesterday shortly after 2 p.m. on Boulevard at the intersection of Washington Avenue. Colonial Heights police Sgt. Thomas Kifer said the motorcyclist was traveling northbound on Boulevard when a van turned from Washington Avenue and struck him. The driver of the van also was taken to an area hospital, Kifer said.

AROUND THE STATE

Virginia Beach A woman jogging near the waterline in Virginia Beach was struck and killed by lightning. Stephanie Dawn Kirpes, 23, was struck Sunday about 5:20 p.m. in the city's Sandbridge section. The Woodbridge woman was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Chesapeake A Chesapeake teenager faces charges in a fireworks-sparked blaze that destroyed $100,000 worth of soybeans. Fire Department Capt. Steve Johnson said 18-year-old Ryan Everton is charged with burning standing crops, a felony, and misdemeanor possession and use of fireworks. Johnson said Everton allegedly was playing with fireworks in a soybean field when the fire started Friday about 9:30 p.m. Firefighters extinguished the fire by Saturday at 3 a.m.

Staunton Staunton has imposed a hiring freeze to save money to pay for soaring energy costs, officials announced last week. The freeze, which will last at least three months, is effective immediately and affects all city departments, said Doug Cochran, a spokesman for the city. Overtime costs will also be monitored and minimized. -- From Staff and Wire Reports