NEWS NEAR YOU

Hopewell The Hopewell City Council has asked the city administration to conduct a study to find out whether a building next to the Appomattox Regional Library is contaminating the library with lead dust. The council voted 4-3 last week to have the study done, with council members Christina Luman-Bailey and N. Gregory Cuffey and Vice Mayor Brenda S. Pelham against the study. The proposal turned into a heated debate because the building is owned by Luman-Bailey. Some people said the suggestion was a personal attack against Luman-Bailey.

Henrico The Henrico County Division of Police won a first-place award in the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police 2007 Law Enforcement Challenge. Henrico police placed first place in the category for departments with 451 to 700 officers for its Underage Alcohol Awareness program, and second place in the national competition.

Chesterfield The completion of the Dutch Gap Bridge will be celebrated during a ceremony Saturday at 10 a.m. The bridge completes a 4½-mile walking loop between the James River and the lagoon at the Dutch Gap Conservation Area, 411 Coxendale Road. The free event is open to the public. For details, call (804) 706-9690.

Richmond Lt. Col. Douglas S. Bunner has taken command of the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion headquartered in Richmond. The battalion is responsible for recruiting active-duty Army and Army Reserve soldiers in Virginia and West Virginia.

Petersburg Del. Rosalyn R. Dance, D-Petersburg, will hold a town-hall meeting at the Union Train Station, 103 River St., tomorrow from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will include a discussion of Dance's legislative actions during this year's General Assembly session. Also at the meeting will also be Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer and Health and Human Resources Secretary Marilyn Tavenner.

Louisa A court hearing for a former Roman Catholic priest convicted on federal charges of embezzling from two Louisa County churches has been postponed because he was not brought from a federal prison in North Carolina. Rodney Rodis, 52, was to appear in Louisa Circuit Court yesterday to be arraigned on 13 state charges, but the procedure was rescheduled for July 21. Rodis is serving a 63-month federal term.

AROUND THE STATE

Collinsville Former Henry County Sheriff H. Franklin Cassell, a key figure in a corruption case involving the county Sheriff's Office, is scheduled to be released July 4 from a federal penitentiary near Scranton, Pa. Cassell, 70, pleaded guilty last May to one count of lying to federal investigators about a scheme to sell drugs and guns seized from criminals. He was among 13 current and former officers indicted in 2006.

Fredericksburg A Spotsylvania County man is charged with stealing as much as $50,000 worth of gas from a Woodbridge filling station. Prince William County police say Phillip Harris, 23, had an electronic device that allowed him to turn on the gas pumps after hours and fill up his friends' tanks at half-price. Investigators say Harris never worked at the Chevron station. He was arrested last week and charged with grand larceny.

Roanoke A state commission stops in Roanoke today to assess immigration's impact on public services such as education and law enforcement, as well as any strains on the economy.