According to a city spokesman it happened around 10:35 a.m. at a warehouse on East Commonwealth Boulevard

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Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, has been named the winner of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize

By SARA LEPRO
AP Business Writer

A proposal to give the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products appears dead for the year, but anti-smoking advocates say they expect it to pass in 2009

Danville police are looking into a Thursday night robbery at Pizza Hut on Piney Forest Road. 

Danville police are investigating a Thursday night home invasion on Kemper Road. 

Local legislators support Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s plan to make up a $2.5 billion budget deficit, even if it impacts programs locally. Delegate Donald Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County, said though times are ahead for Virginia fi-nancially. He said now is not the time to consider raising taxes, and he agrees with cuts Kaine has made.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s call for drastic cuts in the state budget were felt Thursday in the Dan River Region. Kaine’s decision required the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research to cut its budget by 10 percent or close to $700,000.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is shutting down Chatham Diversion Center, one of several corrections facilities the governor is closing across the state to alleviate a $2.5 billion shortfall over the next two years.

N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall was in Rockingham County on Thursday for the launch of e-Vault, an electronic database for records dating to the county’s formation in 1787. She called e-Vault “a kind of digital triumph for Rockingham County government.”

Veterans who are enrolled in the Salem Veterans Administration Medical Center or the Danville Community Based Outpatient Clinic can receive a free flu shot.

A house on West Broad Street suffered heavy damage after a suspicious fire Thursday afternoon.

While a Mason-Dixon poll issued last week showed Virginia tied in the presidential race, a new survey shows Sen. Barack Obama increasing his lead. The Democratic candidate is ahead of Republican Sen. John McCain 51 percent to 43, according to Public Policy Polling. 

A 113-acre parcel of land owned by Dan River Mills has been purchased by JEB Realty LLC, a Danville company located at the Piedmont Big Sale building, 1098 Riverside Drive.

Danville has come a long way economically compared to 20 years ago, thanks to strong leaders in government and the community, said the city’s former delegate during a speech at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Thursday night.

Virginians interested in earning a General Education Development (GED) certificate can attend free open houses at all of Danville’s Adult & Career Education sites next week.

Georgia Carter came home from the hospital on Thursday to an unpleasant surprise: the water had been turned off in her Cabin Lake apartment on Cherokee Court. She wasn’t the only tenant without water — all 100 units in the complex had the water turned off by the city on Wednesday.

Girls scoring touchdowns on the football field. Guys wearing skirts, cheering on their team. That was the scene Tuesday night at Rockingham County High School’s powder puff football game, a Homecoming week tradition. Watch slideshow

A fire caused minor damage to the restaurant at Belk’s Department Store earlier Thursday in Danville.

The Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville has been asked to cut its current budget by 10 percent.

A Rockingham County Grand Jury indicted a Mayodan woman Monday on charges stemming from a Sept. 19 report by Dillard Elementary School officials.

Reidsville police made a drug arrest after a short foot chase Tuesday afternoon. Police arrested Thomas Albert Blackwell, 39, of 210 Lytle St., and charged him with possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine. . 

The westbound right lane of Riverside Drive, from Piedmont Drive to Fairview Avenue, will be closed today for sewer installation.

There will apparently be no televised debate in the 5th District congressional race between incumbent U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount, and challenger Democrat Tom Perriello of Ivy.

Danville City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night to partner with Pittsylvania County in the development of an industrial park in the county near the North Carolina border.

Pittsylvania County plans to pursue a 1-percent sales tax increase to help pay for the bond that will be used to renovate the county’s four high schools. The Board of Supervisors agreed Monday night to request help from Danville to seek approval from the General Assembly. Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis proposed the idea as a way to help cover the $70 million high school bond passed by county voters in November.

Goodwill Industries of the Danville Area hopes a partnership with Dell Inc.’s recycling program can expand its computer rehabilitation efforts.

Despite a significant gain by his Democratic challenger Tom Perriello, incumbent Congressman Virgil Goode remains ahead in the most recent poll of the 5th District congressional race. A Survey USA poll released Tuesday shows that 55 percent of likely 5th District voters support their incumbent congressman versus 42 percent who support placing a new man in Washington.

There are plenty of activities going on this weekend for residents of all ages