By DEBBIE MESSINA By Debbie Messina The Virginian-Pilot A national voter protection organization said Thursday that Virginia is among several states that are unprepared to handle the anticipated surge of voters in the Nov. 4 election, with the potential for long lines to discourage voting.

By DEBBIE MESSINA By Debbie Messina The Virginian-Pilo t NORFOLK One is furry. Two are leathery. Three have shells. And four are scaly. Yet they're all babies. There's a baby boomlet at the Virginia Zoo. Ten baby animals were born in the past couple of months.

By DEBBIE MESSINA By Debbie Messina The Virginian-Pilot NORFOLK The sagging economy has many human service groups struggling with higher costs, shrinking donations and a growing client list.

By DEBBIE MESSINA By Debbie Messina The Virginian-Pilot NORFOLK Airlines have cut 12.5 percent of flights at Norfolk International Airport since last September, to control costs associated with higher fuel prices. That represents a 10.7 percent reduction in the number of available seats.

By DEBBIE MESSINA By Debbie Messina The Virginian-Pilot NORFOLK The exchanges between the judge and the defendants in Circuit Courtroom Number 8 on Tuesday afternoons are a little unconventional. But then, so is this court.