Shakeva Richards, a 6-foot-1 power forward from Spalding High in Griffin, Ga., has committed to sign with the Old Dominion Lady Monarchs next week.

Richards’ commitment means the Lady Monarchs are expecting two November signees, the other being 6-3 center Brittany Campbell from Indianapolis.

NEWPORT NEWS

Two people have been charged in a string of burglaries in the city that were committed over several months, beginning in March, police said.

In six of the eight cases, residents were sleeping while burglars broke into their homes and stole their property, police wrote in a news release. .

NEWPORT NEWS

A man who police say dropped off two computers at a repair store in June has been charged with possessing child pornography.

After the computers were dropped off, the store called police who seized them, according to a news release.

Forensics experts found more than 200 images of child pornography, police wrote in the release.

NEWPORT NEWS

One of two men hit by gunfire in the 500 block of Catina Way in Denbigh early this morning has died.

NEWPORT NEWS A statewide Republican tide was not enough to save embattled Del. Phil Hamilton from defeat Tuesday. Ensnared in an ongoing ethics scandal, the Newport News Republican lost the House seat he has held for two decades to Democratic challenger Robin Abbott, a well-funded political neophyte. Speaking to a subdued crowd of supporters, Hamilton was philosophical.

NEWPORT NEWS

A fire started by an unattended pot on a stove displaced two people and caused about $30,000 worth of damage to a home in the 800 block of Stoney Drive Tuesday afternoon.

NEWPORT NEWS Democrat Priscilla S. Bele collected 51.24 percent of the city's votes to win the commissioner of revenue seat, according to the unofficial results from the Virginia State Board of Elections. Bele defeated independent candidates Guy A. Henderson and Rasheed N. Wyatt.

NEWPORT NEWS Incumbent Republican Del. G. Glenn Oder will keep his General Assembly seat, according to The Associated Press. He beat Democratic challenger Gary R. West in the race to serve the 94th House District, which represents Newport News.  

NEWPORT NEWS Newport News police have arrested 37 people in a drug and gang investigation, police said today.

Twenty-three of them were arrested on drug charges, four on prostitution charges and the others were fugitives or were arrested on other charges, and three guns were seized, police said.

NEWPORT NEWS

Police are seeking information about a female driver who struck a 60-year-old male pedestrian and fled this morning.