By Emery P. Dalesio  CHAPEL HILL, N.C.  The University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted today to increase tuition across the system of 16 university campuses by nearly 9 percent, or over $400, on average.

NEWPORT NEWS Newport News school officials plan to investigate an incident in which a 4-year-old girl was left on a bus for about two hours.

Schools spokeswoman Michelle Price tells The Daily Press that the driver and a bus assistant have been suspended pending the investigation of the Feb. 3 incident.

SUFFOLK School Board members on Thursday asked the superintendent to adjust his proposed budget to include at least a2 percent pay increase for employees. "We have cut and we have cut and we simply cannot cut any more," board member Diane Foster said. "It's time to take a really hard stand."

SUFFOLK The School Board attorney urged members Thursday night to review concerns about a proposed student dress code that limits cross-gender apparel, but he stopped short of recommending they nix the plan.

PORTSMOUTH The $140 million school budget proposed for next year could hinge on whether the City Council agrees to provide an additional $2.5 million to offset less aid to the division from the state. "Let's pray that the city gives us the additional funding," School Board member Edward McCabe said.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

A University of North Carolina Board of Governors committee has recommended a proposal that would see college costs rise by more than $400 per student on average.

The committee made its recommendation Thursday in Chapel Hill, a day before the full board is scheduled to vote on the proposal.

RICHMOND A measure to significantly alter employment terms for some public school teachers cleared a Senate committee Thursday after a local Republican changed his vote. The amended bill brought by Sen. Mark Obenshain at the behest of Gov. Bob McDonnell would place teachers without continuing contracts as of July 1, 2013, under three-year deals. Those with ongoing contracts would keep them.

RICHMOND

The chair of the Virginia Beach School Board appealed this morning to the region’s legislators to help with a roughly $40 million budget shortfall.

RICHMOND

A bill moved forward this morning requiring college police to work with local law enforcement, especially in the most serious cases, such as rape or murder.

Virginians strongly favor drug tests for welfare recipients and many support repealing a requirement that preteen girls be vaccinated against a virus that can cause cervical cancer, according to a new poll conducted by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.