NORFOLK The Obama administration's top adviser on the Chesapeake Bay brought a get-tough message to Hampton Roads on Tuesday night, urging more regulation of farms, development and runoff in order to save the Bay.

RICHMOND Everyone agrees they're a problem, but the General Assembly doesn't seem to be ready to impose a fee to discourage the use of disposable grocery bags.

RALEIGH, N.C.  A panel of engineers and geologists is taking the next step toward a recommendation on whether North Carolina should end a ban on jetties designed to block shifting sand at the coast.

The state's Science Panel on Coastal Hazards meets today in Raleigh to review a contractor's draft report on the use of what some call terminal groins.

NEWPORT NEWS The Virginia Marine Resources Commission is using money paid by recreational saltwater fishermen to keep its declining number of police officers on patrol.

The funding shift is part of the commission's cost cutting as it struggles with millions of dollars in budget cuts. Most of the saltwater angler fees used to fund projects such as fishing piers and youth fishing clinics.

PORTSMOUTH Before selling a trash-burning power plant to a private company, SPSA is trying to fix a lingering health and environmental problem at the facility: too much carbon monoxide polluting the air. State regulators issued a notice-of-violation to the Southeastern Public Service Authority in April for excessive carbon monoxide emissions at the Portsmouth waterfront plant dating to 2005.

SURRY The debate over a coal-fired energy plant in the center of Surry County continued Thursday with a standing-room-only crowd at the Board of Supervisors meeting. The Dendron Town Council on Monday approved rezonings and a conditional use permit for the Cypress Creek Power Station, paving the way for the state's largest coal-fired energy plant to be located in the tiny town.

RICHMOND Gov. Bob McDonnell says an additional 13,350 acres in the Middle Peninsula's Dragon Run Swamp will be protected from development.

It's the largest conservation easement in Virginia history and brings the total protected Dragon Run acreage to 20,000.

After a long, contentious meeting, the Town Council late Monday approved changes to zoning ordinances that would pave the way for the state's biggest coal-fired power plant in the tiny town in the center of Surry County.

The debate this year over menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay is over. And once again, the industry that catches and processes millions of these important little fish has won. Bills favored by environmentalists and sportsmen that would have shifted how menhaden are managed in Virginia waters were soundly defeated last week in both the state House and Senate.

By Mary Worrell | Inside Business A local shipping company and the zoo have received honors for their work on wetlands restoration on the Elizabeth River and were recognized at a recent luncheon.