Virginia’s annual sales tax “holiday” on purchases to prepare for a hurricane begins today and continues through Thursday.

The program allows consumers to save the state’s 5 percent sales tax on batteries, flashlights, bottled water, duct tape, mobile-phone chargers, first-aid kits and other products. Large items such as generators also are tax free during this week.

The average price of regular gas has fallen below $3.50 a gallon in Hampton Roads, AAA reported Friday.
The last time it was below $3.50 was Feb. 21, said Katharine Beachboard, a spokeswoman for AAA Tidewater Virginia.
The regional average was $3.49 this morning, AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report said. That was down from $3.51 Thursday and $3.56 a week before.

RICHMOND Virginians who want to stock up on batteries, bottled water and other supplies for the hurricane season will get a tax break this month.

Harris Teeter has recalled some flavors of its private-label sorbet because of possible unidentified milk proteins in the product, posing a potential risk for customers with dairy allergies.

VIRGINIA BEACH The Kroger Co. plans to build its first new supermarket in Hampton Roads since it entered the region 12 years ago. And it's a doozy.

RICHMOND Gas prices have continued to retreat nationwide, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. In Virginia, AAA Mid-Atlantic says the price of a gallon of regular gasoline now averages $3.53 a gallon statewide. That's 5 cents less than last week and a penny higher than a year ago.

RICHMOND Dominion Virginia Power is proposing an incentive to encourage customers to install solar panels and sell the electricity to the company.

CHESAPEAKE
Dollar Tree Inc. announced Thursday that profit grew 15 percent in the first quarter from the same time in 2011, boosted by new customers who came to its stores to buy food, cleaning supplies and items for Valentine's Day and Easter.

NORFOLK
The Berkley postal station is safe for now.
But the U.S. Postal Service hasn’t dropped plans for major reductions at the Norfolk Processing and Distribution Center on Church Street.
An agency spokeswoman Wednesday provided an update on the sites after an official announced Monday that the Postal Service had dropped plans to close 600 offices.

Two years ago, Phillip Twine signed up for the frequent-shopper program at Kroger so he could buy cheaper gasoline at its supermarkets that have service stations. "I got a Kroger card just to get the gas prices," Twine said. "I didn't go to Kroger to eat."