WASHINGTON The White House is aggressively pushing the idea that, contrary to widespread belief, President Barack Obama is tightfisted with taxpayer dollars. To back it up, the administration cites a media report that claims federal spending is rising at the slowest pace since the Eisenhower years.

Nothing inspires Democrats like the Barack Obama swagger — the supreme self-confidence on stage, the self-certainty in private. So nothing inspires more angst than when that same Obama stumbles, as he has leaving the gate in 2012.

GREENSBORO, N.C. Jurors in the John Edwards campaign fraud trial have the long holiday weekend to think over the case — but not talk about it — as the judge sternly warned before sending them home after six days of deliberations.

RICHMOND At the end of a hearing Friday, a plea deal was reached to resolve charges against many of the 30 people facing trespassing misdemeanors after being arrested during a March 3 abortion-rights protest at the state Capitol.

FALLS CHURCH Virginia Senate candidate George Allen's three conservative rivals won louder ovations from a conservative gathering at their final debate Friday, while the front-runner instead gave more seasoned and measured responses to subjects including foreign policy and an openly gay judicial nominee.

RICHMOND Richmond police are investigating allegations that two officers made "inappropriate comments" during President Obama's recent visit.

Just weeks after Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency officials warned publicly of the dangers posed by leaks about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, top officials at both agencies and at the White House granted Hollywood filmmakers unusual access to those involved in planning the raid and some of the methods they used to do it, newly released government records show.

The presidential race remains a dead heat in North Carolina, according to a poll released today. Republican Mitt Romney took 45 percent of the vote and 44 percent went to President Barack Obama in the SurveyUSA poll. The rest of those polled were undecided or supported another candidate. Independents broke 45-32 for Romney.

The two Virginia Beach men competing in the 2nd Congressional District election this year exchanged letters Monday urging each other to adopt civil rules to avoid personal attacks. But they can't agree on where to draw the line.

RICHMOND The Virginia Bar Association is planning to hold a debate in July in the state's U.S. Senate race. The group says the debate is scheduled for July 21 at The Homestead in Hot Springs as part of the bar association's summer meeting. It hopes it will be the first general election debate in the race to fill the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Jim Webb.