Plastic bags are common sights at stores across the nation. Unfortunately, they're also ubiquitous far from the checkout line - hanging in trees, skittering across beaches, floating in waterways and piling up in landfills.

State lawmakers were at a disadvantage last week as they opened hearings on car title loans because the only experts in the room were the lenders and their lobbyists. Industry representatives stated that about 20 percent of their borrowers fall behind on loan payments, and only 5 percent of those defaults result in repossession of a car or truck used to secure the debt.

It's amazing how much crud collects in a pool over the winter, even when you cover it with a tarp. I had the misfortune of finding out how much grit and gunk had piled up in ours after The Boss asked: "Are we going to be able to swim by the Fourth of July?"

Hampton Roads didn't suffer a hit from a hurricane Wednesday night. Nobody attacked the naval bases or the port. We merely had some wind and rain, and a few thousand people lost power. On Thursday, there was no evacuation order. It was just the usual Fourth of July traffic, tourists heading toward our beaches and residents leaving town for the holiday.

Over the years, consultants have produced so many "visions" for revitalizing American downtowns that a full-scale replica of a revitalized downtown probably could be constructed using all the dusty, yellowed reports they've produced.

The motives behind recent acts of vandalism at Cape Hatteras National Seashore aren't known. But if the vandals are hoping their actions will bring an end to controversial wildlife protections, they're fooling themselves - and likely drawing closer to federal criminal prosecution.

Last week, when the House of Representatives passed landmark legislation designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions, it was a strong and overdue first step toward doing something about global warming. The bill includes a provision to cap carbon dioxide emissions and allow industrial and energy companies to trade credits for the right to pollute.

Critics have lambasted Virginia Beach officials for years over the city's partnerships with developers of the 31st Street Hilton and Town Center. But the most recent idea for a public-private partnership should be roundly applauded.

Virginia's fearless leaders have long been known to run from really big problems, like transportation, as if their hair were aflame. So it should come as no great surprise to learn that they're quickly high-stepping away from the lowly fire ant.

Gov. Tim Kaine's second job - as head of the Democratic National Committee - has him traveling a lot, working the party faithful in places like North Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Missouri and Ohio over the past few months.