VIRGINIA BEACH Socks, a 2-year-old shepherd mix, donned a multi-colored bandanna and put on his best show at Red Wing Park this afternoon.

He chased a tennis ball, gave out free kisses and greeted everyone who passed by in the hopes of sniffing out a new family to take him home.

By Olivia Hubert-Allen

U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye announced Saturday that he will vote no on the House health care reform bill.

BUFFALO, N.Y. Portsmouth's Dorin Spivey scored a fourth-round knockout of Meacher Major on Friday night in Buffalo, N.Y., to win the North American Boxing Association lightweight title. Spivey dropped Major three times before the referee stopped the bout 52 seconds into the fourth round. He improved his record to 36-6, with 29 knockouts.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

President Barack Obama has ordered that American flags flying over the White House and other federal buildings be lowered to half-staff through Veterans Day in honor of those killed Thursday at Fort Hood.

By Jeff Lawson Don’t be fooled by the very cold temperatures Saturday morning. Readings will actually recover very nicely later in the day and really warm up the next couple of days.

SUFFOLK The city has rejected all of the proposals it received for the Obici mansion, calling into question the fate of the historic home. The city released a statement Friday evening saying that all of the proposals failed to meet one or more of the requirements for the project. Those criteria included financing capability, benefits to the city, and project experience.

NORFOLK A man convicted of murder, robbery, and drug and weapons charges will serve 21 years for the crimes, a judge ruled Friday. Deonte L. Mayfield was convicted in the shooting death of 31-year-old Cleavonne Tynes, who was found with several gunshot wounds in the 300 block of E. Little Creek Road in June 2008. A co-defendant, Donte White, is scheduled to be sentenced in January.

NORFOLK The state Supreme Court vacated criminal contempt convictions against two defense lawyers who were charged and sanctioned by Chuck Griffith, a circuit judge who has since left the bench.

By Jaedda Armstrong and Philip Walzer NORFOLK Perfectly Frank, a hot dog and hamburger joint near Old Dominion University, was packed. Every table and nearly every seat at the counter was taken. Plus three tables outside. Same for Boar's Nest Bar & Deli down the street.

Norfolk State University president Carolyn Meyers said Friday in a statement that she was surprised and honored to be a finalist for the top post at Morgan State University. The Baltimore school this week released the names of three candidates for its presidency. In her statement, Meyers said she was approached by the university's search committee.