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.

TowneBank reported Thursday that its net income rose 11 percent to $7.1 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30, up from $6.4 million in July-to-September last year.

By Christopher S. Rugaber  WASHINGTON  The U.S. unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 — and is likely to go higher.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is upping the ante heading into the holiday season, trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming DVDs following last month’s price cut on books. The move led rivals Amazon.com Inc. and Target Corp. to reduce the prices of some online preorder DVDs, which pushed Wal-Mart to take a few more cents off its offerings.

Dominion Virginia Power has agreed to drop a group of requested rate increases and refund customers more than $129 million under an arrangement with the Virginia attorney general's office.

VIRGINIA BEACH For years, Gene Walters was one of the most widely recognized faces in Hampton Roads. He was in TV commercials all the time, always urging customers to "tell a friend" about shopping at Farm Fresh grocery stores. Walters, who headed Farm Fresh before starting his own grocery chain, died Wednesday after an illness. He was 86.

TowneBank reported Thursday that its net income rose 11 percent to $7.1 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30, up from $6.4 million in July-to-September last year.

CHESAPEAKE George Christian, founder of Financing Alternatives Inc., succeeded in delaying the trial in the state's case against him and his company - if only for a few days.

RALEIGH, N.C.  A higher sales tax means North Carolina consumers will get a larger break when they purchase energy-efficient appliances compared to a year ago.

The sales-tax holiday on so-called Energy Star appliances like clothes washers, freezers and air conditioners will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday statewide.

NORFOLK The companies that own multiple Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurants in Hampton Roads have filed for bankruptcy - three days after their primary lenders sued them for defaulting on $5.07 million in loans.