PORTSMOUTH The Virginia Department of Health has named a new director for the local health district. David Chang will start March 1 with the Portsmouth district. He is currently director of the Three Rivers Health District, which serves the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.

As a way to promote healthy lifestyles and celebrate Valentine's Day, the South Norfolk Community Center will sponsor the "Valentine's (Save Your Heart) Health Fair" today. The health/fitness event, free and open to all ages, is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community center, 1217 Godwin Ave.

At Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, contestants including junior Yazjae Pressey compete Friday in a preliminary round of the Exodus National Spelling Bee tour, sponsored by Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey and State Farm Insurance. Senior Omar Tariq won and will represent Hampton Roads schools in the contest in Atlanta. (Steve Earley | The Virginian-Pilot)

VIRGINIA BEACH A 10-month-old baby, Braxton Taylor, died two years ago at the hands of his foster mother. She’s locked up on a voluntary manslaughter conviction after investigators determined she shook the boy to death.

WILLIAMSBURG The United States is in peril - not so much from foreign threats as from mean-spirited partisan feuds that make it impossible to solve the nation's problems - former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned Friday.

NEWPORT NEWS — One of two supervisors fired in connection with the scrap metal case at Newport News Waterworks was reinstated to his job on Friday.

Police discovered two bodies inside a home Friday, hours after receiving a call about a shooting.

 A 48-year-old Newport News man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

By Craig Moeller A storm system taking shape over the central U.S. is drawing moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico into the deep south today. This system will eventually produce wet weather for our region late Saturday through Sunday morning.

WILMINGTON, N.C.  A Raleigh school administrator accused of paying a hit man to behead three witnesses in a North Carolina terrorism case is due in federal court.