Briefs

LOCAL & VCU

Richmonder in critical condition after shooting

Richmond police are looking for a man described as a person of interest in the shooting of an 18-year-old in Mosby Court on Friday night.

Lamar Shamon Hill, 24, formerly of 3100 block of Jefferson Davis Highway, is also wanted on suspicion of a probation violation, possession of narcotics and two counts of contempt of court, police said.

Police said the shooting took place about 8:30 p.m. in a residence in the 1900 block of Redd Street. The victim, who appeared to have been shot twice, was taken to VCU Medical Center, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, they said. His identity has not been released.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

U.Va. Police make arrest in bike thefts using eBay

EBay led University of Virginia police to a student who, police say, stole bicycles and tried to sell them on the Web site.

U.Va. police were looking into the thefts of two students’ bicycles when one of the victims noticed what appeared to be his bike for sale on eBay, according to Lt. Melissa Fielding.

Police then searched the residence of Charles John Neil Jr. and foundmore than $4,000 worth of stolen bicycles and bike parts, Fielding said.

They charged Neil with two counts of grand larceny and one count of possessing burglary tools, all felonies. Neil was released on $1,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Charlottesville General District Court on March 26.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Experts say Richmond can weather down

Local businesspeople, economists and investment experts see reasons for optimism that the region’s corporate landscape will emerge from the downturn as strong as before.

The outcome depends on many factors, including whether talented workers displaced from jobs remain in the area, the availability of financing to support midsize local companies that could grow into the next national giants, and sustaining regional efforts to recruit and retain companies in the area.

The Greater Richmond Partnership, a regional economic-development group, is developing a plan to refocus its business recruiting and retention efforts and to provide more assistance for displaced workers.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

McCain calls stimulus ‘generational theft’

Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama failed to include Republicans in writing the big economic stimulus bill. The Arizona Republican says the $787 billion measure will create what he calls “generational theft” or huge federal deficits for years to come.

McCain, who lost the presidential race to Obama, says the president is backtracking on promises of bipartisanship. McCain is not happy with the process that led to passage of the stimulus bill. He calls it a bad beginning to Obama’s presidency.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Plane crashes into Buffalo home

The remains of 15 people have been recovered from the wreckage of Flight 3407, authorities said Sunday as crews raced to finish their work before a snowstorm arrived later in the week.

Once all the remains are recovered, the focus will turn to removing wreckage of the 74-seat aircraft from the residential neighborhood where it went down Thursday night near the end of a flight from Newark, N.J.

About 150 people are working at the site six miles from the Buffalo airport. The blue tail of the 90-foot plane still sticks out from a mound of black ash and rubble.

Brief by The Associated Press

Baby-faced dad, 13, raises ‘broken Britain’ fears

In the latest symbol of what some are calling “broken Britain,” 13-year-old Alfie and his 15-year-old girlfriend Chantelle became parents last week.

The news sparked a flurry of handwringing from the media – and even ordinary folk admitted it didn’t help that Alfie barely looked 10, let alone 13, as he cradled his newborn daughter. Alfie’s father, who reportedly has nine or 10 children of his own, promised to have a “birds and the bees” chat with his son to prevent him from producing a second child before he grows facial hair.

Brief by The Associated Press

North Korea offers possible olive branch to US

North Korea is ready to improve relations with “friendly” countries, the communist country’s No. 2 leader said Sunday ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to Asia.

The remark by Kim Yong Nam, North Korea’s ceremonial head of state, could be an olive branch to Washington before Clinton’s trip – even though it came amid reports the North is gearing up to test-fire a long-range missile in an apparent attempt to grab President Barack Obama’s attention.

Clinton was scheduled to depart Sunday on a trip to Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China.

Brief by The Associated Press