The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
Weak Retail Sales Report Sends Markets Plummeting
Stocks plunged Wednesday as anxieties on Wall Street flared again amid a weaker-than-expected retail sales report, a new crop of corporate bankruptcies and continued debate over the release of federal bailout funds intended for the financial industry. It was the sixth straight day of declines for the Dow, as investors digested the news of a delayed stimulus bill and back off the optimism that had fueled a brief New Year's rally. (Washington Post)
Va. Company Recalls Peanut Butter Nationwide
A peanut butter maker that sells bulk supplies to institutions issued a nationwide recall of peanut butter from one its plants because of possible contamination with salmonella. Lynchburg-based Peanut Corp. of America company issued the recall late Tuesday for 21 lots of peanut butter made at its plant in Blakely, Ga., on or after July 1. (AP/Loudoun Extra)
Election Headed to Recount
In a razor-thin victory Tuesday night, Democrat Charniele Herring narrowly beat Republican Joe Murray in a special election for the 46th District of the House of Delegates by 16 votes. Yet with a margin of victory that is below 1 percent, Republicans have filed petition for recount with the Alexandria Circuit Court. Meanwhile, the House of Delegates voted against seating Herring until the recount has concluded. (Connection Newspapers)
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Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Police: Homeowner Shot Burglar
Three men chose the wrong house to try to break into this morning. The men tried to break in to a home on Dondis Creek Drive in Triangle about 10 a.m., but they were stopped by one of the home’s owners. Police say the homeowner, a working mother home sick, grabbed her handgun and greeted the men, who were trying to get into her basement. The men fled after seeing the woman. But one burglar returned to the house, and the homeowner shot him in the chest. (InsideNoVa.com)