BRIEFS: NEWS NEAR YOU

NEWS NEAR YOU

Henrico Two people were arrested yesterday morning after a chase that exceeded 100 mph went from Richmond's East End into Henrico County. The chase began shortly after 10 a.m., when Richmond police tried to pull over a vehicle along Williamsburg Road. The vehicle, with four people inside, sped into Henrico, where county police assisted in the pursuit. Richmond police charged the juvenile driver with felony attempt to elude, underage possession of alcohol, open container of alcohol and a traffic violation.

Richmond A man was stabbed yesterday in downtown Richmond and then sought help at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, police said. It happened shortly after 11 a.m. in an alley off North Third Street between Broad and Marshall streets. The man's injuries were described as life-threatening. No arrest had been made yesterday.

Chesterfield At its annual organizational meeting yesterday, the

Cumberland School officials say there is no need for the system to require students to wear uniforms. The issue was raised at last week's meeting at the request of School Board member George Lee Dowdy III. Dowdy said he brought up the topic to let people know that the county's dress code is sufficient. School Superintendent James Thornton outlined the advantages and disadvantages of uniforms and noted that no one in the administration favors uniforms.

Richmond Three advocates of religious freedom will be honored tonight by the First Freedom Center. The awards honor three people -- one from Virginia, one national figure and one international figure -- for advancing freedom of conscience and basic human rights for people of all faiths, traditions and cultures. Recipients are: Samuel Ericsson, president and CEO of Advocates International in Fairfax; Douglas Laycock, a law professor at the University of Michigan Law School; and, W. Cole Durham, Jr., a law professor and director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School.

Petersburg The Petersburg School Board retained Kenneth L. Pritchett and Steven L. Pierce Sr. as the board's leaders last night. Pritchett, who represents Ward 3, was re-elected as chairman and Pierce, who represents Ward 1, was re-elected vice chairman. Pritchett told those at the meeting that he hopes "to represent you well in the city of Petersburg and the state department [of education] as well."

Henrico County police said yesterday that a body found Jan. 4 in the James River was that of a 36-year-old Hampton man. The body of Tarik X. Cassells had obvious signs of trauma, and police are treating the death as a homicide, Lt. Doug Perry said. Perry said police were looking for anyone who may have known Cassells and anything about him. Anyone with information can call Henrico police investigator C.A. Kelley at (804) 501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The body was found at Deep Bottom Park and Boat Landing in eastern Henrico. The park is along an unusually deep section of the James River at Four Mile Creek near Curles Neck.

Cumberland The Board of Supervisors this week re-elected William F. Osl Jr. as chairman and Van H. Petty as vice chairman.