As we all recognize, our environment is in danger, our climate at risk, and the health of our Earth perilous. We must take steps to remedy this situation for our children and grandchildren. In many ways, no issue could be more important, more imperative, or timelier. We are at a crossroads. If we do not take stewardship of our Earth and all vitality on it, we may never again have the opportunity. We owe it to our children and grandchildren.

As we all recognize, our environment is in danger, our climate at risk, and the health of our Earth perilous. We must take steps to remedy this situation for our children and grandchildren. In many ways, no issue could be more important, more imperative, or timelier. We are at a crossroads. If we do not take stewardship of our Earth and all vitality on it, we may never again have the opportunity. We owe it to our children and grandchildren.

—GOV. TIMOTHY M. KAINE Prayer has helped him when he wrestles with death-penalty issues, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine told about 70 people gathered in Capitol Square yesterday for the National Day of Prayer. Kaine said he opposes the death penalty because of his Catholic faith, but that he also is sworn to uphold the law. When a gunman killed 32 people at Virginia Tech, then himself, Kaine said he turned to prayer to help him find the words to deal with a tragedy that defied understanding.

The housing collapse has generated both pain and confusion. The causes of the crisis are many and varied. State-sponsored remedies remain vague and, so far, largely ineffective. The functions of the market—lower housing prices, declining mortgage rates, fewer new homes—will gradually repair the damage, and there are fleeting hints of home improvements in recent weeks. Inventories have finally started to shrink and cheaper prices are beginning to attract bargain hunters. Still, the path to full recovery appears to be long and winding.

Richmond officials aren’t ready to go to bat for a ballpark in Shockoe Bottom, but they are supporting state legislation that could help get it built. With a show of hands, a majority of the Richmond City Council signaled yesterday its support for bills introduced by Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, and Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico.

Ah, 2003, 2004, 2005. . . those were the days—or so we thought. In the first half of this decade, our nation, state, and region witnessed an unprecedented boom in the housing market. With each passing year, total home sales broke records. Homes sold quickly and fetched top dollar. Great news, if your livelihood was tied to the real estate and development industries, if you were a home seller, or if you were an elected official watching real-estate-related tax revenue pour into the state coffers.