As a marine biologist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point, Dr. Morris Henry “Mory” Roberts Jr. studied the movement and effects of toxins through marine organisms and their environment. “He was an internationally known authority on issues related to the early development of marine organisms and the effects of environmental conditions, natural and man-made, on critical underlying processes,“ VIMS Dean and Director John T. Wells wrote in an e-mail.

No. 12 Penn State shut out Northwestern in the second half, and the Nittany Lions scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns in less than four minutes to beat Northwestern 34-13 last night in a Big Ten game. Daryll Clark threw a 53-yard TD pass to Derek Moye and Evan Royster broke off a 69-yard scoring run to highlight the fourth-quarter surge that took 3 minutes, 40 seconds.

Authorities have tentatively identified a body found in a landfill as that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who disappeared on her walk home from school, the sheriff in charge of the case said Thursday.

Florida, Alabama and Texas hold the top three spots in the first BCS standings and control their fates in the national championship race. The Gators (.988) are in first, just ahead of the Crimson Tide (.952). Texas (.891) is third. Boise State (.808) is fourth, but the Broncos still seem to be a long shot to play for a national championship.

A 15-year-old was badly burned after other teens doused him with a flammable liquid and set him on fire, and authorities were investigating whether he was attacked because he stopped someone from stealing his father’s bicycle a day earlier.

Virginia Tech, which crushed ACC rival Boston College 48-14 on Saturday, benefitted from LSU’s loss to top-ranked Florida and rose from No. 5 to No. 4 in The Associated Press Top 25. The Tigers had been No. 4 before their 13-3 loss to the Gators. LSU fell to No. 10. Poll, Page C2

Alabama’s steady rise in the rankings has left the Crimson Tide with a clear view of No. 1 Florida. Alabama jumped Texas into second-place behind top-ranked Florida in the AP Top 25 yesterday, giving the Southeastern Conference the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the country. The Crimson Tide moved up one spot after rolling over Mississippi 22-3. Texas, which had been No. 2 all season, slipped a spot after sputtering early in a 38-14 victory against Colorado.

South Florida Republicans held a weekly meeting at a gun range, shooting at targets including cut-outs of a Muslim holding a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

City officials have condemned the home where a 71-year-old woman was found dead in garbage piled 8 feet deep.

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal to review a Florida law that requires public school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day unless they have their parents’ written permission excusing them.

Animal control officers hope to trap a pack of raccoons that mauled a 74-year-old Florida woman who tried to chase them from her yard.

In the wake of its 16-15 victory over Nebraska on Saturday, Virginia Tech rose two spots to No. 11 in The Associated Press college football poll. Southern California dropped nine spots and out of the top 10, and Washington moved into the rankings for the first time in six years. A day after the Huskies upset the Trojans 16-13 on a late field goal, USC fell from No. 3 to No. 12. The Trojans became the second preseason top-five team to lose in the first three weeks of the season. Preseason No. 3 Oklahoma lost its opener to BYU.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (15) throws a pass under the eye of new quarterbacks coach Scott Loeffler (left) during a recent practice in Gainesville, Fla. GAINESVILLE, Fla.—Tim Tebow is far from the perfect passer. He takes every snap from the shotgun formation, has a long windup, throws sort of sidearm and finishes each pass with a leg kick.

NEW YORK—Virginia Tech goes into its season-opener ranked seventh in The Associated Press’ Top 25, tied for its highest preseason ranking. The 2005 team also was ranked seventh in preseason. Defending national champion Florida is ranked No.1 in the poll released yesterday. The Hokies open with No.5 Alabama on Sept. 5 in Atlanta. Tech’s highest regular-season ranking is second, during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Sarasota and the circus became forever linked more than 70 years ago when John Ringling decided to move the headquarters of his “Greatest Show on Earth” to the lovely Gulf Coast city where he spent his winters. “No announcement ever made in Florida has meant more to the state as a whole,“ gushed the Sarasota Herald on March 23, 1927. News of Ringling’s decision to transfer the show’s winter quarters from Bridgeport, Conn., the newspaper said, created a “jubilant air” in town.