Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds said on TimesDispatch.com today that if the legislature passed a bill to fund the transportation needs that included an increase in taxes, he would sign it.

A General Assembly panel failed to reach agreement yesterday on potential legislative solutions to a recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion that threatens to tie up Virginia’s court system. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has called a special session of the assembly on Aug. 19 to try to amend state statutes so the state can comply with the Supreme Court’s recent Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts decision.

The prospect of an additional $1.5 billion in Virginia spending cuts is making for rare unanimity among legislators, with members of both parties warning that long-protected services such as public education and health care may have to be scaled back. “We have put off some of the hard decision-making,“ said Del. John M. O’Bannon III, R-Henrico, a member of the influential House Appropriations Committee.

Democrat Tom Shields formally began his campaign to unseat Republican Del. John O’Bannon III in Henrico County’s 73rd House District yesterday with an attack on O’Bannon’s record. “Whether it’s been on the economy, education or health care, John O’Bannon has repeatedly voted against the interests of families in the 73rd District,“ he told about 50 supporters in front of Tuckahoe Elementary School in the district.

A little more than a year ago, state officials warned that so many people were being locked up in Virginia that it might take a new prison a year at a cost of $100 million each to keep pace. Instead, the number of people being sent behind bars has slowed to the point, for the moment at least, that the population of state prisons and local jails is dropping.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will reconvene the General Assembly for an Aug. 19 special session only to address a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that some commonwealth’s attorneys fear could jeopardize prosecutions. The high court’s ruling last month in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts requires the government to make scientists who prepare lab reports in drunken-driving and drug cases available for cross-examination by defense lawyers.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today called an Aug. 19 special session of the General Assembly to deal with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that some commonwealth’s attorneys fear could jeopardize prosecutions

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today is expected to call a special session of the General Assembly to deal with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that some commonwealth’s attorneys fear could jeopardize prosecutions. A state legislator told the Richmond Times-Dispatch last night that the governor will make the announcement this morning. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts that the government must make scientists who prepare lab reports in drunken-driving and drug cases available for cross-examination by defense lawyers.

The latest campaign-finance reports show the power of incumbency. In local contests for the House of Delegates, incumbents carry large cash advantages over their challengers. Del. John M. O’Bannon III, R-Henrico, reported having $175,248 in the bank as of June 30—a hefty lead over his Democratic challenger in the 73rd District, Tom Shields, who reported $46,615.

William K. Grogan, a Richmond lawyer, is running as an independent against Republican Del. G. Manoli Loupassi in the 68th House of Delegates district. The district covers the West End of Richmond and a portion of northern Chesterfield County. Grogan, 63, has run twice before for the House, once as a Democrat and then as an independent.

If adopted, a proposal to keep the names of jurors confidential, at least from the public, in all criminal trials apparently would make Virginia unique in the country. It is not clear if a defendant in Virginia ever has harmed a juror. That possibility is one of the concerns behind a law the General Assembly passed last year. That law permits judges to keep jurors’ identifying information secret from all but the lawyers in a case—even from the defendant—when a judge finds good cause there is a “likelihood” of bribery, tampering, or physical injury or harassment to jurors.

The state now is accusing Northrop Grumman of failing to deliver computer services and hinting at unspecified action against the giant company. In a shift yesterday, the state—which has been defending its disputed 10-year, $2.3 billion deal with Northrop Grumman—said the Chantilly-based firm is in breach of contract. Further, the state is demanding a plan from Northrop Grumman within 60 days for ending delays—some that have continued two years—and for completing an inventory of computer equipment that was supposed to be finished yesterday.

Virginia is considering putting the brakes on the repo man, but there’s disagreement on how to do it. A General Assembly panel yesterday opened hearings on a possible clampdown on car-title loans, under which borrowers—often with poor credit histories—use their cars as collateral and lose them if they fail to repay. The industry, which typically charges 300 percent to 350 percent in annual interest, operates in Virginia with few restrictions.

Virginia’s computer agency is six months behind schedule in putting in place a $2.3 billion contract with Northrop Grumman for info-tech services. Leonard M. “Len” Pomata, acting head of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, disclosed the delay yesterday in the opening of House of Delegates and state Senate inquiries into the controversy engulfing the sprawling department.

New state laws that ban text messaging while driving and get tougher on drunken drivers take effect this week. In a 46-day session, the General Assembly approved 879 bills, most of which take effect Wednesday. The session will probably be best known for a measure prohibiting smoking in most restaurants and bars in Virginia. This measure will not take effect until Dec. 1 to give restaurant owners more time to prepare for the ban.