A metal defect in an anchor bolt and a higher-than-typical load contributed to a Southwest Virginia pedestrian bridge collapse that injured nine people, the state Transportation Department says.

Spots are still available for the inaugural Jarrett Lane Memorial Golf Tournament hosted by Castle Rock Golf and Recreation of Pembroke. The tournament will be May 9, with a tee time of 9 a.m. for players competing in teams of four. Individuals not confident in their golfing skills can play Captain’s Choice style, which allows all team members to play off the best team shot each stroke until the ball is holed.

More than 53,000 acres of the Jefferson National Forest in Southwest Virginia will be permanently protected from development under legislation that cleared Congress yesterday. The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, authored by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th , passed on a 285-140 vote and now awaits President Barack Obama’s signature. Obama is expected to sign the legislation.

Mountain Lake is coming back. At least it seems to be. The Giles County tourist attraction, one of only two natural lakes in Virginia, has an odd habit of draining and refilling. Last summer it did the draining. Now it seems to be doing the refilling. “It’s back to about where it was last August,“ said Buzz Scanland, manager of Mountain Lake Hotel.