If carried out, next week’s scheduled execution of Larry Bill Elliott will be by electrocution, the option he selected before his Oct. 5 execution date, which was delayed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. “The attorney general’s office has advised us that no new choice is to be given. Elliott’s choice remains electrocution,“ said Larry Traylor, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Corrections.

The governors of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a formal tri-state partnership for the development of offshore wind energy in the mid-Atlantic region.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine met privately yesterday with workers at the International Paper Co. plant in Isle of Wight County, pledging help for the 1,100 employees facing unemployment as the plant shuts down by next spring.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine yesterday urged business executives interested in boosting higher education to get involved in Virginia’s debate about transportation funding, arguably the central issue in the race for governor. The nominees for governor, Democrat R. Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell, also addressed the summit at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, and voiced support for greater investment in the commonwealth’s twoand four-year public colleges and universities.

WEEK’S END Even when endorsing Gov. Tim Kaine’s painful budget cuts, Republicans cannot resist blasting his administration’s botched forecasts. They may have a point. While predicting the economic future may be more art than science, the serial revisions in the state’s numbers do not inspire confidence. On the other hand . . .  . . . When Kaine first reported bad news, Republicans in the General Assembly disputed him. They originally resisted his proposal to draw on the rainy day fund. George Bush remained in the White House, you see, and the party line held that the economy was A-OK—until even Washington’s partisans had to concede deteriorating conditions.

BUENA VISTA—The candidates for governor stepped out this morning at the traditional Labor Day parade in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, marching through Buena Vista. Democrat Creigh Deeds, Republican Bob McDonnell and their running mates for lieutenant governor and attorney general marched about 2 miles from Buena Vista High School to a grassy knoll overlooking the Maury River.

BUENA VISTA—Gov. Timothy M. Kaine told the Richmond Times-Dispatch today that his budget balancing plan, which he’s rolling out tomorrow, is expected to include an unpaid day off for most Virginia government employees.

The chairmen of the Democratic and Republican national committees spoke last night to more than 200 people at an event held by the Chesterfield County chapter of the NAACP. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, spoke first during the 24th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet, giving a speech that praised the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People but focused largely on touting President Barack Obama’s work in office.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine had an eventful trip to the Virginia Information Technologies Agency this morning. The SUV that Kaine was riding in—along with Sec. of Technology Leonard M. “Len” Pomata, Chief of Staff Wayne M. Turnage and others—was pulling into the parking lot at the Chester headquarters when the retractable security bollards that were lowered to allow the SUV to pass shot from the ground and stopped the SUV in its tracks.

Governor Timothy M. Kaine this morning announced that Virginia will receive $9.4 million through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to buy and refurbish foreclosed homes and sell them to lowand middle-income families. The following grants are being awarded: Catholics for Housing, Prince William County $1.5 million City of Chesapeake $1.5 million

The “Norfolk Four” refers to the four sailors convicted in the 1997 rape and murder of Michelle Moore-Bosko, wife of another sailor. William Bosko found his wife dead in their apartment after his return from a deployment. The four subsequently withdrew their confessions, which they claimed had been coerced. A fifth person was convicted, but has not challenged the verdict and has said he acted alone (he also implicated the four on another occasion).

A new poll finds that more Virginians disapprove of President Barack Obama’s performance in office than approve of him. The poll by Public Policy Polling shows him with a 42 percent approval rating, while 51 percent disapprove. That’s down from a positive 48-46 percent rating a month ago. The poll taken July 31 to Aug. 3 surveyed 579 likely voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent.

On July 2 we said: “A definitive judgment regarding the state’s information technology program must await the completion of a thorough report. We have confidence in the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.“ A determined probe remains an imperative. The story broke with Lem Stewart’s ouster as head of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. Stewart had questioned the public-private partnership with Northrop Grumman. The questions have multiplied. Stewart’s reputation has been enhanced.

Virginia’s interim computer boss is ruling out—for now—layoffs to help a giant corporation control what it’s spending to modernize state information technology services. Leonard M. “Len” Pomata, temporary head of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, is knocking down a proposal by Northrop Grumman to stem losses by, among other things, cutting staff.

A misconduct allegation filed by the Virginia State Bar against a top lawyer in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office has been tossed out. An order dismissing the complaint against Katherine Baldwin Burnett, senior assistant Virginia attorney general and director of the office’s capital litigation unit, was entered this week by the three-judge panel that had been set to hear the matter next month.