A historic storm inflicted severe flooding on southeastern Virginia, pelted the state with heavy rain and contributed to at least three deaths yesterday. The coastal storm, fed by moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida, also whipped up winds that hit 75 mph in Virginia Beach and 40 mph in the Richmond area.

The Virginia Department of Transportation urges motorists who must travel during heavy rain to follow safe-driving precautions. Motorists can call 511 or visit 511Virginia.org for road-closure information. There is safety information at VirginiaDOT.org, including a video with tips on safe driving in the rain. Updates and general information on hurricanes and storms can be found at VAEmergency.com.

Swollen by rain and pushed by heavy winds, an evening high tide in Hampton Roads produced the worst flooding in coastal Virginia since Hurricane Isabel hit in 2003, the National Weather Service said tonight.

The Navy says its economic impact for the Hampton Roads area topped $14.6 billion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

A new report says Hampton Roads should start planning a system of dikes and levees now to protect the region against rising sea levels over the next century. The 2009 State of the Region report released Tuesday also says the region should get serious about controlling carbon emissions. It recommends a state tax increase on gasoline and diesel to discourage motorists from driving as much.

The last full week of September ended with the campaigns of both of Virginia’s candidates for governor claiming victory. Both had reasons to be happy. Three polls released during the past week show that Democrat R. Creigh Deeds has closed the gap with Republican Bob McDonnell to within 2 to 5 percentage points. “It’s a reflection of the fact that people are waking up to the race and responding very well to Creigh’s message and show a healthy amount of skepticism of Bob’s message and his record,“ Deeds senior adviser Mo Elleithee said a conference call with reporters.

The Coast Guard has halted all water traffic within a half-mile of the James River Bridge while utility crews remove downed power lines from the water.

The government says nine men ran a Texas-to-Virginia drug ring, transporting hundreds of pounds of cocaine and marijuana by bus.

Asplit between South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula over high-speed rail is widening now that the heads of seven south-side cities and counties have agreed to push for a route south of the James River. Without a political consensus on a route, the region’s chances could be further delayed at a time when federal money is available for a higher-speed rail project.

A supplier of composite parts for the aerospace and defense industries plans to hire at least 198 people over a five-year period to work at a new manufacturing plant in the city of Suffolk. SPARTA Composite Products plans to invest $13.2 million to open a plant in the Bridgeway Commerce Center II in Suffolk, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced yesterday.

The Virginia Symphony announced yesterday that the economic downturn has created a threatening situation for the orchestra. “Shortfalls in single-ticket sales and unrealized donations have left the Virginia Symphony with a current $500,000 cash-flow shortage and a $1 million debt,“ said Carla Johnson, executive director. The symphony eliminated four positions in August and on Jan. 1 will reduce salaries of the remaining 27 staff members, including conductor JoAnn Falletta, by 20 percent.