Norman Oliver Walker, a journalist for The Associated Press for more than 30 years in Louisiana and Washington has died. Mr. Walker died Sunday at his Arlington County home. He was 96. His daughter, Andree Walker Lanser, said the cause of death had not been determined. Mr. Walker began his career with the AP in 1934 in New Orleans, where he helped cover the assassination of Huey Long. Mr. Walker later served as Baton Rouge correspondent and moved to the AP’s Washington bureau in 1943.

Cumberland School Board Chairwoman Christine Ross has asked the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors to consider staggered terms for both boards. Ross told the supervisors last week that the change would keep the boards from facing a complete turnover that could hinder planning and decision making. Supervisor Robert J. Oertel said he supports the proposal. “I hope the board will give it every consideration,“ he said.

A Melfa man died early yesterday when the vehicle he was driving ran off an icy stretch of state Route 609 and overturned in Accomack County, Virginia State Police said. Clayton W. Kellam, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:40 a.m. wreck, about a tenth of a mile north of state Route 638. Police said he was ejected from his vehicle after his car struck a ditch and overturned. He was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

A report released this month gives Virginia a B in overall educational quality, ranking the state fourth in the nation and better than the U.S. average. Virginia scored 83.2 out of 100, compared with the national average of 76.2, or C. The states that scored higher were Maryland, Massachusetts and New York, according to the report by researchers at Editorial Projects in Education, which publishes Education Week.

Federal court documents show that a fourth fatal heroin overdose has been linked to a heroin ring in Northern Virginia. Matthew Greenlee, 23, of Fairfax County is charged in the September death of 20-year-old Carmen Somers of Falls Church, according to records in U.S. District Court. Charging documents say Greenlee provided Somers with heroin at his home. The documents say that when Somers became ill, Greenlee refused to call paramedics because of the presence of drugs.

Authorities have charged a Prince William County woman in connection with the discovery of her 13-year-old daughter’s body. Alfreedia Gregg-Glover, 44, is charged with felony child neglect and filing a false police report in the disappearance and death of Alexis Glover. More than 300 law-enforcement officers and volunteer searchers helped look for the teenager after she was reported missing Jan. 7.

An appreciative audience of several hundred gathered last night at the Richmond Marriott hotel to honor three men who champion religious freedom in Virginia, the nation and the world. The Richmond-based First Freedom Center, formerly known as the Council for America’s First Freedom, made the presentations at its 15th annual awards program.

James Madison University’s new master plan envisions expansion totaling about 4 million square feet. About half of that would be for educational and general purposes. About a third would be for auxiliary student support programs, and the rest for athletics. The university’s governing board approved the plan Friday. It’s just a guideline, and university President Linwood Rose said some projects could be decades in the making.

CREWE Members of Crewe Christian Church, Disciples of Christ learned much about themselves after church leaders passed out money last fall and challenged the congregation to make it grow. The lessons were no less so for members of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Clarksville, which had undertaken a similar effort a few months earlier.

Twelve people in Virginia are among those sickened in a salmonella outbreak that has reportedly affected nearly 400 people in 42 states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is leading the investigation but has not released the list of states or determined which foods may have caused people to become sick. A Virginia Department of Health official said cases have been reported across the state, including one case in central Virginia and three cases in the northern part of the state. The cases include three children younger than 10 and four adults older than 50, said Phillip Giaramita, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Health.

Births to 18- and 19-year-olds and to Hispanic teens are driving teen birth rates in Virginia, a state official said yesterday. Virginia’s teen birth rate in 2006 was 35.2 births for 1,000 females ages 15 to 19, up slightly from 34.4 in 2005.

Amelia The Amelia County School Board will hold a public hearing to receive public comment on the 2009-2010 proposed budget during the board’s organizational meeting Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at 8701 Otterburn Road, Suite 101. Caroline County Administrator Percy Ashcraft will present his recommendations for six-month goals during the Jan. 13 meeting of the Caroline County Board of Supervisors. During that meeting, the board also will receive an update on the county’s financial situation. The latter presentation will serve as a mid-fiscal year adjustment of revenue and expenditure expectations.

Amelia The Amelia County School Board will hold a public hearing to receive public comment on the 2009-2010 proposed budget during the board’s organizational meeting Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at 8701 Otterburn Road, Suite 101. Caroline County Administrator Percy Ashcraft will present his recommendations for six-month goals during the Jan. 13 meeting of the Caroline County Board of Supervisors. During that meeting, the board also will receive an update on the county’s financial situation. The latter presentation will serve as a mid-fiscal year adjustment of revenue and expenditure expectations.

An Alexandria man has become Virginia’s third traffic fatality of 2009. Joshua S. Buker, 21, was killed yesterday when a car he was riding in struck a tree and a utility pole in Fairfax County.

Chesterfield The deadline to register for a chance to compete in Bandfest, United for Change, is Jan. 19. Bandfest, United for Change is an alcohol-and drug-free event where youths can showcase their music and video-production talents. It will be held March 14 at Southside Church of the Nazarene, 6851 Courthouse Road. Band auditions will be held on Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. To download official rules and a registration packet for either competition, visit chesterfieldsafe.org. Contact Beth Clements at (804) 796-7100.