The simple, nostalgic act of hanging clothes outside to dry, regaining popularity as an eco-friendly act, has become a full-blown political flap. On one side of the line, proponents of the right-to-dry movement say clotheslines are a green alternative to dryers, which are second only to refrigerators and air conditioners as the top energy consumers in most homes.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opened a hiring center in Chesterfield County to find people to work at its newest Richmond-area store The world’s largest retailer needs to hire about 420 people for the supercenter in the Hancock Village shopping center.