New Kent Authorities are seeking information on an attempted robbery April 30 in which a man threatened an employee with a syringe at the Movie Gallery in the 2500 block of New Kent Highway. Sgt. Jamie Hamby of the sheriff's office said the man told an employee "he was diagnosed with AIDS last week and it was on the needle" and if the employee didn't give him some money "he would get pricked." As the employee started to comply, the man told him "never mind," asked him not to call the authorities and left, Hamby said. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the sheriff's office at (804) 966-9500.

Amelia Today Amelia County turns 273 years old, and residents plan to celebrate with a day of entertainment and activities at Courthouse Square, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Petersburg Nearly 200 degrees were handed out at Richard Bland College's graduation last night in Statesman Hall on campus. Joseph J. Plumeri, chairman and chief executive officer of Willis Group Holdings Inc. and member of the board of visitors of the College of William and Mary, was the commencement speaker.

Chesterfield Bermuda District Supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle will host a series of community meetings on environmental enhancements at Dominion Virginia Power's Chesterfield station at Dutch Gap. The meetings will be Monday at 7 p.m. at Enon Volunteer Fire Department and May 20 at 10:30 a.m. at The Sustainability Park. The speaker will be station director Rick Elder.

Ashland Cruise around Ashland on wheels today in the Ashland 150 Clunker Cruise. Meet at 5 p.m. at Cobblestone Bicycles on the tracks in Ashland (102 South Railroad Ave.). If you have an old or unique bicycle, dust it off and show it off. For more information, see www.Ashland150.com or www.TownHound.com. Or call Joel Street at Cobblestone Bicycles at (804) 752-4851.

Louisa The Louisa Heritage Festival, featuring wagon rides, crafts, reenactments and food, is planned for today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Court House Square. A parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Main Street.

Richmond A program that acknowledges Virginia families that have owned and worked farms for more than 100 years has recognized more than 1,000 homesteads. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says the Virginia Century Farms program has recognized 1,009 farms since the General Assembly established the program in 1997. Century Farms are located in 89 counties and five cities. To qualify, a farm must have been owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years.

AROUND THE STATE

Williamsburg A Williamsburg woman will spend 7½ years in prison for trying to hire a man to kill her husband. Nancy Sue Lasiewski pleaded guilty in February to attempted capital murder, killing for hire. Evidence showed she made a $40 down payment to an undercover police officer she believed was a hit man. Prosecutors had said Lasiewski, 42, agreed to pay $10,000 to have her husband killed, but Lasiewski said she never set a price. She testified that Richard Lasiewski was an absentee father who drank too much and that he had threatened to kill her if she relocated to Florida with their three children.

Portsmouth Portsmouth Police Chief Edward Long has resigned. The city manager's office said Long resigned Tuesday, effective immediately. Lt. Col. Harry Fremd will succeed Long as interim chief, according to an e-mail announcement. Members of Portsmouth's Fraternal Order of Police in November passed a no-confidence vote on Long, who took over as chief in September 2006. Members expressed concerns about his decisions on promotions, transfers and daily operations.