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March 12, 2011|Tiffany Hsu, Los Angeles Times Gas prices are rising, and drivers are fretting. But not Roy Olson. The Rancho Mirage retiree drives a plug-in hybrid electric Chevrolet Volt, which he said runs for about 40 miles on battery before switching to traditional fuel.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc has begun testing an online grocery delivery service in San Jose, California. The world's biggest retailer had been rumored to be considering dipping its toe into online grocery delivery for the past few years.

(MoneyWatch) My wife and I were hiking with some friends recently, and as often happens now with people our age, we started talking about retirement -- more specifically, about whether we'd have enough retirement income to make ends meet.

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Retailers saw their best holiday season since the start of the recession, but a loss of momentum in December fed concerns about the strength of the sector's revival in the new year. December retail sales at stores ranging from car dealers to grocers rose 7.9% from a year ago, the Commerce Department said Friday, and overall sales surpassed their pre-recession peak.

More than 5.9 million brackets were filled out for ESPN.com's Tournament Challenge, but exactly two went 4-for-4 in picking Final Four teams. Only 1,093 brackets had three of the Final Four correct, while 2.1 percent had two right.

The retail industry was in turmoil when Terry Lundgren got involved last year.Congress was promising new taxes, fees and health care increases that would squeeze the profits of the nation's largest retailers and threaten any plans for expansion and job creation post-recession. The CEO and chairman of Macy's Inc.

View More: No tags are associated with this article By: Andrew Cain , Jim Nolan | Richmond Times Dispatch Published: January 30, 2012Updated: January 30, 2012 - 9:48 PM Governor Bob McDonnell reported $43,583 in taxpayer-funded trips in 2011, chiefly for international marketing missions, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan tracker of money in state politics.

Barack Obama's nearly $500 billion in budget cuts are certain to impact Virginia. It's only fair, of course, that if Obama is going to join the chorus of (largely Republican and often hysterical) budget cutters, then the military should be included.

I am standing on the roof of SunTrust Center, about 15 feet from the edge and 25 stories above the very hard pavement below, when I suddenly remember something: I'm afraid of heights. Bad timing.

On Sunday, we published a story on what Gov. Bob McDonnell has at stake as he begins what could be the most important year of his political career.

Women would be required to have an ultrasound before having an abortion under a bill that narrowly cleared the Senate Education and Health Committee today. Senate Bill 279 and its companion, Senate Bill 484, passed along party lines, with the committee's eight Republicans supporting the measure and its seven Democrats casting "no" votes.

View More: No tags are associated with this article By: Jim Nolan | Richmond Times Dispatch Published: January 25, 2012 A bill that would allow hunting in Virginia on Sundays cleared a hurdle in the Virginia Senate today and is poised to pass the chamber tomorrow. Senate Bill 464, sponsored by Sen.

Jeff brings his weekly insight on Commonwealth politics as lawmakers are set to begin their 2012 session.

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BY WESLEY P. HESTER As Republican presidential hopeful and Texas congressman Ron Paul fights to win the Iowa caucuses this evening, supporters in Virginia will be opening his state campaign headquarters in Norfolk. The office will open with a public reception between 7 and 9 p.m., according to the Associated Press.

By: Jim Nolan | Richmond Times Dispatch Published: January 25, 2012Updated: January 25, 2012 - 5:50 PM The Senate Courts of Justice Committee today approved a measure that would eliminate Virginia's one-gun-a-month restriction on the purchase of handguns.