There are more than 42,000 registered voters in the 89th House of Delegates district. Tonight, a few hundred could decide who should represent them all. What? You didn't realize there is an election tonight? Well, technically, there isn't. But for all practical purposes, there is.

Is there such a thing as email privacy in the workplace? I'll bet former state Del. Phil Hamilton wishes there were.

The image of a tortoise graces the opening section of the latest State of the Region report. Slowly, our regional economy is growing. In his presentation Tuesday, James V. Koch, professor of economics and president emeritus at Old Dominion University, highlighted some of the trends that led him and his team to this conclusion.

I believe that children are our future. Teach them well, and let them lead the way.

The first I heard that two of the three routes from the Peninsula to South Hampton Roads would be closed was on Twitter, on Wednesday evening, barely 48 hours before the closing was to take place.

In an email to state employees Monday, Gov. Bob McDonnell encouraged them to volunteer to work the polls on Election Day. No, not as poll workers for a candidate but as support for our democratic process.

It has been almost two weeks since my great-niece headed off to Virginia Commonwealth University for her freshman year. Classes started Thursday. Norfolk State University started classes even earlier, on Aug. 18. Across town, Old Dominion University started Saturday. The University of Virginia started Tuesday. William and Mary starts today.

Democracy was on display in Portsmouth on Tuesday evening. A couple of hundred voters braved a little rain to hear from the candidates for mayor and the City Council. They didn't just listen, though. All of the moderator's questions for the candidates came from the audience.

I made the mistake of watching "Meet the Press" Sunday. Just a few minutes in, I remembered why I stopped watching this - and a lot of other political shows - in the first place. No longer a conversation where ideas are discussed, the show devolved into a shouting match between two guests, as the host looked on.

The U.S. Senate contest in Virginia promises to be close. Real Clear Politics shows a polling average that has the race tied. Hampton Roads has already seen a fair share of advertising, with more to come. Both candidates have spent time campaigning in the region. But it seems Hampton Roads will not be given the opportunity to see the former governors debate.