General Assembly 2011

Among the major issues: The state's continuing efforts to provide services with fewer dollars and Gov. McDonnell's plan to privatize liquor stores. Session ends Feb. 26.

The latest

Follow the Blue Ridge Caucus blog and @BlueRidgeCaucus on Twitter.

• Va. Senate votes to restrict local government land grabs
• House advances “personhood” and abortion ultrasound bills

From today's paper

• Follow state and local political coverage from The Roanoke Times

Watch live video

• Live video and audio streams broadcast from each chamber every day of this year's session

Who's your legislator?

• Find out who represents you (and how to contact your legislators).

More resources

• How to track a bill
• How bills become laws

Democratic state House candidate Ginny Weisz announced Tuesday that she's dropping out of the race for the 8th District.

The Radford University assistant nursing professor said her ongoing work in rural health care, along with her doctoral studies, prompted the decision.

"It's the timing," Weisz said, adding that she may consider a return to politics. "It will be good for me to be a support right now."

Weisz indicated that a Democrat to replace her will be announced Monday, but no other details were immediately available.

Democratic party officials in Roanoke County and Salem did not return phone calls about the news Tuesday.

Weisz was running against Del. Morgan Griffith, the Republican house majority leader from Salem, who has held the 8th District seat since 1994.

"It'd be nice if they figured out who their candidate is going to be," Griffith said Tuesday. "I'm just running my campaign and working hard."

The district includes Salem and part of Roanoke County.

-- Pete Dybdahl