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Leaky pipes close North Elementary in Prince George

PRINCE GEORGE, VA (WWBT)- North Elementary School in Prince George County is closing for the day due to a problem with leaky pipes.

The issue arose after children already arrived at the school. The school is releasing the buses at 9:15 a.m. to take the children home.

Parents are advised to make plans for the day.

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.

Prince George woman charged in death of 20-month-old

Brittney Downing (Source: Henrico County Sheriff's Office)

HENRICO, VA (WWBT)- A Prince George mother has been charged with two felony counts of child abuse and neglect after the death of her 20-month-old son this weekend.

Brittney Downing was arrested Tuesday morning by Henrico Police, in connection with the incident at the Bailey's Ridge Apartment Complex. The child, named Jelani Amari Downing-Batson according to an obituary, died Sunday at the woman's home.

Crews were called to the home in the 4600 block of Baileys Ridge Lane around 6:00 p.m. Sunday, but were unable to revive the boy.

The child's sister, a two-month old girl, was also showing symptoms of illness according to police. She was rushed to intensive care at VCU Medical Center.

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.

Patriots honored at Virginia War Memorial

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Hundreds of people from all over the region came out to the Virginia War Memorial to honor America's heroes this Memorial Day. 

Former State Police Master Trooper Darrell Bowling thinks about his son Jonathan Daily, but Monday is especially heart-warming...and heart-wrenching. 

At the ring of the bell, his son's name was announced - along with 20 other Virginians who died serving our country over the past year. Their pictures are shown on the Virginia Wall of Honor. 

"A lot of loss there. A lot of my plans for the future were around him and of course that ended," Bowling said. 

Governor Bob McDonnell spoke and visited with families for hours following the wreath-laying ceremony. 

Pedestrian fighting for his life after Chesterfield crash

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- Chesterfield Police are investigating a crash that sent one person to the hospital early Sunday morning.

Police say around 2:00 a.m. Sunday, 39-year-old Giovanni Mothersille was driving in the 100 block of East Hundred Road when he hit 55-year-old Joseph Summers as he was crossing the street. Summers was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Chesterfield Police are asking anyone with information about this accident to call Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660.

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.

Suspect in deadly VSU shooting found guilty

Ryan Simms

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- A jury has found Ryan Simms guilty of second degree murder in the shooting death of Tyrail Hughes.

Police say Simms shot and killed Hughes near the VSU campus in April of 2012.

Sentencing is underway right now.

We will bring you updates on air and online at NBC12.com.

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.

12 INVESTIGATES: Structurally deficient bridges in Richmond area

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- We go behind the scenes with the people who inspect the bridges to take a look at which ones are the worst, the oldest and the ones that are most cracked and crumbling.

The government demands bridge inspections every two years.  But for those bridges like we found that have peeling paint, rusted bolts, corroded metal, uneven pavement, even cracks - inspections come annually.

We met with Gary Martin, who is in charge of VDOT's bridge inspecting program, at the Hermitage Road Bridge at Interstate 95 in Richmond and asked them to show us what they look for.

"Maybe even some cracking. You can see there's some additional cracking right here on both sides. So, that's an indication you are having some corrosion on the rebarb," Martin said, as he walked through a bridge inspection.

Hazing charges dropped against VSU student graduate

Brandon Randleman

PETERSBURG, VA (WWBT)- A Virginia State University student body president charged with hazing is now off the hook.

Brandon Randleman actually plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge, but then said the Petersburg Commonwealth Attorney pressured him to do it. Thursday, the charges were dropped and the guilty plea was officially withdrawn.

A big factor in that decision in court was an affidavit from the alleged victim where he says "I want to make it abundantly clear, that at no time ever has Brandon Randleman ever hazed me in any way, shape or form."

Randleman was charged after an incident involving the alpha phi alpha fraternity at VSU.