VIRGINIA BRIEFING

LOUDOUN COUNTY

Mother, Daughter Indicted in Slaying

A Loudoun County grand jury indicted a mother and daughter yesterday on murder charges in the slaying of a relative in her Leesburg home last month, the chief prosecutor said.

Phoung Kim Thi Dong, 39, and her daughter Julie Thi Dong, 18, both of Leesburg, were charged in the July 23 death of Hanh Thi Hoang, 66. Hoang was Dong's mother.

Phoung Dong and Julie Dong were extradited last week from New Mexico, where they were held on a warrant charging them with felony unauthorized use of a vehicle taken from a crime scene, said James E. Plowman, county commonwealth's attorney.

-- Jonathan Mummolo

DEER HUNTS

Lottery to Help Thin Herds at State Parks

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting applications for special lottery deer hunts at four state parks to help thin the herds, including those at Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County.

Lake Anna will be the site of a muzzleloader hunt Nov. 18 and 19 and a muzzleloader-shotgun hunt Dec. 2 and 3. Applications for the hunts must be received by Sept. 19.

Jim Meisner Jr., a spokesman for the agency, said the hunts are based on the deer population each year. "It's how we control the herd," he said. "Sometimes the parks are open, and sometimes not."

The application fee is $5 for each hunt. On the day of the hunt, participants must show proof that they completed a safety-education course and pay a $10 fee.