Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education | News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR

There’s ongoing uncertainty these days for non-profit agencies and organizations that count to some extent on federal grant funding often passed through the state. United Way of Roanoke Valley recently conducted a survey to find out how those funding cuts or potential cuts are impacting them – and what the future holds.  Live in studio this morning United Way President and CEO Abby Hamilton talked about that, and about the new Emergency Relief Fund campaign now underway:

Voters will soon learn the results of election races across the Commonwealth, including Delegate District 40 where one candidate says they’re putting political parties aside, declaring that “Virginia needs to win.” WFIR’s Conner Arthur has that story:

The House of Delegates voted along party lines today to advance a constitutional amendment that would allow the Commonwealth to redraw its  Congressional maps to counteract  states including Texas and North Carolina  changing their maps to gain additional Congressional seats. Prior to the vote, Montgomery County Republican State Delegate Chris Obenshain said the Democrat sponsored resolution is part of a scary power grab meant to resurrect the monster known as gerrymandering.

The State Senate will now take up the measure tomorrow morning. You can hear more from the resolution’s sponsor and Democratic lawmakers during the Roanoke Valley’s morning news tomorrow starting at 6 am.

Two local nonprofit organizations are teaming up to provide Roanoke children with a safe space to celebrate Halloween.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

McCadden Park in Roanoke will be decked out for Halloween Friday night.  Two area nonprofits have set out to make sure area children have a fun night to remember.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

Derrick Ruben, founder and CEO of Dream Team Natural Disaster Relief says his organization will be providing holiday meals for area families as well as collecting bicycles for Christmas. He can be reached via email. [email protected]

Roanoke County Public Schools celebrated the completion this morning of a renovation and expansion project at W.E. Cundiff Elementary School, which has a new administrative wing and cafeteria and has enclosed classrooms that had been built in the open pod-style popular in the 70’s.  The final “Phase 3” construction at W.E. Cundiff will turn the old cafeteria space into more classrooms. School board member Tim Greenway represents the Vinton District – he also attended Cundiff:

There’s been an elephant in the room in Roanoke – and it might just be wearing a poker face. A local delegate is now weighing in on the buzz about a possible casino at the Berglund Center as WFIR’s Conner Arthur reports.

Roanoke-based author Beth Macy has just released her fifth non-fiction book, “Paper Girl – A Memoir of Home and Family,” wherein Macy discovered during trips back to her childhood home of Urbana, Ohio that it had become a microcosm of what’s happened in America – political division, loss of good-paying jobs, homelessness, and substance abuse. Beth Macy was live in-studio this morning to talk about Paper Girl; she’s been on a whirlwind publicity tour for more than a week. Hear the complete conversation below, watch it on Facebook.

A military wife from Virginia called into House Speaker Mike Johnson’s segment on CSPAN this morning and asked Johnson to bring the House back into session to approve legislation that would provide military troops pay during the government shutdown. The woman said if there is a lapse in pay for military service members on October 15th her children will be unable to get their life saving medications.

If the government shutdown continues into next week and Congress does not pass a measure to pay the troops or reopen the government, that date will mark the first time in recent history when service members missed a paycheck amid a shutdown.

Now that Fall is here a classic has returned.  As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno tells us the Craftsmen’s Fall Classic is not only a great place start your holiday shopping it offers a chance to give back.

The 38th Annual Craftsmen’s Fall Classic Art & Craft Festival is back at the Berglund Center starting Friday.  As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports, the event has also become the second largest food drive of the year for Feeding Southwest Virginia.

The 2025 Art By Bus Celebration was held today in downtown Roanoke, and included remarks by this year’s “Writer By Bus,” in which a local author rode Valley Metro buses earlier this year, and then journaled about it. Author and illustrator Joe Lee turned that experience into “The Wheels on the Bus,” a comic book style work. Lee’s illustrations for his Wheels on the Bus book also became a wrap that is now decorating a Valley Metro bus. His book will be available at various venues around Roanoke.