On this Monday, February 16, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, the Virginia Supreme Court allows an April 21 redistricting referendum to move forward, with early voting starting March 6, while noting opponents can raise future legal arguments. In Richmond, lawmakers push competing proposals that could shape Virginia’s gaming future — including a bill to regulate and tax skill game machines and renewed discussion around creating a Virginia Gaming Commission.

In the Roanoke Valley, nearly 400 Yokohama workers are still scheduled to be laid off in mid-March as the Salem plant winds down, with two hiring events set for tomorrow and March 5 at the Salem Civic Center. We also have several public safety updates, including a Roanoke crash that knocked out power to more than 2,000 customers, and an arrest tied to a Covington shooting. In Bedford, crews respond to a fire at Fajita Grill with no injuries reported.

We also track major state headlines: a Rockbridge County man is sentenced on child pornography charges, House lawmakers advance legislation limiting when local officers can assist federal immigration enforcement, and Virginia Republicans select a new party chairman with redistricting expected to be a top focus. Plus, a Virginia Tech professor urges responsible use of artificial intelligence in research, Virginia’s Ryan White Part B program cuts HIV services after a rebate error, Lynchburg City Council votes to restrict where abortion clinics could operate, and the Lynchburg Hillcats rebrand as the Hill City Howlers for 2026.

And in arts and culture, a new nonprofit theater group debuts its first play this weekend, aiming to bring more diversity to local community theater casts.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.

On this Friday, February 13, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, 9th District Democratic congressional candidate Adam Murphy is speaking out after a reported racist incident targeting Virginia Tech Sociology Professor Biko Agozino in Christiansburg. Murphy says a group of eight white men parked outside Agozino’s home, yelled racial slurs, threw ice bricks into the driveway and blared music in what he called a calculated act of intimidation. The incident has been reported to Christiansburg Police.

We also cover the ongoing debate in Washington over Department of Homeland Security funding, as Democrats in the U.S. Senate block a House-passed bill, raising the possibility that roughly 260,000 federal employees could miss paychecks if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement. Sixth District Congressman Ben Cline weighs in, while Democrats push for changes to immigration enforcement policies.

Plus, Cline announces $17 million in new federal funding for Interstate 81 widening projects from Bristol to Winchester, with VDOT set to determine which sections receive the money. In Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, Henrico County attorney and Army veteran Hugh Murray joins the Democratic primary field alongside Beth Macy and Tom Perriello, as redrawn district lines lean Democratic.

We also report on the arrest of a Newport News man in connection with a robbery at Member One Federal Credit Union in Roanoke County, a barn fire on Catawba Valley Drive that did not impact the Homeplace Restaurant, a three-hour rescue that saved a dog named Winnie from a 50-foot well in Lynchburg, updates on Vinton’s War Memorial renovations and new hotel development, a major donation tied to Virginia’s redistricting referendum, and a busy weekend bird count across the Roanoke Valley.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.

Major changes for a longtime Roanoke employer, renewed tension over school funding, and a long-awaited transit upgrade.

On this week’s On The Record: With the Roanoke Rambler, reporter Jeff Sturgeon joins WFIR live in studio to break down Orvis selling its 334,000-square-foot warehouse at the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology to a Coca-Cola affiliate for nearly $30 million. Orvis says it’s staying in Roanoke and leasing back space — but the move comes amid restructuring tied to tariffs and a downsized footprint.

We also discuss why Roanoke City Public Schools briefly considered closing the new Community Empowerment Center at the historic Lucy Addison building, how funding changes approved by City Council are shaping budget decisions, and what programs could still be at risk.

Finally, after more than 15 years of stalled efforts, Walmart is moving forward with building a real bus stop and shelter at Valley View — one of the busiest stops in the Valley Metro system.

A wide-ranging look at business, education, and transportation in Roanoke.

On this Tuesday, February 10, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, the Rescue Mission of Roanoke is leading RIDE — the Roanoke Interagency Daily Express, a homeless transportation shuttle that debuted in December and now moves about 82 people a day between the Rescue Mission and the RAM House Day Shelter using RADAR bus transit. The program has funding through June, but organizers estimate it will take about $130,000 to sustain the service for a full year and are asking the public for support.

We also have a quick look at the surprising warm weather in the Roanoke Valley, helping melt lingering snow and ice after Winter Storm Fern. In Richmond, Governor Abigail Spanberger’s office says lawmakers have passed about half of her Affordable Virginia Agenda, including measures aimed at lowering heating and energy costs, improving renter protections, addressing prescription drug pricing, and supporting affordable housing development.

Plus, Delegate Tim Griffin is removed from two House committees after a tense exchange during a subcommittee meeting. A bill advancing in the House would require private schools receiving state funding to administer SOLs, follow non-discrimination rules, and receive accountability ratings. We also track the growing push to eliminate Virginia’s car tax, with competing proposals still in play, along with a budget proposal tied to student fees and athletics funding at Virginia universities.

We also note a new report showing Virginia ranks 15th nationally for women’s representation in state government. Former Congressman Tom Perriello weighs in as Virginia’s redistricting fight continues, with an April special election still listed unless the Virginia Supreme Court blocks it. Locally, Twisted Track Brewpub hosts speed dating in Roanoke, and Salem residents speak out against Roanoke College’s plan to demolish a historic house built during or before the Civil War by enslaved or formerly enslaved people.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.

This WFIR News Express update was recorded and dated Monday, February 9, 2026, and is being posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

In this edition, the Virginia Supreme Court is set to weigh in on the legality of Democrats’ proposed congressional map and whether an April referendum can move forward, as former Attorney General Jason Miyares raises concerns about representation and the state’s voter-approved bipartisan redistricting process.

In Roanoke, police investigate a double homicide after two men were found shot inside a car in the back parking lot of Refreshing Church on Carroll Avenue Northwest. In Richmond, lawmakers debate a gun storage bill requiring locked storage in homes with minors or prohibited possessors, as Republicans argue it could create financial burdens for gun owners.

We also have multiple rescue stories from winter conditions — two hikers pulled from the backcountry near Thomas Knob in Grayson County, and Bedford County firefighters saving a cow stuck in a cold-water spring. In Rockbridge County, indictments are announced in the Natural Bridge Zoo animal cruelty case, as a national animal rights organization responds and lawmakers consider related animal welfare legislation.

Plus, the Speaker of the House voices support for Governor Spanberger’s directive ending state law enforcement assistance to ICE, and a Northern Virginia delegate introduces a bill aimed at transparency in college NIL deals. We also have updates involving UVA football, Virginia Tech facility renovations, and a Salem City Council vote on downtown Roanoke Boulevard improvements.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.

On this Friday, February 6, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, Virginia Democrats release a proposed 10-1 congressional map that would reshape districts across the Commonwealth ahead of the midterm elections, with Southwest Virginia and the New River Valley shifting into a newly drawn 6th District. We hear reaction from legislative leaders as the State Supreme Court weighs whether the map will go to referendum. Congressional candidates Beth Macy and former Congressman Tom Perriello both say redistricting won’t change their commitment to voters.

In Richmond, a Republican delegate warns a bill extending the waiting period for evictions could backfire on tenants and landlords alike. In Botetourt County, plans for three massive Google data centers spark political and environmental debate, as concerns grow over power usage, water demand, and electric bills.

We also report on the death of former 9th District Congressman Charles Poindexter at age 83, federal funding negotiations in Washington as Homeland Security funding remains unresolved, and Senator Tim Kaine’s push for changes to ICE enforcement practices. Plus, prosecutors allege a Roanoke bridal shop was used as a hub for human trafficking and drug distribution, Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors approves planning for major campus renovations, Beale’s taproom in Bedford prepares to reopen under new management, and new state wildlife data shows deer harvests up while bear and turkey numbers decline.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.

On this Thursday, February 5, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, prosecutors say a Roanoke bridal shop was used as a hub for a human trafficking and drug operation with more than 50 victims identified, as five people face racketeering charges spanning multiple counties. We also cover Governor Abigail Spanberger’s decision to end Virginia’s statewide 287(g) agreement, cutting off state law enforcement cooperation with ICE — while local agreements in parts of Southwest and Southside remain in place.

From Washington, Senator Tim Kaine criticizes what he calls the vilification of immigrants and points to their economic impact in Virginia. In Richmond, Democrats roll out their “Virginia You Can Afford” agenda focused on lowering costs for medicine, housing, childcare, and electric bills, while labor advocates push to repeal Virginia’s decades-old right-to-work law — a move facing political uncertainty.

We also report on Senator Mark Warner’s reaction after President Trump ordered the FBI to seize 2020 election records in Fulton County, Georgia. In Campbell County, a drug suspect is taken into custody after a week-and-a-half search following a major cocaine seizure. In Smyth County, a doctor is arrested on federal child sexual abuse material charges. And we highlight Youth Mental Health Awareness Month, with Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare’s “Break the Stigma” campaign and creative contest aimed at encouraging young people to seek help.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.

Big new details are emerging about Google’s planned data center campus in Botetourt County — and Roanoke’s casino push just got a lot murkier.

On today’s On The Record: With the Roanoke Rambler, reporter Jeff Sturgeon joins WFIR by phone (still snowed in by Winter Storm Fern) to break down newly obtained documents showing Google’s campus is envisioned as three data center buildings totaling nearly one million square feet on a 312-acre site near Daleville. The records tie the project to major permitting steps involving wetlands, and point to a much larger footprint than many residents expected — along with the performance targets already linked to the deal: up to $3 billion in investment and 150 jobs if the first center is completed by 2030. We also discuss the ongoing legal fight over data center water-use records, as The Roanoke Rambler’s case continues to trend in its favor while the dispute plays out on appeal.

Then we shift to downtown Roanoke, where The Rambler uncovered a $75,000 payment from a casino developer to the city connected to the Berglund Center “entertainment district” effort. The twist: City Hall won’t say who paid it or what it’s for, citing non-disclosure agreements — and officials insist it’s not being used for the city’s $6,000-a-month lobbying contract. With public skepticism still high and state-level support looking shaky, we dig into what the city is willing to confirm, what remains out of public view, and how this intersects with the still-unresolved question of Berglund Center naming rights.

To read the full reporting, visit RoanokeRambler.com and sign up free.

On this Tuesday, February 3, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, we follow up on the planned shutdown of Salem’s longtime Yokohama tire plant, with new help for workers facing layoffs — including free resume and skills services and a job fair this Thursday at the Salem Civic Center.

We also look at how medical cannabis suppliers are positioning for Virginia’s future retail marketplace, including expansion plans as companies estimate the potential size of an adult-use market. In Richmond, an area distillery backs legislation that would change how Virginia distilleries can sell certain products at farmers markets, while lawmakers continue the debate over whether the Commonwealth needs a study before repealing the car tax.

In Southwest Virginia, Buchanan County considers multi-million-dollar support for the Appalachian School of Law amid a financial crunch. A new housing report highlights how immigrant labor supports construction trades — and what tighter immigration policy could mean for building costs and affordability.

We also have a milestone for Traditional Medicinals’ new Franklin County facility, Pulaski County’s first fire marshal now on the job, and an entertainment note as country artist Ella Langley brings her tour to the Salem Civic Center this summer.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.

On this Monday, February 2, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, we start with Groundhog Day — and Roanoke’s own long-running tradition, from the historic Roanoke Groundhog Club to Mill Mountain Zoo’s former “Tweeter” and today’s prairie dog prediction.

We also cover a high-speed I-81 police chase that topped 100 miles per hour, ending with a Georgia woman arrested on felony eluding, DUI, and reckless driving charges. In Franklin County, a major boundary adjustment expands the Town of Rocky Mount by about 700 acres and more than 500 residents, with timelines set for police patrols, street maintenance, and trash pickup.

In Washington and Richmond, Congressman James Walkinshaw weighs in on oversight of federal funds tied to daycare fraud allegations, while former Attorney General Jason Miyares and former Congressman Eric Cantor criticize Democrats moving forward with an April 21 redistricting referendum despite a recent court ruling.

In Henry County, a Bassett man is arrested after a poodle was shot and left blind, and in Lynchburg, firefighters rescue a dog that fell through ice into a storm drain. At the General Assembly, lawmakers consider legislation giving medical professionals more say in where lab samples are sent for testing, and a Roanoke-area delegate raises concerns over a bill tied to housing grants for government workers.

And finally — an injured pet kangaroo is safely captured along Route 29 in Nelson County, and Danville City Council considers directing excess casino revenue toward economic development at Tuesday night’s meeting.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.