Here is the latest news from around the Roanoke Valley and Commonwealth of Virginia.

Latest Roanoke Valley and Virginia News.

Roanoke leaders question Google's proposed Botetourt data center that may draw up to 8 million gallons of water daily from Carvins Cove. A Roanoke man is sentenced to 17 years in prison for killing his brother and two dogs. A Grandin Theatre screening sparks dialogue about the dangers of social media. A Salem teacher’s indecent exposure charge is dismissed. A judge orders the removal of eight Youngkin-appointed university board members, with praise from the NAACP.

Traditional Medicinals breaks ground on a $47M East Coast facility in Franklin County. Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock addresses revenue-sharing in college sports. Roanoke College and VWCC launch a new four-year biotech degree. More than $60M in Hurricane Helene relief heads to Virginia farmers. Roanoke City Manager admits using AI in her inauguration speech.

Also: The Day of Play arrives in Roanoke, Touch-A-Truck returns to Green Hill Park, and Salem schools respond to legal developments. Catch all the top headlines and local sound from across the region in today’s WFIR News Express.

A Buchanan man is sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for child exploitation. Franklin County remembers a beloved coach lost in a Gretna shooting. Giles County delays school openings due to renovations. Virginia Tech earns over $419K for cancer research. Carilion announces more building plans in pediatric medicine. Virginia's minimum wage is set to rise in 2026. Abigail Spanberger unveils her “Growing Virginia Plan,” while Winsome Earle-Sears brushes off campaign shake-ups. Governor Youngkin celebrates 30,000 veterans on the VA Veterans Network. FloydFest continues despite storms and heat. Fork in the Market prepares to reopen after a June fire. National Night Out plans are set for Roanoke. Cave Spring and William Byrd students win top safety honors. TAP seeks nominations for the 2025 Cabell Brand Hope Award.

On this Friday edition of WFIR News Express:

• Senator Mark Warner joins bipartisan calls to unseal the Jeffrey Epstein files, as grassroots pressure builds from within the MAGA movement.

• A former Smyth County school board vice chair gets 30 years for producing child pornography involving minors—at least 11 victims identified.

• 59-year-old Reginald Campbell is named as the victim in a fatal Roanoke crash that downed power poles and ended in a tree strike.

• Martinsville’s city manager faces scrutiny over spending as council hires outside auditors amid paid leave and a possible Texas job move.

• AstraZeneca’s $50 billion U.S. expansion will include its largest-ever drug manufacturing facility—right here in Virginia.

• Two men face charges in Fauquier County after allegedly shooting down a drone used in a lost dog search.

• Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific are reportedly in advanced merger talks—a potential shakeup in national freight rail with Roanoke ties.

• A Salem gym owner encourages parents to carve out quick 15-minute workouts when kids head back to school.

• A new invasive pest, the box tree moth, has been discovered in Loudoun and Clarke counties—posing a threat to landscaping.

• Nearly 24,000 syringes safely collected by Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition from Roanoke and West Piedmont as part of public health efforts.

• Roanoke’s Arts Connect Neighbors program launches with a catalog of creative workshops aimed at strengthening community ties.

• Carilion Children’s new Rocky Mount clinic officially opens Monday—offering expanded pediatric access for Franklin County families.

🎧 Listen now to stay ahead on what’s happening in Southwest and Central Virginia.

On this Thursday, July 24 edition of WFIR News Express:

• The Henry County Sheriff’s Office identifies the two people found dead in Ridgeway earlier this week. Authorities say 22-year-old Mandy Coleman and 68-year-old William Morey were shot by suspect Joshua Coleman—Mandy’s husband—after a domestic dispute. Two children are safe.

• Henry County deputies are investigating a Collinsville home invasion where resident Anthony Hagwood was shot and hospitalized. Authorities also found signs of forced entry, shell casings, and 10 pounds of marijuana at the scene.

• A state legislative commission finds that five Virginia counties account for 75% of school library book removals since 2020. Officials say many divisions misinterpreted a 2022 law.

• A rabid fox that attacked a woman in Bedford County has tested positive for rabies. Officials say the animal was killed during the attack.

• Two people are in critical condition following a head-on crash in Bedford County. Fire crews extricated both patients and transported them to a hospital.

• Bedford’s National D-Day Memorial earns a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award—ranking it among the top 10% of destinations worldwide.

• Senator Tim Kaine co-sponsors the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act, aiming to expand healthcare access in rural communities.

• The U.S. Department of Justice launches a second civil rights investigation into George Mason University. NAACP officials defend the university’s diversity efforts.

• Martinsville City Manager Aretha Ferrell Benavides is placed on administrative leave amid spending concerns, including costly trips and a golf outing. The city’s police chief is now acting manager.

• Former President Trump renews pressure on Washington’s NFL team to abandon any name change if they want a stadium at the old RFK site. Local sports analysts say there’s no clear movement—yet.

• Alabama-based alt-rock band Shallow Side headlines Sidewinders Saloon in Roanoke tonight—marking the Rock Channel’s first sponsored show at the venue.

• A Lynchburg business owner is indicted for allegedly running a food stamp fraud scheme—exchanging SNAP benefits for cash using fake transactions.

• The Virginia Diverse Chamber of Commerce hosts its 6th annual Roanoke Community Beautification Day this Saturday at Eureka Park, promoting unity and small business support.

• FloydFest 2025 is underway with Virginia-based southern rock band Holy Roller hitting the stage today. Organizers say the festival’s improved layout brings fans even closer to the action.

🎧 Listen now for your fast, local news catch-up.

On this Tuesday, July 23 edition of WFIR News Express:

• Roanoke Police and other agencies conducted a traffic checkpoint this morning as part of Operation Summer Shield—focused on traffic safety and violent crime, not immigration enforcement.

• Area Democrats, including Delegate Sam Rasoul and candidate Lilly Franklin, speak out at a Roanoke rally against a potential Winsome Earle-Sears administration, citing concerns about Republican control and instability.

• Following recent criticism and lagging poll numbers, Lt. Governor Earle-Sears is reportedly planning campaign staff changes. Analyst Chapman Rackaway says it could signal a move toward experienced political consultants.

• Botetourt County Supervisors plan a new multipurpose facility at Read Mountain Fire Department—including an upgraded 911 center—with completion aimed for early 2027.

• The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrates its move to Varsity Park, with Executive Director Eric Sichau and property owner John Lugar highlighting the benefits of the new space.

• The Henry County Sheriff’s Office confirms a suspect is in custody after two bodies were found in Ridgeway. The suspect is the husband of one victim; two children are safe.

• Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office is under pressure to release documents related to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan says Trump is only responding to political pressure.

• A General Assembly subcommittee discusses possibly aligning Virginia’s elections with federal even-year elections—a move that would require constitutional changes.

• Senator Mark Warner and colleagues question Delta Air Lines over its use of AI to determine ticket pricing, raising concerns over data use and potential price discrimination.

• Covington mourns Mayor William “Lance” Carson Jr., who passed away at age 65 following an ALS diagnosis earlier this year.

• Roanoke nonprofit TAP is gearing up for its 3rd annual “Talent in the Star” showcase on August 1st, highlighting youth talent and focusing on suicide prevention. This year’s theme: “Shine Through the Pressure.”

• Commanders GM Adam Peters says President Trump’s recent remarks about the team name and stadium deal won’t distract players as NFL training camp kicks off.

🎧 Listen now for your fast, local news catch-up.

On this Tuesday, July 22 edition of WFIR News Express:

• Cristian Romo Bermejo, the Virginia Tech student in ICE custody, won’t appear in court until October.

• Roanoke City Council approves a $25 million bond for infrastructure upgrades, funded partially by meal tax revenue.

• The Roanoke Logperch, once endangered, is officially removed from the federal list thanks to local conservation efforts.

• AstraZeneca selects Virginia for its largest single manufacturing investment in company history.

• The city celebrates 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act with new accessibility updates and a call for equity from Mayor Joe Cobb.

• Fralin Biomedical Research Institute advances prostate cancer research by identifying immune cells that help tumors spread.

• AARP Virginia warns of summer utility scams as temperatures and fake shut-off calls spike.

• Roanoke County Schools’ Opportunity Ready program gets national recognition from the Carnegie Foundation.

• Smith Mountain Lake water quality exceeds 20-year averages.

• Virginia Tech’s rare corpse flower blooms for the first time in years.

• Plus: new pediatric care in Rocky Mount, thousands of fentanyl pills seized in Charlottesville, a campaign shakeup for Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, Brady PAC endorsements, and more.

🎧 Listen now for your fast, local news catch-up.

Big zoning policy changes in Roanoke could be up for debate at today’s City Council meeting — we’ve got full details and insight from Vice Mayor Terry McGuire. Also in this episode: a deadly crash on Shenandoah Avenue, reaction to former President Trump’s push for old sports team names, and questions surrounding Terry McLaurin’s future with the Commanders. Plus, Senator Warner weighs in on federal budget cuts, Sheetz expands in Roanoke County, and a hoverboard sparks a major house fire. Stay informed with all your top local and state news on this July 21st edition of WFIR News Express.

On the Friday, July 18, 2025 edition of WFIR News Express, WFIR brings you the latest headlines from across Southwest Virginia and beyond:

• A Florida lawsuit accuses a Roanoke-area priest of sexually abusing a child in the early 2000s – though he is not named as a defendant
• Roanoke County man charged with second-degree murder after death of his wife on Yellow Mountain Road
• U.S. Department of Education investigates George Mason University over possible civil rights violations tied to DEI policies
• Senator Tim Kaine pushes for release of federal afterschool funding amid a nationwide pause
• Bristol man sentenced to 8 years in meth trafficking case connected to Georgia prison inmate
• Virginia State Police now investigating a suspected homicide in Henry County after earlier hit-and-run report
• Roanoke's trail system shines nationally as USA Cycling Championships continue through the weekend
• Total Action for Progress to celebrate its 60th anniversary this October at the Virginia Museum of Transportation
• New “smart vapes” with playable games raise alarm for public health advocates, with concerns about youth targeting
• Rabid raccoon found in Botetourt County – second case reported since June
• Country music legends Alabama and Exile to perform at Roanoke’s Berglund Center this September