Today on WFIR News Express:

⚖️ New Virginia laws now in effect – from harsher penalties for fentanyl dealers to seatbelt rules and cell phone bans in schools. What changed this year?
🏥 Healthcare experts warn of hospital closures if President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” cuts to Medicaid are passed.
📝 Former House Speaker Todd Gilbert nominated as U.S. Attorney for Western District of Virginia.
🔥 Smokey Bones BBQ near Valley View Mall to close this Sunday – no official reason announced.
💰 Virginians bet nearly $600 million in May – sports wagering continues its massive growth.
🎆 Roanoke’s Freedom Festival returns Thursday with fireworks, live music, and family fun – why it’s held on July 3rd this year.
🎇 Officials urge fireworks safety statewide, with sparklers reaching temperatures of 2,000 degrees.
🚗 State Police caution drivers ahead of the busy July 4th travel weekend, as Virginia surpasses 330 roadway fatalities so far this year.
🌡️ New study finds historically redlined neighborhoods experience hotter temperatures, raising public health concerns in Virginia communities.

Catch all these top headlines, legislation updates, and community alerts in today’s WFIR News Express.

Today on WFIR News Express:

🚨 Roanoke shooting suspect charged with attempted capital murder after allegedly firing at police during a manhunt for killing his father.
🎓 Virginia Western Community College President Bobby Sandel retires after 23 years; hear what he says is next for the school.
🔥 House fire in Roanoke County displaces five – what caused it?
🏬 Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s opens in Rockingham County, marking the chain’s most northeastern location.
⛏️ Southwest Virginia miners face higher health risks as silica dust protection rule is paused by the Trump administration.
📚 Library of Virginia launches redesigned website to modernize online access for 1.5 million annual users.
🚗 Roanoke parking garage headaches – residents frustrated, and the city weighs going gateless.
🔫 Amherst County shooting tied to a dirt bike sale gone wrong – what investigators say happened.
🎓 Virginia Western’s new president named as Dr. Laura Treanor prepares to take over.
🎆 Mill Mountain’s lower overlook closes temporarily for painting ahead of Freedom Festival fireworks.
🏀 Former VT star Liz Kitley waived by Las Vegas Aces – her future in the WNBA remains unclear.
⚾ Roanoke City Little League All-Stars head to state tournaments – find out which teams qualified.
🏊‍♀️ UVA swimmer Gretchen Walsh wins Honda Cup as nation’s top female college athlete.
🌳 Roanoke County announces July 4th weekend specials with $7.76 admission deals at Green Ridge Recreation Center, Splash Valley Water Park, and Treetop Quest zipline.

Catch all of today’s top headlines and community updates in under 15 minutes on WFIR News Express.

Today on WFIR News Express:

🏫 UVA President Jim Ryan resigns amid DOJ investigation into DEI practices; Senators Kaine and Warner call it “outrageous culture war thuggery”
⚖️ DOJ denies explicitly demanding Ryan’s removal, but cites lack of confidence in leadership
🚔 Multiple shootings across Virginia:
• Man hospitalized after Huff Lane shooting in NW Roanoke
• Suspect arrested after father killed in Roanoke; police fired upon in Prince Edward County
• Two arrested in Madison Heights shooting
🔥 Roanoke fire displaces multiple residents on Collingwood Street
💰 Franklin County drug and gun bust nets cash, narcotics, and firearms; two men charged
📜 Youngkin signs new rural student transportation legislation in Botetourt
🎶 FloydFest25 Aurora nears with major site improvements
🎭 Virginia Tech’s Center for the Arts announces 2025-26 season with student matinees and big-name performances
📢 NAACP condemns DOJ pressure on UVA president
🎟️ Upcoming: Free lawn concerts and Hot Sardines at Virginia Tech

Catch up now on Virginia’s top political, crime, cultural, and education headlines in today’s WFIR News Express.

Here's the latest news from across the Roanoke Valley and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In today’s WFIR News Express:

• A Roanoke College expert weighs in on the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program

• House fire in Bonsack under control, no injuries reported

• Officer-involved shooting in Botetourt under investigation

• Awful Arthur’s Roanoke location to close after 30 years

• $17 billion data center coming to Louisa County

• Roanoke to begin major pedestrian corridor upgrades

• RAMHouse nears $2.4M goal for new Jain Care Center

• Hidden Valley High gets turf field approval despite debate

• Rail Yard Dawgs set to unveil new 10th anniversary logo

• Naff Road closure starts July 7 in Franklin County

Stay informed with WFIR’s latest local headlines, political developments, and community updates.

Google buys land in Botetourt County for a potential data center, marking a major economic development milestone for the region. Governor Glenn Youngkin hails Virginia’s top national ranking in customized workforce training — for the third year in a row.

Also in today’s WFIR News Express:

• 🧊 Roanoke Rescue Mission responds to extreme heat with expanded shelter services

• 🧒 Bedford daycare worker convicted in child abuse case involving multiple infants

• 🛫 Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport rebrands and adds nonstop flights to Chicago-O’Hare

• 🌊 800-foot waterslide returns to downtown Roanoke this weekend to support local outreach

• 🗳️ U.S. Supreme Court clears way for lawsuit challenging Virginia’s lifetime felon voting ban

• ⚖️ Democratic AG candidate Jay Jones takes aim at Jason Miyares over partisan politics

• 🏛️ Lucy Addison High School named to Virginia Landmarks Register

• 🏞️ Federal budget proposal would charge international tourists to enter U.S. national parks

🎧 Catch up on all the top stories impacting Southwest Virginia in under 15 minutes.

President Trump confirms U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites—while the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, heads toward the region. Virginia lawmakers react: Senator Tim Kaine pushes a War Powers vote, and Senator Mark Warner moves to limit presidential authority under the Insurrection Act.

Also in today’s full WFIR News Express update:

• 🎙️ Local political analyst discusses risks of escalation with Iran

• 🚂 Train derailment involving hazardous materials in Augusta County

• 🏛️ Spanberger and Earle-Sears make their case in the race for governor

• 🔥 Fire strikes Fork in the Market—damage update and reopening timeline

• 🌡️ Heat puts pressure on shelters and utility programs in Roanoke

• 🎨 Taubman’s Happy HeARTS therapy program fights for survival after federal funding cuts

• 🌉 VDOT to begin long-term Apperson Drive bridge replacement in Salem

• 🌀 SBA deadline for disaster loans following Tropical Storm Helene

Stay informed with Virginia's biggest headlines, from Capitol Hill to the Roanoke Valley.

President Trump faces bipartisan pushback after ordering airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites without Congressional approval. Virginia’s U.S. Senators weigh in, offering sharply different reactions. WFIR’s Clark Palmer reports on Senator Tim Kaine’s call for a War Powers vote, while Congressman Ben Cline supports the President’s decisive action.

Also in this episode:
• Senator Mark Warner calls out “cruel” provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill
• Democrats gain a major financial edge in Virginia’s race for governor
• Governor Youngkin takes executive action on military sexual assault reform
• Virginia Tech Police remember Caleb Taylor
• Crews battle fires in Roanoke and Bedford County
• Tick-borne illness warning from a Radford public health expert
• Salem boy becomes a finalist in a national wildlife magazine competition
• City of Roanoke opens libraries as cooling centers for this week’s heat wave

Catch up now on today’s top stories across the Commonwealth, right here on the WFIR News Express.

In today's WFIR News Express for Thursday, June 20, we cover breaking developments and heartfelt community stories from across the region:

• A Radford University professor reacts to the shocking political attack in Minnesota and warns of its wider implications.

• A Virginia man pleads guilty to hate crimes targeting Latino victims in a chilling immigration-linked shooting.

• The community mourns the loss of James Lavender, who drowned at Smith Mountain Lake, as friends recall his legacy of laughter.

• New heat-related illness data spurs renewed calls for worker protection laws in Virginia.

• Senator Tim Kaine confronts the Pentagon over its controversial plan to strip military bases of inclusive new names.

• Plus: a look at Roanoke’s Living Legends, historic renovations, community outreach by law enforcement, and safety advisories for river recreation users.

🎧 Listen now for full coverage, exclusive interviews, and local updates only on WFIR News.

On this Juneteenth, Virginia’s senior U.S. Senator Mark Warner criticizes President Trump’s uncertain Iran policy. Roanoke Police arrest a suspect in the Meagan Martin murder case. Latino leaders increase outreach and resources amid immigration concerns. Roanoke County joins a national school reform effort. A new Brady’s Distillery tasting room is coming to Center in the Square. The City of Roanoke seeks 1985 flood memories for a preservation project. Democratic Lt. Governor nominee Hashmi faces off with Republican John Reid, who hasn’t spoken with his own ticket in months. Mast General Store celebrates 5 years in Roanoke with free popcorn, prizes, and a pet adoption event.