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

On this Friday, November 28, 2025, WFIR News Express brings you the top stories across Southwest and Central Virginia:

• Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger adds Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb and Christiansburg Mayor David Horton to her transition team, elevating regional voices on housing, economic development, and homelessness.
• Roanoke keeps a proposed casino at the Berglund Center on its General Assembly wish list, despite firm opposition from Del. Sam Rasoul, Del. Joe McNamara, and Sen. David Suetterlein.
• A recount is officially set for December 12 in the extremely tight Blacksburg mayoral race — separated by just 18 votes.
• 6th District Democratic candidate Ken Mitchell says he supports the legislature’s redistricting push, but will respect voter sentiment if lawmakers ultimately decide not to proceed.
• Lynchburg Police seize stolen guns during a traffic stop, arresting two men tied to a shooting into an occupied home.
• Small Business Saturday returns to Downtown Roanoke, with local stores urging shoppers to keep holiday dollars in the community.
• Roanoke musician Theodore Jefferson, newly signed with Sony, announces plans to build a free creative studio for foster youth, inspired by his own childhood.
• Two Virginia brothers are charged after allegedly discussing plans to kill ICE agents, prompting a Homeland Security investigation.
• The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle season is underway, with volunteer bell-ringers still needed and a holiday donation goal of $185,000.
• More than 8,000 people turned out for the Drumstick Dash on Thanksgiving morning, helping fund the Rescue Mission’s holiday dining services.
• Hotel Roanoke’s “Fashions for Evergreens” display is now open, featuring over two dozen decorated Christmas trees through New Year’s Day.
• Vinton’s Christmas Parade and tree lighting arrive next Thursday evening, with road closures at 5:30 p.m.

🎧 Your fast, reliable local news update — all in one place.

WFIR’s Ian Price goes On The Record: with The Roanoke Rambler as reporters Sinclair Holian and Jeff Sturgeon break down this week’s top local stories. Sinclair explains why Goodwill’s Market on Melrose in Northwest Roanoke is running a roughly $1 million first-year deficit, what that says about the grocery business, and why the nonprofit still sees a path to sustainability.

Jeff walks through the stalled talks over Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport’s hoped-for runway expansion across I-581, including the gap between what the city paid for the former Countryside golf course land and what the airport has offered so far — plus a proposed $7 million study.

The conversation closes with Sinclair’s Q&A with iHeart Southeast co-chair Jessica Maharan, who describes choosing Southeast Roanoke as home, calling it an “unpolished gem,” and talking about neighborhood pride, economic segregation, and what targeted investment could mean for the area.

Listen to the full segment and read the complete stories for free at RoanokeRambler.com.

On today’s WFIR News Express for Wednesday, November 26, 2025:

• Court documents confirm a downtown Roanoke shooting was gang-related, with five arrests and new insight into gang activity trends from Roanoke Police.
• Former Congressman Denver Riggleman raises red flags about a U.S.–Saudi arms deal, questioning national-security risks and what the administration stands to gain.
• A new White House proposal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies sparks divisions among Republicans, even as hundreds of thousands of Virginians brace for major premium hikes when enhanced subsidies expire at year’s end.
• Roanoke College’s latest consumer survey shows Virginians balancing optimism and caution heading into the holidays amid inflation pressures.
• The Rescue Mission readies a massive community feast right after tomorrow’s Drumstick Dash, expecting more than 400 people for Thanksgiving meals.
• Brown Friday approaches—local plumbers warn about post-holiday grease clogs and explain why the day after Thanksgiving is their busiest of the year.
• Aqua Virginia seeks a 26% rate increase, including a 33% hike for Botetourt County customers, prompting pushback from county leaders.
• Botetourt officials review new proposals for the Orchard Lake Dam, after residents asked for alternatives to breaching.
• Rep. Morgan Griffith discusses what may be revealed under the newly signed Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring DOJ release within 30 days.
• Blacksburg Police begin targeted deer-culling operations for public-safety reasons as collisions rise.
• Roanoke’s Angel Tree program gets a boost from social media, but organizers remind donors that small gifts still make big impacts.
• Roanoke’s housing market cools slightly, with higher inventory and policy discussions on affordability—even as home prices remain elevated.

🎧 Your essential, fast, local news update heading into Thanksgiving in the Roanoke Valley.

On today’s WFIR News Express for Tuesday, November 25, 2025:

• A Honduran national arrested in Roanoke is sentenced for illegal reentry, following a felony DUI case that revealed two prior removals from the U.S.
• Democrats signal hesitation on mid-decade redistricting—Delegate Marcus Simon says the effort may risk alienating voters unless the final map upholds anti-gerrymandering principles.
• Delegate Joe McNamara defends Virginia’s fiscal health, noting rising revenues despite nearly $9 billion in tax relief and projecting another major surplus next month.
• Regional leaders gather in Salem, discussing bipartisan priorities ahead of the 2026 General Assembly session, including housing, infrastructure, and the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor.
• Roanoke’s annual Thanksgiving bike ride brings in more than 3,600 pounds of food for local pantries, uniting cyclists across the valley.
• Mountain Valley Pipeline landowners in Pittsylvania County say they feel misled as the proposed Southgate extension moves closer to federal review.
• A deer rescue in Botetourt County, a longtime Thanksgiving meal partnership helps 123 Roanoke families, and Roanoke County prepares for its 22nd annual Christmas Tree Lighting.
• Plus: local clean-energy advocates look to Governor-elect Spanberger for a shift in Virginia’s energy policy, a LewisGale rehab patient car gets replaced by a modern model, Virginia Western launches a new business degree pathway, and communities remember Lucille Hoback Boggess, a key figure behind the National D-Day Memorial.

🎧 Your fast, trusted look at the stories shaping Roanoke and Southwest Virginia.

On today’s WFIR News Express for Monday, November 24, 2025:

• Virginia Senator Tim Kaine makes a last-ditch push to save Affordable Care Act subsidies, warning that thousands of Virginians could see major premium hikes if the expiring ACA tax credits aren’t extended before year’s end. Kaine says the cost of extending the subsidies is far lower than critics claim — but the clock is almost out.

• Bland County standoff ends with a shooting, after deputies say Johnny Ray Hull III pointed a stolen firearm at law enforcement.

• Major Roanoke warrant operation nets dozens of felony arrests, plus fentanyl, cocaine, guns, and cash.

• Virginia Tech’s new football coach James Franklin reveals why he consulted Frank Beamer before accepting the Hokies job — and details emerge on his five-year, $41.75 million contract.

• Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger clashes with Governor Youngkin over UVA’s presidential search, citing an incomplete Board of Visitors.

• National reporting places Glenn Youngkin on Trump’s potential cabinet shortlist, as he prepares to leave office.

• Delegate-elect Lily Franklin says Beth Macy could flip Virginia’s 6th District, calling her campaign a serious threat to Rep. Ben Cline.

• The Drumstick Dash returns for its 20th year, raising funds for the Rescue Mission as thousands prepare to hit the streets Thanksgiving morning.

• Roanoke restaurants see a surge in Thanksgiving reservations, with some booked solid weeks in advance.

🎧 Your fast, local, SEO-friendly update on health care, politics, public safety, and the stories shaping Southwest Virginia.

On this Friday edition of the WFIR News Express:
🚓 A solemn homecoming for Officer Jeremy Hall, as a motorcade returns the fallen River North correctional officer to his family — and VADOC leaders call for better pay and protections after last week’s deadly inmate attack.
🏛️ A West Virginia lawmaker renews his push to let several Southwest Virginia localities jump state lines, reviving the “Best Virginia” proposal that once stalled in Charleston.
🪖 Bedford prepares to dedicate its new Vietnam Veterans Memorial, honoring 14 fallen soldiers and recognizing those who returned home.
⚖️ A Lynchburg woman receives a 27-year sentence — most of it suspended — after knife attacks on police and CPS workers in 2023.
🔐 Senator Mark Warner warns that national security vulnerabilities are growing, blaming deep cuts and personnel upheaval under the Trump administration.
🎭 Actor Michael Keaton jumps into Virginia’s 6th District race, endorsing Democratic challenger Beth Macy after her strong fundraising launch.
🏢 Martinsville weighs whether to repair or rebuild its aging City Hall, after an assessment finds fixes may cost more than the building is worth.
🚬 A new cigar lounge opens in downtown Roanoke, with its owner aiming to create a community hub steps from Center in the Square.
🎼 The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra explores forming an inclusive adult ensemble — and wants local musicians to weigh in via a new survey.
🎓 Averett University announces a major tuition reset for 2026, cutting its sticker price to improve clarity and access.
🔬 Virginia Tech surpasses its research spending goal but braces for continued uncertainty as federal cuts deepen.

🎧 WFIR News Express — your fast, dependable look at what matters across the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.

On this Thursday edition of the WFIR News Express:

• ⚖️ Defense attorneys lay out their case as the UVA shooting trial moves toward a Friday sentencing, describing Christopher Darnell Jones Jr.’s traumatic childhood and deteriorating mental state.

• 🗳 Spanberger campaign leadership breaks down their winning strategy, crediting an affordability-focused message that resonated statewide.

• 🏥 Rural Health Day highlights growing shortages, as advocates warn that nearly half of Virginia’s neighborhoods lack adequate primary care access.

• 🚑 LewisGale Montgomery’s ER marks one year, with leaders calling the facility a long-needed upgrade for Christiansburg and I-81 travelers.

• 🏛 Rep. Ben Cline pushes a symbolic vote on socialism, drawing criticism from Democrats who call the measure political theater.

• 💰 Beth Macy posts a huge opening haul, raising $350,000 in her first 24 hours running in VA-06.

• ⚖️ Pulaski County moves to end a 47-year tax-sharing agreement with Radford, prompting a fight over millions in lost revenue.

• 🐴 Healing Strides reflects on more than a decade serving veterans through equine therapy.

• 🦅 Avian flu confirmed in vultures across Southwest Virginia, but experts say the risk to people and poultry remains low with proper precautions.

• 🚫 Water authorities urge residents not to dump holiday grease, offering free disposal kits to prevent sewer blockages.

🎧 WFIR News Express — your quick, reliable update on what matters across the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.

WFIR’s Ian Price goes On The Record with The Roanoke Rambler’s Jeff Sturgeon to discuss this week’s top local stories:

• A judge’s ruling ordering officials to release water-use data tied to Google’s potential data center in Botetourt County

• A proposal that could reshape how much city funding Roanoke schools receive

• And the official launch of author Beth Macy’s campaign for Congress

On The Record: with The Roanoke Rambler airs every Wednesday on the WFIR News Express Podcast, bringing you deeper context behind Roanoke’s most important local stories.

On this Wednesday edition of the WFIR News Express:

• 🗳 Beth Macy makes it official, launching her campaign for Virginia’s 6th Congressional District with a pledge to represent working families.

• 🏈 James Franklin introduced at Virginia Tech, offering new insight into the coaching search and his move to Blacksburg.

• 🏛 Roanoke City Schools funding shift proposed, with draft formulas that could reduce the city’s contribution in future budgets.

• 📉 Economists eye unexpected signals—from cardboard boxes to Hamburger Helper—as indicators of consumer confidence.

• 🦒 Two missing baby giraffes spark national attention, with PETA and Alicia Silverstone offering a $50,000 reward.

• 🏥 Substance-use treatment proposal at Valley View rejected, as council weighs concerns about location and patient wellbeing.

• 🎓 Radford University scholarships under federal review, following a Title VI complaint.

• 🌿 Local businesses push back against new hemp restrictions, warning the ban could hurt patients, veterans, and families.

• 🚌 Valley Metro turns 50, celebrating decades of service and honoring long-term employees.

• 🗳 Blacksburg mayoral candidate seeks recount, with the race decided by just 18 votes.

🎧 WFIR News Express — Fast, local, and focused on what matters across the Roanoke Valley.