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• Gunfire reported near Valley View Blvd — no injuries, investigation ongoing

• Friends mourn 2 teenage girls killed in DUI crash; justice demanded

• Giles Co. man charged with attempted murder after domestic incident

• Roanoke drug bust yields over 1,800g of fentanyl, meth, and $16K cash

• City renews "Focused Driving, Safe Arriving" campaign against distractions

• Carilion to end school nurse contract with Roanoke City Public Schools

• Musk out of DOGE dept — local Congress members weigh in on the fallout

• Covington paper mill named top U.S. climate polluter by watchdog group

• Rolling Stone contest: Roanoke artist needs votes to advance

• VA Tech to test anti-drone tech with $5M Army grant

• UVA Alzheimer’s research sees breakthrough using molecule STING

• Dr. Janet Womack named next Botetourt County Schools Superintendent

• T-Mobile Fiber launches in Roanoke County June 5th — perks, no contracts

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• Police search for two endangered 16-year-olds: Alysia Trigg & Amiracle Lynn

• Roanoke’s mayor launches new task force to address 54% spike in homelessness

• Bedford County crash kills Maryland motorcyclist; second crash under investigation

• FEDUP marks 20 years of anti-violence advocacy in Roanoke

• Protesters demand town hall as Rep. Ben Cline visits local school

• Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears says state bracing for 32,000 federal job losses

• Adoption expert says Virginia LGBTQ+ couples should not be discouraged

• AARP warns of scam texts over unpaid tolls — do NOT click links

• Virginia DMV issues warning over fake fine collection texts

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• DUI manslaughter charge filed after two teens killed in NW Roanoke crash

• Trump’s “Big Beautiful Budget” bill heads to the Senate amid internal GOP tension

• “Operation Summer Shield” targets repeat and violent offenders in Roanoke

• Two major child pornography arrests in SWVA — one involving 100 counts

• Bell-to-Bell cell phone ban now mandated statewide in all Virginia public schools

• VBR Restaurant Week kicks off to spotlight regional dining

• Jerry Seinfeld to perform in Roanoke this September

• Bedford gas station vehicle fire; Bullitt Ave SE house fire investigated

• Virginia tops national rankings for job opportunity metrics

• Washington Park Pool ribbon cutting scheduled this week

Fast, local news for Roanoke and Southwest Virginia.
On today’s WFIR News Express:

• A Roanoke man pleads guilty to killing two people with an illegal machine gun at a Melrose Avenue party

• City officials respond after an audit reveals Roanoke overspent by $5 million — a violation of state law

• A former Pulaski County school employee faces charges for misconduct involving a student

• A serious motorcycle crash in NW Roanoke

• Rocky Mount’s mayor under scrutiny after a dismissed lawsuit and allegations of unethical conduct

• Roanoke College reports a drop in Virginia’s consumer sentiment as tariff uncertainty looms

• New TMEIC scholarship aims to boost engineering opportunities at Roanoke College

• Virginia Tech alum Nic Enright makes MLB debut after battling cancer

• Remembering Brian Wishneff, a driving force behind Roanoke’s downtown transformation

Listen now or catch us live every weekday morning from 6–9 a.m. on WFIR: 960 AM, 107.3 FM in Roanoke, and 94.5 FM in Botetourt.

Top local news, fast and on-demand.
In today’s WFIR News Express:

• A store clerk shot during a robbery in Vinton — two suspects arrested

• Roanoke overspent $5 million — and broke state law doing it

• Lynchburg Council kills a plan to double hotel taxes

• Congressman Ben Cline defends Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”

• The Senate passes a new “No Tax on Tips” act

• Roanoke Lebanese Festival returns this weekend

• Broadband expansion hits a legal roadblock

• Early voting begins across Virginia

Brought to you by WFIR: 960 AM, 107.3 FM, and 94.5 FM — always live, always local.

• A Roanoke neighbor describes rushing to perform CPR on a shooting victim in NW over the weekend; a suspect has been arrested.

• Virginia State Police search for a suspect after a fatal Bedford County hit-and-run involving a cyclist.

• New Roanoke College poll finds Virginians deeply concerned about the national debt — but divided on how to fix it.

• Former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins receives a pardon from Donald Trump after bribery conviction.

• No injuries reported after a fire at Donnie D’s Bagels; owner plans a comeback with community support.

• Former CIA and Secret Service employee Anthony Sabio announces congressional challenge to Rep. Don Beyer.

• “A Thread Through Roanoke,” a portrait exhibition by Whitney C. Brock, opens June 1 at Art on First.

• Christiansburg man critically injured after reportedly shooting himself during a domestic incident.

• Radford University named Top Adventure College by Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine.

• Roanoke County Police investigate after a car crashes into a building on Brambleton Ave.

• Funeral services planned for Tommy Fuqua, Roanoke County’s first Fire and Rescue Chief.

• Roanoke artists invited to design signal boxes as part of a new distracted driving safety campaign.

• Virginia University of Lynchburg earns top national ranking for its online Doctor of Healthcare Administration program.

• New Roanoke College poll shows Abigail Spanberger with a wide 17-point lead over Winsome Earle-Sears — but another poll shows a much tighter race.

• Over 1 million Virginians expected to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend; AAA offers travel tips.

• Mill Mountain Zoo mourns the loss of Snow Leopard Bali to aggressive cancer.

• Publix to begin construction on 50,000+ sq ft store in Roanoke County, expected to employ around 130 people.

• Roanoke’s Williamson Road project aims to improve pedestrian safety after 23 crashes since 2020.

• A Wythe County deputy injured in a crash on I-77; tractor trailer driver charged with reckless driving.

• Five teens escape mental health facility in Staunton; all recaptured and charged.

• President of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys thanks Roanoke EMS for saving his life after cardiac arrest.

• Congressman Gerry Connolly dies at age 75 after battle with cancer; tributes pour in from Kaine, Warner.

• AFL-CIO report ranks Virginia among safest states for workers, but unions warn proposed rollbacks may reverse progress.

• Governor Youngkin announces $16.9M for workforce housing across Virginia, including in the New River Valley.

• Comcast to bring high-speed internet to over 4,500 homes and businesses in the Town of Bedford.

• “Run for the Wall” veterans ride stops at the National D-Day Memorial today.

• Virginia’s employment numbers edge up while unemployment slightly increases.

• Two parents arrested in Nelson County after the death of their 6-week-old baby is ruled a homicide.

• A Salem City PE teacher is charged with indecent exposure for an incident reported in Vic Thomas Park.

• A vigil is held for 22-year-old Brooklin Goff, who died in a vehicle crash in Roanoke; the suspect faces DUI and manslaughter charges.

• Trial for murder suspect in Susan Williams case postponed until September.

• A Roanoke woman urges City Council to focus on affordable housing options for senior citizens.

• Proposed federal spending bill could slash Medicaid funding and impact rural hospitals in Virginia.

• Two Navy SEALs from Virginia disciplined over racist memes targeting a fellow team member.

• WFIR’s in-studio guest Ed Lynch discusses U.S.–Qatar relations and the controversial luxury jet offer.

• Sen. Mark Warner pushes legislation to increase penalties for misusing personal information held by the government.

• New report finds beef labeled "antibiotic-free" still testing positive; includes products sold in Virginia.

• The Harrison Museum of African American Culture prepares to move to its new Roanoke home.

• Liberty University to pay Jerry Falwell Jr. a reported $15 million settlement following his resignation.

• Dr. Laura Treanor named the next president of Virginia Western Community College, effective July 1.

• Smith Mountain Lake businesses brace for a record-breaking summer season, starting with Memorial Day.

• Former Cave Spring High School AD Randall Meck pleads guilty to distributing child porn while living in Singapore; sentencing to follow.

• Roanoke mother criticizes City Council over arrest footage of her son, who was allegedly put in a chokehold despite a hearing disability.

• Roanoke City Council approves 3% pay raise for city employees.

• Redevelopment plans for the old Sunlight Bakery Building get a green light.

• A 22-year-old woman dies in a fatal crash; DUI and manslaughter charges filed against a 21-year-old man.

• Book on President Biden's final months and cancer diagnosis sparks national controversy.

• Rep. Jennifer McClellan warns proposed GOP budget could result in loss of Medicaid coverage.

• Traffic alert: Franklin Road lane closure in Roanoke for Appalachian Power utility work this week.

• VDOT seeks public input on studies for Prices Fork Road and Melrose/Orange Avenue improvements.

• New Yale survey reveals overwhelming support for climate action in Virginia, but a widespread "false social reality" holds back progress.

• VWCC expands JMU biotech partnership, offering clear transfer pathways for life sciences careers.

• Radford University earns Carnegie recognition for supporting lower-income students with strong economic outcomes.

• Bradshaw Road in Montgomery County closes for four days for bridge work over Bradshaw Creek, with detours in place.

• A rifle-wielding suspect robs a 7-11 store in Lynchburg; police are searching for the individual.

• GOP LT. Gov. nominee John Reid blasts Democrats after Arlington County limits local police cooperation with ICE.

• 52 golf carts are destroyed in a fire at Copper Cove Golf Club in Franklin County; no injuries reported.

• President Trump’s budget proposal could hurt senior services in the Roanoke Valley, warns the Local Office on Aging.

• Two teens are killed in a Botetourt County crash on I-81; charges are pending.

• Beale's Brewery in Bedford announces it will close its taproom but continue distribution.

• Melrose Plaza in Roanoke will soon be transformed with murals, community art, and more tenant upgrades.

• Virginia State Police seize 68 pounds of narcotics and 32 guns during a statewide operation.

• A Ridgeway woman is arrested for meth possession; more drug charges are expected.

• Preliminary 2024 data shows a 43% drop in Virginia drug overdose deaths; Roanoke’s non-fatal overdoses are also down.

• Elevation Church donates $10,000 to The Least of These Ministries to support local transitional housing and aid.

• Broadway in Roanoke announces 2025-26 season with Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol and more.

• Appalachian Power moves forward on plans for a Small Modular Reactor and other renewable projects in Virginia.

• Area nonprofits brace for looming budget cuts as the Council of Community Services welcomes new leadership.