Today’s top stories in Roanoke & Southwest Virginia:

• 🚨 A Virginia State Trooper rescued a toddler found wandering alone in the middle of a roadway after leaving daycare.
• 🐶 Roanoke City Police officer fired for animal cruelty after neglecting his German Shepherd without food or water.
• 🚗 Gus Nicks Blvd. lane reduction debate continues—some say it improves safety, others argue it’s creating new problems.
• 🛒 Publix is coming to Roanoke County! Construction begins next month.
• 🔍 Roanoke Police searching for missing 16-year-old Nazion Draper.
• 👶 Governor Youngkin urged to sign Paid Family and Medical Leave legislation.
• 📦 Amazon opens a Roanoke delivery station, creating 200 jobs with $18.50/hour pay.
• 🏡 Roanoke Hospitality House moves forward, helping families of medical patients.
• 🦊 Mill Mountain Zoo reopens after storm damage—meet the new red foxes!
• 🎭 Cave Spring & Hidden Valley students shine in upcoming spring plays.
• 🔥 Firefighters contain a brush fire near Yellow Mountain Road.
• 📈 Virginia job market grows, adding more than 71,000 positions since 2022.

🎧 Listen now for full details on WFIR News!

Today in Roanoke, VA news:

• NCAA’s recruiting rules could change under new settlement, allowing NIL payments to high school recruits.
• Covington Middle School students return to in-person classes after a gas leak hospitalization.
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center needs donations after treating 541 animals from Smith Mountain Lake area last year.
• Roanoke stabbing under investigation after an incident at the Rescue Mission.
• Anthem & Cigna ordered to reimburse hundreds of Virginians over wrongful healthcare charges.
• A Lynchburg pastor convicted of burglary and stalking after breaking into a woman’s home.
• Virginia unions gain strong public support in a new poll.
• Governor Youngkin & Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promote cell phone-free schools in Virginia.
• Roanoke’s Backpack Run set for Saturday at Green Hill Park to benefit local students.
• Radford University to host the Southwest Virginia regional spelling bee.

🎧 Listen now for today’s headlines from Roanoke & Southwest Virginia!

In today’s Roanoke, VA news:

• Virginia State Police seize $342K in drugs & 36 firearms in a statewide crackdown.
• Proposed SNAP cuts could affect thousands of families in Roanoke & Southwest Virginia.
• Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb celebrates his historic election win with supporters.
• Mill Mountain Zoo reopens after winter storm damage.
• Roanoke’s Lawrence Koontz, Jr., former VA Supreme Court Justice, passes away at 85.
• Lynchburg Police search for a masked robbery suspect near Memorial Ave.
• Appomattox voting precinct closures raise voter suppression concerns.
• Pilot identified in Pittsylvania County helicopter crash.
• A Maryland man is facing charges after punching a United Airlines gate agent at Dulles.

🎧 Listen now for today’s top headlines across Roanoke & Southwest Virginia!

🟢 Roanoke’s biggest event of the season is here! Thousands will flood downtown this weekend for the Freedom First St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Shamrock Festival. Find out what’s planned! 🍀🎶
🚨 A major scam alert in Roanoke—if you’ve received a suspicious message about unpaid balances, here’s what you need to know. 💰📱
⚖️ 100-year sentence for the man who killed Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler—what officials are saying.
🚦 Oak Grove safety project—residents weigh in on upcoming changes to Electric Road and how it may impact traffic. 🏗️🚗
🛫 Liberty University launches a program to fight human trafficking in aviation. ✈️
🏡 Ronald McDonald House continues to serve families in crisis—how you can help. ❤️
🏀 The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to Roanoke! 🎟️

📲 Listen to WFIR News Express for all these stories and more!

🔹 Botetourt County crash leaves three pedestrians seriously injured—what police say happened in the crosswalk 🚗🚶
🔹 Measles concerns in Virginia—a local doctor weighs in on potential risks and what to know about the Dulles Airport case 🏥
🔹 Roanoke woman pleads guilty to massive PPP fraud scheme—she now faces up to 30 years in prison 💰⚖️
🔹 Roanoke police find missing woman safe in Florida—no word on why she was there ✈️
🔹 Roanoke County police search for two wanted suspects linked to vehicle thefts 🚔
🔹 Vinton gears up for its first-ever St. Patrick’s Day Block Party! Live music, food, and a bagpiper! 🍀🎶
🔹 VA Senators push back on VA job cuts—how 80,000 layoffs could impact veterans 🇺🇸
🔹 Ronald McDonald House fundraiser happening tonight! You could win a designer handbag 👛

📲 Listen now for the full update on WFIR News Express!

A Roanoke man was struck by an Amtrak train while attempting to escape police—how he survived and what charges he’s facing. Also today:
🔹 Roadwork on Route 419 in Oak Grove—what residents need to know before tomorrow’s open house
🔹 Blacksburg housing debate—is it the town’s job to build student housing?
🔹 New Maritime Gallery at the Virginia Museum of Transportation officially opens
🔹 First American Mink rescue in Roanoke in 5 years!
🔹 Roanoke County launches free septic pump-out program for qualifying residents
🔹 March MATHness competition heats up for Roanoke County Public Schools

Catch all these stories and more in today’s WFIR News Express! 🎙️

Local road changes on Gus Nicks Boulevard are sparking frustration, with residents saying detours are pushing dangerous traffic into their neighborhoods. Meanwhile, protesters in Blacksburg rallied for reproductive rights and rural healthcare, urging lawmakers to take action. In Bedford County, an 82-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly grooming a minor online. Salem is enforcing Virginia’s skill game ban, while Roanoke County is taking a different approach. Plus, a new nonprofit for expecting mothers is opening in Roanoke, and Blackberry Smoke & Mike Campbell are coming to town this summer! Catch all this and more in today’s WFIR News Express.

A Missouri couple is facing charges after allegedly abducting and abusing a 13-year-old Virginia girl they groomed online. Meanwhile, the families of the men killed in last week's Vinton custody exchange shooting speak out. Roanoke police are investigating a tragic train accident that left two dead, and a former Botetourt Chamber leader has been indicted for embezzlement. In other news, Virginia ranks 8th in the nation for solar energy, Mill Mountain Theatre prepares for "Waitress," and frustration grows over the Gus Nicks Boulevard traffic reconfiguration. Plus, Virginia health officials confirm a measles case at Dulles Airport. Catch all this and more on today’s WFIR News Express!

Virginia State Police have wrapped up a major law enforcement operation, resulting in over 600 felony arrests and the seizure of more than 400 pounds of illegal drugs. Meanwhile, a proposed move to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education has some local school officials worried about funding cuts. We also have updates on a Romanian national accused of a multi-state credit card skimming scheme, new efforts to ban Chinese AI software on government devices, and concerns over U.S. intelligence support for Ukraine. Plus, Q99’s Miracle Day Fundraiser is underway, raising money for Carilion Children’s, and the Taubman Museum’s Arts Pop event showcases the region’s creative talent this weekend. All that and more in today's WFIR News Express—listen now!

Today's WFIR News Express covers the latest headlines from Roanoke, Salem, and beyond:

• Roanoke Police Searching for Homicide Suspect – 42-year-old Lamar Burkes was fatally shot in Northwest Roanoke; police have identified Quante Martice Dillard Sr. as the suspect.
• Protests at Salem VA Medical Center – Layoffs affecting probationary employees spark concerns about veteran care.
• Trump’s Address to Congress Divides Lawmakers – Virginia Democrats and Republicans react differently to key policy points.
• Congressman Griffith Questions Drug Prices – Calls for more transparency in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Botetourt County Drug Bust – Three arrested in connection with a narcotics investigation.
• Virginia Flood Safety Awareness Week Begins – Governor Youngkin urges residents to prepare for spring flooding.
• Roanoke Woman Uses Assistive Eyewear to Regain Independence – Legally blind since 2000, she says eSight glasses have changed her life.
• Virginia Tech Tuition May Increase – Officials considering a 2.9% rise in costs for the 2025-2026 school year.
• Montgomery County Buys Former FedEx Building – The site will become an emergency services headquarters.
• LFA Kids Consignment Sale in Roanoke – Spring/Summer deals, plus a Fun Day event this Saturday.

Stay up to date on the biggest headlines with WFIR News Express!