WFIR News Express brings you the latest headlines from Roanoke, Botetourt, Bedford, Franklin County, and the Roanoke Valley. Roanoke City Council interviews three finalists to fill Mayor Joe Cobb’s vacant seat, a Bedford County crash on Route 460 sends one person to the hospital, and Roanoke County holds public meetings to discuss expanding the Roanoke River Greenway toward the Blue Ridge Parkway.

In health news, Carilion’s Super Smile Savers Day offers free dental care for children at Tanglewood Center, while First Lady Suzanne Youngkin leads REVIVE! opioid training at Capitol Square. A Virginia Tech addiction study sheds light on how many attempts it takes to quit an addictive substance.

Elsewhere, Virginia NAACP condemns Attorney General Jason Miyares for urging Costco to drop diversity policies. The Washington Commanders confirm their team name is staying, and discussions continue over a potential new stadium in Virginia, Maryland, or D.C.

For Transit Equity Day, Roanoke is offering free bus rides in honor of Rosa Parks and local activist Margie Jumper, with giveaways and events at Third Street Station.

Stay up to date with the biggest stories across the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia with WFIR News Express.

Stay informed with WFIR News Express, your trusted source for Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia news. A Montgomery County judge sentences an MS-13 gang member to life in prison for a deadly shooting, while Bedford County authorities arrest a man on child sex crime charges.

In business news, Panda Express officially opens at Valley View, marking another major expansion in Roanoke’s dining scene. Meanwhile, a local marketing expert discusses how AI is transforming small businesses in the region.

On the political front, Senator Mark Warner criticizes Trump’s new tariffs, warning they could drive up costs for Virginians. Governor Glenn Youngkin highlights a statewide crackdown on human trafficking, which has already led to 21 arrests and 12 victims rescued.

Elsewhere, the Virginia General Assembly debates tax rebates and Appalachian Power rates, and Montgomery County officials warn residents of a new mail scam targeting locals.

Listen now for Roanoke Valley’s top news with WFIR News Express!

Stay informed with WFIR News Express, delivering today's top Virginia headlines. Senator Tim Kaine calls for a review of flight expansions at Reagan National Airport after a fatal collision involving a Blackhawk helicopter. Meanwhile, Congressman Morgan Griffith and other lawmakers react to the tragedy.

In local news, Franklin County officials announce full containment of the Wades Gap wildfire, which burned over 600 acres and forced evacuations. Meanwhile, a confirmed case of pertussis at Lord Botetourt High School raises health concerns.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office responds to reports that some federal aid portals briefly shut down during the now-rescinded Trump funding freeze. Plus, Senator Mark Warner opposes Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence.

In breaking news, Henry County deputies resolve a barricade situation in Martinsville, arresting a man after a tense 90-minute standoff. Roanoke College expands its transfer program, making it easier for community college students to earn four-year degrees. Plus, Get2KnowNoke welcomes new talent ambassadors to promote career opportunities in the Roanoke Region.

Listen now for the latest news updates with WFIR News Express—your source for Virginia’s top headlines!

Stay informed with WFIR News Express, bringing you the latest headlines across Virginia. Firefighters continue battling a 450-acre brush fire in Franklin County, while another blaze in Lynchburg was sparked by rail maintenance work.

In politics, Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine push back against key Trump administration decisions, including a federal worker buyout offer and the nomination of RFK Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Meanwhile, Roanoke City Council's vacant seat could decide the future of the city’s zoning laws.

Elsewhere, a Blacksburg man faces sexual battery charges, and developer Ed Walker evicts tenants as he moves forward with the Riverdale project in Southeast Roanoke. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport expands with a new nonstop route to Florida, and Montgomery County schools report success with their cell phone-free policy.

Plus, a dog rescued from icy Smith Mountain Lake, and a Roanoke shooting investigation is underway. Get all this and more with WFIR News Express—your source for top Virginia headlines.

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WFIR News Express delivers team coverage on President Trump’s executive actions and their impact on Virginia. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner criticize the administration’s federal aid freeze, warning of consequences for disaster relief and nonprofits. Meanwhile, Roanoke City Public Schools respond to Trump’s immigration order with new guidelines for parents and staff.

In state news, the Virginia Senate approves a Paid Family and Medical Leave expansion and a consumer protection law against hidden fees, while a House subcommittee rejects efforts to remove taxes from tips.

Roanoke Police investigate a shooting in Southeast Roanoke, and a new nonprofit diaper bank launches to support local families. Roanoke College announces a direct transfer partnership with New River Community College, and the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce prepares to relocate.

Plus, the Taubman Museum hosts a Lunar New Year celebration, New Belgium Brewing funds a local diversity initiative, and Train and Ryan Adams announce upcoming Roanoke concerts.

Listen now for in-depth team coverage and today’s top Virginia headlines with WFIR News Express!

Stay up to date with today's top Virginia news on WFIR News Express. Roanoke City Police investigate a robbery at the Towers Kroger, while a Pulaski man faces 50 counts related to child pornography. Vice President JD Vance visits Southwest Virginia to assess Hurricane Helene recovery, calling for stronger federal support. A proposed abortion survivor bill sparks debate in Congress, with Roanoke-area Rep. Ben Cline advocating for its passage.

Elsewhere, a man is sentenced for vandalizing over 40 tombstones in Bedford County, and Loudoun County authorities investigate KKK flyers found near an elementary school. In Hurt, a 12-year-old hero rescues his cousin from a frozen pond in a dramatic incident.

Plus, Virginia ABC launches an exclusive Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon lottery, Panda Express celebrates its Valley View grand opening, and the Local Office on Aging kicks off its annual “Soup for Seniors” drive. Meanwhile, Virginia Breeze Bus Lines records its highest-ever ridership in 2024.

Listen now for the latest Virginia news updates on WFIR News Express!

Vice President JD Vance visits Damascus, Virginia, to assess Hurricane Helene disaster recovery. Increased police presence at William Byrd High School follows a viral social media threat, which officials say is not credible but concerning. Roanoke Police search for a suspect after a multi-car hit-and-run crash on Hershberger Road that left drivers shaken. Montgomery County Schools launch a crisis hotline, providing 24/7 mental health support for students through a new digital platform.

Meanwhile, Roanoke City Council narrows its list of candidates to fill Mayor Joe Cobb’s vacated seat, with finalists including a rabbi, a former treasurer, and an ex-council member. The Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame inducts former Mets manager Terry Collins, alongside local baseball legends. A deadly plane crash in Albemarle County leaves authorities investigating the cause.

In state news, a proposed Virginia law could make free school lunches and breakfasts permanent, helping combat child hunger and absenteeism. Plus, the New River Valley community is invited to shape the region’s future through a new economic development survey.

Stay informed on today’s top Virginia news headlines with WFIR News Express.

On today’s WFIR News Express: Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares declares that a new version of skill games is still banned under state gambling laws, warning businesses of hefty fines. A Roanoke woman is among three arrested in a major drug smuggling attempt at Fluvanna Correctional Center. A Roanoke City teacher earns a prestigious national award—hear his reaction. Lawmakers push a bipartisan bill to freeze Appalachian Power rate hikes for two years. Plus, UVA researchers develop a breakthrough tool to make antibiotics more effective, Dr Pepper Park announces an Aerosmith tribute show, and a Roanoke-based toboggan racing team prepares for the U.S. National Championships.

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Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has announced that Christopher Brown was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration for charges including distributing fentanyl. Current Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott tells the Virginia Scope while he is focused on his work in D.C., he still ‘has not ruled anything out’ regarding a potential primary challenge against Abigail Spanberger for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Twenty Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies were in Washington DC on Monday to provide security for President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Its been an eventful two-and-a-half days so far in the second term for President Donald Trump. Virginia's Senior US Democratic Senator spoke out yesterday on aan executive order regarding illegal immigration enforcement. Virginia U.S. Senator Tim Kaine was disappointed in pardons from both outgoing President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump, but he says they are "infinitely different." Efforts to enshrine Virginia’s “right-to-work” laws in the Commonwealth’s constitution failed Tuesday in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. Efforts to enshrine Virginia’s “right-to-work” laws in the Commonwealth’s constitution failed Tuesday in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. One of Roanoke’s new electric buses made an unexpected cross-country journey. The Roanoke Rambler reports that instead of being shipped on a flatbed trailer, a driver took the bus from California to Virginia, stopping at charging stations along the way. Some Roanoke City residents are discussing who they would like to see fill an open seat on city council. 11 applicants are currently looking to fill a seat on Roanoke City council that is vacant after Joe Cobb was elected mayor back in November. Raymond Cotter, an engineering teacher at Roanoke City’s Charles W. Day Technical Education Center, is a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.Cotter will receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. He is one of 336 teachers around the nation selected and only one of six teachers that was selected from Virginia.

WFIR News Express brings you the latest updates on key stories shaping our region: the Virginia Senate takes a major step toward enshrining abortion rights and repealing a same-sex marriage ban in the state’s constitution. In Roanoke, rezoning approvals pave the way for new affordable housing, restaurants, and recreation facilities along the Roanoke River Greenway. Meanwhile, lawmakers are advancing a Paid Family Leave initiative that could provide 12 weeks of wage-protected time off for workers. Plus, we’re covering developments on recreational marijuana sales legislation, local childcare funding challenges, and the arrest of a Virginia Tech football player. Stay informed with WFIR!