Roanoke College has hired an environmental services contractor to investigate claims the school has a higher-than-average cancer rate. After winning Virginia by more than ten percent in 2020 over Donald Trump - the largest margin for a Democratic presidential candidate since FDR in 1944 - Joe Biden isn't doing nearly as well in the latest Roanoke College statewide survey. According to a report from the Roanoke City Police Department, officers used force against residents in 323 situations last year, up from 241 in 2022. Roanoke County could be home to a new entertainment venue if approved by the board of supervisors. A 3-day weekend event series is kicking off tomorrow with a block party in Downtown Roanoke.

A judge on the islands of Turks and Caicos has sentenced Louisa County resident Tyler Wenrich to time served and ordered him to pay a $9,000 fine for unknowingly possessing ammunition in his luggage while visiting the islands. Lynchburg Police have arrested a suspect who is accused of hijacking a truck and leading authorities on a high-speed chase. Members of the Roanoke City School Board have opted to change the district’s transportation plan for next school year. In June, AARP Virginia wants to provide some free information to help those worried about brain health - and how to maintain it. The National Weather Service says the tornado that struck the City of Salem on Sunday produced winds of around 100-105 miles per hour, traveled about two miles and was approximately 300 yards wide. The twister touched down at 6:14 p.m. near the intersection of Karen Dr. and Joan Cir. and ended about three minutes later.

Salem residents are discussing their homes being damaged by an EF-1 tornado over the weekend. Storms ripped the roof off a Roanoke asphalt business. During National Travel and Tourism Week Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge officials traveled to Washington DC last week to build on the success of its 2023 spring marketing campaign in DC and northern Virginia. Louisa native Tyler Wenrich is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow after pleading to guilty to taking ammunition onto the island of Turks and Cacos last month.LewisGale Medical Center and City of Salem leadership will celebrate their commitment to being a ‘Stroke Smart City’ by kicking off the project with a proclamation during the city council meeting tonight.

Latest Virginia and Roanoke Valley News.

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

Latest Virginia and Roanoke Valley News.

Roanoke City Manager Bob Cowell is set to resign from the position he has held for nearly 7 years. Roanoke City councilman Luke Priddy officially announced his resignation during council’s meeting yesterday afternoon. A former employee at Southwest Virginia Arms in Salem admitted yesterday to stealing 21 firearms from the business and falsifying records to conceal the thefts. An area nonprofit is hosting collections for items to send to flood and tornado victims in Texas. The US Supreme Court yesterday declined to weigh in on a case regarding whether or not Mountain Valley Pipeline can take private land for the project. The husband of Pulaski’s mayor is now facing criminal charges following a number of alleged thefts at a Walmart in Dublin.

A healthcare authority in the Commonwealth says THC-related hospital visits for young people are decreasing. Governor Youngkin took final action on legislation that was returned to his desk after the General Assembly rejected his proposed recommendations. A man was taken into custody last week after Henry County Sheriff’s deputies seized more than 100 thousand dollars’ worth of drugs. The annual list of Endangered Sites in the valley has been released, another reminder of the past and a call to action to promote the stewardship of structures that are a part of Roanoke's history. Former Roanoke Mayor Nelson Harris has a new book out focusing on the Roanoke Valley's history in the 1950's. Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin presented a Spirit of Virginia Award to Former Washington Commanders Head Coach Joe Gibbs’ Youth For Tomorrow nonprofit at the annual Burgundy and Gold Banquet.

Campbell County authorities say a 21-year-old man, who is in the US illegally, has been charged with raping a minor. With Presidential polls showing a statistical dead heat or Donald Trump up by a few points in many "swing states," President Joe Biden threw down an early gauntlet and challenged Trump to a debate next month - and the ex-President accepted. A former local GOP party chair says it could be a trap of sorts. Virginia State University officials say they are disappointed to hear media reports that President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump may not be participating in a debate scheduled to take place at VSU on October 1st. Archaeologists in Virginia have uncovered what is believed to be the remains of a military barracks from the Revolutionary War, including chimney bricks and musket balls indented with soldiers’ teeth. An anchor institution in downtown Roanoke for more than 100 years is rebranding to be better suited as a central hub. The Roanoke City Market Building is at 100 percent occupancy with restaurants of a wide variety, and it is now looking to do an interior redesign. A captain with the Roanoke Fire and EMS department says winning the National Firefighter of the Year award wouldn’t be possible without help from his fellow firefighters.

Virginia’s Senior US Senator is raising awareness about ongoing disinformation campaigns being conducted by foreign adversaries and cyberattacks that could happen before November’s election. A Salem CVS has been fined 75 thousand dollars after authorities learned the pharmacy delegated the administration of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 to an untrained nurse who injected a youth with six doses at once. The James River Regional Drug Task Force seized more than 3 million dollars in illegal drugs from drug pop-ups in Bedford County earlier this month. The Amherst County Sheriff’s office searched 4 smoke shops in Madison Heights on Tuesday after multiple children fell ill, and were even hospitalized, from products. A portal announced this week for tracking incidents of “adverse effects” involving children and teens being exposed to cannabis products comes at a time when incidents of minors going to the ER for cannabis-related issues have gone down. US Senator Tim Kaine is concerned about rising sea levels - how they have impacted military coastal bases in Virginia - and will do so more in the future. The Southwest Virginia Coalition for Palestine is set to host a concert on Saturday, May 25th to raise funds for two local Palestinian families with relatives in Gaza. The event will take place at Century Plaza in Downtown Roanoke at 7 pm.