This is a WFIR News Express weather update for Monday morning, January 26, 2026, at 7 a.m.

Winter Storm Fern has moved out of the Roanoke Valley, but dangerously cold air is moving in behind it. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning from 6 p.m. Monday through noon Tuesday, with overnight lows near 2 degrees and wind chills as low as 10 below zero.

Today will be mostly sunny but blustery, with highs around 27 degrees and gusts up to 34 miles per hour. Tuesday brings sunshine and a modest warm-up into the mid-30s, but morning wind chills will remain dangerously cold. The rest of the week stays well below normal, with highs in the 20s and overnight lows in the single digits.

Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, dress in layers, check on vulnerable neighbors, and prepare for extended emergency response times during extreme cold conditions.

From the WFIR Newscenter, this is your latest winter weather update.

On this Friday, January 23, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, the focus is squarely on dangerous winter weather expected to impact the region this weekend:

• Winter Storm Fern approaches Southwest and Central Virginia, prompting Governor Abigail Spanberger to declare a State of Emergency ahead of the weekend.

• State and transportation officials warn the storm could bring a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and ice, creating hazardous travel conditions.

• VDOT crews are preparing for multiple scenarios, while emergency officials urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel and prepare now.

• Triple-A Mid-Atlantic advises drivers to check vehicles, stock emergency supplies, and prepare for extreme cold, with temperatures expected to drop into the single digits next week.

• Despite the forecast, some events are continuing as planned, while weather has forced the postponement of a Virginia Museum of Transportation commemoration tied to the historic Norfolk and Western 611 locomotive, now rescheduled for February 7.

Beyond the weather, several major developments are unfolding across Virginia:

• Lawmakers advance a bill setting a redistricting referendum for April 21, allocating $5 million from the general fund as debate continues over congressional map fairness.

• Democratic leaders revive efforts to ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, citing mass shooting prevention, while opponents argue the proposals violate Second Amendment rights.

• More than 1,000 Liberty University students travel to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life, continuing a decades-long tradition.

• In Roanoke, health officials and community partners host a neighborhood clean-up day, focused on the safe disposal of needles and other hazardous materials.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express — your trusted source for severe weather updates, state government action, and local community news.

On this Thursday, January 22, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, all eyes are on a major winter storm expected to impact Southwest and Central Virginia this weekend. State Police are urging drivers to stay off the roads as forecasts call for significant snow, ice, and extreme cold, while hardware stores report a rush on storm supplies. The Berglund Center also announces a schedule change for the Guns and Hoses hockey game due to the weather.

At the General Assembly, lawmakers advance multiple public safety and health proposals. Gun violence prevention advocates say new political leadership creates a rare opportunity to strengthen red flag laws and background check requirements. A House subcommittee also advances legislation establishing a right to obtain contraceptives, while senators consider Autumn’s Law, which would criminalize aggravated bullying and require schools to report severe cases to law enforcement.

In Roanoke, police arrest a suspect in a deadly shooting beneath the Tazewell Bridge, even as the police chief reports overall violent crime declined in 2025, with fewer gun homicides and a sharp drop in use-of-force incidents.

Nationally, a Virginia Tech political scientist explains why President Trump is focusing heavily on foreign policy in his second term, despite domestic economic concerns. And locally, new details emerge about why the Science Museum of Western Virginia’s lease at Center in the Square will not be renewed, citing water usage, costly damage, and differing visions for the future.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express — your source for weather alerts, public safety, and the issues shaping our region.

On today’s On the Record: With the Roanoke Rambler, Rambler editor Todd Jackson joins WFIR to unpack a week of reporting that reveals a city under intense financial pressure. The discussion centers on significant cuts to school funding, including a shift in the long-standing funding formula that could reshape how Roanoke schools are supported for years to come.

We also examine why talk of reparations tied to past segregation and urban renewal is now being paused, even as city leaders publicly acknowledge the harm caused. Todd explains how mounting budget shortfalls, affordability concerns, and limited revenue options are forcing City Council to make painful trade-offs — and why some members are openly describing the city’s finances as being in “shambles.”

The episode also covers plans to clear land near Read Mountain for future industrial development, the broader push for shovel-ready sites, and how ideas like a casino proposal are being floated as potential revenue solutions amid growing public backlash.

If you want to understand why so many major issues — schools, reparations, development, and taxes — are colliding at once in Roanoke, this On the Record conversation offers essential context and insight.

On this Tuesday, January 20, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, Center in the Square confirms its transition away from traditional museums toward interactive entertainment, citing financial realities and changing attendance patterns as longtime tenants prepare to depart.

Virginia State Police investigate a fatal wrong-way crash in Prince Edward County, while an apartment fire in Cave Spring displaces seven residents and causes significant damage. In national politics, a Northern Virginia congressman criticizes federal immigration enforcement following a deadly ICE shooting in Minnesota, as President Trump weighs invoking the Insurrection Act.

Virginia marks a historic moment as Abigail Spanberger is sworn in as the Commonwealth’s first elected female governor, outlining a vision focused on economic opportunity and fairness. Her early executive actions spark debate in Lynchburg over local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Cultural celebrations take center stage as the Grandin Theatre announces its 10th Annual Black History Month Film Program honoring pioneering filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. Meanwhile, Campbell County leaders prepare to vote on zoning approval for a proposed data center, and lawmakers roll out competing plans to address soaring electric bills across Southwest Virginia.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express, covering the stories shaping Roanoke, the region, and the Commonwealth.

On this Friday, January 16, 2026, WFIR News Express covers:

• A historic monument honoring Black Civil War soldiers from the U.S. Colored Troops is set to be unveiled, marking the first statue of its kind in Virginia and highlighting an often-overlooked chapter of American history.

• Human remains found last month are identified as a man missing since 2023, with investigators determining there is no indication of foul play and the case now considered closed.

• A traffic stop leads to the arrest of a Forest man after deputies seize large amounts of suspected fentanyl, psilocybin mushrooms, crack cocaine, cannabis, pills, and cash.

• Opposition continues to a proposed Google data center, with residents raising concerns about water usage, environmental impact, and long-term sustainability.

• A key Democratic state senator criticizes outgoing Governor Glenn Youngkin’s final State of the Commonwealth Address, saying it left out major issues facing the Commonwealth.

• President Donald Trump’s proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent draws criticism from economists and rattles major bank stocks.

• A new business association forms to bring together hundreds of businesses in one of Roanoke’s largest commercial corridors.

• Restaurant Week returns, offering special lunch and dinner menus at more than two dozen participating downtown eateries.

• Pediatric healthcare access expands as Carilion Children’s Pediatric Medicine opens a new office, reducing travel for families in rural areas.

• Mysticon returns for the first time since before COVID, featuring panels, films, music, vendors, scholarships, and a costume contest.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express — your source for local, state, and national headlines.

On this Thursday, January 15, 2026, WFIR News Express begins in Petersburg, where federal immigration agents made arrests near the downtown bus station in a highly visible operation that sparked community concern after video went viral.

In Richmond, Governor Glenn Youngkin delivers his final State of the Commonwealth Address, calling Virginia a “winning state,” highlighting record business investment, and warning lawmakers against changes to the state’s Right-to-Work law. Lawmakers also roll out the Affordable Medicine Act, which would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board aimed at extending Medicare-negotiated drug prices to hundreds of thousands of Virginians not on Medicare.

In Martinsville, a bitter political feud unfolds as a city councilman accuses the mayor of financial misconduct tied to the firing of the former city manager, with both sides now facing threats and a court hearing set for next week.

At the national level, a Justice Department investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell draws criticism, with Senator Mark Warner warning the probe may be an attempt to pressure or remove Powell over interest-rate policy.

In Central Virginia, a Data Center Summit in Lynchburg tries to address growing debate over proposed facilities in rural counties, while in Catawba, the legendary Homeplace Restaurant is set to reopen under new ownership with a focus on community and employment for people with special needs.

We also cover a new TSA rule requiring travelers without a Real ID to pay a $45 ConfirmID fee, and a major eight-story apartment development now under construction in downtown Blacksburg.

That’s the latest from WFIR News Express — your trusted source for local, state, and national headlines.

A long-shuttered downtown parking garage — described by some as one of Roanoke’s most lawless spaces — could soon become city property.

On today’s WFIR News Express, On the Record: With the Roanoke Rambler dives into a developing situation involving a dark, graffiti-covered parking garage that’s been closed for nearly two years. After a recent court conviction and fine, the garage owner has now discussed the possibility of selling the property to the city, opening the door to major changes downtown. Reporter Jeff Sturgeon explains how the site could play a role in long-stalled plans for a true indoor Amtrak train station, improved transit access, and much-needed parking.

The episode also covers a key legal fight over transparency tied to a proposed Google data center, including a judge’s ruling ordering the release of records showing the facility could use millions of gallons of water per day — potentially making it the region’s largest water user. We break down why the ruling is paused, what’s already been revealed, and why the case matters for public oversight.

Finally, we look at $20 million returned from Roanoke City Schools to City Council, setting up debates over how that money could be spent — from transit and infrastructure to long-discussed reparations tied to urban renewal.

A packed conversation covering downtown redevelopment, transportation, transparency, and big-picture city decisions — this is one of the most consequential On the Record segments in weeks.

Tuesday’s WFIR News Express covers the latest local and Virginia headlines:

• A Democratic challenger launches a campaign against longtime 9th District Congressman Morgan Griffith, outlining a progressive platform centered on Medicare for All and first-time homebuyer tax credits.

• President Donald Trump says the U.S. must acquire Greenland for national security reasons, while U.S. Senator Tim Kaine warns of bipartisan backlash against any military action.

• A Chesterfield man is arrested in Bedford after police say he believed he was meeting an 11-year-old child.

• Two Appomattox County landowners face charges after investigators say hunting dogs were shot, dumped, and not reported.

• Housing advocates warn that “renovictions” are reducing affordable housing options across Virginia, as nearly half of renters are considered rent-burdened.

• Virginia Tech makes a major financial push to rebuild its football program but refuses to disclose NIL and revenue-sharing figures.

• Bristol City Manager Randy Eads departs to serve as general counsel for Virginia’s new Attorney General.

• Congressional Democrats discuss redistricting efforts that could reshape Virginia’s political map.

• Blacksburg Transit ranks among the fastest-growing public transit systems in the nation, despite upcoming service cuts tied to electric bus battery recalls.

• Actor William Shatner is set to appear live at the Berglund Center following a screening of Star Trek II.

• A new study ranks Virginia among the strictest states in the nation for DUI penalties.

WFIR News Express delivers weekday updates focused on Roanoke, the New River Valley, and Virginia politics—fast, factual, and locally driven. Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Friday’s WFIR News Express brings you the latest local and Virginia news:

• An FBI investigation is underway after an ICE agent fatally shot an Old Dominion University graduate and mother of three in Minneapolis, prompting conflicting accounts from federal and local officials.

• U.S. Senator Mark Warner raises concerns about ICE training and responds to reports that the U.S. has not ruled out military action involving Greenland.

• A Cave Spring resident announces a Democratic challenge to Congressman Morgan Griffith in Virginia’s 9th Congressional District.

• Roanoke County Public Schools launches a new telehealth counseling service to support student and family mental health.

• The Virginia NAACP outlines priorities ahead of the General Assembly session, including gun violence prevention, redistricting, and environmental justice.

• A Honduran man is sentenced in federal court in Roanoke after illegally re-entering the U.S. and possessing a firearm.

• The Salem Stampede Championship Rodeo returns to the Salem Civic Center for a weekend of professional rodeo action.

• Fork in the Market celebrates a grand reopening in downtown Roanoke after months of renovations following a kitchen fire.

WFIR News Express delivers weekday updates focused on Roanoke, the New River Valley, and Virginia politics—fast, accurate, and locally focused. Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts.