ARPA funds have brought nearly 20 new affordable housing properties to Roanoke City. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has more $2.6-million-dollar grant that helped Habitat for Humanity help aspiring journeymen and homeowner’s alike: The post ARPA funding brings new housing and new journeymen to Roanoke first appeared on News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR.… Continue Reading
(from VSP) At the request of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Salem Division, is conducting an investigation into the death of male subject on Crozier Drive in Elliston, Va. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 24, 2023, when Deputies attempted to speak with a suspicious male walking on…… Continue Reading
The Roanoke area has been named one of the 25 Best U.S. Cities for hiking by HGTV, a ranking picked up by sister network CNN as well earlier this month. Kathryn Lucas of Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge says VBR worked directly with the author of that story; she also says the “Metro-Mountain” adventure offered by…… Continue Reading
Is the government shutdown a message to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy? Some in his own party have not minced words, but WFIR’s Ian Price reports that one of our lawmakers isn’t ready to throw McCarthy under the bus just yet. The post Federal shutdown could happen in one week, is McCarthy to blame? first appeared…… Continue Reading
American Rescue Plan Act federal funding is helping to leverage the work by Habitat for Humanity, which re-habs older homes and builds new affordable housing, often with the help of largely-volunteer crews. Habitat for Humanity-Roanoke has also launched a workforce development program that includes on-the-job training; more on that story tomorrow morning. At a 100-year-old house…… Continue Reading
Reducing violent crime – including what has happened cities like Roanoke, where gun-related homicides have spiked this year – starts with stiffer sentencing says Virginia’s Attorney General. Jason Miyares spoke last week with WFIR’s Gene Marrano on the issue: The post AG: gun violence prevention programs without stiffer sentences “a waste of time” first appeared…… Continue Reading
(from RoCo police) On Tuesday August 22, 2023, a 2005 Mack Truck driven by Michael Thornton was traveling northbound in the 4200 block of Jae Valley Rd in Roanoke County. The vehicle lost control, crossed the center line and ran off the left side of the road. The truck struck a guardrail and continued down…… Continue Reading
The Roanoke County Police Department is in search of a missing person last seen on Sunday, August 20, 2023. Christopher Jeremiah Lafanette, 26, was last seen at his house in Roanoke and may have been headed to High Point, NC. He is described as a black man, brown hair, green eyes, 5′8″ tall, and weighing…… Continue Reading
[Friday], CDC recommended the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for pregnant people to protect their newborn from severe RSV illness. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for U.S. infants.This new vaccine, Pfizer’s bivalent RSVpreF vaccine (trade name Abrysvo TM), has been shown to reduce the risk of RSV hospitalization for babies by 57 percent in the first six months after…… Continue Reading
Due to a forecast of rain throughout the day and evening, the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway has been postponed until Sunday, September 24. The qualifying races will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET, while the main event will start at 5:00 p.m. ET. The autograph session has been canceled. Bobby McCarty, who trails Brendan…… Continue Reading