Local News

With the autumn season officially beginning next week, one Virginia Tech professor says residents in Southwest Virginia won’t have to wait long for the leaves to change colors. WFIR’s Conner Arthur has that story:

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech fired head football coach Brent Pry on Sunday, citing unacceptable on-field results and announcing that a change in leadership was necessary.

The university announced the move one day after the Hokies’ 45-26 loss to Old Dominion. Philip Montgomery has been named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

In a statement, University President Tim Sands said the decision was made to improve the trajectory of the program.

“We appreciate Coach Pry’s efforts and service since 2021,” Sands said. “Unfortunately, the results on the field were not acceptable and a change in leadership is necessary.”

The university also announced that Board of Visitors members J. Pearson and Ryan McCarthy will work with Athletic Director Whit Babcock to develop a plan to make the program more competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That plan is expected to be presented to the board later this month.

Sands addressed the fan base directly in the statement, acknowledging their disappointment with the season.

“As we move forward together, please join us in supporting and encouraging our student-athletes and athletics staff as they take on this new challenge,” he said.

An organization that specializes in land conservancy within the Roanoke Valley is inviting guests to celebrate the hard work behind local conservation efforts. WFIR’s Conner Arthur has that story:

Live in studio this morning, Whitney Leeson from the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, and Alexander Boone with ABoone Real Estate Inc. discussed preserving historical structures – even those in disrepair – versus redeveloping properties to help address the demand for housing. Leeson says the Preservation Foundation does not support the Roanoke City zoning change that allows for multi-family units to be built by-right instead of only single-family houses, noting four older houses torn down recently in South Roanoke.

Alexander Boone recently received a “bulldozer award,” from the Preservation Foundation for the demolishment of those four houses, to be replaced by a 22-unit apartment complex built by ABoone. Leeson says City Council needs to make a change:

Hear the complete and lively conversation from this morning on link below or watch it in Facebook.

Food Lion has donated $3000 worth of shelf-stable foods and another $6000 towards physical improvements at the Manna Food Pantry operated by the Roanoke Rescue Mission. Local Food Lion employees were on hand to sort that donated food this morning.  Feeding Southwest Virginia, a partner agency with the Manna Food Pantry, nominated Food Lion for this Hunger Action Month activity. Lisa Thompson is director of development and communication for the Rescue Mission:

Opera Roanoke opens its 50^th season on September 21.  That performance not only marks the organization’s anniversary it also is the swan song for long time artistic director Steven White.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Steven White has been with Opera Roanoke for more than half of its existence.  When Opera Roanoke starts its 50^th season, White will be ending his tenure as artistic director.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

Opera Roanoke

It’s almost that time of year again, as an annual Roanoke festival is once again encouraging residents to “go outside.” WFIR’s Conner Arthur has that story:

The season starts in just over a month and some familiar faces will return to the ice. The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs are gearing up for season ten at the Berglund Center – as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, has died after being shot Wednesday at an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post.

The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum.

Here’s what we know so far:

The victim: 31-year-old Kirk personified the pugnacious, populist conservatism that has taken over the Republican Party in the age of Trump. He launched his organization, Turning Point USA, in 2012, targeting younger people and venturing onto liberal-leaning college campuses where many GOP activists were nervous to tread.
The shooter: Authorities are still searching for the suspect, the mayor says. A person who was taken into custody at Utah Valley University was not the suspect, according to a person familiar with the investigation and was not authorized to speak publicly. It was not clear if authorities were still searching the campus for a suspect.
The location: Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by TPUSA. The event at UVU had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”

Updates take time: Compiling accurate and thorough information on an active shooting takes time. Reporters are working to piece together the details from eyewitness accounts, authorities and other sources.

2 min ago
A local mayor urges people to report anything suspicious as shooting suspect remains at large
By ZEKE MILLER, LINDSEY WHITEHURST
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Mayor David Young of the north-central Utah city of Orem says several local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are working the investigation while the suspect in Kirk’s fatal shooting remains at large.

He says police in Orem and at Utah Valley University are among many agencies involved in the investigation.

Meanwhile, authorities have told anyone at Utah Valley University to ‘secure in place’ after Wednesday’s shooting. The campus was closed, and a post on the school’s emergency information page told those still on campus to call officials to be escorted out.

The Palliative Care Partnership of the Roanoke Valley is presenting an evening with Dr. Aditi Sethi-Brown…“Bringing Death Back into Life.” As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports death can teach us a lot about life.

The end-of-life conversation is a daily one for the Palliative Care Partnership of the Roanoke Valley. The conversation is also one Dr. Aditi Sethi-Brown promotes through her Asheville based Center for Conscious Living and Dying.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Palliative Care Partnership of the Roanoke Valley

Center for Conscious Living and Dying

Aditi Music

An area gym is hosting a memorial stair climb honoring first responders who died during the 911 terrorist attacks. More from WFIR’s Clark Palmer.

Worries about hurricane Helene’s impact here and rumors that the entire blue ridge parkway was shut down due to roadway damage not withstanding, 2024 was a very good year for Virginia’s Blue Ridge when it comes to tourism. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

From the WFIR News room this is your Culture Calendar – With a look at some of the local events coming up this weekend and in the near future. Sponsored by the Roanoke Cultural Endowment.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Go Cross is back at Fallon Park in southeast Roanoke this Saturday and Sunday, bringing some of the best pro and amateur cross country cyclists with it – while also welcoming local bikers at all skill levels. The story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

A festival in Roanoke that has seen growing popularity within the last few years is kicking off again later this month, however a few changes will take place. WFIR’s Conner Arthur has that story:

State government leaders including Governor Youngkin like to talk about strong job growth in the Commonwealth, but in recent weeks the economy seems to be pumping the brakes a bit, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

Detectives with the Roanoke Police Department are searching for the suspect in a Northeast shooting that left one man dead overnight.

An arrest warrant for second-degree murder has been issued for the 20-year-old Gilberto Hernandez Rodriguez, of Roanoke, who can be seen in the below photos. He is believed to be driving a silver 2012 Kia Sorrento with Virginia license TJM-4257.

On September 7, 2025, at approximately 1:54 a.m., officers responded to the 5300 block of Williamson Road NE for the report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they located 31-year-old Jose Eduardo Buenostro-Vazquez, of Roanoke, with gunshot wound injuries in a parking lot of a bar. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

The preliminary investigation determined the two men and several others got into an argument inside the bar. Security kicked out the group, and the group then fought in the parking lot. During the fight, Buenostro-Vazquez was shot.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roanoke Police Department at 540-344-8500.