On today’s WFIR News Express for Monday, November 24, 2025:
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine makes a last-ditch push to save Affordable Care Act subsidies, warning that thousands of Virginians could see major premium hikes if the expiring ACA tax credits aren’t extended before year’s end. Kaine says the cost of extending the subsidies is far lower than critics claim — but the clock is almost out.
Bland County standoff ends with a shooting, after deputies say Johnny Ray Hull III pointed a stolen firearm at law enforcement.
Major Roanoke warrant operation nets dozens of felony arrests, plus fentanyl, cocaine, guns, and cash.
Virginia Tech’s new football coach James Franklin reveals why he consulted Frank Beamer before accepting the Hokies job — and details emerge on his five-year, $41.75 million contract.
Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger clashes with Governor Youngkin over UVA’s presidential search, citing an incomplete Board of Visitors.
National reporting places Glenn Youngkin on Trump’s potential cabinet shortlist, as he prepares to leave office.
Delegate-elect Lily Franklin says Beth Macy could flip Virginia’s 6th District, calling her campaign a serious threat to Rep. Ben Cline.
The Drumstick Dash returns for its 20th year, raising funds for the Rescue Mission as thousands prepare to hit the streets Thanksgiving morning.
Roanoke restaurants see a surge in Thanksgiving reservations, with some booked solid weeks in advance.
🎧 Your fast, local, SEO-friendly update on health care, politics, public safety, and the stories shaping Southwest Virginia.
On this Friday edition of the WFIR News Express:
🚓 A solemn homecoming for Officer Jeremy Hall, as a motorcade returns the fallen River North correctional officer to his family — and VADOC leaders call for better pay and protections after last week’s deadly inmate attack.
🏛️ A West Virginia lawmaker renews his push to let several Southwest Virginia localities jump state lines, reviving the “Best Virginia” proposal that once stalled in Charleston.
🪖 Bedford prepares to dedicate its new Vietnam Veterans Memorial, honoring 14 fallen soldiers and recognizing those who returned home.
⚖️ A Lynchburg woman receives a 27-year sentence — most of it suspended — after knife attacks on police and CPS workers in 2023.
🔐 Senator Mark Warner warns that national security vulnerabilities are growing, blaming deep cuts and personnel upheaval under the Trump administration.
🎭 Actor Michael Keaton jumps into Virginia’s 6th District race, endorsing Democratic challenger Beth Macy after her strong fundraising launch.
🏢 Martinsville weighs whether to repair or rebuild its aging City Hall, after an assessment finds fixes may cost more than the building is worth.
🚬 A new cigar lounge opens in downtown Roanoke, with its owner aiming to create a community hub steps from Center in the Square.
🎼 The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra explores forming an inclusive adult ensemble — and wants local musicians to weigh in via a new survey.
🎓 Averett University announces a major tuition reset for 2026, cutting its sticker price to improve clarity and access.
🔬 Virginia Tech surpasses its research spending goal but braces for continued uncertainty as federal cuts deepen.
🎧 WFIR News Express — your fast, dependable look at what matters across the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.
On this Thursday edition of the WFIR News Express:
⚖️ Defense attorneys lay out their case as the UVA shooting trial moves toward a Friday sentencing, describing Christopher Darnell Jones Jr.’s traumatic childhood and deteriorating mental state.
🗳 Spanberger campaign leadership breaks down their winning strategy, crediting an affordability-focused message that resonated statewide.
🏥 Rural Health Day highlights growing shortages, as advocates warn that nearly half of Virginia’s neighborhoods lack adequate primary care access.
🚑 LewisGale Montgomery’s ER marks one year, with leaders calling the facility a long-needed upgrade for Christiansburg and I-81 travelers.
🏛 Rep. Ben Cline pushes a symbolic vote on socialism, drawing criticism from Democrats who call the measure political theater.
💰 Beth Macy posts a huge opening haul, raising $350,000 in her first 24 hours running in VA-06.
⚖️ Pulaski County moves to end a 47-year tax-sharing agreement with Radford, prompting a fight over millions in lost revenue.
🐴 Healing Strides reflects on more than a decade serving veterans through equine therapy.
🦅 Avian flu confirmed in vultures across Southwest Virginia, but experts say the risk to people and poultry remains low with proper precautions.
🚫 Water authorities urge residents not to dump holiday grease, offering free disposal kits to prevent sewer blockages.
🎧 WFIR News Express — your quick, reliable update on what matters across the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.
WFIR’s Ian Price goes On The Record with The Roanoke Rambler’s Jeff Sturgeon to discuss this week’s top local stories:
A judge’s ruling ordering officials to release water-use data tied to Google’s potential data center in Botetourt County
A proposal that could reshape how much city funding Roanoke schools receive
And the official launch of author Beth Macy’s campaign for Congress
On The Record: with The Roanoke Rambler airs every Wednesday on the WFIR News Express Podcast, bringing you deeper context behind Roanoke’s most important local stories.
On this Wednesday edition of the WFIR News Express:
🗳 Beth Macy makes it official, launching her campaign for Virginia’s 6th Congressional District with a pledge to represent working families.
🏈 James Franklin introduced at Virginia Tech, offering new insight into the coaching search and his move to Blacksburg.
🏛 Roanoke City Schools funding shift proposed, with draft formulas that could reduce the city’s contribution in future budgets.
📉 Economists eye unexpected signals—from cardboard boxes to Hamburger Helper—as indicators of consumer confidence.
🦒 Two missing baby giraffes spark national attention, with PETA and Alicia Silverstone offering a $50,000 reward.
🏥 Substance-use treatment proposal at Valley View rejected, as council weighs concerns about location and patient wellbeing.
🎓 Radford University scholarships under federal review, following a Title VI complaint.
🌿 Local businesses push back against new hemp restrictions, warning the ban could hurt patients, veterans, and families.
🚌 Valley Metro turns 50, celebrating decades of service and honoring long-term employees.
🗳 Blacksburg mayoral candidate seeks recount, with the race decided by just 18 votes.
🎧 WFIR News Express — Fast, local, and focused on what matters across the Roanoke Valley.
A deadly attack inside a Southwest Virginia prison leads today’s headlines as the Commonwealth mourns a corrections officer killed at River North. Also on this Tuesday edition:
🔥 Botetourt–Craig brush fires fully contained after burning more than 4,500 acres.
✋ Roanoke College expands ASL instruction, strengthening access and awareness for Deaf culture.
🐾 106 dogs seized from a Martinsville home after hazardous conditions were uncovered.
🗳 Beth Macy officially enters the race for Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, joining a growing Democratic field.
🌿 Cannabis retail proposals advance as lawmakers prepare for 2026 legalization debates.
🏠 Virginia’s housing market stabilizes, with rising inventory shifting power toward buyers.
🏦 Ridge View Bank marks one year at its Roanoke headquarters as local expansion continues.
🚂 Norfolk Southern’s merger moves forward in what could become the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.
🏙 Clifton Forge renovates a historic bank into a multi-business community hub.
🎧 WFIR News Express — fast, factual, and focused on the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.
As Virginians recover from the nation’s longest federal shutdown, key developments are reshaping the Commonwealth — from food security to politics and education:
🥫 Full SNAP benefits return this week, with long-term funding now secure through 2026.
🎓 UVA Faculty Senate calls for board resignations amid fallout from former president Jim Ryan’s departure and a federal DEI probe.
🗳 Two Democrats — Joy Powers and Ken Mitchell — launch campaigns to challenge Republicans Morgan Griffith and Ben Cline, setting up major Southwest Virginia races ahead of 2026.
🚉 Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific shareholders approve a merger plan that could reshape freight operations by 2027.
🏛 Roanoke City Council to consider a Fishburn Mansion historic marker and a major solar expansion for schools.
🎶 The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra creates a new memorial fund honoring late Superintendent Dr. Rita Bishop and her legacy in music education.
🎧 WFIR News Express — your daily rundown of Virginia’s top headlines, local impact, and stories shaping the Roanoke Valley.
Top Virginia and Roanoke Valley headlines for Friday, November 15, 2024:
🏳️ Flags at Half-Staff: Governor Glenn Youngkin orders flags lowered statewide to honor Navy Captain Thomas Scheurich, missing in action since 1968 and recently identified.
📄 Epstein Files Vote Effort: A bipartisan push advances to release all Epstein-related documents; Rep. Suhas Subramanyam says the files could clarify what President Trump knew, while Trump calls the move political deflection.
🚂 Eagle Rock Collision: A train strikes a tractor-trailer on Narrow Passage Road in Botetourt County — no injuries reported.
💼 Insurance Marketplace Update: Nearly 600,000 Virginians have enrolled through Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace; officials urge residents to compare plans as deadlines approach.
🏥 Rural Health Funding Bid: Youngkin submits Virginia’s application for $1 billion in federal support to expand the rural health workforce, connect hospitals, and grow telehealth access.
🏘 Blacksburg Housing Initiative: The 70-unit Stroubles Ridge project moves forward, part of a wider effort to close the New River Valley’s 5,000-home affordability gap.
🛠 Roanoke CTE Center Progress: The $76 million Career & Technical Education Center, replacing the Burton Center, is on track for early 2027 and pitched as a major regional workforce engine.
🎨 Therapeutic Art Show: The Brambleton Center hosts the Therapeutic Recreation Services Art Show tomorrow from 11–1; exhibits stay open for voting through November 23.
🥾 Drumstick Dash Registration: Spots remain open for the Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving Day Drumstick Dash 5K, supporting shelter services and community programs.
The federal government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — is officially over, but the ripple effects are still being felt here in Southwest Virginia.
In today’s update:
🍎 The YMCA at Virginia Tech continues feeding SNAP recipients still waiting on delayed benefits.
🛫 Flight cancellations persist at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, with most delays hitting the midmorning window.
⚙️ Elbit Systems of America announces a $30 million expansion in Roanoke County, adding nearly 300 new jobs tied to defense manufacturing.
🏥 Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital investigates a mechanical room fire that caused a partial power disruption but no injuries.
🏘 Restoration Housing breaks ground on its tenth project — reviving a historic home in Southeast Roanoke for affordable housing.
⚖️ Virginia GOP leaders call for more funding to fight proposed redistricting amendments.
🎸 Plus: Black Label Society coming to the Salem Civic Center, and the Stocked Market returns to the Berglund Center this weekend.
🎧 WFIR News Express — your daily local headlines, statewide updates, and stories that shape the Roanoke Valley.
Each Wednesday, WFIR’s Ian Price goes On The Record with The Roanoke Rambler’s Jeff Sturgeon to discuss the stories shaping life in the Roanoke Valley. From city finances and development debates to schools, culture, and community voices, this weekly segment brings local journalism to life — breaking down what’s happening and why it matters.
🎧 Catch new conversations every Wednesday morning on the WFIR News Express Podcast feed.
Author Beth Macy — known for Dopesick and Raising Lazarus — is reportedly preparing to announce a run for Congress, challenging Republican Ben Cline in Virginia’s 6th District.
Also in today’s update:
✈️ Flight disruptions continue at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport amid lingering FAA staffing shortages tied to the federal shutdown.
🎙 Senator Tim Kaine faces backlash from Democrats — including UVA’s Larry Sabato — after crossing party lines to reopen the government.
🏛 Speaker Don Scott says Democrats have a “mandate to shape Virginia’s future” following major election gains.
🏠 A proposed addiction treatment center near Valley View Mall hits a zoning roadblock.
🎶 FloydFest 2026: Daydream reveals its first wave of performers, including Tedeschi Trucks Band and My Morning Jacket.
🐴 Healing Strides of Virginia plans a new retirement program for its therapy horses.
🎧 WFIR News Express — your daily local update on Virginia’s top headlines and stories that matter to the Roanoke Valley.
On this Veterans Day, Virginia’s leaders are weighing in on the ongoing federal government shutdown — and its ripple effects across the Commonwealth.
🎙 Senator Tim Kaine faces pushback from fellow Democrats after crossing the aisle to help end a Senate impasse, while Senator Mark Warner says protections against new layoffs were key to his decision.
🇺🇸 Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger calls for an end to the shutdown, while Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi outlines her party’s plans to move quickly on reproductive rights and contraception protections.
🏥 A Central Virginia hospital ends OB/GYN services, raising new concerns about access to women’s health care in rural areas.
⚾ The Salem Red Sox officially become the Salem Ridge Yaks, with merchandise flying off the shelves.
🚗 Roanoke parking garages are getting a gateless entry system, and Sheetz honors veterans with free meals and car washes today.
🎧 WFIR News Express: The Roanoke Valley’s essential daily update — local, statewide, and always on your time.
Crews continue battling brush fires across Southwest Virginia, where blazes in Botetourt County have burned more than 3,000 acres. Forestry officials say recent winds and dry conditions remain a concern — but containment is improving.
Also in this episode:
🔹 Governor Glenn Youngkin announces SNAP benefits will resume this week, with federal and state funds covering roughly 90% of normal assistance.
🔹 Fair maps advocates push back on Virginia’s mid-decade redistricting plan, warning it could erode public trust.
🔹 Roanoke Police investigate a Sunday homicide in Northwest Roanoke.
🔹 A new affordable housing development is coming to Roanoke County, adding 80 income-restricted apartments near Hollins.
❄️ Plus: Warming centers open as colder weather moves in.
🎧 WFIR News Express — the Roanoke Valley’s essential daily update on Virginia’s top stories.
Top Virginia and Roanoke Valley headlines for Thursday, November 7, 2025:
🔥 Botetourt Wildfires: Fire crews continue battling the Bald Mountain and Lignite Fires near the Craig County line — more than 1,600 acres burned with no homes immediately threatened.
🚓 Salem Standoff Arrest: A 22-year-old man is in custody after an hours-long standoff on Wortham Street; no injuries reported.
🏛 Democratic Majority Expands: Speaker Don Scott credits outreach to rural voters as Democrats secure their largest House of Delegates majority in nearly 30 years.
🗳 Election Fallout: Senator Mark Warner hails the “blue wave” across Virginia; Steve Bannon blames Governor Youngkin for GOP setbacks, calling him “a Trump-hating disaster.”
🤝 Transition of Power: Governor Glenn Youngkin and Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger meet at the Executive Mansion, pledging a smooth transition before January’s inauguration.
💊 Henry County Drug Arrests: Two charged in a VICE investigation tied to the sale of Schedule I and II narcotics from Reed Creek Drive homes.
💡 Roanoke Nonprofit Honored: Dr. Jaclyn Nunziato named Social Entrepreneur of the Year for her work with Huddle Up Moms, urging greater private-sector engagement in community health.
🏠 United Way Relief Fund: United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge launches a short-term campaign to raise $40,000 for families needing housing and utility assistance.
🎸 Journey Farewell Tour: Iconic rock band brings “The Final Frontier Tour” to the Berglund Center June 4.
🎶 FloydFest 26 Lineup: Early lineup unveiled for “Daydream” edition — Tedeschi Trucks Band, My Morning Jacket, Lukas Nelson, and more to headline next July.
Fire danger remains high across the region, with firefighters battling multiple brush fires in Bedford, Botetourt, and Craig counties as windy, dry conditions persist.
Meanwhile in Richmond, Governor Glenn Youngkin congratulates Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, pledging a smooth transition as Democrats prepare to take full control of Virginia’s government for only the third time in modern history.
Radford University’s Dr. Chapman Rackaway explains what Spanberger’s decisive win means for the balance of power and the direction of Virginia politics.
Also in this episode:
🔹 Jay Jones becomes the next Attorney General, as Jason Miyares concedes.
🔹 Senator Tim Kaine comments on the federal shutdown’s impact.
🔹 Democratic leaders outline priorities for their new majority.
🎧 WFIR News Express brings you Virginia’s top stories and political analysis every weekday morning.
Radford University Political Science Chair Dr. Chapman Rackaway joins WFIR’s Ian Price for in-depth analysis of Virginia’s 2025 election results — including Abigail Spanberger’s historic win for governor, Democrats’ sweep of statewide offices, and what the results mean for Glenn Youngkin’s legacy and the future of Virginia politics.
Rackaway discusses how national issues — from the federal shutdown to early voting trends — influenced state results, what to expect from a Democratic trifecta in Richmond, and why Virginia’s elections continue to serve as a bellwether for national politics.
🎧 Full unedited interview from WFIR’s “Roanoke Valley’s Morning News.”
This week on On The Record: With the Roanoke Rambler, reporter Jeff Sturgeon joins WFIR’s Ian Price for an in-depth look at two top local stories:
– A proposal to reopen a strip club on Franklin Road is raising legal and zoning questions. The city has already issued a code violation, and the identity of the project's backers — and whether it will require public input — remain unclear.
– A new Spanish restaurant, ¡Suerte!, is headed to downtown Roanoke. It’ll open inside the forthcoming Promissory Hotel, with a tapas-forward menu, curated Spanish wine list, and a vision to bring more affordable, authentic European-style dining to the city.
📬 Read both stories and sign up for weekly local reporting at RoanokeRambler.com
🎙 New episodes of On The Record: With the Roanoke Rambler air every Wednesday on WFIR and are available wherever you get your podcasts.
Virginia voters made history on Election Day 2025.
🗳 Abigail Spanberger becomes the first woman elected Governor of Virginia, defeating Winsome Earle-Sears in a decisive win.
⚖️ Democrats sweep statewide offices, with Jay Jones winning the Attorney General race and Ghazala Hashmi elected Lieutenant Governor.
🏛 In Southwest Virginia, Lily Franklin flips the 41st House District, while Sam Rasoul, Terry Austin, and Joe McNamara all win re-election.
🚓 Antonio Hash secures another term as Roanoke City Sheriff, and local school board races show shifting priorities among voters.
🎧 WFIR’s post-election coverage brings you statewide results, local reactions, and what comes next for the Commonwealth — all in today’s edition of the WFIR News Express.
WFIR’s Ian Price reports in this Election Night Update:
Abigail Spanberger makes history as Virginia’s first woman elected governor, defeating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears.
With more than 90 of 133 localities reporting, Democrats lead in the races for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General — Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones both hold advantages.
In the Roanoke Valley, Sam Rasoul cruises to re-election, Joe McNamara leads in the 40th District, and Chris Obenshain holds a strong edge in the 41st.
Early returns suggest Democrats are positioned to retain control of the House of Delegates, but several key races remain close.
🎧 WFIR News Express delivers breaking Election Night results and analysis across Virginia — updated throughout the evening.
Your first Election Night update from WFIR News.
We’ll have frequent one-minute updates throughout the night as results come in for Virginia’s statewide races — including the contests for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General — plus key House of Delegates battles that could decide control of the General Assembly.
Stay tuned for live, concise updates from the WFIR Election Team — bringing you the latest returns, reaction, and analysis from across the Commonwealth.
🎧 WFIR News Express delivers breaking updates and full Election Night coverage — updated throughout the evening.