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.