Jerry Falwell, Jr.

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr. says some of the university’s graduates misunderstand his recent statements supporting President Trump. A group of alums  say they will return their diplomas in protest of those statements. But Falwell says his support for the president is about his willingness to call terrorist groups by their names. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:

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A national foundation says the Roanoke region is well behind Virginia as a whole when it comes to preparing high school graduates for in-demand careers. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, at issue is how many grads get additional education before entering the workplace.

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Click here from the Lumina Foundation web site

Ralph Northam

This past weekend’s events in Charlottesville have raised passions and many questions, not the least of which is what should the futures be of the many memorials to the soldiers who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam is the Democratic Party’s candidate for governor, and WFIR’s Evan Jones has a conversation with him in this morning’s Longer Listen:

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We have invited Republican Ed Gillespie to hold a similar conversation with us on this subject.

(AP photo)

Virginia’s major-party candidates for governor agree — and disagree — on the future of civil war statues. The issue has come to the forefront after Charlottesville leaders voted to take down a Robert E. Lee statue and the violence there last weekend. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.

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Peter Volosin

Long-time Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte already knows he will face Democratic opposition in November of next year. A Roanoke native has announced his candidacy. Peter Volosin is 31, with a background as a union representative, regional planner and EMT. He spoke with WFIR’s Evan Jones:

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Click here for the Volosin campaign website.

(AP photo)

Some of the people who attended the “Unite the Right” rally Saturday in Charlottesville say police stood passively by when violence broke out — and on that point, the American Civil Liberties Union agrees. But city officials defend the preparations and response. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

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(AP photo)

The City of Charlottesville hopes to begin its recovery today from a violent and deadly weekend. It started with plans for an “alt right” and white supremacist rally before taking its deadly turn when a car plowed into a group of counter-demonstrators, killing one of them. That led Governor McAuliffe to say Sunday at a “Unity and Prayer” rally in Richmond that white supremacists have no place in this country — and they should leave. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:

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State Police say a Callaway man was killed when two pickup trucks collided this morning on State Route 40 east of Rocky Mount. Troopers say 40-year-old John Bates died at the scene after his pickup crossed the center line and struck the second pickup head on. The two people in that second vehicle were seriously hurt.

From Virginia State Police: Trooper W. G. Rorrer is investigating a motor vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality.  The crash occurred on August 11, 2017 at 7:28 a.m. on Route 40 in Franklin County. A 1991 Toyota Tacoma was traveling west on Route 40, three quarters of a mile west of  Colonial Turnpike, when the vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 1997 Ford F-250. The 1991 Toyota was driven by John R. Bates, Jr, 40, of Callaway, Va.  Mr. Bates was wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene. The 1997 Ford was driven by Ronald E. Clock, 53, of Rocky Mount, Va.  Mr. Clock was wearing his seatbelt and was airlifted to RMH for injuries received in the crash.  The passenger was not wearing his seatbelt and was also seriously injured. The State Police Crash Reconstruction Team was called to assist.

Omarr Romance-Lomax Martin

AUGUST 11 UPDATE: Roanoke Police are asking for help finding a man suspected of demanding money from another, assaulting the victim, binding his hands and feet, ransacking the apartment, then setting it on fire. Police say it happened early Tuesday morning in an apartment along the 2800-block of Colonial Avenue. They are looking for 20-year-old Omarr Romance-Lomax Martin.

FROM ROANOKE POLICE: The Roanoke Police Department is seeking the community’s assistance in locating Omarr Romance-Lomax Martin, age 20 of Roanoke. He is described as being 5’4″ and 125 pounds. Mr. Martin is wanted for Malicious Wounding and Arson from an assault and fire that occurred in the 2800 Block Colonial Avenue S.W. on August 7, 2017. Anyone with information on Martin’s whereabouts are asked to call the Roanoke Police Department at 540-344-8500 or by calling 911.

PREVIOUSLY: Roanoke Police are looking for a man suspected of demanding money from another, assaulting the victim, binding his hands and feet, ransacking the apartment, then setting it on fire. Police say it happened overnight along the 2,800-block of Colonial Avenue, where 70-year-old Clarence Kakert was treated for head lacerations. Officers identify the suspect they seek as 20-year-old Omar Martin.

UPDATED August 11: State environmental officials say it’s okay again to enter the water in Tinker Creek. The Department of Environmental Quality has lifted the ban on recreational activities, one put in place after that herbicide spill two weekends ago. The DEQ says water samples taken downstream this week show no evidence of the spilled chemical.

From the DEQ:  The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality have updated the information available on the status of Tinker Creek in Botetourt County following a fish kill on July 29. On Monday, August 7th, DEQ water monitoring staff collected additional water samples from Tinker Creek. Sampling locations ranged from the vicinity of the spill downstream to the Route 24 bridge across Tinker Creek near the confluence with the Roanoke River. Water samples were analyzed by the Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. Results showed no evidence of the spilled chemical, Termix 5301. Based upon the results of this latest round of water samples, the Virginia Department of Health is lifting the ban on recreational activities in Tinker Creek. For information on safe swimming in recreational waters please visit www.SwimHealthyVA.com.

PREVIOUSLY: State environmental officials have determined that last weekend’s herbicide spill into Tinker Creek killed about 40,000 fish. That makes it one of the biggest recorded fish kills in Virginia history. It is still unclear how the container holding the chemical was punctured. The latest from WFIR’s Evan Jones.

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