Evan Jones
The former Ukrop’s supermarket in Roanoke is in the middle of an unusual transformation into a medical center. Carilion will locate its orthopaedic and neruosurgery practices in the building once the work is complete by early next year. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more on the project.
The House and Senate have both passed ethics overhaul bills, but many senators who voted “yes” expressed plenty of reservations. They’re concerned that the myriad of new proposed ethics standards could trap many honest colleagues in unwitting violations. WFIR’s Evan Jones reports on the ethics debate.
A new media campaign begins today in the Roanoke region with the hope of saving babies’ lives. You’ll see ads on billboards and buses and hear them on the radio, all with the goal of reducing the number of infant deaths that happen while the babies are sleeping. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for the SW Virginia Alliance for Safe Babies web site
Click here to read the full SW Virginia for Safe Babies news release
A new Microsoft advertising campaign features a Virginia Tech computer science professor and his efforts to spur important medical discoveries. It highlights Wu Feng’s work using high-speed computing to help researchers find cures for cancers and other important advances. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here to see the :30 TV commercial
Click here to see the longer-form web commercial
The Virginia Senate has passed a proposed constitutional amendment designed to increase the number of charter schools in the state. Right now, only public school systems in Virginia can create charter schools — privately-operated schools that receive public education funds. The proposed change to the constitution would give that authority instead to the state Board of Education. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
43 years after Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment, Virginia is one of the states where supporters still hope for adoption that will lead to eventual ratification. Senators voted in favor yesterday, although approval there is not yet final. WFIR’s Evan Jones reports on the debate.
The four-month decline in gas prices now appears to be over. Prices are likely to steadily rise now into spring, but analysts still expect the year-to-year difference to remain dramatic, remaining $1.00 or more lower per gallon than a year ago. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for Gas Buddy’s Virginia gas prices web site.
State Senator Bill Stanley is hoping for General Assembly passage of a bill that he says would prepare more high school students for good-paying, in-demand jobs simply by filling some empty seats. Stanley’s bill would require community colleges providing vocational and trade courses to notify high schools in regions they serve when those courses are not full — and offer those open spots to interested high school students. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The Roanoke County official at the center of an employee misconduct investigation last year will “resign his position and retire from public service” in February. The county’s handling of the investigation into Director of Human Resources Joseph Sgroi became a public matter when supervisors Al Bedrosian and Butch Church expressed unhappiness with the outcome at the time.
Here is the statement from Roanoke County Administrator Thomas Gates: Joseph Sgroi, director of Human Resources will resign his position and retire from public service, effective February 13, 2015. “I thank Mr. Sgroi for his years of service to the citizens of Roanoke County,” said Gates. “During Mr. Sgroi’s tenure, the County’s Human Resources Department has become a modern, employee-focused organization committed to meeting the needs of our organization.” Sgroi joined the County in 1996. Since that time, he has led efforts to ensure market-based pay structures for employees, initiated organizational development and training initiatives, and instituted wellness programs for employees aimed at reducing health care costs in the workforce. Anita Hassell, who is currently serving as Acting Human Resources Director, will continue in that capacity. The County will immediately initiate a nationwide search for a new director.