Evan Jones

Hometrust Bank LogoCustomers at six Roanoke-area banks are in for big changes over the weekend as their Bank of America branches become HomeTrust Bank of Virginia. HomeTrust is based in Asheville, North Carolina, and its CEO says Roanoke customers should find their transition is a smooth one. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

Click here for full HomeTrust Bank transition information.

 

 

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine

Senator Tim Kaine says Congress is abdicating its constitutional duty — and President Obama is overstepping his — in the current military mission against the Islamic State. Kaine wants Congress to vote before the holidays on whether to authorize continued military force. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

I81The days are down to a handful for the big truck stop at Exit 150 on Interstate-81 as VDOT prepares to begin a major re-configuration of the Cloverdale interchange. A call to the Travel Centers of America indicates its last day is Friday. WFIR’s Evan Jones reports on what will follow.

Click here for full VDOT information on the Exit 150 reconstruction project.

Click here for information on a VDOT Public Information Meeting November 20

 

 

 

I-73-LogoA renewed effort begins today to build Interstate 73 from Roanoke to the North Carolina line. Senate of Virginia’s Joint Committee on Interstate 73 meets today for the first time in hopes of reviving the project — and finding a way to pay for it. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

The committee meets today at New College Institute in Martinsville starting at 10:00 am.

Montgomery CountyFrom Governor McAuliffe’s office: Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Wolverine Advanced Materials (Wolverine) will invest $10.625 million to expand its specialty rubber coated materials manufacturing operation in Montgomery County. The company produces high-performance materials used in automotive and industrial noise reduction for brake and sealing applications. Virginia successfully competed against China, Florida and Illinois for the project, which will create 93 new jobs.

(Continue reading for the rest of the news release.)

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Vinton police hope store surveillance photos will help them find a man who they say stole lottery tickets from a convenience store. Police say it happened a week ago Friday when a man walked into the Stop Inn on Gus Nicks Boulevard and helped himself to lottery tickets. There is no information released on how many tickets were taken. Vinton Police say the car pictured in the photo at right is the one he was driving.They ask anyone who can help identify the man pictured to call them at (540) 983-0617.

Ardaugh GroupOne of the Roanoke Valley’s newest employers is doing all it can to make millions of cans each day. The Ardagh Group cut the ceremonial ribbon yesterday at its northeast Roanoke County plant. The company makes food and beverage containers, and it spent close to $100 million to build a robotic, fully-automated production line. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.