Evan Jones
The debate over a new natural gas pipeline is likely to intensify in Roanoke County now that the Bent Mountain area is in the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s proposed path. The industry says pipelines are the safest way to transport energy sources, but opponents say they can be disruptive to homeowners and the environment. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more on the debate.
Timothy Sands
Virginia Tech formally installs President Timothy Sands into office this afternoon, a president who believes the university can expand its geographic reach and prominence. Sands says one way to achieve that it by better getting the word out on what Tech has to offer both on campus and in the workplace beyond. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Gas prices at some Roanoke Valley stations have fallen 15 cents a gallon or more in recent days, and experts say there’s more room left to go even lower — including the possibility of something not seen in decades: a “price war” among OPEC countries. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
UPDATED 2:00 pm — The lockdown is now lifted.
EARLIER: Bedford County Public Schools officials say Staunton River High School was placed on lockdown this morning after a “threatening message” was found inside. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office says the message was written on a bathroom wall. Major Ricky Gardner says School Resource Officers “are working with school officials to ensure the safety of the students and staff at the school. Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies along with the Virginia State Police are on the scene.”
(Continue reading for the full Sheriff’s office news release.)
Liberty University photo
Liberty University students now have a new way to discover the heavens, thanks to a new telescope that Liberty says is the largest in the region. It can automatically track objects across the night sky and is equipped with cameras to take digital images with enhanced detail that the human eye cannot see. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Hannah Graham
University of Virginia student Hannah Graham disappeared, and her parents today issued a statement expressing heartbreak that the person or persons who know where she is have not come forward with the information. Graham was last seen alive in the early morning hours of September 13th. There is a $100,000 reward for information that leads to finding her.
(Continue reading for the full statement from Hannah Graham’s parents.)
Hannah Graham
Today marks one full month since UVA student Hannah Graham disappeared in Charlottesville. As the search for her continues, experts say forensic evidence is likely to play a key role in efforts to link this case with several others in recent years. The latest from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Hannah Graham
A recently-created task force has until June to prepare and present recommendations to Governor McAuliffe on ways to create Virginia college campuses free from the threat of sexual violence. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, McAuliffe cited the disappearance of UVA student Hannah Graham Thursday when he addressed the first task force meeting.
Jesse Matthew, Jr.
Morgan Harrington
A Richmond television station reports another possible link between Jesse Matthew, Jr. and Morgan Harrington’s murder five years ago. WTVR cites sources confirming that Matthew was driving a Charlottesville taxicab the night Harrington disappeared, and police recently seized that cab from a farm. Matthew is charged with abducting Hannah Graham in Charlottesville almost four weeks ago, and police say there is a forensic link connecting Matthew with the Harrington case.
Click here to see the full WTVR report.