Evan Jones
The ACLU is advising Virginia corrections officials to ignore federal detainer notices from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying they can result in unjustified imprisonment. Those detainers ask jailers to keep a person in custody for 48 hours beyond the time they would otherwise be released because ICE believes their legal status in the US may be in question. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, Roanoke area jail officials say they will honor ICE warrants, but not these detainer requests.
A young bald eagle that looked barely alive earlier this month will be returned to the wild later today. Workers at a landfill in Dublin found the eagle yearling about two weeks ago, and after rehabilitation at a wildlife hospital, the eagle looks good to go and will be released at Claytor Lake State Park. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for full information on this eagle’s recovery and return.
One of the largest stream restoration projects ever in Virginia is under way right now on the Maury River in Rockbridge County. They’re building a new river channel to re-route the Maury near Glasgow — about 2/5 of a mile. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, the goal is to stop riverbank erosion which deposits sediment on the river bottom and disrupts its natural ecosystem.
Completion of a new water line this month is welcome news in parts of Franklin County, and it brings the Roanoke Valley within five miles of having a third major water source: Smith Mountain Lake. But as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, for now at least, that’s as close as it gets.
Sometime next month, about one-third of all Virginia public schools will not earn full accreditation, the result of more rigorous SOL standards. Those schools will be classified as “Accredited with Warning”. State education officials say the tougher standards are intended to better prepare students for college or the workforce upon high school graduation, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.
Schools everywhere conduct emergency response drills, and now, they’re coming to public libraries, Roanoke County library officials say disruptive situations can arise in any public building, and library staffs should be as trained as anyone else to prepare. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
As the result of this drill, all Roanoke County library facilities are closed Friday until 1:00 pm.
Roanoke Police report a second robbery of a food delivery driver in recent weeks at an apartment complex between Wasena and Grandin Village. Police say two men confronted the driver yesterday afternoon on the 1500 block of Bluemont Avenue; one showed a knife, and they ran off with the food. It’s similar to the robbery of a pizza delivery driver on the same block in mid-July. Here is the full Roanoke Police news release:
On August 20, 2014 at 1:51 p.m. Roanoke Police were called to the 1500 block of Bluemont Avenue SW to investigate a report of a robbery. The victim, a food delivery driver, told officers he was attempting to deliver food when he was approached by two black males. One suspect brandished a knife and took the food. The victim was not hurt. The suspects ran away on foot. The victim told officers the suspects concealed their faces with bandanas. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Roanoke Valley Crime Line at 540-344-8500. Tips are anonymous and rewards are offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects involved.
Here is the Roanoke Police news release from July 17th:
On July 16, 2014 at approximately 11 p.m., Roanoke Police were dispatched to the 1500 block of Bluemont Avenue SW to investigate a report of a robbery. The victim, a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver, told officers that he arrived at the location about a short time earlier to deliver a pizza. Inside the breezeway of the location, the victim told officers that three suspects surrounded him as he was on his way to deliver the pizza.One of the suspects threatened the victim with a knife, demanding money and other items. The victim complied with the suspect’s demands and all three suspects left out of the back of the breezeway. The victim was not physically harmed.
Virginia Western Community College is announcing a new step today in efforts to boost its athletic program — and create a more full-college experience. The college is joinng the National Junior College Athletic Association. Right now, all Virginia Western sports are at the club level. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Courtesy Taser.com
Amid increasing nationwide calls for police departments to acquire body-mounted cameras, Salem Police have almost a year’s worth of experience using them. Police say when someone sees the camera, they’re often on their best behavior. The cameras can also help speed up the process of determining the truth when someone complains of police misconduct. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Courtesy Taser.com
The recent events in Ferguson, Missouri have led to more calls for increased police use of “body cameras”, small cameras that can record what an officer encounters — and how he or she responds. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, the City of Salem Police Department has about 30 for its patrol officers, but their use across the region is not widespread.