Evan Jones
Roanoke County Public Schools are taking a new step to help parents of special education students. Today, for the first time, their Parent Resource Center is using a state grant to hold a parent training program designed to help families learn more about options and resources available. About 15% of the county’s 14,000 students are enrolled in special education. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Rep. Bob Goodlatte
(Roanoke Co.-R)
goodlatte.house.gov
The House of Representatives has approved a permanent ban on taxing Internet access — with Roanoke Congressman Bob Goodlatte playing a key role in the process in its passage. Backers say the ban would continue spurring America’s digital economy and avoid more tax burdens on its citizens. Opponents say it could force some states to raise other taxes or cut services. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
U.S. News and World Report ranks Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital as fourth best across Virginia — among the 129 hospitals statewide. Factors in the magazine’s rankings include outcomes, patient safety and the hospital’s reputation among medical specialists. U.S. News and World Report says Carilion was among 24 Virginia hospitals meeting “standards for strong performance within the state.” Click here to see the Virginia rankings and methodology used to create them.
As the Outer Banks saw over the weekend, hurricane season is now here. Hurricanes have the potential to affect our region’s gas prices more than anything else in the coming months, depending on where they strike. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Click here to see the nation’s lowest average gas prices from GasBuddy.com.
Many communities will hold fireworks displays tonight, but before anything shoots into the sky, fire departments work with organizers in efforts to avoid any trouble on the ground. In Roanoke City, for instance, the department establishes safety zones for tonight’s program at River’s Edge. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Roanoke Mayor
David Bowers
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers calls it a “leave of absence”, stepping aside this week from his law practice of 35 years. Bowers says at age 62, it’s harder to get through the longer hours a private practice and public elective office frequently require. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, Bowers says his future plans are not yet clear, and he is not ruling out a return to his law practice.
It’s now state law: as of yesterday, you must present a valid photo ID whenever you vote in Virginia. Registrars are preparing to educate voters, and at least one in the Roanoke Valley is turning to animation and You Tube to get the word out. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here to see the video
This is the week that work is supposed to begin on moving the former Boones Mill rail depot — a first step in saving it from demolition. The plan is to transport it to nearby town-owned property, then restore it for likely use as a community center. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Restoring the Boones Mill N&W Railroad Station Facebook page
Town of Boones Mill
Click here for the Restoring the Boones Mill N&W Railroad Station Facebook page
Click here for the Town of Boones Mill’s depot web page, including information on how to ontribute