Evan Jones
Roanoke County is working to bring Explore Park back to life this year, devoting much of its initial attention to a pair of buildings in particular. The Mountain Union Church and Taubman Center are undergoing renovations to make them desirable locations for weddings, receptions, and other special events. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The Obama administration says it has reached an agreement with Virginia Military Institute to resolve sex-discrimination issues. The Education Department said Friday it found that female cadets were exposed to a sexually hostile environment at the Lexington, Virginia, state-supported military college. It said the school failed to provide for the “prompt and equitable” resolution of complaints alleging sexual harassment and sexual assault. It said the school failed to provide for the “prompt and equitable” resolution of complaints alleging sexual harassment and sexual assault.
In a statement posted on line, the institute disputes that but says cooperating and signing the agreement was in its best interest.
The department also said it negotiated revisions to VMI’s marriage and parenthood policy that became effective last month. It said VMI now allows cadets who become pregnant, or have a child, to continue their education.
(The Association Press contributed to this report.)
Two water authorities serving customers in three counties say a jointly owned and operated water treatment plant at Smith Mountain Lake should meet their needs for decades to come. They signed the papers this week to make it happen, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.
(Continue reading for the full news release.)
A Nelson County jury has found 48-year-old Randy Taylor guilty of abducting and killing 17-year-old Alexis Murphy last August. Jury members needed just over six hours of deliberations to reach their verdict. Prior to reaching their decision, jurors asked to review surveillance tapes from the Lovingston gas station where Taylor and Murphy were both seen August 3rd — the last time the teenage girl was seen alive. The video showed both leaving the station in their vehicles. Prosecutors said there was ample evidence linking Taylor to Alexis’ disappearance and death. Defense attorneys had argued that there was no evidence showing Taylor killed Alexis Murphy, mainly because no body was ever found. But jurors found him guilty on all counts.
You may encounter some overnight slowdowns for four nights on Interstate 581 at the Elm Avenue interchange as construction crews make some big changes. Right now, the right lane is closed in both directions, but workers will change that to left lane closures Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights. The new pattern will remain in place for the rest of the project, which is scheduled for completion in 2015. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for full VDOT information on the Elm Avenue interchange project.
Salem voters chose to keep incumbent City Council members in office. With all the votes in, Randy Foley led the way with 41%, following closely by John Givens with 39%. Challenger Maggie Newman finished a distant third with 20%. Foley was first elected to Salem City Council eight years ago, and he has served as the city’s mayor since 2008. Givens has been on City Council for 19 years, and Tuesday’s election gains him a sixth term in office.
Look for your postal carrier to leave a plastic bag at your mailbox this week with the hope you will help the region’s food bank — and everyone it serves. It’s called “Stamp Out Hunger”, and you are asked to place non-perishable food items in the plastic bag and leave it in or alongside your mailbox Saturday morning. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
It’s municipal election day in several area cities and towns, including Roanoke, Salem and Vinton. Voter registrars remind you to bring ID with you like a state-issued voter card, a drivers license or other government ID, or even a bank or utility statement will do. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more on the Roanoke Valley elections.
Click here for full State Board of Elections information on voter ID requirements for this election.
A major reconstruction project is getting underway at a highly-visible Roanoke landmark, and you will have no trouble witnessing much of the program. St. Andrew’s Catholic Church is more than a century old, and its steeples are deteriorating inside and out, so they’re rebuilding both this summer. The project will cost more than $2 million and should be complete by October. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here to see a webcam showing the reconstruction project.
Shippers, refiners and railroads are moving to replace older rail tankers with ones built to a higher safety standard, which experts say will reduce the number of spills and fires in derailments. But there is a big backlog of orders, and the Association of American Railroads says fewer than a quarter of oil tank cars on the rails right now meet that stronger standard. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.