Evan Jones
James Floyd IV
State Police are working to determine whether a convicted child sex offender interacted at all with children at a Roanoke day care center. Police an anonymous tip led them to the Shining Star Family Center where they found James Floyd IV using a computer. Floyd is on the state’s violent sex offender registry and is not permitted in day care centers. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
VDOT officials says once all the bills are in, they expect their snow removal spending this winter to total $350 million dollars, well over twice what was budgeted. As a result, VDOT is cutting back on some other maintenance spending and re-allocating $65 million in federal construction funds. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for the full VDOT news release. It includes a list of all Salem District construction projects included in the plan.
House Speaker
William J. Howell
(Facebook photo)
Republican leaders in Richmond call it blinding hypocrisy, accusing Democrats who opposed federal government shutdown threats last fall of an obvious about-face in threatening a state government shutdown come July. They have asked Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Warner to support their position and call for an end to state budget shutdown threats. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Virginia gas prices are pretty much where they were a year ago on average, and for the year so far, they’re almost 24 cents a gallon lower. Experts say its mostly the result of a domestic oil boom, and still lower pump prices may follow. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The Virginia Museum of Transportation is preparing to begin restoration of Norfolk and Western 611 next month, and as it does, another rail museum with similar experience advises to expect plenty of surprises. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga says you never know exactly what you will encounter until the process gets going. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
It is increasingly clear that Virginia’s budget impasse is going to be a long, drawn-out affair, with little apparent chance of any resolution until late June at the earliest. That’s opening the door for more outside groups to run broadcast ads either for or against Medicaid expansion in Virginia. Legislators have not yet set a date to return to Richmond and attempt to find a budget agreement. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Roanoke City photo
Roanoke City officials will cut the ribbon Saturday to officially open Countryside Park. It actually opened without fanfare or ceremony several months ago and has already proved very popular. It’s also the year’s final gathering for those who signed up for 100 miles of active, human powered travel over the winter. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Appomattox County Historical Society photo
The biggest year in half a century is now underway in Appomattox County: the countdown to the 150th anniversary of Lee’s surrender in 1865. This weekend, re-enactors will remember Sailor’s Creek. one of the Civil War’s final battles. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for full information on this weekend’s re-enactments
Star City Roller Girls photo
The Roanoke area’s Roller Derby team is preparing for another bout this weekend, and they promise an entertaining time with “a track full of women hitting each other”. The Star City Roller Girls host a 10-hour tournament Saturday at the Salem Civic Center, starting at 10:00 am. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, they say the days of staged outcomes are long gone, and Roller Derby today features the athleticism of the women who participate.
Click here for the Star City Roller Girls web site.
Roanoke County supervisors have turned aside an attempt by Al Bedrosian to reconsider last month’s vote holding property taxes where they are. Bedrosian wanted his colleagues to consider a tax cut, but the motion was defeated four to one. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.