Evan Jones
Roanoke’s renovated and remodeled Elmwood Park officially reopens tomorrow with a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Along with a new amphitheater, it features illuminated fountains, clearly-marked entrances and lots of new landscaping — 20,000 plants. The long-planned project cost about $7 million. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Left: new amphitheater and seating area. Right: Magnolia Alley with benches removed, new fountains. WFIR photos.
Federal-funded “navigators” are now at work in central and southwest Virginia to help people make sense of the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare” as it’s often called. They say they can help even with all the computer crashes on the enrollment site. “Enroll Virginia” is one of many federally-funded organizations providing information designed to help people make their choices. Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for full Enroll Virginia information.
Advance Auto Parts leaders say its latest pending purchase will make it the largest automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America — and reaffirms its place in Roanoke. But it is too early to tell how this might impact future employment levels here. Advance plans to purchase General Parts International for about $2 billion. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for the full Advance Auto Parts news release.
It’s a big day for Stop Hunger Now-Lynchburg, which celebrates the grand opening today of its new warehouse. Stop Hunger Now operates meal packaging facilities in 17 cities across the U.S., enabling church, school, civic and and other groups to not only provide food for schoolchildren in 64 under-developed countries, but to do so in a hands-on way by packaging the food themselves. WLNI/WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Two members of the Roanoke County School Board today endorsed Freeda Cathcart’s campaign for delegate as she seeks to unseat Chris Head. Jerry Canada and David Wymer praised Cathcart’s pledge to seek more state money for Roanoke County Schools. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Today is the deadline to register for next month’s election, and even as officials add some people to voter rolls, they’re checking to see if others do not belong there any more. Virginia election officials found about 57,000 names statewide that are also registered in at least one other state; now localities are trying to determine which should be removed from local rolls. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
WFIR photo
Roanoke Police say security will be increased the rest of the school week at all city elementary schools, this after the discovery of two apparent bullet holes today led to a lockdown at Hurt Park Elementary. Police say they are working to determine what exactly caused those holes and where there came from. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Virginia Tech is prepared to make college sports history — but not for another three years. The Hokies signed up today to play the University of Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, which can hold 160,000 people. The “Battle of Bristol” is scheduled for September 10, 2016, and it is expected to draw the largest college football crowd ever. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Stink bugs are back in some of the biggest numbers ever, and many are finding their way into homes. Experts say the bugs aren’t looking for our living spaces — they’re more interested in tighter spots to make it through the winter, like under siding or shingles. WLNI/WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
