Evan Jones
A new Virginia voter ID law takes effect on Monday, although it will not be fully in place for another year. The ACLU says it will be keeping close eye on Virginia as it prepares to implement the law over the next 12 months. The law will require voters to present photo ID’s at the polls to cast their ballots starting in July of next year. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Advocates on both sides of the gay marriage debate agree yesterday’s Supreme Court decisions do not affect Virginia’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. Voters approved the ban in 2006, but both sides say that does not mean the debate is over now or any time soon. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Virginia environmentalists applaud President Obama’s announced intent to limit carbon dioxide emissions — especially from coal-fired power plants. But Congressman Morgan Griffith is among the coal industry supporters who say we’ll all pay more for electricity, and lost jobs are sure to follow. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
We are in the middle of our first lengthy hot and hazy spell of the year — the kind of weather most likely to lead to air quality alerts. So far, however, there are no signs that we are likely to see any such alerts in coming days. Experts at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality say cooler and wetter weather in recent weeks is one reason, but a longer-term reason is an overall improvement in air quality. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here to see the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s air quality monitor page.
Angela Nolen
The Franklin County kindergarten teacher charged with trying to hire a hit man to kill her former husband is scheduled to enter a plea Tuesday morning. The appearance for Angela Nolen is listed in on-line court records. The “hit man” turned out to be a state police undercover agent. Investigators say Nolen paid him $4,000 up front and promised another $4,000 when her former husband was dead. Nolen and a co-worker at Sontag Elementary were both arrested in February. Investigators allege Cathy Bennett attempted to procure the hit man.
Google Maps image of Franklin Road bridge
It hasn’t received much attention yet, but Roanoke is making plans to replace one of the largest bridges in the city — the bridge that carries Franklin Road over the Norfolk Southern tracks. The state has just granted Roanoke $1.8 million for a preliminary engineering study. Current plans call for a new bridge within four years. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Roanoke Public Works officials say they will need another week to wrap up the cleanup from last week’s destructive storm. Crews have been picking up about 40,000 tons of debris each day this week. As for normal bulk collection, those pickups should resume Monday, July 1st. The latest from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
More than 1,300 bicycle riders begin a six-day tour through our part of Virginia today — a boost for the region’s visibility and economy. It’s year 26 for the Bike Virginia Tour, and each year, organizers select one part of the state. This year, it’s the Lexington area and Roanoke Valley. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The Roanoke Valley Horse Show is making a rapid recovery from Wednesday’s damaging storm, but the memories of what happened won’t quickly disappear. Strong winds roared through the large tents that house the horses behind the Salem Civic Center, tearing one tent apart and bringing it down. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.