Evan Jones
The Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op promises rapid results when it establishes an urban farm on city-owned property. City Council approved the sale and lease this week of 25 acres along Blue Hills Drive. Once the papers are signed, the first produce crops will be promptly planted. The plan calls for a farm with everything from free-range chickens and produce to fruit trees.
Click here for the farm’s web site. Its official name will be “Heritage Point”.
The Romney-Ryan campaign keeps coming back to Virginia. Today was Paul Ryan’s turn with two campaign appearances, one of them in Lynchburg. It’s Mitt Romney’s turn in the state tomorrow, where rallies are scheduled in Hampton Roads and northern Virginia. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, Ryan’s Lynchburg appearance may offer a hint on what the campaign expects at tonight’s presidential debate.
Roanoke City planners take the next step tonight in preparing for future development of the land across Interstate 581 from Valley View Mall. Access to that land will be possible once the Valley View interchange is completed in 2015. The property is called Evans Spring, and the question now is how should it be used. The meeting is at William Fleming High School, starting at 6:30. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Click here for the Roanoke City Evans Spring planning web site
Voter registrars report busy offices today — the last day to register in time for the November election — or change information like a new address. You have until offices close today to do so in person. If you register by mail, it must be postmarked today.WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for voter registration information from the Virginia Board of Elections.
Chief Chris Perkins
Roanoke Police Chief Chris Perkins is starting his third year as the city’s top law enforcement officer; his two-year anniversary came over the weekend. One his main goals remains bringing more diversity to the force, and the chief believes he has found a successful way to accomplish that with just one change in hiring practice. The story from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney returned to Virginia today — his second campaign appearance in the state this week — and he took aim at Vice President Joe Biden’s comments on Libya in last night’s debate. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
In his Richmond campaign speech, Romney did not join other Republicans who have been critical of Biden’s frequent interruptions and facial expressions during the debate.
Senate candidates Tim Kaine and George Allen both brought their campaigns to the same Roanoke location yesterday within minutes of each other. The subject was economic development — and coal remains a burning subject. Allen blasted what he called the government’s “assault on coal” through regulations. Kaine say coal’s recent decline is more the result of competition from low-cost natural gas. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
First Lady Michelle Obama took to Roanoke radio today in efforts to rally voter support for her husband. The first lady spoke on “The ViBE”, a station with many younger and minority listeners in Roanoke and Lynchburg. Her appearance came four days before Virginia’s voter registration deadline. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Here is part one of her radio appearance:
Here is part two:
Close to 500 Virginia schools are now under state directives to develop and implement improvement plans in efforts to narrow “achievement gaps”. More than two dozen schools in our listening area are included in those directives, aimed at schools that fell short of federal annual measurable objectives in reading and math. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for full information from the Virginia Department of Education, including lists of all schools covered under these directives.
