Evan Jones
Heather Hodges
Six months after a Franklin County woman disappeared, Sheriff Bill Overton says he expects a criminal prosecution in the case. But he doesn’t know when, especially since no body has yet been found. 22-year-old Heather Hodges was last seen April 9th and reported missing two days later by her boyfriend. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the latest.
Roanoke County Supervisors are not yet changing invocations at public meetings, this as they consider possible long-term restrictions. In response to threats of legal action, they are considering guidelines that would prohibit reference to specific religious figures like Jesus Christ. But it seems clear they welcome Jesus’ name for now — He was mentioned twice in yesterday’s invocation that opened the supervisors’ meeting. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
A big employer in Franklin County is getting even bigger, and that means hundreds of new jobs on the way to Rocky Mount. Ply Gem Windows says a $9 million expansion will add 200 jobs in the next three years, bringing total employment there to 1,100. The expansion is made possible in part by state and local grants. Ply Gem makes windows and patio doors used in new housing construction. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
(Continue reading for the full Ply Gem news release.)
Leaders of the Taubman Museum of Art hope that offering free general admission to all visitors will lead to many more of those visitors — and more new donors. A new board of directors is personally committed to securing the Taubman’s financial footing; the hope is that more visitors will now contribute toward the museum’s ongoing operating costs. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The Taubman Museum of Art says its financial future is now secure, and as of today, general admission is free every day. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
(Continue reading for the full Taubman Museum of Art News Release.)
The first big step in restoring the former Virginian Railway station is now complete, and plans call for the work to be completed sometime next year. Phase one involved stabilizing the century-old building that was heavily damaged by fire in 2001 and replacing its roof. The second phase will restore the station building’s interior. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the latest.
Click here for full Virginian Railway station restoration information.
State health officials say close to 700 people may have received tainted injections at two area medical facilities, and one of those persons now confirmed dead as a result. The injections were administered for back pain between July and September, about 660 of them at Insight Imaging in Roanoke, the rest at the New River Valley Surgery Center in Christiansburg. Roanoke’s two main medical centers say as of Friday afternoon, they have treated or are treating about 80 cases believed connected to the tainted injections. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Click here for more information from the Virginia Department of Health.
Roanoke Regional Airport officials say they are communicating regularly with airlines in hopes of addressing common passenger concerns on price and service. The Airport commissioned a study of public perceptions, one that says while most people spoke well of the airport, airline services and fares are among the most frequent complaints. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
(Continue reading for the full airport news release.)
Analysts at the University of Virginia Center for Politics say Mitt Romney’s debate performance last night is certainly helpful to his campaign, but it does not provide any assurance of a major shift in voter preferences. Their research suggests past televised debates often do not produce significant changes. At the same time, even a modest change in this year’s tight race could benefit the Romney campaign. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Click here for the Center for Politics full post-debate analysis.
Virginia is on the road to converting its state vehicle fleet from gasoline and diesel fuel to natural gas and propane. It costs more up front, but state officials say it will save taxpayers plenty in the long run. With natural gas in particular so plentiful and comparatively inexpensive, it also puts state government on a road to energy independence from foreign oil-producing countries. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.