Evan Jones
Roanoke City Schools now have a second gymnasium in use that’s basically built of a fabric-like plastic — not the usual bricks — and school officials appear sold on them. The first went up two years ago at Grandin Court Elementary, and the second was dedicated yesterday at Preston Park Elementary. School officials say they are cheaper to build and operate than the normal brick school gyms. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
(Continue reading for larger-size photos of the new Preston Park gymnasium.)
The busy highway between Roanoke and Bedford is about to return to normal — crews expect to re-open the eastbound lanes today just east of Montvale. Those lanes have been closed since a tanker truck overturned on the well-known eastbound S-curves on May 28th, spilling almost 7,000 gallons of fuel. Westbound drivers will need another day or two of patience: crews need to remove the traffic controls that have guided one lane in each direction since the crash.
Close to a dozen public and private agencies are coordinating a “Prescription Drug Take-Back Day” on Saturday. It lets you safely dispose of unwanted or expired medications. Organizers say similar programs in recent years have collected more than 3,600 pounds of medication no longer needed. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
Click here for times and locations.
Roanoke School Superintendent Rita Bishop promises much different results this coming year at William Fleming High School, this after Fleming failed to receive full state accreditation. Instead, it is “accredited with warning”. Bishop says the new leadership team there will make a noticeable difference in student achievement. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The State Department of Education says all Roanoke County and Salem City schools have received full accreditation for the current school year. In Roanoke City, all schools except William Fleming High School have full accreditation: Fleming is “Accredited with warning”. Roanoke City school officials say Fleming did not meet state standards in mathematics, social studies, and its graduation rate. Five schools in Bedford County also fall short of full accreditation: Bedford Middle, Body Camp Elementary, Staunton River High, Staunton River Middle, and Stewartsville Elementary are all accredited with warning.
Click here to view full Department of Education school-by-school report cards.
Click here to read the Virginia Department of Education news release.
Cox Communications wants to get the word out to Roanoke area non-profit agencies: it’s ready to award $5,000 and $10,000 grants. Cox Charities focuses the awards on schools or non-profits serving children in Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Vinton. The deadline for initial applications is October 12th.
Click here for full Cox Charities grant information.
Job prospects and the cost of college tuition and student loans appear to be high on the list of many students’ election concerns this year. With the C-SPAN bus tour in Roanoke Tuesday to hear what college students think is important in the presidential election, we decided to take our own small sample on the Hollins University campus. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
C-SPAN is trying to reach college-age Virginians in ways well beyond its traditional government affairs TV channels. C-SPAN started a four-day college bus tour today at Hollins University and Virginia Western, in part to make students aware it also provides information through social media and electronic devices. The channel is also asking students to share their thoughts on campaign issues, instantly uploaded to the web. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Roanoke County Supervisors once again take up invocations at public meetings later today, with no indication where the board might go from here or when a final decision might come. The question appears to be whether supervisors should approve invocation restrictions on references to specific religious figures like Jesus Christ — or face likely legal action if they do not. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the latest.
Real estate magnate Donald Trump drew an overflow crowd at Liberty University Monday, repeatedly criticizing President Obama’s handling of the economy, foreign relations, and more. Trump addressed the university’s convocation after receiving an honorary Doctorate of Business from Liberty. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.