Evan Jones
The Romney campaign Roanoke office says a “printing error” led to a delay in getting yard signs in this part of Virginia. It’s unclear what the error might have been or how widespread an area is affected, but a campaign volunteer confirms the local office was out for several weeks. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
TSA photo
Screeners at Roanoke Regional Airport thought they saw a handgun going through the x-ray machine yesterday morning — and they were right. The Transportation Security Administration says the gun was packed inside a man’s carry-on baggage, and it was a loaded .38 caliber Ruger with six rounds. The TSA says airport officers were summoned, they confiscated the weapon, and they cited a Rocky Mount man on state weapons charges. His name is not being released. The man was ticketed for Atlanta.
(Continue reading for the full TSA news release.)
Virgil Goode
State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says Virgil Goode can remain on Virginia’s presidential ballot. The State Board of Elections asked Cuccinelli’s office more than two weeks ago to investigate alleged irregularities on Goode’s Constitution Party nominating petitions. Today, Cuccinelli announced they did find some irregularities — but nothing to prevent Goode before being certified for the Virginia ballot. Cuccinelli says some irregularities are common in such petitions which require thousands of signatures, and in this case, there were more than enough valid ones to qualify.
Autumn arrives Saturday morning, and even with temperatures Friday in the 80’s, we are likely to see the first frosts in a matter of weeks. Frosts and freezes typically arrive in October, and Roanoke’s first measurable snowfall normally comes in mid-December. WFIR’s Evan Jones reports on this autumn’s long-range weather outlook.
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has a built-in group of closest supporters to send on the road for his campaign — his five sons. And with Virginia likely to be critical in November, youngest son Craig made a campaign visit to Roanoke, speaking to about 50 supporters at Roanoke County Republican headquarters. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Police photo of Richard Henry Ames III
After a 14 hour manhunt that began Wednesday night in West Virginia, authorities have captured a man wanted for holding up a Roanoke bank this week. Police say Richard Henry Ames, III, 23, walked into SunTrust bank on Williamson Road around noon on Tuesday, demanded money and took off. Continue reading
Virginia Republicans point the finger straight at the White House for word this week that a major coal mine operator is closing three Virginia mines — and five more in two nearby states. Alpha Resources says it will eliminate 1,200 jobs companywide by early next year. The White House says stronger regulations on coal-burning power plants protect the lives and health of millions of Americans. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
Roanoke County Police say a man and woman are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in the southwest county. Police were called last night to the 5900 block of Sunnycrest Road, which is just off Bent Mountain Road near the s-curves now under reconstruction. Police say it appears the man shot the woman and then turned the gun on himself. Investigators are not yet releasing names.
(Continue reading for the full police news release.)
The Western Virginia Water Authority is replacing every water meter in its system — about 58,000 in all — and that explains the black plastic caps you may now see attached to water meter covers. They protect transmitters that are part of the new meters which wirelessly send close to real-time information on each customer’s water use. Officials say it will help them detect and repair leaks much more quickly. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
(Continue reading for a larger photo of the water meter cover and new plastic cap.)
A new poll shows President Obama still holding a 4% lead in Virginia — and Tim Kaine opening a lead in the Senate race. The Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News poll has the president leading Mitt Romney 50% to 46% in Virginia. It also shows Kaine now holding a 51% to 44% lead over George Allen for U.S. Senate. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
Click here for full poll results for Virginia and two other key swing states.