Evan Jones
Howard Hall – Roanoke Co. Photo
Roanoke County officials say extensive command experience and recognized expertise in what’s called “data-driven policing” are two big reasons they chose Howard Hall as the next Chief of Police. Hall spent 25 years with the Baltimore County, Maryland Police Department. He will be sworn in as Roanoke County’s third-ever chief August 13th. Hall spoke with WFIR’s Evan Jones.
(Continue reading for the full Roanoke County News Release)
Classes resume in Roanoke County schools August 21st — four weeks from today — and it seems certain Cave Spring Middle School students will be able to start the year in their brand-new building. The contractor will hand over possession of the building a week from Friday. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the latest.
Roanoke can lay claim to a new distinction, named one of the ten best places for people 50 and older to live on $100 a day. AARP’s magazine based its rankings on quality-of-life considerations ranging from weather to cultural and outdoor attractions to quality of medical care.WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here to see the full AARP magazine article
A contract has been awarded to improve the Elm Avenue interchange in downtown Roanoke. The work is set to begin in the middle of next year and take about two years to complete. Workers will add more exit lanes off Interstate 581 and US 220 and and widen the Elm Avenue bridge. The project will cost $20.4 million.
Click here to see a VDOT’s preliminary project plan.
(Continue reading for the full news release.)
Mayor David Bowers
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers delivers the annual “State of the City address this morning, one loaded with plenty of optimism for the city’s future — and a much larger city center. Bowers says this is no longer some distant vision, not with much of the former Victory Stadium area now rezoned for development, and not with the Valley View interchange now scheduled for completion, allowing development across I-581. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The U.S. Forest Service says crews will need at least several more weeks to re-open all trails, roads and recreation areas. It is the result of that big windstorm almost three weeks ago. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
Click here for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest updated storm damage reports.
Election day is still almost four months away, but you can plan now on a steady bombardment of political robocalls between now and early November. It is thanks mainly to Virginia’s new-found role as a key battleground state. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for the “Stop Political Robocalls” web site.
The Salem Fair experienced a decline in attendance this year. Fair officials say attendance was between 260,000 and 265,000, about 15% percent below last year’s number. Extreme heat, storms and people’s lack of spending money are cited as major factors in the attendance decrease. More from WFIR’s Bob Clark.
Two announced Republican candidates for governor both disagree with Governor McDonnell on whether to expand Medicaid in Virginia under President Obama’s health care overhaul law. McDonnell says it is too early to say whether the state should opt out of implementing that provision of that law as the U.S. Supreme Court now permits. But Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli say they would opt out. Both spoke with WFIR’s Evan Jones.