Evan Jones
Statewide honors for a Roanoke Company that didn’t exist six years ago: the Small Business Administration has named four executives of Interactive Achievement as Virginia Small Business Persons of the Year. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more on a company that has quickly created a significant presence in Virginia public schools.
Interactive Achievement creates computer programs that help teachers assess student knowledge on a continuing basis. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more on how its “onTRAC” program works in school.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/03-16-onTRAC-Wrap-WEB.mp3|titles=03-16 onTRAC Wrap-WEB] Continue reading
Abortion opponents are holding daily vigils outside the Roanoke Planned Parenthood center for 40 days, hoping their prayers can lead some women considering abortions to change their minds. But Planned Parenthood says it is the wrong approach to reduce abortions. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for the 40 Days for Life web site.
Click here for Planned Parenthood’s Health Information and Services web site
Virginia tourism officials hope to make the best of higher gas prices and lure many cost-conscious travelers this year from heavily-populated nearby states. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Click here for the Virginia Tourism Corporation web site.
Salem school administrators face the prospect of four unpaid days next school year, the result of another expected net reduction in state funding. Superintendent Alan Seibert presented his $43.7 million budget proposal to the school board last night. It includes elimination of three positions through attrition — two teachers and one instructional assistant. And as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, it also includes furlough days.
Click here to see Superintendent Alan Seibert’s budget summary proposal as presented to the Salem School Board.
Fire officials say a Botetourt County wildfire burned about five acres today, but it now appears to be contained. The fire was first spotted during the noon hour on Purgatory Mountain just north of Buchanan. Fire crews were called in from Botetourt and Rockbridge Counties. Conditions are ripe right now for such fires to start and spread: trees have not yet greened, temperatures are well above normal, and it is breezy today. There is no word yet on what may have started the fire.
Our mild winter means an earlier emergence of more than flowers and tree blossoms. You can add insects to the list, including mosquitoes, but as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, that does not necessarily mean we will see or swat a lot more of them this summer.
Image courtesy: Donkey-Hotey
Democrats in the 9th Congressional District will choose their challenger to Morgan Griffith in just over two months, and so far, at least three people have formally expressed interest — including one from Floyd County. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/03-13-9th-District-Wrap1-WEB.mp3|titles=03-13 9th District Wrap1-WEB](Continue reading for more information on each of the three candidates seeking the Democrat party nomination.) Continue reading
Our spring-like week ahead is likely to have many people thinking about outdoor activities — and the City of Roanoke is already looking ahead to a major outdoor event this fall. It starts with a name change, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.
Click here for the GO OUTSIDE Festival web site.
The Roanoke Civic Center has a tough act to follow three weeks from now — the return of Cirque du Soleil. Last year’s performances were record setters: almost 20,000 tickets sold with gross receipts of $1.2 million. But Civic Center officials say the eight performances are selling very well. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Performances here begin March 28 and continue through April 1. Civic Center General Manager Robyn Schon says Cirque du Soleil has already booked time in Roanoke next year.
The Sierra Club is bringing a television ad campaign to Virginia in support of federal emissions standards for carbon dioxide. The club says it is a health issue for many people, but opponents like Congressman Morgan Griffith say it is more regulatory overreach that is bad for jobs and electric rates. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for more information on HR 10, which seeks to limit the EPA’s regulatory authority over greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide.