Evan Jones
Gas prices may be down in recent months, but they are still at record highs for December — and that doesn’t bode well for what you will pay next year. The people at GasBuddy.com, which operates all those gas price-tracking web sites, say prices typically rise 93 cents a gallon from year-end lows to peak prices the following year. More on that from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Governor McDonnell will present his two-year budget proposal today to House and Senate money committees as the General Assembly prepares for next year’s session. Many lawmakers are also pre-filing legislation for consideration, and Delegate Greg Habeeb wants to see changes in convicted felons’ voting rights. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/12-19-Felon-Voting-Wrap1-WEB1.mp3|titles=12-19 Felon Voting Wrap1-WEB]
Continue reading
Brett Halsey (Roanoke Police Photo)
Roanoke police say they have arrested s suspect for assaulting a jogger this week on the Roanoke River Greenway along Wiley Drive. Police say 23-year-old Brett Halsey turned himself in this afternoon. Halsey is charged with assault and battery.
(Continue reading for the full Roanoke Police news release.)
Don Pullen
An arts exhibit celebrating a Roanoke-born jazz great opens this evening at the Jefferson Center. Don Pullen left Roanoke after high school and gained worldwide acclaim as a pianist and composer. Jefferson Center Executive Director Cyrus Pace says Pullen’s accomplishments are many and, to some extent, not fully appreciated in his home town.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/12-16-Pace-Bite-WEB.mp3|titles=12-16 Pace Bite-WEB]The center and Harrison Museum of African American Culture will jointly unveil the exhibit this evening. It includes paintings, photographs and a video documentary.The exhibit will conclude with a Don Pullen tribute concert at the Jefferson Center January 14th.
Click here for full exhibit and tribute concert information.
Roanoke Police locked down Westside Elementary School this morning after receiving a report of shots fired nearby, but it now appears the report was unfounded. There is no indication that any students or staff at Westside were ever in danger. The report came in by telephone, but once officers arrived in the area, they could not find any evidence to suggest any shots had in fact been fired in the Westside vicinity.
It’s the end of an era today in Roanoke County. The main library building will close its doors for at 6:00 pm today, ending a run that lasted more than four decades. But as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, it will remain a very building for at least one more week.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/12-16-LIbrary-Wrap1-WEB.mp3|titles=12-16 LIbrary Wrap1-WEB] Continue reading
Governor McDonnell is asking lawmakers to boost funding for state-supported higher education by more than 220 million dollars within three years. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, it is intended in part to reduce the cost of attending the state’s public colleges and universities.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/12-15-HIgher-Ed-Wrap-WEB.mp3|titles=12-15 HIgher Ed Wrap-WEB] Continue reading
Shenandoah Life policyholders vote today on the proposed sale of the insurer to a Texas-based company. It is the next step required to take the insurer out of a state receivership that is now almost three years old. State Corporation Commission Receivership Manager Don Beatty strongly recommends approval:
Shenandoah Life was unable to continue on its own after suffering steep stock losses tied to falling home prices. The meeting begins at 10:00 at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood. Two-thirds approval is needed, and the final vote results are expected within ten days.
Credit: Roanoke Police Department
Roanoke Police have released surveillance video of an armed robbery two nights ago at the 7-11 store on the 3600 block of Williamson Road. Police say the gunman walked in shortly after midnight and demanded money. The video shows the story clerk complying before the robber takes off with the cash.
Click here to see the surveillance video.
Traffic is likely to come to standstill at times later today on a busy southwest Roanoke County road. It’s part of that construction project on US 221, Bent Mountain Road, straightening and widening it as far as Cotton Hill Road. WFIR’s Evan Jones reports on the reason.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/12-14-221-Construction-Wrap-WEB.mp3|titles=12-14 221 Construction Wrap-WEB] Continue reading