Gene Marrano

Virginia Tech released more details about its planned “Innovation Campus” in Alexandria this morning, saying it will be part of a new mixed-used development in the National Landing area. The new remote 15-acre campus will focus on research and will develop talent for the Amazon “HQ-2” headquarters being built nearby and for other high-tech firms. Tech president Timothy Sands says students in Blacksburg are also in the mix.

(from VT news release) “I’m very excited to know that this site will position the Innovation Campus to attract a world-class faculty to prepare students for thinking big ideas and solving problems,” said Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA). “Virginia Tech knows how to build community and support innovation and economic growth. I’m confident that this campus will help meet the demands of our digital age.”

The first class of Innovation Campus master’s degree students will enroll in the fall of 2020 in existing space adjacent to where its new academic buildings will eventually be built. When complete in about 10 years, the campus will enroll 750 master’s candidates and hundreds of doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows.

WFIR News is now on Instragram! Look for in-the-field photos and videos, and a heads up on what we are working on in the news room, for the Roanoke Valley’s Morning News (weekdays 5-9) and afterwards at the top and bottom of the hour until 6pm.  It also alerts you to check the wfirnews.com website and Facebook page for the latest local, regional and state news. Follow WFIR on Instagram! Just look for the WFIR News logo.

David Radford

David Radford is one of two candidates in next Tuesday’s Republican “firehouse primary” for the Windsor Hills District seat on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. But Radford is already a board member – appointed to his seat after Joe McNamara left for the House of Delegates. Live in-studio this morning Radford said he voted FOR a self-storage business proposed for South Peak across from Tanglewood Mall – even if the Board as a whole voted it down. Radford faces off against RoxAnne Christley on Tuesday for the Windsor Hills seat nomination. Hear the complete in-studio conversation below:

Jon Laaser-Hokiesports.com photo

Virginia Tech Hokies football and basketball will once again be heard on WFIR, returning with “Tech Talk Live” on August 19th. UVA fans take note – Cavaliers football and basketball is staying with the Wheeler Broadcasting family – moving over to 97.7 FM “The Vibe.” Jon Laaser is Virginia Tech’s director of Broadcasting and the voice of the Hokies on radio:

Clark Palmer photos

16 West Marketplace on Church Avenue in Roanoke is harkening back to its roots as the former site of an S&W Cafeteria. It’s now home to the “Crafteria” with outdoor signage that recreates the old S&W sign. You can find handmade food and goods there as co-founder Mark Lynn Ferguson explained at a ribbon cutting this morning.  The new “makers market” features goods from more than 60 craftspeople; there’s also a community kitchen that can be rented out by food entrepreneurs.