Lillian Boyd
From Press Release: The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the murder of Cordarious Immanuel Wright, age 27, of Rocky Mount, VA. On 12/8/2017 at approximately 10:00 PM, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call to the 200 block of Samuel Ln. in Rocky Mount on a report of a stabbing. Family members placed the call to 9-1-1. Witnesses advised that Amanda Marie Harper was the suspect and she had left the scene on foot. Deputies arrived within minutes and found Amanda Harper walking on Samuel Ln. Deputies and EMS units responded to the residence and found the victim, Cordarious Wright, inside the residence with a stab wound. Wright died at the scene from a stab wound to the chest. Based on evidence at the scene and witness statements, Harper was arrested and charged with second degree murder. Harper is currently being held in the Franklin County jail without bond. This is an ongoing investigation and additional information will be released when available. Anyone with additional information about this investigation is asked to call Investigations Sgt. Nolen at 540-483-6662.
From Virginia Department of Transportation: Snow showers continue to fall in various areas throughout southwest Virginia this morning creating the potential for slick spots on roadways and some snow covered secondary routes in the southern part of the region. Virginia Department of Transportation crews have been attending to roads throughout the night and will continue to monitor and address road conditions throughout the day. As of 5 a.m. this morning, drivers will find the interstates and most primary roads (those numbered 1-599) in minor to clear condition with isolated slick spots. Many secondary roads (those numbed 600 and above), particularly in Henry, Patrick, Floyd, Carroll and Montgomery counties, are in minor to moderate condition with icy patches present on roadways. Drivers should use extra caution this morning as roads that appear wet may be icy as re-freezing develops due to potential low temperatures and increasing wind throughout the day and weekend. Motorists should use caution, particularly on bridges, overpasses, shaded areas and elevated surfaces which may produce icy conditions first.Travelers are reminded that they can get real-time information on road conditions and traffic incidents on Virginia roads by using VDOT’s 511 free mobile app or the www.511Virginia.org website and phone system.
VDOT Customer Service Center is available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR- ROAD (1-800-367-7623) to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads.The Salem District includes the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski and Roanoke.
Roanoke Police are looking for a missing 26-year-old woman. A posting by The AWARE Foundation says Brandy Thomasson was last seen Monday at the Home Depot on Hershberger Road wearing a blue UVA hoodie with “Virginia” in orange letters, jeans and flip flops. She’s described as 5-foot-4, 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Thomasson has black flowers tattooed on her left ankle and the initials “A-T” on her left ring finger.
From AWARE Foundation: Brandy Leigh Thomasson is a Caucasian female. She is 26 years of age is. Brandy has brown hair and eyes. She is described as 5’4″ tall and 145 pounds. She was last seen wearing a blue hoodie with “Virginia” in orange letters as in UVA. She wore jeans and flipflops. Brandy may have a winter coat; it’s a heavy Carhart like coat. It is brown in color. She has several tattoos. Brandy has one on her lower back of stars and one on her right inner ankle. It is of all black flowers as a cover-up of a name. Brandy also has a jailhouse tattoo on her left ring finger with the initials “AT”. Her ears are pierced and she has a scar from a nose piercing. Brandy has a belly button piercing. But hasn’t been wearing it since she was pregnant.
Some Democrats called this bill a handout to gun lobbyists and manufacturers, while Republicans say it protect law abiding gun owners. WFIR’s Lillian Boyd has the latest on Second Amendment legislation.
Roanoke County police have determined the attempted abduction of a child at Chuck E. Cheese was a false alarm. A spokesperson says there was a “completely appropriate interaction between the child and a restaurant employee.” The employee offered to let the child use a ride for free, and the spokesperson says the child misinterpreted the offer and reported it to the mother.
UPDATE: Roanoke police say a suspect is in custody for a weekend shooting death. They say 45-year-old Byron Brandon of Roanoke was arrest today in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is charged with the Sunday murder of 37-year-old Tyrone Brown.
From Roanoke City Police: The victim of the homicide has been identified as Corey Tyrone Brown, age 37 of Roanoke, Va. The suspect has as been identified as Byron Lamont Brandon, age 45 of Roanoke, Va. Roanoke Police detectives obtained a warrant charging Brandon with second degree murder. Brandon was arrested on December 4, 2017 in Greensboro, N.C. by the Greensboro Police Department’s Violent Crime Apprehension Team. This investigation is on going.
Previously: Another shooting death in Roanoke. Officers responded to Lucerne Street Northwest early yesterday morning, where they found the body of a victim lying in the front yard of the home. Police have not yet named the victim, but a suspect has been identified. Last weekend 18-year-old Atlante McArthur shot to death in front of a home on Delaware Avenue.
From Roanoke Police: On December 3, 2017 at 6:20 am Roanoke Police were called to the 600 block of Lucerne Street NW to investigate a report of a gun shot wound. The individual was found lying in the yard of a residence and was pronounced dead at the scene. Evidence technicians collected potential physical evidence from the scene. The detectives interviewed witnesses. The body was taken to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy. The individual’s identity will be released after proper notifications have been made. The incident is a homicide investigation at this time. The suspect has been identified. Anyone with information can call the RPD tip line at 540-344-8500.
WFIR’s Lillian Boyd spoke to US Senator Tim Kaine this morning about the GOP tax bill sitting in the Senate, the latest sexual misconduct allegations against NBC anchor Matt Lauer, and President Donald Trump’s Pocahontas comments.
NEW YORK (AP) — NBC News has fired longtime “Today” show host Matt Lauer for “inappropriate sexual behavior,” making him the second morning television show personality to lose his job because of sexual misconduct charges in a week.
Lauer’s co-host Savannah Guthrie made the announcement at the top of Wednesday’s “Today” show. Last week, CBS News fired Charlie Rose after complaints from several women who worked for him.
NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said the network had received a complaint from a colleague on Monday night, and a review determined it was a clear violation of company standards. While it was the first complaint lodged against Lauer, Lack said in a memo to staff that “we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”
Lauer, 59, has hosted “Today” for two decades. When paired with Katie Couric, “Today” was the longtime ratings leader and was highly lucrative for NBC. It now runs second in the ratings to ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Many “Today” show viewers took out their anger for the unsightly firing of co-host Ann Curry on Lauer, sending the show plunging in the ratings. But NBC stuck with Lauer and the show had steadied with his pairing with Guthrie. The show runs for four hours, with Lauer and Guthrie hosting the first two.
He joins a lengthening list of media figures felled by sexual misconduct charges this year. Besides Rose, they include Lauer’s former NBC News colleague Mark Halperin, former Fox News prime-time host Bill O’Reilly and National Public Radio newsroom chief Michael Oreskes. The New York Times suspended White House correspondent Glenn Thrush last week.
Lack, in his memo, said that “we are deeply saddened by this turn of events. But we will face it together as a news organization – and do it in as transparent a manner as we can.”
“This is a sad day for us at the ‘Today’ show and NBC News,” Guthrie said when she repeated the news on the air at 7:30.
On Twitter Wednesday, President Donald Trump said “Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for ‘inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.’ But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News.”
Leigh Strelka is an attorney and partner at the firm Strelka Law Office with her husband Tommy Strelka in downtown Roanoke. She’s handled a wide range of employment related claims, including race, age, and disability discrimination — and sexual harassment. Leigh joins WFIR Reporter Lillian Boyd in the studio, alongside WFIR Anchor-Reporter Gene Marrano.
There have been a few controversial proposed options on where to send Cave Spring High School students during construction. Including Hidden Valley High and Tanglewood Mall. WFIR’s Lillian Boyd has the latest one which options leaders have it narrowed down to.