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Rep. Bob Goodlatte
Congressman Bob Goodlatte easily won re-election to a 13th term in the 6th District congressional seat, and he says repealing “Obamacare” is high on his agenda. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.
Goodlatte’s two-to-one victory was not unexpected in a district that is typically heavily Republican. Democrat challenger Kai Degner tells us his last-minute candidacy did well under the circumstances:
Degner said he hopes that Goodlatte is less beholden to the GOP “party establishment” and is more willing to be a problem solver when he returns to Congress.
Kionte Spencer
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against the Roanoke County Police Officers involved in the fatal shooting of Kionte Spencer on February 26, 2016. Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division met with members of Spencer’s family today to inform them of this decision. Federal authorities conducted an independent review of all the information obtained during the state’s investigation. This information included dashboard cameras from the officers’ patrol cars, statements by the officers and independent eyewitnesses, audio recordings, and other physical evidence.
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From the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office: Botetourt County Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle reports that Law Enforcement and K-9 detection teams have searched Lord Botetourt High School and the search revealed nothing suspicious. Students are being allowed to return into the building and the investigation of the threat is continuing.
Roanoke Fire-EMS photo
From Roanoke City Fire-EMS: On November 2, 2016, Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to a fire in the 3400 block of Shenandoah Ave. The call was received in the E-911 Center at approximately 10:43pm and was under control at 12:07am. When crews arrived they found heavy smoke in the area of the fire and found a two story house with smoke pouring from the eaves. Firefighters entered the house and performed a search and began to extinguish the fire that was found on the first floor. The fire had extended into the second floor. No one was in the home when the fire started. No one was injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time and the damage estimates are approximately $45,000.
From State Police: Virginia State Police are investigating a crash that injured a Henry County Deputy Sheriff Wednesday evening (Nov. 2). Virginia State Police and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to a call of a vehicle crash on Route 174/Kings Mountain Road. When the trooper arrived, he found a vehicle had collided with a deer. The initial report for the crash indicated the driver was injured and rescue was dispatched to the scene. As the trooper and two Henry County sheriff’s deputies were clearing the roadway of debris from the damaged vehicle, one of the responding volunteer firefighters pulled up to the scene. The two deputies were standing on the shoulder when the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer pulled onto the same shoulder and struck Deputy Corey Waddell. Deputy Waddell rolled up onto the hood of the SUV and was then thrown off, striking the guardrail.
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Salem City Council Press Release: City Council made James L. Chisom Salem’s newest council member during a specially called meeting this afternoon at City Hall. Chisom will fill the position that was vacated by Vice Mayor John Givens on October 24. Chisom will now serve out the remainder of that term, which expires on June 30, 2018. Mayor Randy Foley and his fellow Council members Jane Johnson, Bill Jones and James Martin considered several candidates before selecting Chisom during the closed session portion of today’s meeting Continue reading
UPDATE: Roanoke County police have arrested Heather Hartberger, 41, of Vinton, VA and charged her with Grand Larceny and File False Police Report. These charges stem from an Armed Robbery complaint made by Hartberger on the morning of 11/02/2016, claiming to have been robbed at gun point. During the course of detective interviews with Hartberger, she confessed to stealing the money herself and fabricating her original complaint. Hartberger is being held at the Roanoke County/ Salem Jail.
From Roanoke County Police: November 2, 2016 – Roanoke County Police responded just before 7:00 a.m. Wednesday to a reported robbery in the 6400 block of Williamson Road. An employee arriving to work entered the business and an armed male subject entered the same door shortly thereafter. The subject took an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register and fled. The employee was not injured. Police continue to investigate. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call 9-1-1.
UPDATED 11:45 am Wednesday from Christiansburg Police — After further discussions this morning with the 13-year-old girl who reported an object in her Halloween candy, Christiansburg Police have determined a false report was made. The candy was not altered by a third party. We have no additional information to release at this time.
ORIGINAL RELEASE: Christiansburg Police received a report on Tuesday night in reference to a 13-year-old girl who found what appeared to be a needle in a piece of Laffy Taffy candy she obtained during trick-or-treating on Monday. The girl’s parents called police, and an officer responded to their Christiansburg home on Tuesday night and confiscated the candy. The child did bite into the candy — which had been wrapped in Laffy Taffy packaging — and was stuck by what appeared to be a needle. Christiansburg Police have encouraged the parents to seek medical attention for the girl. The candy, packaging and object will be sent for analysis. The child went trick-or-treating on Monday in neighborhoods behind Christiansburg High School. Christiansburg Police are urging parents to examine their children’s candy before consumption.
From State Police: Virginia State Police Trooper W.G. Rorrer is investigating an incident involving a Franklin County student being struck by a vehicle early Wednesday morning (Nov. 2). Trooper Rorrer was called to the scene at 7:19 a.m. The incident occurred in the 8300 block of Grassy Hill Road in Boones Mill. A Franklin County school bus had just stopped in the southbound lane of Grassy Hill Road to pick up a 13-year-old female passenger. A 2005 Mitsubishi Mirage traveling north on Grassy Hill Road failed to stop for the bus, continued past it and struck the girl as she ran across the road to board the waiting bus. The 13-year-old suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The driver of the Mitsubishi, Marla K. Kesauver, 19, of Rocky Mount, Va., was not injured in the crash. She was charged for passing a stopped school bus. The bus did have its lights flashing at the time of the stop. There was also heavy fog in the area at the time of the crash.