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Roanoke County Public Schools will stream graduation ceremonies for friends and family to watch from home. This is the fifth straight year a live streaming will be provided. Live webcasts and replays of previous graduations can be accessed through the Roanoke County Public School website. WFIR Intern Reporter Alexis Manley has the story.
Click here for the RCPS graduations web site.
Jim Sears
file photo
Center in the Square President Barry Henderson is stepping down after less than six months on the job. Center in the Square says Jim Sears will return as President and General Manager. Sears offered no information on why Henderson left, but he said the six months away from the top job left him refreshed and ready to resume those duties. Sears had retired at the end of December after 20 years, but was still serving as a consultant for Center in the Square.
Twelve members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation are calling on Governor Terry McAuliffe to address what they say is a growing epidemic of heroin in Virginia. The senators and representatives, members of both parties, are asking the governor to assemble a statewide task force like the regional task force formed to combat gang violence. The lawmakers expressed serious concerns over the rapid spread of heroin use across the Commonwealth and its devastating impact on Virginia Communities.
wearevirginiaveterans.org
You can compete for a $10,000 hole-in-one contest and many other prizes while helping veterans in our region. WFIR Intern Reporter Alexis Manley has more on a golf tournament later this month.
Click here for full event information.
Sen. Mark Warner
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is holding a meeting in Richmond today to discuss rail safety. The conversation will focus on the status of proposed regulations and initiatives to improve the safety of transporting crude oil by rail in Virginia. It comes in the wake of a train derailment and fire in downtown Lynchburg on April 30. Scheduled participants include representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Lynchburg Fire Department and CSX.
After four years of construction, Virginia Tech recently opened a new research laboratory in Chennai, India. The center will conduct innovative research in energy harvesting using the sun, wind, waves, and even mechanical vibrations from passing trains. WFIR’s Kelsea Pieters has the story.
Nonprofit groups have turned to events like 5K runs in recent years to raise money … now we’ve got duck races and brave souls jumping off of rooftops. WFIR’s Gene Marrano explains:
Click here for more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia’s Over the Edge Event on Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31, 2014.
Click here for details on the Great Roanoke River Duck Race and Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 31, 2014. It benefits the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy and six other non-profit organizations in the Roanoke Valley.
Sen. Mark Warner
From Senator Mark Warner’s campaign office: On Saturday, May 31 at 12:30 PM, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner will join supporters, elected officials and community leaders from Roanoke to discuss his bipartisan approach to finding commonsense solutions that will strengthen the economy, create jobs in Virginia and reduce the burden of student debt. Senator Warner will highlight his record on behalf of the Commonwealth and how he will continue to work with both Republicans and Democrats to solve the problems we face as a nation. The event is the 10th stop on Sen. Warner’s “Working Together” tour.
WHO: U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner; Delegate Sam Rasoul, Roanoke City Council members Bill Bestpitch and Sherman Lea; Warner supporters
WHEN: Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 12:30 PM
WHERE: Century Plaza, 12 Church Ave SE, Roanoke, VA
Roanoke City officials gave an update yesterday on construction at the main library branch downtown … where a major renovation is underway. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has more: