Web Staff
Court Rosen
Gov. McAuliffe has named Roanoke Vice Mayor Court Rosen to the Commonwealth Transportation Board; filling an at-large seat. William Fralin already represents the Salem District. Rosen says this is the first time in recent memory there have been two CTB members from the Roanoke area. The Board decides which transportation projects will receive funding from the state. Rosen is one of six people named Thursday. In a statement, the governor said the six share his vision for the future of Virginia’s transportation system.
(Continue reading for the governor’s news release.) Continue reading
Don’t expect any quick and definitive answers on what caused that CSX train derailment in downtown Lynchburg yesterday. National Transportation Safety Board lead investigator Jim Southworth says the on-site investigation is only the first step. Southworth says a final determination and report may not be produced for 6 to 18 months. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has more.
State officials are still trying to figure out the environmental impact from the three oil-carrying tanker cars that fell into the James River. It’s unclear how much of the leaking oil burned and how much is headed downriver.
CSX Railroad says it has removed all the train cars that did not derail, and crews are working re-rail the remaining tanker cars. The train was hauling 105 tankers in all from Chicago to Yorktown, where CSX has an oil terminal.
UPDATED 2:25 pm — From Roanoke County Public Schools: An update to the bomb threat incident at William Byrd High School: The school has been cleared and all students have returned to class to resume the school day. At no point were any students or staff in any danger. Dismissal will take place as normally scheduled.
—
Earlier: the students and staff at William Byrd High School have been evacuated to William Byrd Middle School due to a bomb threat at the high school. Students and staff are safe and are not in danger. Police and emergency crews are investigating the threat. At this time, parents are asked NOT to come to WBHS in order to make room for investigators. Should this incident impact student dismissal this afternoon, we will communicate any updates later in the day.
From the Montgomery County Economic Development Department: TORC Robotics, LLC (TORC®), a leader in robotic autonomous vehicle solutions, today announced it will expand its corporate headquarters in Montgomery County. The company, currently located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, will be expanding into a new $2.5 million research and development facility in Phase V of Blacksburg Industrial Park. TORC anticipates creating eight new jobs through the expansion.
(Continue reading for the full news release.)
Morgan Griffith
(R-VA 9th District)
Ninth District Congressman Morgan Griffith has introduced a bill that would have the federal government legally allow states the right to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. Griffith says real doctors, real drug companies and real pharmacists should be able to use marijuana for legitimate medical reasons for real patients. He compares it to the way we currently use and regulate opioids. Griffith says he still opposes recreational legalization of marijuana.
Police say another “suspicious package” at Brookside Plaza did not contain anything dangerous. Authorities evacuated the Roanoke County shopping center after reports of a black duffle bag in the post office. The call came into police around 3:45 Tuesday afternoon and law enforcement closed the plaza and that portion of Williamson Road. They gave the “all clear” about three hours later. State Police detonated a piece of luggage on Saturday. It ended up only having clothing and personal items in it. There’s no word on what the gym bag contained.
It’s “a day of opportunity for veterans.” That’s how organizers describe today’s Veterans Only Regional Job fair at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem. Thirty potential employers ranging from Carilion to Virginia Tech will be on hand. This is the third year for the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is in the Auditorium (Building 5) at the Salem VAMC.
From the National Weather Service in Blacksburg:
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall will result in a potential for flash flooding today through Wednesday. A large and slow moving storm system will draw very moist air into the Appalachian region from the Gulf of Mexico through Wednesday. A series of upper level waves will pass across through Tuesday night. And then the passage of a cold front on Wednesday will result in two to three rounds of heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms for most of the region.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ An animal rights group is asking Virginia officials to investigate the Natural Bridge Zoo for exhibiting exotic animals without the required permit. Norfolk-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter Monday to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The letter alleges the zoo exhibits two Siberian lynxes, a Geoffroy’s cat and two fennec foxes without proper permits and provided false information. It’s asking that the zoo’s permits be revoked. The state agency says it has forwarded the complaint to the proper office for review. A phone message left for the zoo’s owner wasn’t immediately returned. According to its website, the privately owned zoo opened in 1972. Its owner previously had his federal zookeeper’s license suspended and was fined $10,000 for violating the Animal Welfare Act.
The four people hospitalized from an unknown, isolated illness that killed two individuals are now out of the hospital. The Virginia Department of Health reports that they were discharged on Sunday. Officials say there is still no indication of person-to-person transmission and no indication of any public health risk. They believe it is an isolated incident with a single-source exposure and have secured the private property locations where the exposure might have occurred.
(Virginia Department of Health news releases follow)