Across Virginia
Photo: Virginia DWR
Close to 500,000 fawns are born each year across Virginia, and this is the time you may encounter them on or along roadways. Experts say the young deer don’t really get how to deal with moving vehicles — and neither do older ones. Many newborn fawns become victims of predators like coyotes, bobcats or bears, but the many others that survive are now starting to move about with their mothers. When they come across roads and highways, it seems neither never really learn how to handle traffic encounters. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
The problem is always most pronounced during mating season in late fall, but Knox says the dangers of striking a deer are always present, mostly around dawn and dusk. Evan Jones, WFIR News.
UPDATE — ROADWAY NOW OPEN — HAZMAT ON SCENE CLEANING UP OIL ON THE SHOULDER*******
East bound Challenger Ave at Valley Gateway Blvd is currently blocked due to a traffic crash. There is a detour in place but drivers can expect delays in the area. Additional information may be released as it becomes available to include when the roadway is back open.
Your next DMV renewal notice may contain an opportunity to reduce the amount you pay, mainly if you own a fuel-efficient vehicle that doesn’t get a lot of miles. Virginia’s Highway Use Fee is aimed mainly for electric cars, hybrids and some other vehicles to support highway maintenance and construction in place of gas taxes. Until now, it has been a flat fee, but as of July 1st, you may have the option of applying for a reduction in that fee if a qualifying vehicle is driven less than 11,600 miles a year. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Click here for full DMV information on the Highway Use Fee “Mileage Choice Program”
State Senator David Suetterlein says Virginia’s new redistricting process is hardly perfect, but it is a big improvement over the past. Suetterlein successfully authored a bill changing the way it is done. State law now calls for independent commission to create new Congressional and General Assembly districts, and if it cannot agree, the Virginia Supreme Court oversees the process. The new House of Delegates and State Senate districts take effect after next year’s elections. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
A law passed two years ago will result in Virginia’s gas tax increasing on Friday. The tax is tied to the consumer price index, and that means this year, it will rise 7%, or about three cents a gallon. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
A VDOT contractor has been hit and killed in an accident on Interstate-81. Virginia State Police say 54-year-old Matthew Frazier, of Clifton Forge, VA exited a piece of construction equipment just after 2:30am this morning while that equipment was loaded on a trailer when Frazier was struck by a tractor-trailer. Frazier was wearing a traffic vest and died at the scene. Read full release below
Full Release:The Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal Hit and Run at the 142 mile marker, involving a VDOT contractor in the work zone.
The crash occurred at 2:38 a.m. as the worker exited a piece of construction equipment which was being loaded on a lowboy trailer and was struck by a tractor trailer. The tractor trailer continued northbound on Interstate 81.
The worker was identified as Matthew C. Frazier, 54, of Clifton Forge, Va. Mr. Frazier was wearing a traffic vest and died at the scene.
State Police are working to identify the tractor trailer from videos obtained from multiple construction vehicles at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
MGN
A tractor trailer crash this morning at mile marker 142 on I-81 in Roanoke County has caused all north lanes to be closed. All northbound traffic is being detoured onto Route 419 then onto Alt US-11 North/US-460 East then onto VA-117 then onto I-581 North, and back onto I-81.
On June 26, 2022 at approximately 12:05 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by City of Roanoke E-911 Center personnel of a person with a gunshot wound in the 100 block of Campbell Avenue SE. Responding officers located an adult male lying in a parking lot in the area with what appeared to be a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Details about what led to the shooting are limited at this time. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made regarding this incident. This remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
ESCONDIDO, Calif. (AP) — Sapporo U.S.A. has reached an agreement to acquire popular Southern California-based craft brewer Stone Brewing, the companies announced Friday.
Stone will continue to brew its beers and retain its branding, management and workforce while Sapporo produces Sapporo-branded beers for U.S. distribution at Stone’s breweries in Escondido, California and Richmond, Virginia, a press release said.
Sapporo intends to brew 360,000 barrels in the U.S. by the end of 2024, essentially doubling Stone Brewing’s current production.
The companies said the transaction is expected to close in August. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Stone Brewing was founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996 in San Marcos, California. Koch announced Friday in his blog that he will soon leave the company.
Under the deal, Stone Brewing will continue to operate its seven Tap Rooms and World Bistro & Gardens destinations.
Stone Brewing’s distribution business, Stone Distributing Co., is not part of the sale. It will become an independent company and continue current operations.
Operations of San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Co., acquired by Sapporo U.S.A. in 2017, will remain unchanged.