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Besnik Pula (VT photo)
It’s not clear yet whether President-elect Trump’s policies toward Russia will mirror some his campaign comments, but a Virginia Tech political science professor says Russia’s leaders would no doubt be happy if he does. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia state lawmakers are forming a new panel to monitor changes in federal health care policy under President-elect Donald Trump.The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that House Appropriations Chairman S. Chris Jones and Senate Finance Co-Chairman Emmett W. Hanger Jr. are creating the panel to help lawmakers prepare for the changes to, or the repeal of, the Affordable Care Act.Trump and the Republican-led Congress are pledging to repeal and replace federal health care law, though Trump has indicated that he wants to keep some parts of the law.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine says he’ll seek re-election in 2018 but is ruling out a presidential bid in 2020. The former Democratic vice presidential nominee said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday that his decision is final. “Period. Full stop,” Kaine said. The 58-year-old said he wants to serve in the upper chamber for as long as he’s healthy and the voters of Virginia, and his wife, allow him. Kaine said that as a member of the Senate’s Democratic minority he will work as a key check on President-elect Donald Trump. Kaine says he will continue his work to expand Congress’ role in voting for and declaring war.
Appalachian Power employees are spending time at local elementary schools on “Read to Me Day.” At Glenvar Elementary School in Roanoke County this morning dozens of attentive kindergartners listened to APCO’s Jesse Corl read “Gingerbread Man – Loose in the School” to them. Afterwards Glenvar students got to “Skype” with the book’s author, Laura Murray. The Washington D.C. resident told the youngsters “there are no bad ideas for a book out there.”
A scavenger hunt for all ages starts and ends at the Mill Mountain Zoo. WFIR’s Ian Price has details:
A local spay and neuter clinic is set to mark a milestone today — its 50,000th procedure in the sixth year since it opened. Mountain View Humane operates two clinics in the Roanoke and New River Valleys.More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Stephon Blackmon-McClane
From the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office: On Tuesday November 15th, 2016 at approximately 10:50pm the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a burglary at the Speedy I81 convenient store located at the exit 162 off interstate 81. A witness passing by the store reported they observed a male subject take off running and carrying multiple items. Sheriff’s Office personnel arrived within minutes and discovered entry had been made into the store. A perimeter was established and a K-9 officer from the Sheriff’s Office was called in. The subject was tracked using the K-9 and arrested without further incident. The suspect was identified as Stephon Blackmon-McClane of Statesville North Carolina. He is currently being held at the Botetourt County jail without bond for charges of breaking and entering as well as grand larceny.
A new “Growing Goodwill Pavilion” was dedicated this morning at the 3-acre community garden on Salem Turnpike at 24th Street. A grant from Foundation for Roanoke Valley helped pay for the $20,000 pavilion. Several Eagle Scouts built new walking paths through the garden area to the shelter. Goodwill Industries President and CEO Bruce Phipps envisions the outdoor shelter as hub for activity in northwest Roanoke City: