WATCH: Roanoke Fire-EMS holds graduation ceremony for recruits
Thursday was Graduation Day for 16 recruits officially joining the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department!. The graduation ceremony was held at 10 a.m., marking a significant milestone for the department, as this is the first class to graduate from the new state-of-the-art training center in the Riverdale area. The new facility...
Grown Here at Home: Jeter Farm hosting Truck & Tractor Pull June 28
BUCHANAN, Va. (WDBJ) - Get ready to be entertained by a lot of horsepower at The River Farm in Buchanan for the annual Truck & Tractor Pull hosted by Jeter Farm. The Jeters have been putting this event together for years and they say it just keeps getting better and better.
John Smiley, voice of Roanoke’s Greenway, is remembered
ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Nearly two weeks ago, Roanoke lost a beloved local musician and handyman. John Smiley, known as the ‘Urban Hobo’, died on Father’s Day at the age of 82. For years, people walking the Roanoke Greenway could hear the sounds of John Smiley’s music...
Downed Trees, Closed Roads After Sudden Flash Flooding in Southwest Virginia
Flash floods swept through parts of Southwest Virginia on Thursday, soaking communities from Radford to Botetourt County and leaving behind a mess city crews are still cleaning up. In Radford alone, more than 3.5 inches of rain fell in just one afternoon, overwhelming drains and creeks. The downpour forced several...
WATCH: Buchanan Community Carnival returns for 71st year
BUCHANAN, Va. – The first day of Buchanan’s Community Carnival wrapped up Thursday night. The annual event is back for its 71st year. There’s food, including their famous hand-cut fries, as well as rides, games, and a live band every night. “People come from all over and...
More Virginians made heat-related visits to the ER so far this year, compared to...
ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - We’ve dealt with extreme, scorching temperatures this week. So far this year, we’ve seen more heat-related emergency room visits compared to this same time last year. The Virginia Department of Health reports last summer more than 3,200 people here in the commonwealth visited emergency...
Rescue crews save home from collapsing in Bedford after intense rainfall
BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - Bedford County Special Operations Command saved a home from collapsing after intense rain on Thursday, June 26, according to rescue crews. Crews responded to a call of a ‘structural collapse’ in Bedford County caused by intense rainfall. They were able to save the...
10 students fell through a grate while on a tour at Virginia Tech in...
WRIC 8 News reported that 10 students from Washington County Public Schools were on a tour at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 when an accident occurred.
Bedford Police Department searching for suspects following wheel and tire theft from Berglund Ford
BEDFORD, Va. – The Bedford Police Department said they are currently searching for suspects following the theft of wheels and tires that occurred during the overnight hours of June 18. BPD said they responded to the Berglund Ford on June 19 for a larceny complaint. Upon investigation, officers found...
Roanoke, Vinton and Southwest Virginia prepare for Fourth of July celebrations
ROANOKE, Va. – Residents looking for ways to celebrate Independence Day can enjoy the annual Freedom Festival and Fireworks and the Four on the Fourth race at the Vinton War Memorial. On July 3, the Freedom Festival kicks off at 4 p.m. at River’s Edge Park with a lineup...