Drought on the brink of becoming something just about everyone notices
Drought starts getting real to a lot more people when officials start asking them to conserve water. That isn’t the case everywhere across Cardinal News’ Southwest and Southside Virginia coverage area, at least yet, and there are no mandatory water restrictions anywhere. But last week, Bedford Water issued a statement
Spongy moth: George Washington and Jefferson forests battle winged invader
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – The spongy moth may seem harmless on the outside, but its presence causes destruction across Southwest Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. They’re an invasive and non-native species that feed on leaves, damaging and killing trees in the George Washington and Jefferson and Cherokee national forest
Operation Combined Resolve leads to more than 150 arrests, nearly $2 million in drugs...
ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies announced the results of a month-long crime reduction effort Wednesday, highlighting more than 150 arrests, hundreds of warrants served and nearly $2 million worth of drugs seized across the Roanoke Valley. Operation Combined Resolve brought togeth
Natural burial ground offers greener option in Southwest Virginia
BOONES MILL, Va. (WDBJ) - A natural cemetery in Southwest Virginia is offering families a greener burial option. Forest Rest, located along the edge of Mountain View Memorial Park in Boones Mill, is certified as the only hybrid cemetery in Virginia. It is the only natural burial option between Raleigh and Harrisonburg.
Virginia’s first adult high school in Roanoke shapes state’s workforce
ROANOKE, Va. – Virginia’s Secretary of Labor visited The Excel Center in Roanoke to get a firsthand look at how the state’s first adult high school is helping shape Virginia’s workforce. The school, operated by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, serves adults 18 and older through an accelerated diploma program and off
Search underway for missing Missouri woman in Bedford
A search is underway for a missing Missouri woman who was last heard from in May while she was believed to be staying at a hotel in the Town of Bedford, according to the Bedford Police Department. Rita Priyadarshani Francis, 58, is from Fenton, Missouri and has no known ties...
Wine/beer garden and tavern in Moneta to expand
Owners of a wine and beer garden in Moneta are planning to build an additional outdoor stage and green space area to hold additional activities and events. Land behind Harvest Moon Marketplace and Harvest Moon Wine & Beer Garden and Tavern on Moneta Road has recently been cleared, in part to make way for an expansion o
Police seek public’s help identifying two in connection to Roanoke shooting on Panorama Ave.
ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The Roanoke Police department is asking for the public’s help in identify two persons of interest in connection to a shooting from Wednesday afternoon in northwest Roanoke. Police on June 9, 2026, responded to the 3800 block of Panorama Ave. to a report of a...
Weather Authority Alert Day issued for Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12
Some slight changes have happened terms of our severe risk. Heading into tomorrow, the level 2 of 5 risk has shifted more northward. This will mean that these areas will have a higher likelihood of having any storm cells that occur develop into severe ones. Friday on the other hand,...
Cold cases: Two 14-year-old friends from Roanoke, Virginia, have been missing since February 8,...
There are 371 missing children in Virginia, spanning from 1957 to 2026, who were reported to and listed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Angela Mae Rader is one of them.

















