Wasena businesses feel the pinch as bridge construction enters final stretch
ROANOKE, Va. – For nearly two years, many people headed to Roanoke’s Wasena neighborhood have had to find a different way to get there — and local businesses say they’ve paid the price. The work on the Wasena Bridge has transformed the busy, greenway-connected corridor into...
Roanoke Mayor talks police funding and crime analytics center staffing
ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The Roanoke Police Department is working to address a rise in homicides while expanding its crime-fighting technology, though funding questions remain around the city’s new crime analytics center. Roanoke has recorded seven murders so far this year, compared to nine for all of last year....
Multiple vehicle crash closes Franklin Road in Roanoke County, injuries reported
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)- The Roanoke County Police Department is currently working a multiple vehicle crash with injuries in the 7500 block of Franklin Road (Just south of Webb Road). According to The Roanoke County Police Department, both lanes southbound are currently closed. Virginia 511 says all north lanes and all...
Roanoke woman sentenced to eight years for pandemic relief fraud
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – A Roanoke woman who was behind a large-scale wire fraud scheme to steal from various pandemic relief programs was sentenced on March 11 to eight years in federal prison and ordered to pay over $1.8 million in compensation. Jaimeka Michelle Austin, 32, pled guilty in...
Three rabid animals diagnosed in Bedford and Campbell counties
BEDFORD/CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ/VDH Release) - The Central Virginia Health District has received confirmation of three rabid animals found between March 6 and March 9. The count includes a rabid raccoon on Crestview Drive in the Forest area of Bedford County and two rabid skunks in Campbell County, one on Suburban...
Roanoke’s Main Street Initiative Aims to Rebuild 11th Street — and Community Trust
For residents and business owners who have endured years of disinvestment, the program could change the street’s trajectory. Along Northwest Roanoke’s 11th Street, boarded-up windows and faded storefront signs tell the story of a corridor hollowed out by neglect. Over the three-block stretch, empty buildings...
Roanoke students offer free haircuts at Fralin Free Clinic
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)- Students at the Paul Mitchell School in Roanoke gave out free haircuts on Monday, March 10. Students set up shop at the Fralin Free Clinic on Tazewell Avenue. Eight students participated. And lots of free haircuts were given. “Giving back is just very important, said teacher Dujuwan...
15 secret gem towns in the Appalachian Mountains worth moving to
The Appalachian Mountains have long been celebrated for their sweeping natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and rich cultural heritage. Beyond the well-known cities, countless smaller towns...
Bedford family mourns loss of pets, home after Goodview Road fire
Alicia Witt was at her nursing job when a friend called with news no homeowner ever wants to hear. Her Bedford County house was on fire, and her two dogs were still trapped inside. The fire broke out the morning of March 3 in the 10000 block of Goodview Road....
No injuries reported after fire in Roanoke, firefighters say
ROANOKE, Va. (WSET) — The Roanoke FireEMS Department said no injuries were reported after a fire on Tuesday. Firefighters said at 3:41 p.m., crews were called by the E-911 Center to reports of a structure fire in the 1600 block of Dale Avenue SE. "Our team on Engine 6...
