School Funding Task Force To Shape Future As McGuire Joins Sanchez-Jones On Sidelines
City leaders heard about school needs as a group meets privately to discuss the future of local education funding. There were numbers galore at a joint meeting of the Roanoke City Council and School Board on Monday, from school classroom square footage to enrollment totals to budget figures of millions of dollars.
Roanoke leaders respond following “Week Without Driving” Challenge
ROANOKE, Va. – This past week, people in Roanoke took on the “Week Without Driving” challenge. On Tuesday, community leaders gathered at the Melrose Library to hear feedback from people who participated. One of the event organizers says there are a number of factors that go into the decision not to drive.
New substance abuse treatment option to open in Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. – A new outpatient treatment facility aimed at helping those struggling with substance abuse is set to open next week on Peters Creek Road in Roanoke, marking another step forward in the city’s improving battle against drug addiction. The Helping Everyone Make Improvements (H.E.M.I.) House, situated...
Virginia Tech Plans To Sell Hotel Roanoke, Conference Center Courtyard Expansion Unclear
The university says the timing makes sense. The Virginia Tech Foundation plans to sell the Hotel Roanoke and is talking with city leaders on how best to seal a deal, the university confirmed Tuesday. “Given the hotel’s strength and success, along with operating and franchise agreements nearing renewal, the timing...
Check yourself before you wreck yourself
Since their invention, cellular devices have been a distraction behind the wheel. Use of devices while driving has long been a prominent topic of controversy, especially when it comes to teens. Teens texting while driving has become almost normalized, resulting in a surplus of adolescent car crashes. According to...
First Wings Etc. in Virginia opens
SALEM, Va. (WDBJ) - Wings Etc. is a family-friendly grill and pub offering dozens of wing flavors, burgers, salads, and more. The first location in Virginia opened in Salem September 23. Franchisees Dr. Justin and Christy Lindsey, both local to the Roanoke Valley, speak with 7@four about the response they...
Blue Ridge PBS survives federal funding crisis for now
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Blue Ridge PBS is still standing for now; however, the station has lost 30 percent of its annual budget following the cutting of federal funding. Yet so far it has managed to avoid layoffs or major program cuts. “We’re totally reliant right now on our contract with the state and the […]
Roanoke secures $7.1 million for flood prevention projects
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Roanoke City Council unanimously approved three flood mitigation projects within some of the city’s flood-prone areas. It received $7.1 million from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, as part of its Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund, to do them. Two grants involve...
Roanoke County stormwater project eases flooding but creates safety concerns for family
ROANOKE, Va. – It was a project intended to help ease flooding concerns in one Roanoke County neighborhood, but one family says it’s caused more problems. Crews began work this summer on Tully Drive, near Glen Cove Elementary School, to address flooding caused by an undersized pipe dating back to when the subdivision...
Roanoke City Council and School Board explore long-term solutions for rising student populations.
ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke City Public Schools officials are grappling with overcrowding and seeking long-term solutions as student populations continue to rise, particularly among younger age groups. During a joint meeting between the Roanoke City Council and School Board, officials discussed the district’s $317 million...
