News · Star City Briefing
Star City Briefing for Sept. 1, 2026
- Weather. No active alerts. This afternoon mostly sunny and hot, high near 94; tonight mostly clear, low around 73. Wednesday 97 with heat index as high as 100; Thursday sunny and hot near 98; Friday sunny and hot near 97. No school closings or delays. (NWS Blacksburg)
- Shooting. Roanoke police say a person was shot Monday in the 1300 block of Orange Avenue NW. The victim was taken to Roanoke Memorial and is stable. On Tuesday they arrested Richard Eary, 30, on a malicious-wounding charge; he is held at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center. (WSLS)
- Fire. Roanoke County Fire and Rescue answered a house fire about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 10400 block of Fortune Ridge Road on Bent Mountain. WSLS says three people were taken to Roanoke Memorial with non-life-threatening injuries, one later flown to VCU. The fire marshal called it accidental unattended cooking on the kitchen stove, about $225,000 in damage; six people are displaced, and a dog and two cats escaped. (WSLS)
- Cove. Cardinal News puts Carvins Cove about 18.6 feet below full pond — voluntary conservation, still above the 1999 and 2002 drought tracks. Spring Hollow is taking more of the load; Google is contracted for 2 million gallons a day and now projects about 1.2 million with air cooling. (Cardinal News)
- Debate. Powers issues VA-9 debate challenge, Griffith noncommittal. (The Roanoke Times)
- Hospice. Roanoke-based Good Samaritan Hospice is buying the Bedford Hospice House Centra closed in April. WDBJ says a CMS freeze on new Medicare hospice enrollments, in effect since May 13 and set to lift in November, is blocking a reopen date. (WDBJ)
- I-81. Tuesday's I-81 blast is off because of equipment issues. Next windows are Wednesday, Sept. 2, and Thursday, Sept. 3, 9 to 11 a.m. Exit 146 northbound and 150A/150B southbound ramps close during the blasts. (Roanoke County)
- Holiday. Roanoke County offices, library branches, Circuit Court, and CORTRAN are closed Monday, Sept. 7. Trash skips that day and runs one day late the rest of the week. Green Ridge closes at 1 p.m.; Splash Valley and the Explore Park visitor center stay on holiday hours, and the McAfee Knob trailhead shuttle still runs. (Roanoke County)
- Wreck. Victim of fatal wreck identified as Blacksburg town employee. (The Roanoke Times)
- Suit. Grayson Cotes, 25, sued the city and Vice Mayor Terry McGuire in federal court for $12.2 million after council refused to let him deliver an invocation as a member of the Satanic Temple. WVTF says city officials did not comment. (WVTF)
- Shelter. WSLS says Rusty, an 8-year-old pit bull mix, has been at the Salem Animal Shelter since February and is listed as a hospice foster after a cancerous mass. The shelter says he may have one to two years left. (WSLS)
- QB. Ethan Grunkemeyer, a Penn State transfer who followed James Franklin to Blacksburg, will start at quarterback Saturday against VMI. Franklin said Monday he is preparing for the triple option. (WDBJ)
- Pantry. St. Francis House has watched USDA food drop from more than 8,000 pounds a month to below 3,000. Knights of Columbus and the Hibernians are collecting toward 1,500 pounds; the pantry wants peanut butter, canned meat, and canned fruit at 820 Campbell Ave. SW. (WSLS)
- Dignity. The Least of These wants corporate sponsors and volunteer waitstaff for Dining With Dignity on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. at Elmwood Park. WFIR says the outdoor meal is for unsheltered residents only, not a public ticketed dinner. (WFIR)
- Mural. Roanoke College posted a 60-foot Blue Ridge mural on the north side of Ayres Hall at College Avenue and Clay Street. Local artist Nicole Gray finished it Aug. 17, her first solo mural, from a concept by college designer James France. (Roanoke College)
- Grandin. The 1932 Grandin Theatre is adding subterranean performer space at the rear of the building: bathrooms, showers, laundry, and technician rooms, all ADA. WVTF says showtimes stay up; the foundation wants it done before year's end. (WVTF)
- Scam. The City Sheriff's Office says callers posing as deputies are hitting relatives of people just arrested and demanding bond money by Venmo, Cash App, or gift cards. At least one person has lost money. Deputies will not call to collect. (WDBJ)
- Campus. Virginia's biennial budget funds a new VTC medical school building in Roanoke, $13 million over two years for enrollment and in-state tuition help, $14 million for a Patient Research Center, and $250,000 to study a regional biomedical high school. (Virginia Business)
- Ballot. City of Roanoke's Nov. 3 election calendar is out. Early in-person voting starts Sept. 18 weekdays 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with weekend sessions in late October; Oct. 31 is the last early day. Absentee-mail and registration updates cut off Oct. 23; Valley Metro is fare-free on Election Day. (WSLS)
- Lights. Salem beat E.C. Glass 35-17 after a kickoff touchdown. WSLS says Jordan McCadden scored twice after halftime and Jayden Wood intercepted a tipped pass to close it. (WSLS)
- Rivalry. William Byrd rallied past Cave Spring 20-14 on Friday at Bogle Stadium. WSLS says Gray Matthews broke a 96-yard run after the Terriers were pinned inside their own 5. (WSLS)
- Bugs. Insect Fest ran free at Explore Park Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit VBR listed stations, a trail hunt, and story time at the visitor center courtyard. (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge)
- Franklin. Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney Bethany Harrison found no crime or FOIA violations by Board Chair Lorie Smith, Vice Chair Nick Mitchell, or Administrator Steven Sandy after an anonymous July complaint. (WDBJ)
- Solar. A circuit judge approved Franklin County's 35-acre Constitution Solar project in Henry after supervisors voted it down 5-1 in December. (WSLS)
- Lobby. Anna Guardipee of Salem, paralyzed in a 2019 construction-zone crash involving a semi, is pressing Capitol Hill with the Truck Safety Coalition for mandatory automatic emergency braking and speed limiters. Her friend Jennifer Burton died in the crash; WDBJ reports the driver got 10 months. (WDBJ)
- Drones. Virginia Tech opened a Counter-UAS test center at Kentland Farm in Blacksburg. WSLS reports Warner, Griffith, and President Sands were at Friday's ribbon cutting; the Army is a partner. (WSLS)
- Skate. City parks will pull the temporary skate ramps at Morningside after an inspection found rot and lifting. They came from old Wasena in 2024. (City of Roanoke)
- Lake. Smith Mountain Lake turns 60 with a 21+ sock hop Sept. 5, 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the SML YMCA in Moneta. Tickets in advance. (Smith Mountain Lake Association)
- Google. Botetourt County issued a land-disturbance permit so Google can start phased grading on a 312-acre Greenfield site. WDBJ reports wetlands stay intact, blasting is expected under state fire marshal rules, and construction noise is off-limits 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. (WDBJ)
- VetFest. WDBJ says Salem VA's first VetFest served more than 250 veterans Saturday, including more than 50 new enrollments. (WDBJ)
- Shows. The Exchange is packing fall: Poe speakeasy Sept. 10–12, Lettuce Oct. 1, Maggie Rose Oct. 8, Futurebirds Nov. 20. WFIR says they are already booking 2027. (WFIR)
- Hokies. James Franklin's first Virginia Tech game is Sept. 5 in Blacksburg against VMI, a series WFIR says has been dormant 42 years. (WFIR)
- Forum. Roanoke City Council candidates took questions on Flock cameras, the city budget, and school funding at a Greater Deyerle forum Thursday night. (The Roanoke Times)
- Arrest. Police charged Timothy Ralph Boyd, 58, with robbery after an incident Thursday in the 1700 block of Hershberger Road. WSLS reports LPR work led officers to a vehicle address where he was taken into custody; he is held at the Roanoke City Jail. (WSLS)
- Screens. Parents pressed the state board on classroom devices. Cardinal News says Roanoke County superintendent Jamie Soltis is auditing the laptop program and cutting screen time in K–2. (Cardinal News)
- Clinic. VIA Centers opened a Pediatric ABA clinic at 312 Whitwell Drive, next to its Roanoke Day School. Cardinal News said families were already enrolled. (WFXR)
- Crime. Mayor Cobb said downtown crime is down 50% this year. WDBJ reports the city is at nine homicides year-to-date, matching all of 2025. (WDBJ)
- Housing. The Least of These is renovating a Roanoke house it bought in October for affordable rent as people leave its motel program, WSLS reports. Renovation Alliance is helping; no finish date yet. (WSLS)
- Warehouse. The 378,720-square-foot Rowe Furniture warehouse in Elliston sold for $32 million on Aug. 21, WSLS reports. A Virginia family office bought it; Thalhimer arranged the deal. (WSLS)
- Salem. Salem Lions Wheels of Hope plans 125 bikes and safety gear for elementary students starting in 2026-27, WFXR reports. School staff pick the kids; stadium concession money is backing it. (WFXR)
- Schools. RCPS is restating stadium rules ahead of Friday football: clear bags, no outside food or drinks, no re-entry, kids with an adult — and cheer for your team without fouling the other side. (WDBJ)
- Crash. County police identified John Scritchfield, 69, as the pedestrian killed Aug. 20 near Colonial Avenue and Thompsons Lane. The driver stayed; the investigation continues. (Roanoke County)
- Weekend. Crash the Cove ran Sunday morning at Carvins Cove. Bear Theatre's last Cat on a Hot Tin Roof show was Sunday afternoon. Taco Fest proceeds at Elmwood went to Huddle Up Moms. (WDBJ)
- Giles. Giles County will stop using Flock Safety now and end the contract Oct. 16, a year early. WSLS reports one of the two cameras was stolen and thrown off a bridge. (WSLS)
Weather. NWS: no active alerts for Roanoke. This afternoon mostly sunny and hot, high near 94; tonight mostly clear, low around 73. Wednesday 97 with heat index as high as 100; Thursday sunny and hot near 98; Friday sunny and hot near 97. No school closings or delays reported. NWS Roanoke
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