News · Star City Briefing
Star City Briefing for Aug. 29, 2026
- Weather. No active alerts. Saturday sunny near 85. Patchy fog after 3 a.m. tonight. Sunday fog before 9 a.m., then mostly sunny near 91. Monday heat near 96, then upper 90s Tuesday and near 100 Wednesday. No school closings or delays. (NWS Blacksburg)
- 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 is free today at Explore Park, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit VBR lists stations, a trail hunt, and story time at the visitor center courtyard. (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge)
- I-81. Next blasting windows on the I-81 widening in Roanoke and Botetourt are Tuesday, Sept. 1, and Thursday, Sept. 3, 9 to 11 a.m. Exit 146 northbound and 150A/150B southbound ramps close during the blasts. (Roanoke County)
- 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)
- County. Roanoke County says Enterprise GIS will have intermittent outages from 7 p.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Saturday for planned service updates. (Roanoke County)
- 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. Taco Fest at Elmwood today sent leftover proceeds to Huddle Up Moms. Insect Fest was free at Explore Park. Bear Theatre's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof closes Sunday. (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. Saturday sunny near 85. Patchy fog after 3 a.m. tonight, low around 67. Sunday patchy fog before 9 a.m., then mostly sunny near 91. Monday sunny, high near 96; Tuesday near 98, Wednesday near 100. No school closings or delays reported. NWS Roanoke · WSLS forecast
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