News · Star City Briefing
Star City Briefing for Aug. 29, 2026
- Weather. No active alerts. Overnight mostly cloudy, low around 65. Saturday patchy fog 7–8 a.m., then partly sunny near 85. Sunday mostly sunny near 90. Monday heat near 95. No school closings or delays. (NWS Blacksburg)
- 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. Salem VA Medical Center is running a veteran enrollment fair Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WFIR says bring a DD-214, photo ID, and insurance if you have them; same-day primary care is on offer. (WFIR)
- 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 is today at Elmwood, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Salem VA VetFest is 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Bear Theatre's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof closes Sunday. (City of Roanoke)
- 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. Overnight mostly cloudy, low around 65. Saturday patchy fog 7–8 a.m., then partly sunny near 85. Sunday mostly sunny near 90. Monday heat near 95. No school closings or delays reported. NWS Roanoke · WFXR forecast
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