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Articles by Meredith Vance
Women's Soccer Season Wraps Up in Kalamazoo - University of Akron Athletics
Olivia Pilato scored the Zips' lone goal against Western Michigan. Photo by: Tony Davis Women's Soccer Season Wraps Up in Kalamazoo November 01 | Women's Soccer KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Akron women's soccer team wrapped up their season against Western Michigan, as they dropped to the MAC regular season champions, 4-1. The Broncos got their first goal just three minutes into the match and added another 13 minutes later to take a 2-0 advantage.
Federal Grant of $24.8 Million Will Train 2,000 Workers for Virginia’s 3D Manufacturing Hub
A federal grant of about $24.8 million will pay for new test equipment, training for 2,000 workers and an innovation grants contest in Southwest and Southside Virginia, Cardinal News reported. The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded $24,791,450 to the region's additive manufacturing tech hub. It is known as AM2, which stands for Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials.
Federal Grant Targets Older Appalachian Power Lines Around Lynchburg
Up to $50 million in federal money will go toward getting more electricity out of existing Appalachian Power transmission lines in western Virginia, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced Friday in Lynchburg, Cardinal News reported. The announcement comes days before state regulators begin hearings on the utility's latest request to raise rates. Wright spoke at an Appalachian Power (APCo) substation with U.S. Rep. John McGuire, R-Goochland County, and APCo President and COO Brian Abraham.
Patel Fields Liberty Students’ Questions on AI Crime at McGuire Roundtable
FBI Director Kash Patel told Liberty University students on Wednesday that partnerships and public awareness are the best defenses against online crime, WFXR reported. U.S. Rep. John McGuire, R-Va., who represents Virginia's 5th Congressional District, hosted the roundtable in Lynchburg. Patel appeared alongside local, state and federal law enforcement leaders, Liberty University said. It took place in the Alumni Ballroom of the Montview Student Union.
Soccer Drops 3-1 Decision to Western Michigan at Home
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios Soccer Drops 3-1 Decision to Western Michigan at Home 10/15/2026 7:00:00 PM | Soccer YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team fell to Western Michigan University, 3-1, at Scicluna Field Thursday, Oct. 15, as the Broncos scored three times to hand the Eagles their second consecutive home defeat.
Roanoke County Data Center Authority Is Freed From NDA but Keeps Clearview’s Owner Private
The Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority is no longer bound by a non-disclosure agreement with Clearview Dynamics, the company eyeing a data center at Wood Haven Technology Park in Roanoke County, WVTF reported Tuesday. News Director David Seidel of Radio IQ wrote that the authority still will not identify the company's corporate parent. The authority said the release came after it asked for one. WSLS 10 published the same statement Friday.
Pure Salmon Halts Work on Planned Russell-Tazewell Fish Farm
Pure Salmon's planned land-based fish farm in far Southwest Virginia is on hold, Cardinal News reported. A state lawmaker attributes the pause to federal tariffs and to fuel prices driven by instability in the Middle East. Del. Will Morefield, a Republican from Tazewell County who has long championed the project, said restarting now would add tens of millions of dollars in costs.
Soda Comes Off Virginia’s SNAP Shopping List on Nov. 1
Virginia SNAP customers will no longer be able to use their benefits on soda and other carbonated sweetened drinks starting Nov. 1, WSLS 10 reported, citing an announcement from the Virginia Department of Social Services. The restriction covers regular soda, diet soda, zero soda and carbonated energy drinks. It also applies to any other carbonated beverage with added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Three Juveniles Die When Stolen Car Fleeing Trooper Crashes on I-395 Ramp
Three juveniles died early Monday after a stolen car fleeing a Virginia State Police trooper crashed on an I-395 exit ramp in Shirlington, WFXR reported. A fourth occupant remains in the hospital. The crash happened at Exit 6, near Shirlington Road and Quaker Lane, at about 12:45 a.m. Police have not released the ages of the four juveniles who were in the car. How the pursuit unfolded State police said a trooper spotted the vehicle on Stevenson Avenue at South Walker Street in Alexandria.
Roanoke Woman Faces Six Federal Charges Over Pandemic Relief and Tax Fraud
A Roanoke woman accused of defrauding two federal pandemic relief programs and lying on her taxes was arraigned in federal court on September 16, according to WFXR. Jazmin Jennings, 38, was indicted September 3 on six counts covering false tax returns and fraudulent collection of COVID-19-era government funds, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia said.
Roanoke Crowd Presses Lt. Gov. Hashmi Over Dominion-NextEra Merger
More than 70 people packed Roanoke's Harrison Museum of African American Culture on Thursday night to question Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi about a proposed $67 billion merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy, according to WFXR. Dominion and Florida-based NextEra announced the all-stock deal in May, prompting Hashmi to launch a statewide Energy Costs Listening Tour. Roanoke was one of several stops.
Roanoke Council Approves Ethics Panel Amid Data Center Land Sale Fallout
Roanoke City Council voted Monday night to create a Professional Standards Committee, one day after Mayor Joe Cobb accused Vice Mayor Terry McGuire and Councilman Phazhon Nash of breaching the council's code of conduct, according to WSLS 10. The measure passed with McGuire opposed. He called it an example of selective outrage directed at him. The rift traces back to a land sale at Wood Haven Technology Park, property jointly owned by Roanoke City, Salem and Roanoke County.
Virginia Beach Fifth-Grader Receives Carnegie Medal for Ski Lift Rescue
A 10-year-old Virginia Beach student has received the Carnegie Medal, North America's top civilian honor for heroism, for saving a friend who fell off a chairlift at a Virginia ski resort last year. Governor Abigail Spanberger presented the medal to Major Metzger during a ceremony on September 16, according to WAVY. Metzger is a student at Virginia Beach Middle School. He earned the honor for keeping 6-year-old Bryce Rader from falling off a lift at a ski resort in Nellysford on January 26, 2025.
Ball State University Athletics
Moncrief’s Late Goal Leads Cardinals to a 1-1 Draw on Sunday at Western Michigan September 20, 2026 | Soccer KALAMAZOO, Mich. – LG Moncrief scored her first goal of the season in Ball State soccer team's 1-1 draw at Western Michigan on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals (3-4-2, 0-1-1 MAC) only generated four shots, but Moncrief booted in the goal off an assist by Kaelyn Valleau in the 89th minute for the draw. Annika Klauss was also credited with a shot on goal in the contest.
Spanberger Signs Executive Order Targeting Data Center Secrecy and Energy Costs
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 on Friday in Richmond. She called it the nation's most far-reaching data center accountability effort, according to WFXR. Companies unwilling to meet the Commonwealth's new standards should look elsewhere, she told reporters. The order also creates a new AI Task Force to examine workforce displacement, data privacy, and cybersecurity risks tied to artificial intelligence, WDBJ7 reported. Spanberger said her team would act alone.
Verizon’s Copper Landline Retirement Looms for Rural Virginia Residents
A 91-year-old Salem woman's account of reaching emergency help after a fall last year illustrates a regulatory battle now before the FCC, as WDBJ reports that Verizon is seeking approval to begin retiring copper-based home phone lines as early as October 23, 2026. Casimerette Meyer, who lives alone on a Salem property where cell service drops regularly and fiber cables have not yet reached her road, says her copper landline was the only thing that let her summon help after breaking her hip.
Up to 349 Homes Proposed for Historic Elliston Estate, Rezoning Decision Pending
source: Roanoke Times The Montgomery County Planning Commission left a major residential rezoning request in pending status after a public hearing on Sept. 9, according to WFXR and the Roanoke Times. The request, filed by Stateson Homes, would rezone 276.66 acres of the Fotheringay property near 8339 Roanoke Road in Elliston from agricultural use to Planned Unit Development-Residential.
Regional Authority Approves Wood Haven Land Deal in Closed Session, Residents Demand Answers
Stock photo via Pexels The Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority voted Friday to enter a purchase agreement for land at Wood Haven Technology Park in Roanoke County, according to Cardinal News, while refusing to disclose the buyer's identity, the sale price, or the intended use of the property. The vote authorises the authority's executive director and other officials to finalise the agreement and sign closing documents.
Munters Opens Bigger Daleville Campus to Meet Surging Cooling Demand
Stock photo via Pexels Munters cut the ribbon Thursday on an expanded manufacturing campus in Daleville, according to WSLS 10, as the Botetourt County company ramps up production of cooling systems for data centers across the country. The facility now spans 565,000 square feet, making it the largest of Munters' five dedicated data center cooling plants worldwide, according to the company's official press release.
Roanoke Airport’s Runway Safety Tech Draws National Attention After Miami Cargo Jet Kills Five
Stock photo via Pexels A safety system first installed at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport more than two decades ago is now a focal point of the federal investigation into a fatal cargo plane crash in Miami, according to WDBJ. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is examining whether an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) at Miami International Airport could have prevented five deaths on September 6.
Charlotte Man Dies After Ford Explorer Hits Tractor-Trailer on I-81 in Rockbridge County
source: wmar2news A 42-year-old North Carolina man was killed in the early hours of Saturday, September 5, when his SUV collided with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County, according to WFXR. Virginia State Police are now leading the investigation into the fatal crash. The collision happened at approximately 12:30 a.m. at mile marker 189 on northbound I-81.
Twenty Beds Built for Roanoke Valley Children at Weekend Community Event
Stock photo via Pexels Roanoke Valley children sleeping on floors and couches are among the beneficiaries of a 20-bed build held Saturday at Glenvar High School, as reported by both WSLS 10 and WDBJ7. Glenvar Schools partnered with Business Solutions and the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace to organise the event. That partnership came with real money behind it, a $5,000 grant from Business Solutions, based in Salem.
Roanoke Fire-EMS Cadets Push Through Grueling Academy as 9/11 Anniversary Nears
Stock photo via Pexels A new class of Roanoke Fire-EMS recruits is nine weeks into a demanding training academy, according to WFXR, with EMT instruction already underway and fire coursework still ahead. The program is designed to build endurance and composure before any recruit ever arrives at a real emergency scene. Rhett Fleitz, Battalion Chief of Training for Roanoke Fire-EMS, told WFXR the department's expectation is absolute reliability.
Four Famous Travelers Made an Unplanned Stop at Hotel Roanoke in 1918
On August 30, 1918, four of America's most recognizable figures walked unannounced through the doors of Hotel Roanoke for lunch. Industrialist Henry Ford, inventor Thomas Edison, tire manufacturer Harvey Firestone, and naturalist John Burroughs had been traveling together through the Blue Ridge Mountains since departing Pittsburgh earlier that summer, according to The Roanoker. Their arrival in Roanoke was not planned. The group called themselves the Vagabonds.
Salem VA Medical Center Opens Doors to Veterans at Summer Enrollment Fair
The Salem VA Medical Center held its Summer VetFest Veteran Enrollment Fair on Saturday, August 29, at its campus on 1970 Roanoke Blvd in Salem, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event was designed as a comprehensive, single-location resource for veterans, their family members, and caregivers to access VA health care and benefits programs. WSLS 10 reported that newly enrolled veterans could receive a primary care appointment with a VA doctor on the same day as their enrollment.
Arlington Foster Mom Makes Miss USA History at 75th Pageant
Justus Kelley, Miss Virginia USA 2026, was crowned Miss USA on August 27 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, winning the 75th edition of the national pageant. The 31-year-old from Arlington became the first mother, first married woman, and first woman in her 30s to claim the title in the competition's history, as DC News Now reported. Virginia had not produced a Miss USA winner since 1970.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Season Is Here — and Roanoke’s Local Cafes Are Ready
Starbucks launched its annual fall drinks menu on August 25, returning the Pumpkin Spice Latte alongside a broader seasonal lineup that many treat as the unofficial start of autumn. Three beverages are new to the menu this year. The Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso combines Blonde Espresso shaken with brown sugar syrup and cinnamon, served over ice with oatmilk and pumpkin cream cold foam. The Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha layers smooth matcha with pumpkin cream cold foam.
Bedford County Fair Closes Strong at Liberty Lake Park, Eyes 2027 Return
The Bedford County Fair concluded Sunday at Liberty Lake Park in Bedford County, drawing families for a weekend of rides, animal exhibits, fair food, and live entertainment. Organizers said the second year at the venue went more smoothly than the first, with improvements to parking, programming, and children's activities. Fair Superintendent Mackenzie Mutter told WSLS 10 that returning to the same location made planning considerably easier.
Roanoke’s Williamson Road Redesign Slashes Crash Rate, Heads Toward Permanent Status
A lane reconfiguration pilot on Roanoke's Williamson Road has produced a nearly 40% drop in total crashes since the project launched last fall, city officials told the Roanoke City Council this week. The corridor, which runs between Pocahontas Avenue and Angell Avenue, was converted from four travel lanes to three, with a center left-turn lane added along with two dedicated bike lanes.
Virginia Distributes $507K in Agriculture Grants to 14 Localities
Governor Abigail Spanberger announced on August 18 the award of 14 grants through the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Infrastructure program, channeling just over $507,000 to communities across Virginia. The funding is intended to support projects that establish and expand opportunities for local producers while strengthening regional food systems, according to WDBJ7.
Bedford County School Bus Routes Could Change. Here’s What Parents Need to Know.
As the new school year gets underway in Bedford County, a potential redrawing of attendance boundaries is raising concerns beyond just which school a child attends. According to WSLS 10, any approved boundary changes could mean new bus stops, adjusted pick-up times, or commutes that run 10 to 30 minutes longer for some students. That's not a small shift. The issue is landing on families already familiar with transportation headaches.
Roanoke’s Animal Shelter Is at Capacity — and Waiving Adoption Fees All Month
The Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection in Roanoke is working to clear an overcrowded shelter by holding free adoption events through the end of August. According to WSLS 10, the shelter kicked off the effort on Saturday, August 16, as part of the national Clear the Shelters campaign. Adoption fees are waived for all approved applications during events scheduled on Thursdays and Saturdays for the remainder of the month.
Pulaski Councilman Faces Ouster After Missing Deadline Amid Federal Charges
A suspended Pulaski Town Council member arrested by the FBI on charges of receiving and distributing child sex abuse material has gone silent, according to WSLS 10, and now faces a formal removal vote. Steven Erickson, who has remained in federal custody since his arrest, was given until Aug. 12 to notify the council of his intent to speak at a Sept. 1 meeting. That deadline passed without any word from him.
Overnight Fire Damages Eight Classrooms at Forest Middle School; Firefighters Encounter Eight-Foot Python
A fire broke out early Wednesday morning at Forest Middle School in Bedford County, Virginia, leaving eight classrooms with smoke and water damage and prompting a multi-agency response that also involved securing a loose python found in the affected room. According to the Forest Volunteer Fire Department (FFD), fire units were dispatched around 12:45 a.m. on August 13 after a fire alarm was triggered at the school.
Bedford County Formalizes Off-Duty Security Work for Sheriff’s Deputies
Bedford County has passed an ordinance formally permitting sheriff's deputies to take on private employment, such as event security, traffic direction, and site patrols, while retaining their law enforcement powers, WSLS 10 reported. The measure, approved by county officials, sets out an application and approval process, defines which types of jobs are permitted, and requires deputies to file reports with the sheriff's office after each off-duty shift.
West Virginia’s Broken $400M Database Is Draining Anti-Poverty Funds, Lawmakers Learn
West Virginia lawmakers left a legislative hearing Sunday more frustrated than informed after the Department of Human Services offered few concrete answers about the state's troubled federal anti-poverty spending. Reporting by WOWK and West Virginia Watch details how DoHS Deputy Secretary Christina Mullins testified before the joint Finance Committee that the department's failing WV PATH system was a primary driver of its financial difficulties. The PATH system, launched under former Gov.
Lynchburg’s Airport Just Landed $5.26 Million in Federal Money — Here’s What It Builds
Lynchburg Regional Airport has been awarded $5,258,670 through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Infrastructure Grant program to build out its North Apron — groundwork intended to open a new corner of the airfield to aviation business. The award, announced in the FAA’s eighth round of fiscal-year 2026 grants, puts Lynchburg among 339 airports in 44 states sharing $870 million funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Virginia Legislators Demand More Time for Regulators to Scrutinize Dominion-NextEra Deal
Bipartisan calls are growing for Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to convene a special session that would extend the State Corporation Commission's window to examine the proposed $67 billion merger between Dominion Energy and Florida-based NextEra Energy. Spanberger declined, even as she announced an unprecedented step of her own: formally intervening in the SCC proceeding.
CSX Train Carrying Corn Derails in South Charleston, Shutting Down Rail Lines
A CSX freight train lost 17 railcars from the tracks near Central Avenue in South Charleston, West Virginia, shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, according to WOWK-TV. South Charleston firefighters, police officers, and CSX crews all responded to the scene. No injuries were reported and officials said there was no threat to the public. West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported that South Charleston Fire Chief Virgil White arrived on scene with his crews.
Virginia’s THC Cap Lands August 15 — and Seven Hemp Companies Are Suing the Governor in Roanoke’s Federal Court to Stop It
A rule arriving in eight days is about to clear a lot of Virginia shelves. From August 15, a hemp product containing more than two milligrams of total THC per package cannot legally be produced or sold in the Commonwealth — and seven hemp companies have gone to federal court to stop it. Their 66-page complaint, filed July 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia — the federal district covering Roanoke and Southwest Virginia — names Gov.
Virginia Layoffs Are Running 52% Ahead of Last Summer — and August Alone Takes 433 More Jobs
Virginia’s layoff ledger is filling up faster than it did a year ago. State WARN filings — the advance notices larger employers must give before mass layoffs — show 433 people losing their jobs across the state between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31. That brings the summer’s toll to 2,899 jobs between June 21 and Aug. 31, according to the state’s workforce agency — more than 52% above the same period last year. The year so far The summer is not an outlier.
Virginia’s November Congressional Fights Come Into Focus After Primary Wins
Virginia voters finalized their November congressional matchups on Tuesday, with establishment-backed Democrats winning nominations in two competitive U.S. House districts. The results, reported by the Associated Press via PBS NewsHour, set the stage for what analysts expect to be some of the most closely watched races in the country this fall.
Peaks View Park Replaces 40-Year-Old Lights with Energy-Efficient LED System
Lynchburg's Peaks View Park has completed a full sports lighting overhaul, swapping out fixtures that had stood for more than four decades with a new energy-efficient LED system. The city's Parks and Recreation department announced the project on August 5, 2026, saying the upgrade improves visibility for players and spectators while cutting energy consumption significantly. Some of the replaced fixtures dated to 1981.
Smith Mountain Lake Marks Six Decades with a ’50s-Themed Birthday Celebration
Two local nonprofits are joining forces to throw a birthday party for Smith Mountain Lake this fall, as the beloved Virginia reservoir reaches its 60th anniversary in September. The Smith Mountain Arts Council (SMAC) and the Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) are organizing the event, which takes the form of a lakeside sock hop designed to evoke the era when the lake was first filled. According to WFXR, the celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Sept.
Virginia Expands Prison Reentry Effort to Red Onion Maximum-Security Facility
Governor Abigail Spanberger announced Wednesday the launch of an Intensive Reentry Program at Red Onion State Prison, a maximum-security facility in Wise County. According to the governor's office, the program is among the first of its kind at a maximum-security prison anywhere in the country. It brings the statewide total to 15 active programs, operating across a range of facilities from work centers to high-security correctional institutions. The program took months to develop.
Navy Fires USS West Virginia Blue Crew Commander After Confidence Breakdown
The U.S. Navy removed the commanding officer of the ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) on July 30, 2026, citing lost confidence in his leadership. According to an official Navy press release, Commander, Submarine Squadron 20 relieved Cmdr. Joseph Sammur from command of the vessel's Blue Crew at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. Sammur had held the position for less than a year, taking command in a ceremony on August 14, 2025.
A $14 Million Vote Just Cleared the Way to Sell the Hotel Roanoke — and No Buyer Has Been Named
The Hotel Roanoke Conference Center Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday, July 29, to sell the conference center for $14 million to Hotel Roanoke LLC, a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation. The deal is expected to close by early October. The vote reads like an administrative step, and on its face it is one. Its significance is what it makes possible next. Why the vote matters The Virginia Tech Foundation already owns the hotel itself.
Appalachian Power Reports Surge in Data Center Interest Across Virginia
Appalachian Power is navigating a wave of large-scale electricity demand it has never seen before. The utility recently disclosed to Virginia state regulators that it is in active discussions with 36 potential large-load customers in Virginia, primarily data centers, whose combined power needs would reach roughly 25,000 megawatts. That figure is more than triple the company's recent February peak demand of approximately 7,200 megawatts across its entire service territory.
Rural King Is Bringing a Dead 500,000-Square-Foot Warehouse Back to Life — With 150 Jobs for Henry County
The half-million-square-foot warehouse that VF Corporation left empty at Patriot Centre Industrial Park has a new tenant — and Henry County has 150 new jobs coming. Rural King, the Illinois-based farm-and-home supply retailer, will invest $40 million to convert the building into a distribution center serving its store network, Governor Abigail Spanberger’s office announced. What’s in the deal The facility runs 500,000 square feet and had sat vacant since VF Corporation pulled out in 2025.
Virginia Tech Secures Federal AI Grants Across Three Research Disciplines
Three Virginia Tech research teams are among the first recipients of funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Genesis Mission, a program launched to accelerate scientific discovery through artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. The DOE announced 278 selected projects on July 22, chosen from more than 5,000 applications nationwide. Each Virginia Tech phase one award carries between $500,000 and $750,000.
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