Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines across the country and Southwest Virginia.
A special election takes place today to replace Jennifer Wexton in the state senate. Â Wexton resigned after winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Â The district covers parts of Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.
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One of the men, charged with capital murder in the death of Lynchburg Teen Raymond Wood, will be in court today for a motions hearing. Â Kevin Soto-Bonilla is one of the five men charged with the teen's March 2017 death. Â Attorneys have previously asked to move the trial out of Bedford County.
The case of a father, accused of concealing the body of his missing 3-month-old daughter, goes before a grand jury today in Montgomery County. Â Andrew Terry told police that Arienna Day's mother gave the child to him. Â He says she was bruised and later died. Â Police say he told them she was buried near train tracks between Blacksburg and Interstate 81. Â Arienna's mother claims the child went missing from her home. Â The toddler is presumed dead.
The burial service takes place today at Arlington National Cemetary for the Lexington native, Army Captain Andrew Ross. Â The 29-year-old died in November while serving in Afghanistan, when an IED hit his vehicle. Â The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing that also killed three other service members.
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors will discuss the opioid epidemic today. Â The board could vote to hire outside counsel to recover costs due to the epidemic. Â The county attributes this, in part, to "aggressive and misleading market of prescription opioids by pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors." Â
The city of Roanoke holds a kick off meeting about Financial Empowerment Centers. Â It will talk about the process it will use to develop and implement the centers. Â The centers will offer free one-on-one financial counseling to help people address financial challenges and plan for the future. Â The meeting begins this morning at 8:30 a.m. at the Salvation Army on Dale Avenue. Â
Students and teachers in central Virginia will gather today to "Break the Cycle" of bullying and prejudice. Â The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities will lead the discussion on diversity, discrimination and respect. Â Students will them break into teams, looking for solutions to challenges they face, with a goal of reducing conflict and prejudice.
Fresenius Kidney Care holds an open house for its new dialysis facility in Lynchburg. Â More than 12,000 people in Virginia are living with end stage renal disease and are on dialysis. Â The clinic can treat up to 50 patients a week. Â
Parts of Euclid Avenue and Talbot Street in Lynchburg will be closed today from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Â Crews will pace the street. Â
Martinsville City Council will discuss the fiscal distress monitoring process from the Auditor of Public Accounts. Â The office monitors localities, looking for early signs of fiscal distress. Â It says Martinsville, preliminarily, needs to be followed up on. Â The auditor has asked the city for additional information about budgeting, debt, and expenses and revenue. Â If a fiscal distress is identified, the auditor will notify the Governor and several agencies regarding state assistance or intervention.
Student athletes in Salem had a chance to give their feedback on coaches and the programs for the first time. Â All fall sports at Andrew Lewis Middle School and Salem High School got the chance to answer fifteen questions. Â About 100 students responded. Â The information will be presented tonight at the school board work session and shared with the coaches as part of their evaluations. Â This is the first time the school system has done the survey. Â It plans to sue it for winter and spring sports later this year.