Merry Christmas! Conditions tonight will be relatively calm, before we cool down tomorrow. There is a chance for some showers tomorrow, but it remains isolated at the most. The mountains have the best chance with any rainfall development. With a cold air wedge in place, freezing rain is a possibility towards the Alleghany Highlands, but chances are still low.

Millions of dollars in state funding will provide a boost to mental health services in the Alleghany Highlands. Lawmakers and community members broke ground Monday on a new 24/7 crisis receiving center in Covington, an effort to help adults and children dealing with mental health emergencies.

The Alleghany Highlands School Board honored a Mountain View Elementary School third grader.

It started in January, when a carbon monoxide leak at Covington Middle School forced the building to shut down for several weeks. But even after it reopened, reports of symptoms like headaches, nausea, and fatigue persisted. Now a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project has named Covington’s paper mill among the nation’s top polluters in its industry.

The American Heart Association has recognized Jeter-Watson Elementary School for its outstanding contribution to the 2025 Kids Heart Challenge.

Callaghan Elementary School in the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools division will start its school day five minutes earlier than regularly scheduled for the remainder of the academic year.

Alleghany Highlands Public Schools is highlighting their emergency preparedness programs in honor of Red Cross Month.

Evening weather forecast detailed by chief meteorologist Jeff Hanowicz, covering cold weather advisory and regional weather updates.

The 11th annual event to benefit a local Hodgkins Lymphoma patient.

Students in the Alleghany Highlands are getting more IT opportunities.

With school letting out for the summer, some families are looking for ways to stretch their grocery budget.

Alleghany Highlands school leaders unveiled the newly consolidated district's new mascot on Monday.

Twenty-four high school students from the Alleghany Highlands area are participating in the Advanced Health Care Pathway Program.

Alleghany Highlands Public Schools will have a virtual learning day on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Fall In Our Town has a little something for the whole family, from trunk-or-treat to live music and a chili cook off.

Alleghany Highlands Public Schools will release students two hours early on Friday, Oct. 21.

The Alleghany Highlands School Board approved a one-time bonus for its employees on Tuesday.

Mary Kramer Asma will be the face of this year’s Christmas Mother program

Give Local events raise thousands of dollars for nonprofits in Southwest Virginia

Pizzas, breads, cheesecakes, sandwiches, soups, wings and more are up for takeout and delivery at Luca's.

2022 is just a few days away and it’s almost time to celebrate!

A community college serving the Alleghany Highlands is one step closer to officially changing its name.

A name change is coming to the community college serving the Alleghany Highlands after a major reversal.

The Alleghany Highlands may be known as a destination for outdoor adventures, but there’s also a big arts community.

Many people are being educated about and then celebrating Juneteenth for the first time this year.

Federal agents were at the Green family home Saturday, piecing together what unfolded less than 24 hours after Noah Green was shot and killed by police.

While major travel is off the table this spring, there is a way to bring the taste of some of your favorite American cities to your dining room table. Goldbelly, founded in 2013, is a website where you can order food from 800 legendary restaurants and bakeries across the country. It’s also given a boost to small businesses like Texas Inn in Lynchburg. “Where we can only do 50% (capacity) and we’re such a small restaurant as well, it kind of brings in a little extra revenue to keep things going,” said Rankin. AdThe visitor’s center is open seven days a week if you want to stop in and have questions.

ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS, Va. – A nonprofit in the Alleghany Highlands that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault needs your help to continue protecting the community. Safehome Systems has seen an increase during the pandemic of people escaping unsafe situations. The nonprofit provides shelter and counseling to victims. With donations down and the need up, the nonprofit is hosting a silent auction on social media. If you would like to support Safehome Systems, click here.

CLIFTON FORGE, Va. – It’s lights, camera, action for the Alleghany Highlands. The production of the upcoming Hulu mini-series “Dopesick” moved to Clifton Forge on Friday. “We need to get this little town back on the map like it used to be and move the town forward,” said Clifton Forge town manager Chuck Unroe. “You’ll definitely know you’re in Clifton Forge,” Unroe said. “They’ve included the town and the townspeople and really made it a community thing.”“Dopesick” will continue filming in Clifton Forge through next week.

CLIFTON FORGE, Va. – When you think of the Alleghany Highlands, coffee is not probably the first thing that comes to mind. However, one couple in Clifton Forge hopes you will not only stop by for a cup of joe but also walk through their newly opened coffee museum, Caffé Museo. One couple in Clifton Forge hopes you will not only stop-by for a cup of joe, but also walk through their newly opened coffee museum. (Judith Sivonda)This fall, Judith Sivonda and her husband added a coffee grinder museum to their café. We get into conversations that are quite pleasant and they haven’t seen anything like it and they’ll remember Clifton Forge,” said Sivonda.

COVINGTON, Va. – COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the Alleghany Highlands and now community leaders are working to stop the spread and ensure safe voting. Starting Monday, Covington City Hall is closed to the public for the next two weeks. City leaders want voters to know they are also taking extra precautions on Election Day. Onaitis said the goal is to make voters feel safe about coming out on Election Day. She also encourages people to do the small things they can to stop the spread, so businesses can stay open.

COVINGTON, Va. – It was another historic night in the Alleghany Highlands on Thursday as Covington city leaders prepared to vote on whether or not to consolidate the city’s schools with those in Alleghany County. The Covington City Council and School Board met in the Covington High School auditorium, which likely would have been full if not for social distancing. Alleghany County leaders voted on Wednesday night in favor of consolidating the two school systems. After Wednesday’s vote, the final approvals have to come from the city of Covington and the state of Virginia. We will update this story when we learn the result of Thursday night’s vote in Covington.

Theres a plan on the table to merge Alleghany County and Covington schools and it could be final in just two weeks. Now each individual school board, Covington City Council, and the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors need to approve it. Alleghany Countys school board will vote on September 9, Covingtons school board on September 10. Covington City Council and Alleghany County Board of Supervisors will vote on Sept. 15. With members from those boards on the committee, Wright feels confident about getting it done.

COVINGTON, Va. An Air Force veteran from the Alleghany Highlands will receive the militarys third-highest honor this week for his actions in Afghanistan. Master Sergeant John Grimesey has been awarded the Silver Star for his bravery during a 2013 battle in Afghanistan. He has also been honored with a Bronze Star for a separate instance of heroism in Afghanistan in 2017. He graduated from Alleghany County High School in 2004 and from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets in 2008. He said the lessons he learned in high school and college prepared him for the scenarios he faced abroad.

This week, the Alleghany Highlands is getting some extra attention from a group of dedicated people as people stay inside. In the face of the COVID-19 stay home order, more than 200 people are getting hand-delivered meals. M3 Militia formed in response to the second amendment controversy, but group president Corey Clark said community service rises above. Criss-crossing Alleghany County, the group called upon the Salvation Army, local food joints and Sheriff Kevin Hall to help. The Salvation Army is getting ready to give more aid in the coming days, leading the switch from daily meals to a more sustainable canned food program.

For the Roanoke Valley, that's the most 90 heat we've seen through mid-August since 1953. With the jet stream positioned north of here, there isn't much stopping us from adding to that tally through at least the weekend. Highs will be in the low to mid 90s in Roanoke, the southern Shenandoah, Lynchburg and Southside. This should set off scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a front (and jet stream) dropping down later in the week. Should that front drop south of here, we may actually see a break in the heat and humidity later next week.