A feasibility study detailing the potential benefits of transforming Catawba Hospital into a multi-million dollar addiction recovery center has been released.

The bill sponsored by Delegate Sam Rasoul has passed in a House of Delegate subcommittee and will now move on to receive funding.

After months of back and forth over the state’s two-year spending budget, Virginia’s General Assembly will vote again Wednesday in Richmond. But the clock is ticking for lawmakers to reach a deal -- with the new fiscal year beginning July 1.

Governor Ralph Northam announced on Wednesday that the Commonwealth will commit $485 million in federal and state funding in an effort to improve Virginia’s behavioral health system.

Police chiefs across Virginia are calling on lawmakers to address what they are calling a statewide mental health crisis.

It's been two weeks since staff at Catawba hospital were able to take in a new patient.

Virginia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services announced it closed admissions temporarily to five of the Commonwealth’s eight adult hospitals.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – UPDATEVirginia State Police said the man who escaped a psychiatric hospital in Roanoke County is now in custody for stealing a farm truck. A resident called 911 after being alerted to the situation when Roanoke County sent an alert via reverse 911. Shayne Dwyer WSLS 10 News is on the scene in Roanoke County where police found the Catawba Hospital escapee. Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Thursday, February 11, 2021ORIGINAL STORYVirginia State Police is currently trying to locate a man who escaped Catawba Hospital in Roanoke County on Thursday. Authorities said there’s currently a heavy police presence in the Catawba area of Roanoke County.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. - A local behavioral health hospital will soon have more beds for patients. The state behavioral health department is spending about $4 million to add 28 beds to Catawba Hospital in Roanoke County. "The reason that we chose Catawba is because (there are) two floors at the Catawba Hospital that have not been operational. The beds there have not been funded, but it was relatively easy to convert those," said Daniel Herr, the behavioral health department's deputy commissioner of facility services. Another 28 beds will be added in the upcoming fiscal year if the department can get enough money from the state.