The City of Roanoke is now steps closer to changing the name of Lee Plaza, named after the Confederate leader, Robert E. Lee.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines across the country and Southwest Virginia.

The City of Roanoke has narrowed it down to four possible names for Lee Plaza. It’s the former home of the Confederate memorial in downtown Roanoke and council wants the name changed.

On Thursday night the board tasked with renaming Lee Plaza, the former home of the Confederate memorial, decided it needs more public feedback.

ROANOKE, VA. – The Confederate memorial in downtown Roanoke was removed last summer and now city leaders are working on renaming the plaza where it stood. On Thursday night, the public got to weigh in on what they think Lee Plaza, named after the Confederate General, should be called. A few others liked something more generic such as Patriots Plaza or Freedom Plaza. Roanoke’s Democratic city council has looked unfavorable on Lee Plaza and the memorial over the last few years. A local cemetery took possession of the Confederate memorial and intends to put it on display with appropriate context.

The Roanoke Equity and Empowerment Advisory Board will hold a public hearing today at 4 p.m. If you wish to speak during the public hearing, you should email or call city hall by noon. The Botetourt County School Board will meet today to hold a budget work session at 8:30 a.m. The New River Health District is holding a second shot vaccine clinic today and tomorrow. Lexington City Council will hold a public hearing about selling city-owned property on Spotswood Street.

ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke’s monument to Robert E. Lee is getting a new home. On Monday, the Roanoke City Council decided to accept the proposal submitted by Evergreen Burial Park, which would move the obelisk there. Lee monument down on groundThe park is requesting that the city also move the base and pedestal from Lee Plaza to the park. “We think Evergreen Burial Park is a logical place for the Lee Monument, we have 60 Confederate veterans at Evergreen, we have a Union soldier buried at Evergreen," Wilson said. “We believe the Lee monument has a story of its own to tell, how it came to be, how it came to be removed, and how it came to come to Evergreen now," Wilson said.

ROANOKE, Va. – A man is taking legal action to block the permanent removal of the Robert E. Lee monument in Roanoke’s Lee Plaza, which police said was toppled over this week by a 70-year-old Roanoke man who later turned himself in. Liniel Gregory Jr. believes the monument’s removal would open the door for the removal of other local monuments honoring war veterans, not just those pertaining to the Civil War. According to Gregory Jr.‘s petition to block the monument’s removal, which was filed earlier this month, the goal is to “protect the unalienable rights of the citizens of Roanoke to vote for such an important and emotional issue.”The damaged Lee monument is now sitting in storage, but Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea said this week that the damage to the monument won’t stop city leaders from removing it through legal means. “It is an unfortunate incident, but this will not deter us from going through the legal process to remove the monument,” said Mayor Sherman Lea. “We have a public hearing scheduled for the second (City) Council meeting in August to allow citizens to give their input on this matter, and we will proceed based upon the outcome of the public hearing.”Gregory Jr.‘s petition expresses concern that Roanoke citizens, including veterans or family members of veterans, will “be denied the right to vote yea or nay to destroy the history of the city, county Commonwealth or America.”

ROANOKE, Va. A few dozen people marched in downtown Roanoke on Friday night in the fight against systemic racism. No Justice, No Peace - Roanoke organized the march. The group gathered in front of the Roanoke City Police Department and then marched to Lee Plaza and to the market. In addition to pushing for social justice, theyre also asking that police release and drop the charges against the man arrested for allegedly knocking over the Robert. E Lee monument in downtown Roanoke.

ROANOKE, Va. The Robert E. Lee Memorial in downtown Roanoke has been knocked over. This comes after the Roanoke City Council started the process to possibly remove the monument from Lee Plaza across from city hall by setting up a public hearing on Aug. 17. In 2017, the monument was spraypainted with the words Rest in Power Heather Heyer.The Robert E. Lee monument has been in Lee Plaza for just shy of 60 years. A 10 News crew discovered the knocked over monument Thursday morning after a tip from a viewer. We have reached out to Roanoke City Police and are awaiting a response.

ROANOKE, Va. – The fate of the Robert E. Lee monument in downtown Roanoke remains unseen but the process to figure that out is well underway. On Monday, the Roanoke City Council started the process in possibly removing the monument from Lee Plaza. This motion also set up a public hearing on the matter. The Robert E. Lee monument has been in Lee Plaza for just shy of 60 years. I just encourage everyone to be patient.”The public hearing is tentatively set for August 17 at 7 p.m.

ROANOKE, Va. - After a few simple instructions, a group of half a dozen eager Roanoke residents were cruising through Lee Plaza in downtown Roanoke on Lime electric scooters Friday morning. I liked it a lot," Roanoke resident Mary Beth Chillemi-Franklin said. The educational segment they did was great," Roanoke Vice Mayor Joe Cobb said. I'm a big kid at heart," a woman said as she prepared to ride a scooter. He said Roanoke, while smaller than a lot of the cities Lime operates in, is an ideal location.