The Vinton Dogwood Festival is kicking off its 71st year this weekend. The festival is one of the oldest in Southwest Virginia, bringing people together for food, music, and good times.

The pair — a male and a female — had been at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in Roanoke since last summer, when they were brought in as kittens. It cost about $60 a day just to feed them, and staff put in months of hard work to prepare them for release.

Two remaining bobcats at SWVA Wildlife Center will be released in April. Watch them now on the WSLS bobcat cam before they’re gone

Three bobcat kittens rescued by the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in 2025 are healthy and doing well. They’ve grown quite a bit since last summer. They have large claws, teeth and quite the appetite.

Although it is illegal to kill a Bald Eagle, Virginia has no protections preventing the leading cause of eagle death: lead poisoning. At the state level, lawmakers recently passed a bill that would require the Department of Wildlife Resources to develop and maintain an educational webpage about the dangers of lead and proper disposal. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

Most people who believe they are allergic to penicillin likely aren’t, according to a doctor at UVA Health. 10 News Anchor Rachel Lucas developed an allergy during early childhood. Despite a severe reaction, she underwent testing as an adult to find out if it was a true allergy, or if she had been avoiding it most of her life for no reason. The results were surprising.

The miracle of Mother Nature can be found all across the mountains of Appalachia. But sometimes, animals need our help.

10 News was awarded an outstanding journalism award from the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation on Wednesday night, 10 News was awarded the Most Comprehensive Agricultural Coverage in Virginia. c

Local doctors say flu season started a little early this year, with flu cases, especially in children, on the rise.

Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season continues with the Harvest Festival which celebrates the beauty of fall with thousands of carved pumpkins, giant candy corn and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights.

10 News Anchors John Carlin and Rachel Lucas helped the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center raise money during it's annual Night Owl on the Town Gala at Hotel Roanoke. 2025 was a record breaking year for fundraising!

All proceeds support the Center’s mission of giving wildlife a second chance. The silent auction is now live and is open to the public to bid. You can view the auction here. Only attendees at the event will be eligible to bid on live auction items.

One of the hottest events of the summer attracts thousands of visitors to Floyd County. Floyd Fest 25 is underway and the peak of the entertainment weekend coincides with scorching heat indices. 10 News Anchor Rachel Lucas tells us how coordinators are keeping festival goers safe during one of the hottest weekends of the summer.

The USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships are underway in Roanoke this week.

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center has a new addition: a baby beaver kit, making three kits in its care this year.

Many still made the best out of a gloomy night at the Salem Fair Wednesday evening. 10 News Rachel Lucas was at the Salem Fair Wednesday for WSLS Night.

The summer season is well underway, and a great way to spend a day is out in Tennessee at Dollywood!

A week-old beaver kit has become the newest arrival at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in Roanoke. Center president Sabrina Garvin received a call from a pair of canoeists who found the little beaver this weekend in the Sandy River Reservoir.

It’s been nine months since a Radford woman was severely injured in a motorcycle crash in Christiansburg. Thanks to quick emergency care at LewisGale Medical Center, now in its second year as a Level 2 trauma center, she is rebuilding her life and sharing her story to help others during National Trauma Awareness Month.

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center has welcomed its first bobcat kitten of 2025. It’s distinct sounds can once again be heard at the Roanoke facility. Watch as 10 News Anchor Rachel Lucas got to feed the kitten rescued in Floyd County.

Happy Mother's Day!

LewisGale Hospital Montgomery has prepared extra staffing on Wednesday in its emergency department due to the sold-out crowd in Lane Stadium for the Metallica concert.

You may have noticed all of your friends on social media are turning themselves into Barbie dolls and action figures. WSLS tried it. We show you how you can do it, too.

Growing the culinary scene in Southwest Virginia Mountain Lake Lodge is showcasing the best that Southwest Virginia has to offer with the debut of a special weekend event called Savor: Chefs, Farmers, and Friends.

10 News wore purple Tuesday in a show of support for a respected colleague in local television, Mark Spain, who was recently diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. In a special Healthwatch, a local doctor explains what pancreatic cancer is and some of the risk factors and warning signs of this disease.

Newly updated covid vaccines that protect against the current variant are now available in Southwest Virginia at CVS locations. WSLS 10 anchor and health reporter Rachel Lucas talked to expert about the vaccine while receiving her updated shot.

Matriculation Day at Virginia Military Institute was held Saturday, Aug. 17, beginning the Rat Line for the new academic year. An iconic moment for rats is getting their head shaved. It was the perfect opportunity for a Virginia native to donate his locks to a charity that makes free wigs for children in need.

The much-anticipated Blue Ridge Games have finally arrived, offering a lot of activities for outdoor enthusiasts in Southwest Virginia.

Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order on Wednesday to codify election security measures.

Some medical experts say taking supplements or vitamins orally isn’t the most effective way for your body to absorb them. That’s why another form of vitamin therapy is quickly growing in popularity, receiving those same medications through an IV. IV hydration therapy is a multi-billion-dollar medical industry and is expected to grow over the next decade. Several IV hydration businesses have opened in Southwest Virginia in recent years. 10 News anchor Rachel Lucas tried it.

Dreams turning into reality.

You know her well (or at least you think you do) – you can find her behind the anchor desk weekdays on 10 News at 5, 6, and 7 – 10 News anchor Rachel Lucas!

Two orphaned bobcat kittens rescued by the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in Roanoke have gotten their happy ending. After nearly a year, and an estimated $20,000 cost of care, the female bobcat kittens WSLS featured through the 10 News bobcat cam on wsls.com have been successfully rehabilitated and released.

10 News Anchor Rachel Lucas is in Baltimore, Maryland to bring you the latest updates on the Baltimore bridge collapse.

Hear from people on the Autism spectrum and their advocates – their stories and their experiences in their own words – in the WSLS 10 special, Autism Perspectives.

It’s Christmas time in Pigeon Forge and that means Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas is officially underway!

New research is underway on long COVID, a prolonged illness after a coronavirus infection, and how it impacts our community.

As students head back to the classroom, 10 News is working for you to investigate what schools across our region are doing to protect your kids.

Graham Cracker is from the Roanoke Valley SPCA and she needs a new home!

Pancakes ... for dinner? Yes! Join Rachel Lucas in the kitchen to make these tasty Lemon Ricotta Pancakes from the Virginia Egg Council.

Today we’re helping to hand out nearly 1,000 Angel Tree gifts at the Salvation Army in the New River Valley.

Alton Brown, chef and Food Network star, is heading to the Star City — and we want to hear your questions.

You may have made a pizza before, but what about on the grill?10 Sports reporter Brooke Leonard shows us her favorite recipe that turns homemade pizza into an easy dish.

Asher's Coffee Beans is a local craft coffee business. Owner Jacob Galbraith joined us for some coffee talk.

The perfect smoothie for summertime! Karmen George from Halwa Bakery in Blacksburg has a new item on the menu, a Mediterranean fruit smoothie. She makes it with gelato, fresh fruit, whipped cream and pistachios!

Fresh fruit and whipped cream?! Yes, please! The Chantilly cake is the most delectable summer treat that will look gorgeous on your dinner table!

This April, 10 News celebrates clean and green.

A show of love and support from half a world away, local students are supporting their teacher whose family is divided by the war in Ukraine.

We didn’t have to look too far when it came to finding John Carlin’s new coanchor at 6 p.m.

To my WSLS 10 family,

With Lindsey Ward saying goodbye next month, we didn’t have to look far to find her successor.

WSLS 10 Rachel Lucas sits down with Tamron Hall to discuss how you can support survivors and their furry best friends.

Rachel Lucas shows Bridget and Lindsey a fun mocktail you and your kids can enjoy while taking a splash.

All 5 members of Virginia Today carved a pumpkin. Now you get to vote on your favorite! Jenna Zibton, Chris Michaels, Rachel Lucas, Patrick McKee and Megan Woods all carved pumpkins and we need your help to decide which one is the best. From now until Wednesday at 11:59 p.m., you can vote once per hour for your favorite pumpkin. We’ll announce the results Thursday morning on Virginia Today!

ROANOKE, Va. – We’ve certainly been cold enough for snow the past couple of mornings, but there’s been no storm system around to tap into the Arctic chill. Many of you remember the snowstorm that dropped one-to-two feet over parts of the area. 10 News’ Rachel Lucas recalls being stuck in her apartment in Athens, West Virginia for four days in a row. Meanwhile, a low pressure system brought in the moisture as it rode up the East Coast. Roanoke received about 43″ of snow, Lynchburg about 34″ and Blacksburg 53.6″ throughout the entire cold season.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Illuminights are underway at Explore Park! With 500,000 lights, visitors will enjoy this holiday adventure. Our own Rachel Lucas and Jeff Haniewich went out to Explore Park for opening night.