Roanoke City School Board presents new safety measures to City Council
25 safety recommendations were adopted by the school board at their last meeting, including a new safety tip line, new, more secure classroom door locks, and an additional 15 school resource officers on top of the 11 already on staff.
Roanoke City School Board presents new safety measures to City Council
25 safety recommendations were adopted by the school board at their last meeting, including a new safety tip line, new, more secure classroom door locks, and an additional 15 school resource officers on top of the 11 already on staff.
Roanoke approves grant, provides housing opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities
The Roanoke City Council is pushing an incentive forward to increase housing opportunities in the Star City โ City leaders approved a $50,000 grant from the Virginia Housing Development Authority during their session Tuesday.
Roanoke City Council concerned plastic bag tax will inadvertently impact low-income residents
Roanoke City Council still plans to implement a plastic bag tax but said they need to figure a few things out. Earlier this week, the council postponed a vote until May amid concerns that the tax would disproportionately affect low-income residents.
Changes coming to short-term parking, ticket appeals in Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. โ Parking changes are coming to the Star City. Roanoke City Council approved the code changes earlier this week, impacting the way you appeal tickets and short-term parking downtown. On short-term parking, youโll have to move your car 500 feet, which is about a block, for two hours after reaching your time limit. Park Roanoke said that comes after an internal audit found people werenโt moving very much and itโs all about helping businesses. Park Roanoke is working on a program specifically to help people in the service industry who work downtown.
Locals, gun shop react to Roanoke City gun ban
ROANOKE, Va. โ Roanoke City Council pulled the trigger on a gun ban on Monday night, coving all city-owned property, including buildings, the Berglund Center, parks, recreation centers, and greenways. But for local gun shops like Bryansteens Gun & Archery, Creed said the ban means they could miss out on thousands of customers driven into the area by gun shows at the Berglund Center. They come here too and to other gun shops to see if they can find stuff they couldnโt find at the gun shows,โ said Creed. The Berglund Center will no longer be able to host four annual gun shows, which could cost the center $100,000 that would have gone towards its operating budget. Nevertheless, retired Roanoke City Attorney Dan Callaghan supports the move.
Roanoke City Council bans firearms on all city-owned property including Berglund Center
ROANOKE, Va. โ Roanoke City Council voted nearly unanimously to ban guns from all city-owned property. On Monday night, the council voted 6-1 to ban firearms from all city-owned buildings, parks and greenways, which includes the Berglund Center. City Council enacted the strictest set of rules possible in an action legalized last year by the General Assembly. Three council members said the vote should be delayed for more time to discuss, but that motion failed. The law takes effect immediately and while some council members expressed concerns about possible lawsuits, the majority of the council felt citizens wanted it now.
Roanoke establishes Gun Violence Prevention Commission
ROANOKE, Va. โ The Roanoke City Council voted to establish a permanent gun violence prevention commission on Monday which will put plans into action to reduce gun and gang violence in the Star City. Over the past two years, the gun violence task force has looked at the root causes of gun violence in the community and discussed what they can do about it. Theyโre going to focus on community education and advocacy, social and emotional learning in young children, and hire a youth and young adult gang violence prevention coordinator. โThere arenโt quick fixes to long-term root causes. The commission also wants to create a website where people can look for information, resources and find out how to volunteer.
Whatโs News Today: Job fair, return to learn
Roanoke City Council will hold a public hearing tonight about banning firearms on city property. Roanoke Parks and Recreation holds a virtual job fair tonight. The City of Lynchburg begins the process of updating its Park and Recreation needs assessment and Comprehensive Park Master Plan today. AdSome Roanoke County students will to the classroom today. Fifth-grade students, who were receiving hybrid instruction, will be in-person four days a week starting today.
Whatโs News Today: bridge construction, back to school
Blasting will begin today in Lynchburg for the Lakeside Drive Bridge project. Today is the last day to give your thoughts about the needs of students and school divisions as kids head back to class. Investigators say Merritt traveled from Texas to Virginia and then took off with his victim before being found 36-hours later. The man, accused of shooting two Wythe County deputies last summer, will be in court today. Students in Radford City School who opt for in person learning, will return to the classroom today, four days a week.
Williamson Road Area Business Association looking to expand, provide more services
ROANOKE, Va. โ The Williamson Road Area Business Association (WRABA) wants to expand its services in Roanoke. The goal is to spruce up the area and help out local businesses even more. On Monday, Executive Director Valerie Brown presented a proposal to the Roanoke City Council that would expand the Special Service District (SSD) to include more businesses near the Berglund Center, like Magic City Ford. Expanding the SSD would also allow WRABA to receive more funding from the city, which in turn, would allow WRABA to build sidewalks, add lighting and improve storefronts. If the city agrees, the move would double WRABAโs revenue to about $225,000 a year.
Whatโs News Today: Parking enforcement, blood drives
The Williamson Road Area Business Association will discuss expanding its Special Service District with Roanoke City Council. The expansion area would extend to the Berglund Center, along Hershberger Road to 581 and to Airport Road and Towne Square businesses. The Altavista Planning Commission will receive public comment today on the Source Water Protection Plan. On-street parking was eliminated in the 800 block of Main Street and 10th Street between Main and Church Streets for the Main Street Renewal Project, but is now return as construction is nearly complete. Free two-hour parking is still available on the top level of the Midtown Parking Deck.
Roanoke City Council meet for first time in 2021
Roanoke City Council has its first new meetingROANOKE, Va. โ Roanoke City Council and the newly-elected members met for the first time in the new year on Monday. They discussed real estate assessment values, which grew 2.69% and are expected to bring in more than $2 million in revenue to the city, mostly due to increasing values in residential homes. They scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, January 19 to hear comments about restrictions on firearms in city buildings; however, on Thursday, the meeting was postponed indefinitely.
Roanoke postpones public hearing to consider prohibiting firearms on city property
ROANOKE, Va. โ Citizens in the Star City have to wait a little longer to have their voices heard by the city council regarding gun laws. On Monday, Roanoke City Council initially approved a request for a public hearing to be held on Jan. 19 to get input from residents about the councilโs consideration of an ordinance prohibiting firearms on city property. However, that hearing has been pushed back. Officials said the adoption of the ordinance is permitted by an amendment to Section 15.2-915 of the Code of Virginia, โProhibition of Firearms on City Property,โ which was effective July 1, 2020. According to official documents, the law doesnโt require a public hearing prior, but Roanoke did this in an effort to promote transparency and allow residents to participate in their government.
Whatโs News Today for Monday, January 4, 2021
The rising number of COVID-19 cases has many school districts starting 2021 with all virtual learning, including Allegany County, Charlotte County, Lynchburg and Galax. The Roanoke City Council meets officially for the first time with new members Robert Jeffrey and Stephanie Moon. No one can attend the Roanoke City Council meeting in person today because of COVID. City Council members will be the only ones allowed in council chambers. Martinsville City Council meets this morning where Tammy Pearson will be sworn in as a newly elected council member.
Whatโs News Today: Christmas Parade, honoring graduates
Roanoke City Council holds a public hearing about the City Plan 2040. Lynchburgโs Future of Education Task Force Steering Committee meets today. The Rich Creek Fire Department holds a drive-through Christmas Parade tonight. You can watch the parade from your home or front yard as it drives throughout the town. The City of Danville will honor the first graduates in the Project Rebuild program.