Henri Gendreau - The Roanoke Rambler (Page 12)

City Did Not Defame Roanoke Police Officer In Describing 'End Racism Now' Mural, Judge Rules

Sgt. Jason Hicks alleged the city's description of a mural implied he was fueled by racism when he fatally shot a Black man in 2009.

City Hall

A Roanoke Boxing Gym Wants To Renew Its Lease in An Old Fire Station. So Why Has the City Put Its Building Up For Bid?

“There’s been a lot of misinformation going around concerning our program,” said the president of the Melrose Athletic Club.

Arts

Henrietta Lacks Statue Concept Unveiled at Roanoke Plaza Named in Her Honor

The Black woman’s statue is to be erected where an obelisk dedicated to Confederate general Robert E. Lee used to stand across from city hall.

Development

After 5 Years and 3 Proposals, Roanoke City Council Approves Fralin Development on Brandon

Council members said the need for more housing trumped neighbors' concerns about traffic and the environment.

City Hall

City Agrees To Sell Fishburn Park Cottage, Land To Roanoke Couple Proposing Coffee Shop

The fate of the dilapidated caretaker's cottage has been a point of contention over the years.

Education

‘We Are Happy To Fire Durham’: Roanoke School Leaders Vexed Over Late Buses As Board Nixes School Time Changes This Year

The school board rejected a proposal that would change schools' schedules to accommodate late buses.

Development

Contentious Fralin Development To Go Before Roanoke City Council With Panel's Approval

Roanoke’s planning commission said the city should rezone the Brandon Avenue property for 29 townhomes.

Transportation

Roanoke Airport Officials Talk of Extending Runway Over I-581

An extended runway would be critical to the Roanoke airport’s long-term survival, according to the agency's executive director.

Criminal justice

Confusion Clouds Roanoke City Council's Removal of No-Knock Warrant Request As It Endorses Other Police Reform Rollbacks

Mayor Sherman Lea said he would have kept the provision to revive no-knock warrants had he known state law forbade a judge from authorizing them.

Criminal justice

Roanoke City Council Urges Virginia Lawmakers To Roll Back Criminal Justice Reforms

Reforms enacted after the 2020 police murder of George Floyd include bans on no-knock warrants and certain traffic stops.

Labor

Roanoke Bus Drivers Picket As Union Negotiations Stall With Valley Metro

Members of Amalgamated Transit, Local 1493 say Valley Metro has been dragging its feet since a contract expired in July.

City Hall

After Hearing Pros and Cons, City Council Delays Vote on Selling Fishburn Cottage to Couple Proposing Coffee Shop

Many neighbors support the plan, while others have long resisted efforts to sell the building, one of the oldest in Roanoke.

Politics

These 3 Maps Show Where Roanoke's City Council Candidates Were Most Popular

Thanks to a new law, voters, politicians and others can pinpoint how well candidates fared across Roanoke’s diverse neighborhoods.

Arts

Fixture of Roanoke Music Scene 5 Points Seeks Urgent Funding To Buy Its Old Church Building

5 Points Music Sanctuary seeks to raise $300,000 before the end of this month in order to buy the church that’s become their home.

Transportation

'Toto, We're Not in Campbell Court Anymore': Roanoke Opens Sleek Third Street Bus Station

Valley Metro opened part of its $13-million Third Street Station, which includes a Greyhound bus facility and city bus center.

Development

As Developer Fralin Revives Townhome Project, Neighbors Eye City Council Swing Vote

R. P. Fralin Inc.’s scaled-back plan is the third time in five years it has tried to develop the land, efforts neighbors have rebuffed.

Happenings

Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 11/16 to 11/23.

We scoured 17 disparate community calendars (yes, 17) so you didn’t have to.

Politics

Democrats Cheer 'Clean Sweep' of Roanoke City Council Seats, Averting Strong Republican Bid

Democrats on Tuesday took all four Roanoke City Council seats, fending off an unusually strong Republican bid.